Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Here's a great reminder about the importance of relevance in promotions
There is 1 new entry in "WonderBranding: Marketing to Women"
Getting My Attention
I have been on the road non-stop for what seems like a month now. Wait... it has been a month. As far as work goes, my professional cup runneth over and the only way I could be happier is if I didn’t have to travel as much. This past month, it’s been Raleigh (twice), Tampa (twice), Austin (twice), Louisville and... well, you get the picture. C’est la vie.
Perched precariously atop the mountain of mail awaiting my arrival back home was a box - return address “Opus Communications.” Ah me, I thought to myself, another book promoter requesting a review of his or her new tome. It can wait.
After awhile (when I got sick of looking at nothing but bills), I relented and opened the package.
Tucked inside, all snug and comfy, was a flying pig.
Jack Hayhow, whom I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting, sent me a copy of his new book, The Wisdom of the Flying Pig - Guidance and Inspiration for Managers and Leaders. I receive review copies of business books all the time - but never quite like this. Rather than inserting a standard (and yes, boring) press release, Jack purchased one of those flying pigs with wings you see in airport gift shops - pop in a battery, hook it to the ceiling and watch it fly! Clever enough, but here’s where Jack went the extra mile... he wrote a personal note, commenting on my recent post about Opening Gestures, saying he hoped his surprise would qualify as a good example.
To say that I rarely mention business books (let alone review them) is an understatement. There are great blogs like 1-800-CEO-READ to do that for me. The Wisdom of the Flying Pig is remarkable (as Seth would say) in that it distills basic philosophy on management and leadership into tasty bacon bits that work for everyone from the small business owner to a corporate officer. It’s a quick read, nicely illustrated and well constructed. I can see that Jack isn’t relying on huge sales of the book - I believe his strategy is to spread the word, use the book as his “calling card” (turns out he has quite a name for himself in the management field) and get others to buy mass quantities of the book to share with colleagues and potential customers. It beats an ink pen or coffee mug any day.
Like I said, I get dozens of business books sent my way each year. What made Jack’s stand out was not the book but the presentation. I happen to know that Jack sent flying pigs to several of my colleagues - but his note, connecting the flying pig to my blog, made it relevant to me.
You go, Jack - I look forward to sharing your book with my clients.
As for the rest of the book promotion world - when will you go the extra mile to make your product or service relevant to those who matter? I know, I know... when pigs fly.
Getting My Attention
I have been on the road non-stop for what seems like a month now. Wait... it has been a month. As far as work goes, my professional cup runneth over and the only way I could be happier is if I didn’t have to travel as much. This past month, it’s been Raleigh (twice), Tampa (twice), Austin (twice), Louisville and... well, you get the picture. C’est la vie.
Perched precariously atop the mountain of mail awaiting my arrival back home was a box - return address “Opus Communications.” Ah me, I thought to myself, another book promoter requesting a review of his or her new tome. It can wait.
After awhile (when I got sick of looking at nothing but bills), I relented and opened the package.
Tucked inside, all snug and comfy, was a flying pig.
Jack Hayhow, whom I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting, sent me a copy of his new book, The Wisdom of the Flying Pig - Guidance and Inspiration for Managers and Leaders. I receive review copies of business books all the time - but never quite like this. Rather than inserting a standard (and yes, boring) press release, Jack purchased one of those flying pigs with wings you see in airport gift shops - pop in a battery, hook it to the ceiling and watch it fly! Clever enough, but here’s where Jack went the extra mile... he wrote a personal note, commenting on my recent post about Opening Gestures, saying he hoped his surprise would qualify as a good example.
To say that I rarely mention business books (let alone review them) is an understatement. There are great blogs like 1-800-CEO-READ to do that for me. The Wisdom of the Flying Pig is remarkable (as Seth would say) in that it distills basic philosophy on management and leadership into tasty bacon bits that work for everyone from the small business owner to a corporate officer. It’s a quick read, nicely illustrated and well constructed. I can see that Jack isn’t relying on huge sales of the book - I believe his strategy is to spread the word, use the book as his “calling card” (turns out he has quite a name for himself in the management field) and get others to buy mass quantities of the book to share with colleagues and potential customers. It beats an ink pen or coffee mug any day.
Like I said, I get dozens of business books sent my way each year. What made Jack’s stand out was not the book but the presentation. I happen to know that Jack sent flying pigs to several of my colleagues - but his note, connecting the flying pig to my blog, made it relevant to me.
You go, Jack - I look forward to sharing your book with my clients.
As for the rest of the book promotion world - when will you go the extra mile to make your product or service relevant to those who matter? I know, I know... when pigs fly.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Torino Top 5: The Unedited version
Alas, we couldn't fit all of Nicholas' fabulous Torino Top 5 into this week's Sandbox Issue, so here is the full version in all its Olympic glory. Enjoy!
Top Torino 2006 Technology Challenges (in no particular order)
GPS maps
-- The European GPS units we rented for our two Edelman cars are programable in many languages. Though we selected English, we've often turned on the machine (which is generally temperamental) to find it has changed itself to Italian, French or German, impossible to read instructions to revert to English!
-- The team nicknamed one of the GPS units "Marcello" but we all have other four or five letter names for our little friend on the dashboard. We have gone through two mount units for the windshield (for the record, I only broke the first one).
-- While the main GPS voice is a charming British woman (the unit speaks to you to alert you of upcoming turns or change of direction), "Marcello" has a dark side with a voice like an ugly stepsister who speaks Italian. So you may be driving and hear, "Please turn left at the light" followed by a deep throated road name in a commanding voice "Cuorso Vitorio Emmanuele blah blah blah" (the streets are "corso" and "via" names).
Cell phones
-- We all have beautiful Samsung monolyth phones, but some only have Italian instructions. We had several hundred Euros of units for each during the first week, but there was Edelman calamity when most of our phones simultaneously ran out of funds. The only place to purchase recharge cards is the "Tabbacchi" (tobacco) stores with limited hours of operation, and most of us have commandeered bilingual Torino volunteers to charge our calling capabilities.
-- None of our U.S. alarm clocks keep time here due to the different electric flow (we used converters, but the timing mechanisms failed across the board). So each morning in the villa there is a round of "Arabesque" music echoing from room to room.
Smart car
-- One of the Edelman rental cars is a "Smart" car and from what I can tell the model is the "Passion" four-door. I guess the Games theme "Passion Lives Here" extends to the driving. At any rate, combined with the aforementioned GPS units, this car is hell on wheels! There is a hand shifter, but no clutch pedal, and for the first week we could not find reverse so there was a lot of pushing to back out of parking spaces.
-- Although the Smart car comfortably seats four, it is shorter than a Volkswaggen Beetle and looks like a tiny van. We got the midnight blue and silver edition, but in the fields around Casa Barilla coated the car with mud after Sunday's snowfall dampened the scene.
Digital camera
-- On my last night in Atlanta I found a Samsung digital camera that is so easy. I've taken 262 photos but have no clue how to download a single one of them. The best camera story involves our car radio. We kept hearing this beautiful Italian love song on the drive to town, so one morning we recorded it on the camera's video feature. Later, in a music store, we found a bilingual shopper to translate for the local sales clerk who successfully located the CD from our 10-second playback. Now we don't have to listen to the radio!
Top Torino 2006 Technology Challenges (in no particular order)
GPS maps
-- The European GPS units we rented for our two Edelman cars are programable in many languages. Though we selected English, we've often turned on the machine (which is generally temperamental) to find it has changed itself to Italian, French or German, impossible to read instructions to revert to English!
-- The team nicknamed one of the GPS units "Marcello" but we all have other four or five letter names for our little friend on the dashboard. We have gone through two mount units for the windshield (for the record, I only broke the first one).
-- While the main GPS voice is a charming British woman (the unit speaks to you to alert you of upcoming turns or change of direction), "Marcello" has a dark side with a voice like an ugly stepsister who speaks Italian. So you may be driving and hear, "Please turn left at the light" followed by a deep throated road name in a commanding voice "Cuorso Vitorio Emmanuele blah blah blah" (the streets are "corso" and "via" names).
Cell phones
-- We all have beautiful Samsung monolyth phones, but some only have Italian instructions. We had several hundred Euros of units for each during the first week, but there was Edelman calamity when most of our phones simultaneously ran out of funds. The only place to purchase recharge cards is the "Tabbacchi" (tobacco) stores with limited hours of operation, and most of us have commandeered bilingual Torino volunteers to charge our calling capabilities.
-- None of our U.S. alarm clocks keep time here due to the different electric flow (we used converters, but the timing mechanisms failed across the board). So each morning in the villa there is a round of "Arabesque" music echoing from room to room.
Smart car
-- One of the Edelman rental cars is a "Smart" car and from what I can tell the model is the "Passion" four-door. I guess the Games theme "Passion Lives Here" extends to the driving. At any rate, combined with the aforementioned GPS units, this car is hell on wheels! There is a hand shifter, but no clutch pedal, and for the first week we could not find reverse so there was a lot of pushing to back out of parking spaces.
-- Although the Smart car comfortably seats four, it is shorter than a Volkswaggen Beetle and looks like a tiny van. We got the midnight blue and silver edition, but in the fields around Casa Barilla coated the car with mud after Sunday's snowfall dampened the scene.
Digital camera
-- On my last night in Atlanta I found a Samsung digital camera that is so easy. I've taken 262 photos but have no clue how to download a single one of them. The best camera story involves our car radio. We kept hearing this beautiful Italian love song on the drive to town, so one morning we recorded it on the camera's video feature. Later, in a music store, we found a bilingual shopper to translate for the local sales clerk who successfully located the CD from our 10-second playback. Now we don't have to listen to the radio!
I'M TURNING CANADIAN
It hit me this week that since Feb. 15 most of my time has been in the company of 20 Canadians who manage British Columbia-Canada Place. I've made some great lifelong friends in the cabin, and I think we will need to open a satellite ATL office in Vancouver sometime by 2009. Tomorrow we have our final media event hosted by BC with delegates from Sydney, Torino, Vancouver, London and Beijing talking about how to make sure the host city/state/province governments will reap the benefits of hosting an Olympics. It's fascinating to work with the Associated Press Beijing bureau chief and about 30 of Canada's national media who have RSVP'd so far.
The Tonight Show live spot with taped segment from BC Canada Place aired last night and was incredibly possitive. Tom Green donned the Canada gear we brought to the late night set, and everyone at Edelman has an open invitation to the Jay Leno studio audience when next we are in LA. Al Roker and the Today Show entourage were easy to work with (though we had some tough negotiations at the last minute to set up a shot for them). I understand Entertainment Tonight's shots with pasta house were also well received back home. We now have a friend at the Arab Radio TV network (peer to Al Jazeera) which aired live from the Canada cabin.
But a press conference Edelman put on yesterday was the biggest media event I've ever seen. Four Edelman folks and three Johnson + Johnson global PR contacts put on J+J's announcement they would become an International Olympic Committee (IOC) global sponsor. We were in the massive Main Press Center (in the Fiat factory recently converted by High Museum expansion architect Renzo Piano) and I was in Olympic heaven with about a dozen IOC members, including the president, in the room. But when media started to arrive, it was like a flood. We lost count of media attendees at about 150, including 35 TV cameras and standing room only print media (dozens of reporters from four continents). My Rolodex runneth over!
To put the "feeling Canadian" remarks in context, on Wednesday I was invited to visit friends at the USA House operated by the U.S. Olympic Committee. While there it seemed like so many fellow U.S. folks were quite rude and "ugly Americans" by comparison to the Italian hosts and Canada Place team. I found myself having better conversations with the Torino natives working in the house, and I caught myself asking for the channel to be changed to the Canada speedskating events!
I'm ready to come home -- it will be sad and sentimental to close the Games, but exciting to see how our ATL office can get involved for China and Canada's big shows in 2008 and 2010. Thanks for everyone's e-mails with news from home, and for all teammates who have kept clients happy in my absence. Looking forward to being back there Monday. Arrivederci and Ciao di Torino!
The Tonight Show live spot with taped segment from BC Canada Place aired last night and was incredibly possitive. Tom Green donned the Canada gear we brought to the late night set, and everyone at Edelman has an open invitation to the Jay Leno studio audience when next we are in LA. Al Roker and the Today Show entourage were easy to work with (though we had some tough negotiations at the last minute to set up a shot for them). I understand Entertainment Tonight's shots with pasta house were also well received back home. We now have a friend at the Arab Radio TV network (peer to Al Jazeera) which aired live from the Canada cabin.
But a press conference Edelman put on yesterday was the biggest media event I've ever seen. Four Edelman folks and three Johnson + Johnson global PR contacts put on J+J's announcement they would become an International Olympic Committee (IOC) global sponsor. We were in the massive Main Press Center (in the Fiat factory recently converted by High Museum expansion architect Renzo Piano) and I was in Olympic heaven with about a dozen IOC members, including the president, in the room. But when media started to arrive, it was like a flood. We lost count of media attendees at about 150, including 35 TV cameras and standing room only print media (dozens of reporters from four continents). My Rolodex runneth over!
To put the "feeling Canadian" remarks in context, on Wednesday I was invited to visit friends at the USA House operated by the U.S. Olympic Committee. While there it seemed like so many fellow U.S. folks were quite rude and "ugly Americans" by comparison to the Italian hosts and Canada Place team. I found myself having better conversations with the Torino natives working in the house, and I caught myself asking for the channel to be changed to the Canada speedskating events!
I'm ready to come home -- it will be sad and sentimental to close the Games, but exciting to see how our ATL office can get involved for China and Canada's big shows in 2008 and 2010. Thanks for everyone's e-mails with news from home, and for all teammates who have kept clients happy in my absence. Looking forward to being back there Monday. Arrivederci and Ciao di Torino!
Thursday, February 23, 2006
What does your iPod say about you?
On a road trip a few weeks ago, one of my friends (the one that doesn't own an iPod) asked the others if would we rather live without our iPod or our digital camera. I was stumped-I almost always have both on me at all times. The camera captures all the moments visually, but the iPod is the sountrack to those moments. Then somone gave the best 21st century answer: "Luckily, I don't live in a world where I have to make that decision." I found this survey on one of my favorite blogs, the eccentric southern gentleman, and thought it might give a glimpse into some office personalities. I think the music a person listens to can say a lot about their personality. Although, I admit, I'm a bit embarressed that "Don't Stop Believing" is my number one played song-apparently my personality is a little bit cheesy. What does your iPod say about you?
How many songs: 679
Sort by song
First Song: #41-Dave Matthews Band
Last Song: Zero (Smashing Pumpkins)
Sort by time:
Shortest Song: Not Fade Away (1:49) Rolling Stones
Longest Song: Shine on you crazy diamond (17:32) Pink Floyd
Sort by artist:
First Artist: 50 Cent
Last Artist: Wide Spread Panic
Sort by album:
First Album: #1s -Beyonce
Last Album: You're Beautiful- James Blunt
Top Three Most Played Songs:
1. “Don't Stop Believing” - Journey (32 times)
2. Tie “Vienna” - Billy Joel & “Hurt” - Johnny Cash (28 times)
3. Ain't no Sunshine when she's gone (27 times)
First song that comes up on Shuffle:“Proudest Monkey" Dave Matthews Band
Search ….
“death”, how many songs come up? 1
“love”, how many songs come up? 42
“you”, how many songs come up? 74
"me", how many songs come up? 137
How many songs: 679
Sort by song
First Song: #41-Dave Matthews Band
Last Song: Zero (Smashing Pumpkins)
Sort by time:
Shortest Song: Not Fade Away (1:49) Rolling Stones
Longest Song: Shine on you crazy diamond (17:32) Pink Floyd
Sort by artist:
First Artist: 50 Cent
Last Artist: Wide Spread Panic
Sort by album:
First Album: #1s -Beyonce
Last Album: You're Beautiful- James Blunt
Top Three Most Played Songs:
1. “Don't Stop Believing” - Journey (32 times)
2. Tie “Vienna” - Billy Joel & “Hurt” - Johnny Cash (28 times)
3. Ain't no Sunshine when she's gone (27 times)
First song that comes up on Shuffle:“Proudest Monkey" Dave Matthews Band
Search ….
“death”, how many songs come up? 1
“love”, how many songs come up? 42
“you”, how many songs come up? 74
"me", how many songs come up? 137
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Ad clusters to change the way we view TV
Have you guys been paying attention to the new trend in TV commercials? The first time I saw an ad cluster, I thought maybe the local TV station just decided arbitrarily to run ads from the same company back-to-back. Turns out, according to the WSJ, that it's a new strategy by advertising companies to engage viewers. Apparently, clustering ads - running 3-4 back-to-back will get - and keep - our attention longer and we won't be able to pull ourselves away. We'll start actually looking forward to the next cluster because most clusters will become vignettes, or even mini-soap operas. So far, I've seen a few of these, but if they came during a show I Tivo'd, I skip right past them. Are they getting your attention?
Have you guys been paying attention to the new trend in TV commercials? The first time I saw an ad cluster, I thought maybe the local TV station just decided arbitrarily to run ads from the same company back-to-back. Turns out, according to the WSJ, that it's a new strategy by advertising companies to engage viewers. Apparently, clustering ads - running 3-4 back-to-back will get - and keep - our attention longer and we won't be able to pull ourselves away. We'll start actually looking forward to the next cluster because most clusters will become vignettes, or even mini-soap operas. So far, I've seen a few of these, but if they came during a show I Tivo'd, I skip right past them. Are they getting your attention?
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Edelman Atlanta
Edelman Atlanta
Randy Jones is on the 4-man bobsled team and worked with me at my previous job at an advertising agency. Everyone root for the team as they fly down the track! Nicholas - if you see him tell him Lisa Bokovoy said hi!
Randy Jones is on the 4-man bobsled team and worked with me at my previous job at an advertising agency. Everyone root for the team as they fly down the track! Nicholas - if you see him tell him Lisa Bokovoy said hi!
Hunting down those who keep secrets
Our veep certainly has been a target this week, huh? Rightully so. The media have continued to hunt him down, asking questions about the whole shooting incident that left his good friend full of pellets. He told Fox News that he agreed with the strategy to let Katharine Armstrong disclose the shooting accident to a local paper because he thought the story would likely be more accurate if told by someone who understands hunting. Gimme a break! It doesn't take a brainiac to understand that when you're aiming for quail, you don't shoot low. Let's give even those reporters who have never ventured out of the city a little credit for their ability to "get" what happened here. This isn't at all about journalistic accuracy. It's about one more incident of an arrogant politician thinking his "always play it close to the vest" strategy will work every time. I just hope this debacle will serve as a lesson to others that secrecy usually isn't the best way to go.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
HELP! MY KNEE! MY FINGER! by Nicholas in Turino
In Torino, the Unaccredited Media Center has proven to be THE place to get incredible information. In line to borrow a pen on Sunday, I noticed the person at the front of the information booth line was a producer from Entertainment Tonight. On Monday, we pitched her a visit to Casa Barilla (a special restaurant created as a hospitality house for the U.S. and Europe's No. 1 pasta manufacturer, an Edelman client) to meet Barilla Executive Chef Roberto Bassi and talk Italian cuisine. You can imagine we were surprised to learn that Nancy "My Kneeeeeee! Why? Why?" Kerrigan was later assigned to visit us to cook in Roberto's kitchen -- TODAY!
For those in our office who were still in elementary school in 1994, Kerrigan was a party to the pre-Olympic figure skating drama that unfolded when U.S. teammate Tanya Harding hired someone to bash Kerrigan's leg. Kerrigan went on to win a medal in Lillehammer, Norway, but she is still more famous for her on camera screams in the moment of the attack.
Kerrigan was great as a correspondent for the Games and for ET. She is mostly easy to work with (as were the LA-based producers), but a little bit of a whiner with all the steam and activity in the kitchen. Entertainment Tonight brought a small bus full of lighting and their crew transformed Casa Barilla's kitchen into a working studio for two hours. Last week I was charged with hiring a Milan food stylist to come to Torino for two days (if we need a food stylist in ATL, I will hire this woman as she was incredible!), and she helped dress the ET "set" we selected by the massive stoves where huge copper kettles are constantly simmering with sauces and fresh ingredients. It was so cool! AND Kerrigan even did a good job preparing her assigned recipe (we all tasted it off camera and it was very tasty).
We all had a moment of drama when Nancy thought she cut her finger with one of Bassi's large kitchen knives. I thought I heard Kerrigan say "My finger! Why?" but that may have just been the buzz of third Casa Barilla cuppucinno talking.
Tune in to Entertainment Tonight this evening (Feb. 15) to find out whether Kerrigan's finger made it into the spaghetti.
Coming soon: Tom Green and The Tonight Show visit B.C. Canada Place! We will be serving more Kraft Dinner!
Ciao!
Nicholas
For those in our office who were still in elementary school in 1994, Kerrigan was a party to the pre-Olympic figure skating drama that unfolded when U.S. teammate Tanya Harding hired someone to bash Kerrigan's leg. Kerrigan went on to win a medal in Lillehammer, Norway, but she is still more famous for her on camera screams in the moment of the attack.
Kerrigan was great as a correspondent for the Games and for ET. She is mostly easy to work with (as were the LA-based producers), but a little bit of a whiner with all the steam and activity in the kitchen. Entertainment Tonight brought a small bus full of lighting and their crew transformed Casa Barilla's kitchen into a working studio for two hours. Last week I was charged with hiring a Milan food stylist to come to Torino for two days (if we need a food stylist in ATL, I will hire this woman as she was incredible!), and she helped dress the ET "set" we selected by the massive stoves where huge copper kettles are constantly simmering with sauces and fresh ingredients. It was so cool! AND Kerrigan even did a good job preparing her assigned recipe (we all tasted it off camera and it was very tasty).
We all had a moment of drama when Nancy thought she cut her finger with one of Bassi's large kitchen knives. I thought I heard Kerrigan say "My finger! Why?" but that may have just been the buzz of third Casa Barilla cuppucinno talking.
Tune in to Entertainment Tonight this evening (Feb. 15) to find out whether Kerrigan's finger made it into the spaghetti.
Coming soon: Tom Green and The Tonight Show visit B.C. Canada Place! We will be serving more Kraft Dinner!
Ciao!
Nicholas
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Insanity In The Olympic City
Torino is alive, like a massive beating heart about to burst. In case you did not observe their messaging over the weekend broadcast, "Passion Lives Here" is one theme for the 2006 host city. For St. Valentine's Day, here are some examples of passion observed since Friday, Feb. 10:
-- Yoko Ono was definitely passionate at the Opening Ceremonies, but the gold medal moment was Luciano Pavarotti's opera aria. There was not a dry eye in the stadium! Seated between Mary Griswold (Edelman NY), a couple from Netherlands and behind a crew from Brazil and Switzerland, all four nations and the Italians behind were blown away with tears in our eyes (we had a good laugh about crying with joy at the event). It came to my attention later that Pavarotti no longer performs live, so this may have been his first and last stage performance in awhile. Bravo!
-- In the main piazza where NBC's Today Show set is located, on Friday there were about 200 people there at any given time. This piazza is about the size of all of Midtown Heights' footprint. On Sunday afternoon, this piazza hosted more than 50,000 people awaiting the medal ceremony with Kelly Clarkson! They were certainly passionate about her music, which echoed through the alleys of Central Torino all evening.
-- Speaking of Kelly Clarkson, in person she is a MORON! Some background to support this statement: The B.C. Canada Place is located next door to the Unaccredited Media Center for the Games, and in order to get free Internet I registered there as "freelancer for Georgia" which means that most of Torino's police and Games security think that I am from the eastern European nation rather than the Southeast U.S. state. With my "Georgia" media badge, I have taken late lunch breaks to attend the pre-event press conferences for the Medals Plaza concerts, and Kelly Clarkson's press conference was downright embarrassing. Every question got the same answer, which went something like this:
Italian reporter through translator: Where did you stay in Torino?
Clarkson: We stayed in the mountains, which was, LIKE, TOTALLY CO-OOL (two syllables for "cool")
Reporter: What do you like most about the Olympics?
Clarkson: The Olympics are really, like, CO-OOL and it is cold and stuff, which is CO-OOL.
Reporter: Were you ever an athlete? Do Olympians inspire your music?
Clarkson: Like, this is CO-OOL talking in Italian and STUFF!
Mama Mia -- Qui MORONO!
-- Today's afternoon concert press conference was with the Italian film soundtrack composer Ennio Morricone (of "Cinema Paridiso," "The Mission" and Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western fame (can you whistle the theme to "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly?)). I asked Morricone if he ever collaborated with "Chariots of Fire" Olympic-related soundtrack composer Vangelis or John Williams (Olympic theme composer for LA and ATL Games, and know for the music for "E.T.," "Star Wars," "Superman" and other film greats). Morricone replied he met them only once in 1984 and they did not "compare notes" as I put it in my question (get it? compare 'notes'?). I will miss the next few press conferences, but Whitney Houston is performing this weekend so stay tuned for "Being Bobby Brown and STUFF" from Torino!
-- BC Canada Place is now hosting more than 7,000 guest per day! What is all the fuss a-boot? We are now serving Kraft Dinner!
-- Casa Barilla will be live on CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 1:15 to 1:45 p.m. I'm working with a Milan-based food designer (booked for 500 Euros/$800 per day -- I think I may change careers) and the chef and will be standing behind the camera person freezing my butt off tomorrow. Could someone please tape this? We are passionate about Barilla pasta!
Ciao,
Nicholas
-- Yoko Ono was definitely passionate at the Opening Ceremonies, but the gold medal moment was Luciano Pavarotti's opera aria. There was not a dry eye in the stadium! Seated between Mary Griswold (Edelman NY), a couple from Netherlands and behind a crew from Brazil and Switzerland, all four nations and the Italians behind were blown away with tears in our eyes (we had a good laugh about crying with joy at the event). It came to my attention later that Pavarotti no longer performs live, so this may have been his first and last stage performance in awhile. Bravo!
-- In the main piazza where NBC's Today Show set is located, on Friday there were about 200 people there at any given time. This piazza is about the size of all of Midtown Heights' footprint. On Sunday afternoon, this piazza hosted more than 50,000 people awaiting the medal ceremony with Kelly Clarkson! They were certainly passionate about her music, which echoed through the alleys of Central Torino all evening.
-- Speaking of Kelly Clarkson, in person she is a MORON! Some background to support this statement: The B.C. Canada Place is located next door to the Unaccredited Media Center for the Games, and in order to get free Internet I registered there as "freelancer for Georgia" which means that most of Torino's police and Games security think that I am from the eastern European nation rather than the Southeast U.S. state. With my "Georgia" media badge, I have taken late lunch breaks to attend the pre-event press conferences for the Medals Plaza concerts, and Kelly Clarkson's press conference was downright embarrassing. Every question got the same answer, which went something like this:
Italian reporter through translator: Where did you stay in Torino?
Clarkson: We stayed in the mountains, which was, LIKE, TOTALLY CO-OOL (two syllables for "cool")
Reporter: What do you like most about the Olympics?
Clarkson: The Olympics are really, like, CO-OOL and it is cold and stuff, which is CO-OOL.
Reporter: Were you ever an athlete? Do Olympians inspire your music?
Clarkson: Like, this is CO-OOL talking in Italian and STUFF!
Mama Mia -- Qui MORONO!
-- Today's afternoon concert press conference was with the Italian film soundtrack composer Ennio Morricone (of "Cinema Paridiso," "The Mission" and Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western fame (can you whistle the theme to "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly?)). I asked Morricone if he ever collaborated with "Chariots of Fire" Olympic-related soundtrack composer Vangelis or John Williams (Olympic theme composer for LA and ATL Games, and know for the music for "E.T.," "Star Wars," "Superman" and other film greats). Morricone replied he met them only once in 1984 and they did not "compare notes" as I put it in my question (get it? compare 'notes'?). I will miss the next few press conferences, but Whitney Houston is performing this weekend so stay tuned for "Being Bobby Brown and STUFF" from Torino!
-- BC Canada Place is now hosting more than 7,000 guest per day! What is all the fuss a-boot? We are now serving Kraft Dinner!
-- Casa Barilla will be live on CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 1:15 to 1:45 p.m. I'm working with a Milan-based food designer (booked for 500 Euros/$800 per day -- I think I may change careers) and the chef and will be standing behind the camera person freezing my butt off tomorrow. Could someone please tape this? We are passionate about Barilla pasta!
Ciao,
Nicholas
Friday, February 10, 2006
Pebbles from the Sandbox
We receive so many great entries for the Sandbox, that we don't always have room to publish everything. Now that the Atlanta Blog is up and running, we'll publish the extras here whenever we can. This week we asked our interns what they really learned during their first week on the job. Here are some additional responses we received from our PR stars in training:
"I learned that it is not okay to park in the close parking lot even if it is your first week."
"I learned that if you work in the copy room long enough, you will meet everyone."
"I learned that you should plan to use at least five minutes waiting for a break to run across Spring St. and if you fall, you're screwed."
"The employees at Kinko's and Office Depot quickly become an intern's best friend."
"I learned that clear page covers and large labels are more valuable than gold, but those labels will never look exactly like they do on my computer as they do on Lindsay's computer. "
"The best meal deal on Fridays is Midtown Corner Café's California Club with chips and drink for only $5.49."
Stay tuned for all of the reasons we *heart* Edelman!
"I learned that it is not okay to park in the close parking lot even if it is your first week."
"I learned that if you work in the copy room long enough, you will meet everyone."
"I learned that you should plan to use at least five minutes waiting for a break to run across Spring St. and if you fall, you're screwed."
"The employees at Kinko's and Office Depot quickly become an intern's best friend."
"I learned that clear page covers and large labels are more valuable than gold, but those labels will never look exactly like they do on my computer as they do on Lindsay's computer. "
"The best meal deal on Fridays is Midtown Corner Café's California Club with chips and drink for only $5.49."
Stay tuned for all of the reasons we *heart* Edelman!
Feeling Very Olympic Today
Hello from Torino with update No. 2. The locals in Torino and thousands of guests have made the city wake up to the Olympics today! We crossed with the torch relay twice, fortunately on foot (traffic jams and my car issues are bad enough without police barricades for the flame).
The Barilla SMT went very well and we are looking forward to CNBC, CBS Early Show and other national hits next week. Meanwhile, all of Canada's dignitaries visited the cabin today and it was a huge media day there -- almost every Canada media outlet in Torino was in attendance to watch the minister and Canadian Ambassador to Italy play street hockey.
So, are you ready for this? We are going to the opening ceremonies in one hour! Traffic is already bad, so we may walk three miles. I can hardly believe it, and will call from the stadium to report in. But I can't tell you which client is carrying the torch! Ciao -- have a wonderful Olympic Weekend!
Nicholas in Torino
The Barilla SMT went very well and we are looking forward to CNBC, CBS Early Show and other national hits next week. Meanwhile, all of Canada's dignitaries visited the cabin today and it was a huge media day there -- almost every Canada media outlet in Torino was in attendance to watch the minister and Canadian Ambassador to Italy play street hockey.
So, are you ready for this? We are going to the opening ceremonies in one hour! Traffic is already bad, so we may walk three miles. I can hardly believe it, and will call from the stadium to report in. But I can't tell you which client is carrying the torch! Ciao -- have a wonderful Olympic Weekend!
Nicholas in Torino
Thursday, February 09, 2006
The real scoop on American Idol
My 16-year-old daughter got me hooked on American Idol in the first season and I've stuck with it ever since. This season has been a huge disappointment, primarily because the show has fallen victim to the concept of "keeping it fresh" by bringing us the fatal car accident approach - make it so bad that people can't help but watch.
Anyway, one of Sydney's best friends made it to Hollywood this season! She has a fabulous voice and great stage presence. Yet, once she got to Hollywood and went through extensive interviews, she was dismissed with this explanation: "You have a great voice, but you're just too suburban. Our PR people need a compelling story and you just don't have the soap opera background we're looking for."
They "comforted" her by telling her that "AI is not a talent show, despite what Americans seem to believe. It's just a reality show."
Maybe that's why it ran opposite the Grammys last night - it's not like AI was going to offer up some great new talent worth missing some bad old talent to see. Wonder how you'd promote a really talented kid with "no story"?
Anyway, one of Sydney's best friends made it to Hollywood this season! She has a fabulous voice and great stage presence. Yet, once she got to Hollywood and went through extensive interviews, she was dismissed with this explanation: "You have a great voice, but you're just too suburban. Our PR people need a compelling story and you just don't have the soap opera background we're looking for."
They "comforted" her by telling her that "AI is not a talent show, despite what Americans seem to believe. It's just a reality show."
Maybe that's why it ran opposite the Grammys last night - it's not like AI was going to offer up some great new talent worth missing some bad old talent to see. Wonder how you'd promote a really talented kid with "no story"?
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Tomba! From Nicholas in Torino
I am in the Olympic Rendezvous @ Samsung, eating pasta. Alberto Tomba (5 time gold medalist) and Peter Land are next to me. This is AWESOME!
Some greatest hits from the last 3 days/nights:
2 a.m. halftime viewing of the SuperBowl with Canada team.
Driving in Torino sans navigation system (if you think I have Tourette's Syndrome there, just wait ...)
Sitting behind Silver medalist Elizabeth Manley (Canada figure skater) on flight from Paris to Italy (she is working for NBC Radio and coming to Canada Place, our venue).
Our house is a trip! It is about 250 years old (date on the brick) and on the edge of town. It's like we're in Thomas Jefferson's Monticello! Our host is a 60 something bachelor who collects Napoleon Bonaparte historic items, so it's like a museum in the main house with plain jane rooms for sleeping. Peter Land is my roomate!
All is well. The food is quite good, even when Olympians aren't in the room. Will send more updates soon - heading to the Barilla set building (gasp, more driving!~)
Ciao, and Thank YOu for getting this allocation! hello and buona serra good afternoon to the team!
Nicholas in Torino
Some greatest hits from the last 3 days/nights:
2 a.m. halftime viewing of the SuperBowl with Canada team.
Driving in Torino sans navigation system (if you think I have Tourette's Syndrome there, just wait ...)
Sitting behind Silver medalist Elizabeth Manley (Canada figure skater) on flight from Paris to Italy (she is working for NBC Radio and coming to Canada Place, our venue).
Our house is a trip! It is about 250 years old (date on the brick) and on the edge of town. It's like we're in Thomas Jefferson's Monticello! Our host is a 60 something bachelor who collects Napoleon Bonaparte historic items, so it's like a museum in the main house with plain jane rooms for sleeping. Peter Land is my roomate!
All is well. The food is quite good, even when Olympians aren't in the room. Will send more updates soon - heading to the Barilla set building (gasp, more driving!~)
Ciao, and Thank YOu for getting this allocation! hello and buona serra good afternoon to the team!
Nicholas in Torino
