For me, while I do not work IN tech per se, I certainly aim to be an early adapter when it comes to tech, and I do use what technology has to offer in my daily profession.  The proliferation of blogging and social media has totally opened up the doors for how public relations professionals can do their job of “publicizing” with the use of such tools, and it has turned the media industry on it’s side.

The Re-Launch Party was a lot of fun with all kinds of my favorite Friends-in-Tech faces including but not limited to:  Matthew Caldecutt (fellow publicist and event enthusiast), Tiffany Winbush (another fellow publicist and creator of WomenMakingMoves.org), Brenda Dargan (InStyle.com), Felicia Sullivan (Author and my new favorite blogger), Alicia Granados (recruiter for Tek Systems), Lisa Lacy (Writer and Pie-Connisseur), Oz Sultan (Social Media Celebrity), Brett Petersel (of NextWeb / Mashable), Nelly Yusupova (of Webgrrls), and of course the GIT NYC girls: Amy Cham, Janine Just and Tommy Jenkins.

The most exciting part of the night, for me, though, was guest speaker: Juliette Powell.  Known to the New York Tech community as a media entrepreneur and author of the book, 33 Million People in the Room: How to Create, Influence and Run a Successful Business with Social Networking (which she so graciously gave me a copy of, to be my “Beach Read” on my trip to Turks & Caicos this weekend), I know her better for her days of MuchMusic fame.  She was shocked when I approached her to tell her I was a huge fan of hers when I was a teenager and she was a VJ on both MuchMusic and MusiquePlus (the french version) in Canada, and the host to the weekly Friday Night dance party, “Electric Circus.”  Holy, flashback! Turns out she is just as cool as she always was on TV and one very savvy Girl in Tech.

I look forward to the growth of the NEW New York Chapter.

*Juliette Powell (Photo courtesy of JuliettePowell.com)

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]

Andrew (Drew) Stern, an Ohio-native, is the Co-Founder of 3D Social Networking site, RipLounge (our client), and Seed Corn Advertising, both based in Los Angeles, CA.

On the show, Drew is portrayed as an introvert, who needs help from matchmaker, Patti Stanger, to come out of his shell, in his search for the perfect Jewish girl.  In the end, Drew and his co-star Laurence, both end up picking the same girl from the mixer, Whitney,  to go on the official date, and when forced to choose between the two–Whitney makes the no-brainer decision and goes with our boy, Drew!  Sparks fly on the date with Whitney, but we’re told that post-show, Andrew is back to the single life…

Immediately after the show first aired, we got an influx of calls and emails for Andrew, ranging from requests for his number, to pictures of these aspiring girlfriends-to-be, to offers for tickets to a Rascal Flatts concert this Saturday.  The top driver of traffic to our official website and our respective blogs was (and still is) different variations of “Andrew Stern of RipLounge.com / Millionaire Matchmaker.”  Andrew reports back that he’s since had 1000 friend requests on MySpace AND Facebook, and that Patti Stanger texted him to tell him his episode was the biggest show yet!

If you’re looking to get in touch with Andrew, feel free to drop us a line. We’ll be planning mixers where you can mingle with Andrew (virtually, that is) over at RipLounge.com.

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]

This year’s exhibit, “Heart Attack,” differs from last year’s portrait-style exhibit, “Call Me Crazy,” in that it is much more open to interpretation and varies in shapes, sizes, and price points.  Standing 55 pieces in full—Amanda has taken her 2009 audience into consideration, and priced out her pieces starting as low as $75/each (on up to $1200), so that all exhibit-going, art-lovers can fathom taking home a piece–if they like what they see!

Finding herself in a happy place personally, emotionally, and professionally—“Heart Attack” will reflect Amanda’s bright, colorful and fun energy.

The show will hang the full month of March at the Ward Nasse. To RSVP to this event, please email us at: AmandaDolan@AMP3pr.com.

*Plastic Fantastic by Amanda Dolan

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]

We started out at Chef Ji Cha’s event held at Mercury Bar, complete with drink & food specials (in true chef taste) and multiple big-screens boasting the dramatic season opener.  As a little girl, Ji grew up above her father’s restaurant on 57th Street, so both cooking and Hell’s Kitchen were two things that were never too far out of her reach.

Ji, one of this year’s 16 contestants, schooled all of her colleagues in round one where they were asked to prepare their “signature dish.”  Head Chef, Chef Gordon Ramsay, known for his strict reign in the kitchen, actually went as far as to say that he “loved” Ji’s signature dish (unlike many of the others which he wouldn’t even give the dignity of swallowing!).

*Hell’s Kitchen Contestant, Chef Ji Cha, with AMP3 PR’s Jackie Brook

Next, we headed over to Chef Seth’s screening party just blocks away at Hudson Terrace, where we caught the ending of the episode.  Seth winds up on the losing team of the challenge and is among the 2 nominated for elimination on night one.  At the party, as they were showing this suspenseful moment, Seth stood at stage right in the dark while the dramatic tv music intensified.  Ultimately, Seth’s opponent, Chef Wil got sent home instead, and as this was announced, Seth took the stage with a Rocky-style victory dance to the mass applause of his hometown friends and fans.

*Hell’s Kitchen Contestant, Chef Seth Levine, with AMP3 PR’s Jackie Brook

The prize for this season is a quarter of a million dollars PLUS the position of Head Chef at The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City.   Our money is on Chef Ji!  Tune in Thursday nights at 9PM ET on FOX as the race continues.

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]

It was awesome to see Paul on the decks on Saturday Night, in the Home of Hip-Hop of all places (Brooklyn), and to see that the New Yorkers were losing it over his skills! He put on an incredible show, and I have the battle-wounds on my right leg to prove it .

Check out my interview with the master himself to learn whats next for Paulio!

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]

Lady Gaga got things started and then Natasha Beddingfield starred as the opening act – which I must say, was worth it in and of itself, girl can sing and I am digging her new one-sided mullet, surprisingly.

But when the lights dimmed, and the familiar beats started to kick in – I was gitty like a little school girl on Christmas morning, in a really fun way! Then, from under the stage emerged Jordan, Danny, Jon, Joey and Donnie – and the nostalgia of my first childhood celebrity crush rushed back to me. Well, my first two, I should say, I was always undecided between Joey & Jordan, and their boyish good looks. My sister was a “Donnie” girl through and through, as she was already into her teenage years full swing and able to appreciate that “bad boy appeal” that she told me I would understand one day.

Last night – I did. I heart Donnie Wahlberg. When I first heard about the reunion album & tour, I was actually surprised he was up for the challenge. He was the one fella among the crew who actually managed to attain a fairly respectable follow-up career in acting and I didn’t think he’d be up for the ridicule. But as it turned out, he was eating this up to his fullest potential, and I liked it.

There were 2 defining moments in the show for me:

1) when Jordan took the stage for his solo bit, and emerged on stage in black pants and an unbuttoned & opened white dress shirt (and nothing under it) with industrial fans conveniently positioned to blow it off of him, a la Step By Step video, a memorable image from back in the day that was so cheesy, and so amazing! (Click here to experience what I am talking about). All that was missing was his stellar rat tail!

and 2) when Donnie, who had been wearing a blinged-out Boston Red Sox baseball hat throughout the entire show came out and said, “Because I love you guys, I’m going to do something that could get me killed,” and he threw off the Boston had and replaced it with a blinged-out Yankees hat–the crowd went wild. I noticed though, that by the next set, he was back to his Boston hat — guess he couldnt handle the disloyalty to beantown for real.

In other news, Joe was looking good and like he was also really enjoying this and Danny made a sweet gesture to the crowd, noting that they had designed a t-shirt for his mom who passed 9 years ago due to breast cancer, and proceeds would go to the Cancer Foundation. Not surprisingly, Jon was fairly mute throughout the show and we both noticed he was always placed next to his brother, in any of the choreography. (Jon has suffered from panic attacks since the break-up of the band and talked publicly about his fear of being in public, especially when surrounded by large audiences, on Oprah in 1994. It’s ok Jon – you did great!).

We left the stadium 3.5 hours later, fully fulfilled, partially def, and with a reinvigorated love for the New Kids. They played all of their old songs and impressed us with some of the new. I would seriously go again tonight if I could. They are so dreamy. Sigh…

PS – I forgot how much I love the song “No Games”. That’s a classic.

(Alyson Campbell for It’s All Very PR)

This time, Jillian was set to interview my client, Amber Lee Ettinger AKA “The Obama Girl” and all we needed was the venue. So I called up Sam, event planner over at the newly-opened Haven, and he was happy to have us. What I forgot was that Jillian was the one who originally introduced me to Sam, when she met him during his stint at Slate Plus, 3 years ago, while she was on the prowl for a venue for a “Survival of The Wildebeest” promo party, one of our AMP3 indie film clients at the time (which just premiered at the New York Independent Film Fest, congrats Joe Wolf!). I later met Sam through Erica (of AMP3) and again through Marcus (my jazz client), so needless to say, Sam is basically Kevin Bacon.

The taping went great. The chemistry between Jillian & Amber on screen was fun, as Jillian explored the stigmas surrounding her “Obama Girl” persona and tried to get the dirt on who Amber really is and what’s shes all about besides her Obama crush. The camera man was also very skilled, Andrew Baxter, who tells me he’s a “permalancer” at BET, and I had to work that tidbit into this blog, as I am now fascinated by the oxymoron-ness of the word “permalancer”.

Then, while at the space for the taping (which was the perfect location BTW), we propositioned that Jillian film a segment on the space itself, since it is a very unique New York venue with its worldly décor and global tapas menu. To my surprise, after following Haven quite closely in the past few weeks, as Jillian went to interview the co-owners, I realized that one of the two was Jorge, Jorge of Tillmans, who I also met via Erica, back when Tillmans was one of our fav after-work places. If you havent tried the French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese Sandwich… you must! Yes – soup IN a sandwich. And I don’t even like French Onion Soup – so trust me when I say, it’s major!

This is not news to me, but for the rest of you, I’ve got to say that Jillian is a true talent. A host at heart, she’s the perfect balance of fun & energy with natural investigative reporter instincts and the ‘piece de resistance’—her genuine interest in her interview subjects. Stay tuned for more info on the debut of The Jillian Marie Show, details TBA soon. And if you have a potential segment idea to pitch to Jillian, you know where to find me!

(Alyson Campbell for Its All Very PR)

]]> http://itsallverypr.com/2008/10/announcing-the-jillian-marie-show/feed/ 0 http://itsallverypr.com/2008/10/ella-opens-on-a/ http://itsallverypr.com/2008/10/ella-opens-on-a/#comments Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:07:22 +0000 alyson http://itsallverypr.com/?p=301 Last night, after an AMP3 Cali meeting w/ Helen & OJ, we stopped by the opening of ELLA, a new piano bar and cocktail lounge, to support Ms. Bob Bland, of Brooklyn Royalty, who designed the flapper-inspired uniforms for the wait staff.

*Brooklyn Royalty Designer, Bob Bland, with friend Brenna Wallace, in her custom uniform designed for the cocktail waitresses at Ella!

The new space is nestled between Library Bar and 2A on Avenue A between Houston and 2nd. After you enter through the dark black doors that isolate the club from the outside world, you immediately escape into a time warp of Hollywood glamor and the roaring 20s. With black & white checkerboard floors, framed vintage portraits, hanging chandeliers, and down in the basement, a piano man pounding away on an upright piano, Ella has a romantic yet laid-back feel.

*Helen & I enjoying the scene

Opened by established nightlife players Joshua & Jordan Boyd and Darren Rubell (brother of Steve Rubell of Studio 54 Fame), Ella becomes part of a thriving (and extremely gentrified) neighborhood now being dubbed The L.E.V. (Lower East Village!). Josh Boyd got his start back in 2004, when he opened his East Village bar Plan B, literally as a Plan B after an unsuccessful attempt at becoming an actor! (A fun little tid bit for me, as Plan B was part of our stomping ground back in the days of Erin & I living @ 4th & B.) The Boyds again teamed up with Rubell, for the opening of Gallery Bar on Orchard Street, a new twist on nightlife that exhibits art from both emerging and established talents while also offering a bi-level lounge.

*Spotted: the bartender / dj from our days @ Plan B manning the DJ booth!

Today, they have Ella. So I guess Boyd can officially call the past four years a VERY successful attempt at nightlife! And I have to say, I love it…

*Atmosphere Shots:

Ella on A, makes me wanna sing: Ella Ella Eh Eh Eh, Under my Um-br-Ella A A….

(Alyson Campbell for Its All Very PR)

PART 1

We started out at the Van de Weghe Fine Art Gallery in West Chelsea, where they were unveiling the The Octagon Exhibition by Kevin Lynch, a series of Before & After photos taken of UFC fighters, before & after a fight.  When I got the invite in the mail, I immediately knew this event was for OJ, as he is my MMA guru and a huge fan.  I don’t think any of us realized, though, that there would be such excitement in the air at the gallery, and that a handful of the fighters would show for opening night.

As we swiveled through the gallery, one-by-one, OJ pointed out people who were “a big deal” in the industry, giving me a brief bio pulled from his wealth of knowledge on each, in 30 seconds or less.  I felt like I was Meryl Streep and he was Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada, getting the scoop on who’s who whispered in my ear, and then acting like I knew who these people were! (OJ: sorry for the girlie analogy, but its true!)

*A look at the exhibit; this whole wall can be yours for $150K

We said our hellos and shook hands with Kenny Florian (lightweight contender, smart guy, and co-host of MMA Live), Matt Sera (former welterweight champion, Long Island native who owns 2 local Sera Jiu Jitsu schools, and the first ever American to earn his black belt under Renzo Gracie) and most excitingly, the outspoken President of The UFC, Mr. Dana White, who OJ informs me purchased the dying UFC in 2001 for $2M with the help of his childhood friends Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, owners of Station Casinos in Las Vegas (who Patrick McMullan tells me later showed up after our exit).

*OJ with Kenny Florian

*OJ & Ruddy with President, Dana White

What was most-shocking was how star-struck I got when Chuck Liddell walked in, since his is really the only name I can associate with the UFC (other than Royce Gracie, wow, flash-back to my days of watching Regan & Ryan wrestle all day long, “he has him in the royce gracie!”), so who knew I was a fan? Turns out I am.  Chuck Liddell is bad a$$. I heart him.

*Chuck getting interviewed by the crowd

*Me & Chuck AKA The Iceman. He’s huge!

*The only pic of OJ & I from the night, courtesy of PatrickMcMullan.com

PART 2

Riding in style in OJ’s new Mini Cooper Clubman, we cruised down to the Lower East Side in the rain for a Barack Obama-inspired “Vote for Change” fundraiser @ Gallery Bar (on Orchard & Rivington).  Our friend, my client, and huge democrat supporter Ms. Bob Bland was there, contributing some of her Brooklyn Royalty handbags to the Silent Auction which employed the lower level of the space, as well as selling her super cute, “Vote Barack Obama, Brooklyn Royalty approves this message” t-shirts, of which she so graciously sent OJ, Ruddy, & I home with.

Party-goers were on a mission to be active in the campaign, with discussions of Obama circulating the room, and a general mentality that we all have the ability to help in some way, but now is the time, on November 5th, it could be too late.  As a Canadian, and thus non-eligible voter, Bob assured me that if I have an opinion in this race, I can do my part by convincing eligible voters to register, proclaiming that she had already converted 1 religious republican to swing the other way in 2008.  How?  She’s not sure, but the tangible result is there!

*Designer Bob Bland in her signature Obama Tee Design

*Bob & I

PART 3

After a quick slice at Rosarios (AKA the BEST pizza in town), we were back in the mini coop and on our way to our final destination in the Flatiron District, The Metropolitan Room to see my client, Jazz Vocalist Marcus Goldhaber perform in Night 2 of his Double-Header Pre-Release Concert Series, in anticipation of the new album streeting on November 10th, 2008, “Take Me Anywhere”.

Marcus’ performance is an escape to a different time. After 2.5 years of working with Marcus, I can say that he operates with the manors and goodness reminiscent of the 1930s (the era, from which he sings). He always holds the door, he never gives the impression that he’s in a rush (like most New Yorkers cant help but do), and he’ll give you the coat of his back (and he actually did, later on, because it was raining on our way out). To top it off, he carries a pocket watch, and has never listened to Justin Timberlake .

Taking in a Marcus show is a relaxing throw-back, to a simpler time, and a simpler place. It was the perfect way to cap off our hectic and diverse evening, with a glass of white, good company, and great music. Not only is it exciting to see the growth in Marcus’ live performance since the beginning of his career, and to hear brand new original material that seems to be flowing out of him like an unstoppable force nowadays, but I have to say, his band, “The Jon Davis Trio” were on point as well: Jon Davis (piano), Martin Wind (bass), and my favorite: Marcello Pellitteri (drums). I’m always a sucker for great percussion.

As we strolled out of the space post-concert, we decided to pop in a venue next door to wrap on the show and cap off the evening. *Cute New Venue Alert* Catch 22 on 22nd between 5th & 6th. I knew when we arrived at the door that it is apparently the new “it” spot (and I’m told on Friday Nights, it is especially so), when I saw Andrea Westinghouse (now Mrs. Andrea Westinghouse Imposimato) working the door. Andrea is an NYC Nightlife Door Staple, who works the newest of the new clubs and the hottest of the hot events, because of her talent for recognizing who’s who, and making sure the VIPs get the VIP treatment, and DO NOT wait in line when they show. Andrea was also the door girl at the deceased Happy Valley Nightclub, one of my most exciting clients of 2006 known for its gaytacular Tuesday Night party thrown by Nightlife Royalty Susanne Bartsch. Andrea is now married to former Happy Valley Nightclub owner, Sal Imposimato (I attended their beautiful Union Square wedding last May), and is with child! She was glowing and beautiful at 3-months pregnant last night. Congrats guys!

*Marcus discovering a fellow pocket-watch holder over at Catch 22!

So there you have it, after a fun-fillled evening of nice fighters, active democrats, and mellow jazz-enthusiasts, we called it a night. Another random and amazing NYC day under our belts!

(Alyson Campbell for Its All Very PR)

By the end of her 4-year college career, Lauren had completed 18 internships (yes, 18 – you do the math, that’s MORE than 4 per year), including: MTV, NBC, Trans Continental (Lou Pearlman; holler!), Us Weekly, FOX, BWR Public Relations, Seventeen Magazine, and Showtime—just to name a few.

When I later got a call from LB telling me that (while still in college, mind you) she had been hired by a certain unmentionable weekly celeb tabloid to station herself in Baton Rouge, LA to stock Jessica Simpson’s every move during the filming of Dukes of Hazzard (and later infamously reported on Jessica saying to her assistant at the gym: “what happens on location, stays on location”), my initial assumption that this girl was destined for utter greatness was solidified.

Today, the Hollywood-based reigning Intern Queen has partnered with the website Quarterlife where she is offering up her consulting services; matching quality interns with quality internship experiences (including the AMP3 PR gig!), a very cool synergy for everyone involved.

Check her out on KTLA’s weekend edition, making her (unofficial) publicista (aka: me) v. proud. Brava, Lauren!

(Alyson Campbell for Its All Very PR)