ZAPWATER REALITY
In recent months, television has become a crowded place for communications professionals. Public relations-based shows have popped up everywhere from BRAVO’s “Kell in Earth” to E!’s “SPINdustry.” Every publicist seems to be touting their tales of turbulent times in the industry, while every other publicist in the country clutches to their couch, praying that this won’t be another train wreck like MTV’s “PowerGirls.”
For those of you who didn’t watch, MTV’s “PowerGirls” followed New York publicist, Lizzie Grubman and team. The show positioned the lives of PR people as extravagant, from trips to the Hamptons to organizing P.Diddy’s White Party. Shopping break in the afternoon anyone? Surprisingly enough, Kelly Cutrone and her team at People’s Revolution (stars of “Kell on Earth”), have done a great job of showing what PR is really like. Tough work, long hours, and a “get it done” attitude but “do it right the first time.”
I recently picked up Kelly Cutrone’s book, If You Have to Cry, Go Outside. Inside it, you’ll find a random mix of things from her personal story (including stints with drugs and homelessness) to how to create your own religion. Some pages leave you wondering why you spent $22.99 to buy the book, but there are some key takeaways:
1. Build A Tribe: Seek out mentors and influencers that will help you along the way. Tap into these mentors for ideas, inspiration, and guidance – you never know when you’ll need it.
2. Clothes Don’t Make the Man or Woman, but They Help: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. That doesn’t mean investing in designer clothes or spending a fortune on apparel, but it means being put together and being prepared for the unexpected.
3. If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: This is a great lesson for professionals. When you make a mistake, don’t cry about it or complain, fix the problem and find a solution. The time you spend crying could have spent mending the situation.
Zapwater Communications tagline is “We Don’t Make the Headlines, Our Clients Do” – a tagline that we are all proud to be behind. The best publicists are ghosts, behind-the-scenes and always putting client’s interests and press before their own. With that said, expect to see incredible things from our team ahead. But don’t expect to see us on BRAVO anytime soon.
Jenn Lake
Creative Director