Bernays Sauce

The Dangers of Careless Social Media Use

2011-03-16T13:48:00.000-05:00

(Cross-posted at the AlexanderG Whiz PR Blog.)

Social media is a magnificent thing…unless your ability to think your actions through is a tad lacking. Case in point:

The images of the devastation wrought by Japan’s worst-ever earthquake and tsunami stunned the world. But as the death toll climbed higher, one student at the University of California decided it was the perfect time to film a racist rant about Asian students – and post it on YouTube.

In the three-minute clip, a blond girl, named on the internet as Alexandra Wallace, complains about Asian students using their cellphones in the library – and speculates they’re “going through their whole families, just checking on everybody from the tsunami thing.”
via Alexandra Wallace: YouTube racist Asian rant on day of Japan tsunami | Mail Online.

We’ll spare you the hideous video–it’s all over the net if you want to see it.
Our advice is simple: Just like that heated email reply, nasty note or furious phone call–don’t post anything to the net until you’ve had time to ask yourself:

Does this clearly demonstrate my intent?
Is there any way this will harm others?
Could this backfire and ruin my project, career or even my life?

Words, said, written or recorded in anger or during a period of thoughtlessness may dog you forever on the internet. Just ask Gilbert Gottfried, the now-former AFLAC Duck voice fired for stupid remarks about the tsunami on Twitter.

Special word to parents: please discuss this type of thing with your kids before they go to college (heck, talk to them about it when they’re old enough to use a computer!). Besides the usual warnings about Facebook behavior, now you will want to add that posting videos should be carefully considered. It only takes moments of flip thoughtlessness (or worse–unvarnished bigotry) captured by a camera and uploaded to the world for a person’s life to be forever tarnished.

The Award-Winning Book Trailer for Thriller Novel "Pilate's Cross"

2011-03-14T01:13:00.017-05:00

The Award-Winning Book Trailer for the thriller novel Pilate's Cross, produced by T2 + Back Alley Films, a nationally recognized digital media agency that creates all forms of new media content.

Pilate's Cross has a bit of everything—action, romance and spine-chilling suspense. Mr. Greenwood has a very strong voice for mystery storytelling. His style is to tease and draw you in, and that’s exactly what happened when I read his book. Now I must wait patiently for his next one to be further thrilled by the adventures of John Pilate. ***Big 2 Thumbs Up***

--Eden Baylee, Author of Fall Into Winter

For more reviews, links, excerpts and an interview with the author, visit PilatesCross.com. Get it in paperback from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Lulu. Ebook fans may order it for only $1.99 in any ereader format from Smashwords.

Bonus offer! Get a free short story ebook and excerpt of Pilate's Cross here.

Advice for "Solopreneuers" from Redhead Writing

2011-03-13T12:17:00.001-05:00

Starting or running your own small business? Then you know it's fraught with the potential for missteps and blind alleys that can slow you down.

So why not save yourself some trouble and check out this great advice from "solopreneur" star Erika Napoletano, aka Redhead Writing? Here's a sample:

Trade is crap. It’s a very fine line and there’s little margin for error. Someone always ends up getting the short end of the stick. If you’re looking for ways to build a portfolio, I think it’s better to quietly do work for pennies on the dollar and later raise your rates than give it away for something that’s unequal in value.
You’re not a freelancer. You own a business. Start treating what you do like a business from day 1 because sooner or later, you’re going to wish you had.
Pick a ditch to die in. Take a stand. Believe in something. Being wishy washy gets you nowhere. Grow a pair. When you stop caring about the people who will never like you, the coolest thing happens: you find the people who actually do.
Your target customer is not “everyone.” I watched roughly twenty six-minute pitches from startups on the DEMO Conference live feed this week, and not one startup stood up on stage and said that “everyone” was their target customer. Take a hint.
There will always be naysayers. If everyone agrees with you, you’re doing it wrong. But then again, if everyone disagrees with you, you just might be doing it wrong, too.

There are 14 more great nuggets of wisdom, so check out the rest of the post here.

Join Us at the 2011 Kansas City Arthritis Walk at Zona Rosa

2011-03-13T09:47:00.003-05:00

We're involved with the Arthritis Foundation's efforts to help people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases -- the nation's most common cause of disability.
May is National Arthritis Month and the Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation’s nationwide, signature fundraising event with more than 200 Arthritis Walks across the country.
Arthritis is more widespread than imagined, affecting nearly 50 million American adults and more than 300,000 children.
The Kansas City Arthritis Walk will be held Sunday, May 22^nd at the Zona Rosa Shopping District in North Kansas City (610 N. Dixon, KCMO 64153). People are invited to sign up, form a team to fundraise for the Arthritis Foundation in the months leading up to the event and to walk together on May 22^nd.
Each person who fundraises $100 or more will receive an official Arthritis Walk t-shirt. Funds raised go to arthritis research, programs and services and patient advocacy efforts. For information on how to register, please visit www.afwalkkc.kintera.org, or call (913) 262-2233.
Day-of event details:

This event runs from 8 am to 10 am.
The walk route will be less than 1 mile, making it accessible for all participants.
Participants will enjoy refreshments, games, face-painting, live entertainment and raffle prizes.
As many as 1 in 5 adult dogs get arthritis. Dogs on leashes who are accompanied by their owners
are welcome to participate in the Kansas City Arthritis Walk.
Worth Harley Davidson will be leading the Walk this year on motorcycles.

We hope to see you there! If you set up a team or join a team, please leave us a comment below and we'll help you get the word out via social networks about your efforts to raise much-needed funds.
For information, please contact our pal Annie Noonen at (913) 262-2233, ext 110.

PR Tip #345

2010-11-16T04:38:00.000-06:00

If a public relations firm promises to get you media coverage, they're probably doing one of two things:

1. Lying (to you and/or themselves).
2. Actually selling you an ad.

Look for another firm that tells you the truth: they will put their skills, contacts and creativity to work to give you a great shot at publicity--but they cannot guarantee anything.

KC A Pivotal Point in Musician's Career

2010-11-15T16:36:00.000-06:00

Dan Coyle Performs Nov. 16 at RecordBar--Free CD with Every Ticket

Kansas City has been very good to Dan Coyle, and now the acclaimed singer songwriter Dan Coyle aims to give something back by launching his new CD at RecordBar Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.

Coyle has twice played the KCRiverFest Independence Day Festival in Kansas City as well as other local venues. He had such an enthusiastic welcome from Kansas City audiences that he chose to offer his new CD "You Linger Your Little Hour And Are Gone" free to every ticket holder at his RecordBar appearance Tuesday.

"In 2007, I got my first big break when I played at the Folklore Alliance Conference in Memphis. From there I started to make some fans, got some exposure on some NPR stations. Things went pretty well until early 2009, when my Dad died," Coyle said.

"I lost some momentum. I wasn't working until KCRiverFest 2009 got me back on the road."

"I stayed in close contact with the people from Kansas City and it gave me this sense of hope that there was a need or a want or a market for my kind of music and I needed to get out and do things again. Kansas City gained this little place in my heart from what it did in breaking me loose from the stagnation. It wasn't a big break in the traditional sense but it got me back where I needed to be. I'm thrilled to be back in KC."

Tickets are $10 at the door or may be pre-ordered online. Every ticketholder gets a free copy of his new CD. RecordBar is located at 1020 Westport Road in Midtown Kansas City. Call 816-753-5207 for directions or more information. Singer Kevin Hiatt will open the performance.

Coyle recently completed a tour of the Seattle area and is preparing for a European Tour in February.

Coyle's music has been described by Alexandra McKay of the Prince Street Press as "Bright musicality and sunny inflections almost hide the thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics that are woven throughout this album. A lo-fi live recording that's simple without being simplistic, and utterly charming."

"It's an acoustic mix of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, with some soft and hard edges to it." Coyle said.

Coyle has released five albums to date, including "Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences" and "Briar Street: The Acoustic Sessions." His latest album is scheduled for wide release December 1. He has toured nationally, playing everything from small venues to concert halls to massive festivals.

For more information about Dan Coyle's music, including his complete tour schedule, song samples, video, interviews, reviews and special offers, visit www.dancoyle.com. Follow him on Twitter @Dan_Coyle and on Facebook.

Online ticket preorder here.

Media Relations Strategy: Opportunity Has a Secret Knock

2010-07-28T18:08:00.001-05:00

Learning the “secret knock” on the door of opportunity is key when dealing with today’s news media. Check out this brief presentation to learn more.

Media Relations Strategy: Opportunity Has a Secret Knock

View more presentations from AlexanderG Public Relations.

KCRiverFest Entertainment Lineup Announced

2010-06-22T16:00:00.002-05:00

Gold Record Winning ‘Head East’ Returns to Kansas City

Rock and roll legends, country stars, jazz and ragtime acts will take the stage at KCRiverFest July 3 & 4.

Presented by Friends of the River—Kansas City, the acclaimed festival returns to Richard Berkley Riverfront Park for a sixth year with a diverse lineup of bands and an 18-minute fireworks spectacular by internationally-renowned Zambelli Fireworks. Again, festival goers will also be treated to a six-minute “sneak preview” fireworks show on July 3rd at approximately 10 p.m.

Legendary gold-album certified band Head East will headline on the Friends of the River Main Stage at 8:30 p.m. July 3rd. Head East has Missouri roots and has appeared in more than 5,000 concerts over the past 25 years. From St. Louis to Seattle and Dallas to Detroit, Head East has performed in every major city and market in North America. Led by founding member, keyboardist and producer Roger Boyd, Head East is one of the hottest, most exciting live shows touring today.
Other acts appearing July 3rd acclaimed guitarist Fast Johnny Ricker, bluesman Rich Berry, the Bluecat Creole Band and Chicago-based singer/songwriter Dan Coyle. Coyle was a crowd pleaser at last year’s KCRiverFest.

July 4th entertainment will feature the best in country and jazz, with performances by returning KCRiverFest favorites Bayley Kate and Phil Vandel. The all-girl group broadBAND will lead in to the wildly popular U.S. Air Force Shades of Blue Jazz Band. As in years past, the Shades of Blue will perform patriotic standards and tributes to the Armed Services, culminating with the 18-minute fireworks show over the river by the First Family of Fireworks, Zambelli International.

Besides the Friends of the River Main Stage, two new stages will offer something for everyone. The Show Me Stage presented by Radio Disney is under a shade tent and features children’s entertainment. The children’s zone in the stage area offers inflatables and other activities, including Tom Mancuso of Sit Means Sit Dog Training. As seen on Animal Planet, Mancuso will return to demonstrate the Sit Means Sit dog training method.

KCRiverFest will feature the best in ragtime and jazz musicians at the Americana Pavilion presented by the Kansas City Ragtime Revelry. Grab a seat under the shade tent as emcee Bill Long (known by ragtime fans for his years emceeing Sedalia's Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival) keeps the Americana Pavilion hopping both days of the festival welcoming the best in ragtime performers. Acts include the New Red Onion Jazz Babies, TurpinTyme Ragsters, Marty Mincer, Frederick Hodges, the Rhythmia, the Sunflower Ragtime Orchestra and many more.

2010 marks the inaugural year of a new tradition: the First Annual KCRiverFest Canoe & Kayak Invitational Championships. Be sure to be at KCRiverFest at 3 p.m. July 4th to watch these river racers challenge themselves and their competitors on the Mighty Missouri.

The U.S. Army Strength in Action Zone returns, featuring an Apache helicopter simulator, Guitar Hero stage, dog tags and the Army fitness challenge.

Complete schedules, a new map of the park and detailed information about performers are online now at www.KCRiverFest.com. Regular priced adult tickets are $6 at the gate, but may be purchased online for $5 at www.KCRiverFest.com. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted online. Children age five and under are admitted free of charge. Only cash will be accepted at the gate.

Community groups and individuals may volunteer at KCRiverFest. More information and volunteer applications are available at www.KCRiverFest.com or by calling 816.960.3400.

A special package deal is offered by the Downtown Marriott, including a room with a panoramic view of the fireworks and tickets to the festival. A link to the special hotel package for KCRiverFest visitors is posted on www.KCRiverFest.com.

Sponsors for KCRiverFest include Friends of the River—Kansas City, the Port Authority of Kansas City, the Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund, U.S. Army, Midwest Living magazine, Burns & McDonnell, Mazuma Credit Union, Country 94.1 KFKF, Q104, Mix 93.3, Star 102, ink, Radio Disney, Capitol Federal, Clear, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, DST Systems, BNSF, Ameristar Cares, Central States Beverage Co., Isle of Capri Casino, GE Energy, HNTB, King Hershey, Konrady’s, Corporate Branding, Liberty RV, Missouri Bank, Missouri Gas Energy, Downtown Kansas City Marriott, the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, Lockton, TranSystems, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, the Session Law Firm, Sound Check and Bartlett and West.

Friends of KCRiverFest include American Red Cross, the Hon. Mayor Richard Berkley, Centerpoint Properties, Cold Storage Lofts, Enterprise Rent A Car, Jim & Ann Foil, Chris & Lois Gutierrez, Hanson Professional Services Inc., KPMG, Kansas City Garden Railroad Society, Kansas City Kite Club, Kansas City Parks & Recreation, Kansas City Water Department, Mark Laverentz, North Kansas City Levee, J. B. Reynolds Foundation, Taliaferro & Browne, Tetra Tech, Tradebot Systems, Trinity Transport Foundation, Turner Construction and The View Condo Association.
KCRiverFest is produced by EventPros, Inc., Kansas City’s creative meeting, event and communications resource. Visit EventPros on the web at www.EventProsInc.com.

EventPros Quoted in Nat'l Mag: Social Conscience Marks Corporate Special Events Today

2010-05-12T15:08:00.001-05:00

Check it out:

With top managers eager to burnish their corporate image with a cynical public, many event professionals are adding an altruistic element to the special event programs they create. From local programs to nationwide campaigns, the focus today is on demonstrating the host's sense of social responsibility.

"Community involvement is becoming more prevalent in our corporate culture," according to John Short and Bill Svoboda, owners of Kansas City, Mo.-based EventPros. "Clients are decorating holiday events with toys that are subsequently donated to children's charities, and hosting their employee picnics in conjunction with public fundraising events to ensure their employees are aware of the company's civic commitments."

KCRiverFest Updated, Facebook Page Launched

2010-04-20T16:33:00.004-05:00

Friends and fans of KCRiverFest 2010 will be cheered to learn that the main website, www.KCRiverFest.com, has been updated, and a brand spankin' new Facebook page is also a going concern.
Come on by and check out the latest on THE Summer Festival of Kansas City!

Veach Joins EventPros

2010-04-05T16:15:00.004-05:00

Sauce fans will be happy to learn that Douglas D. Veach has joined EventPros, Inc. as business development associate.

Douglas is a great guy and will be doing some cool stuff at EP--he will spearhead EventPros’ business development operations as the company continues its growth in Kansas City and expansion to markets outside the Kansas City metro area.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, Veach has worked previously in the real estate and construction industries with success in sales, marketing and management. He was a partner in the construction of two commercial retail centers and previously founded a landscaping firm.

“We’re very excited to welcome Douglas to our team,” said Bill Svoboda, EventPros co-owner. “His strong entrepreneurial background is an ideal match for the EventPros corporate philosophy. Douglas will certainly be a major asset as we look forward to continued growth in our community and beyond.

Svoboda and EventPros co-owner John Short graduated the Kauffman Foundation Fast Trac and Growth Strategies entrepreneurial programs; both are advocates of the Kauffman entrepreneurial philosophies. Since 2002 EventPros, Inc. has grown to five employees.

Award-winning EventPros, Inc. produces corporate special events, trade shows and meetings. Locally, the company produces the KCRiverFest July 4th festival as well as numerous corporate meetings, celebrations and special events. Outside Kansas City EventPros has been recognized for their work planning events in Texas, California, Connecticut and Puerto Rico.

For more information visit www.EventProsInc.com or why not give Douglas a call 816.960.3400.

Welcome aboard, Douglas!

Strategy, Strategery and Management By Hair on Fire

2010-03-29T14:52:00.001-05:00

In my 20 years in the world of work, I like to think I’ve seen just about every permutation of communications/message management. I’ve worked for companies or organizations that set up intricate, focus group-driven strategies and never budged a millimeter from those plans.

Conversely, I’ve worked places that had ’strategery’: they thought they had a strategy–perhaps even had one on paper, but in real life it was really pretty seat-of the pants stuff. It was all do/say what works well at the moment, worry about future implications later.

The third type of communications management I’ve experienced is by far the worst: hair on fire. The hair on fire plan involves one faction of the organization demanding a coherent strategy, another part bucking that strategy; and a third, ultimately dominating faction who believe in a nihilistic, “damn the torpedoes” flurry of activity–running around with their hair (figuratively) on fire. Every day is a new day. “The strategic plan’s a great idea but it doesn’t apply today” or “we have a strategy?” and activity (however fruitless or pointless) equals performance.

All three of these communications/messaging management areas have their problems–even the competent, stick-to-it strategy (there needs to be some “wiggle room” even in the best strategy).

However, even strict, no-improvising adherence is usually better than sitting down for a day or two and hammering out a strategy then locking it in a drawer and rarely revisiting it– ala strategery.

Strategery-oriented organizations know in general what they’re supposed to be doing, but somehow January becomes June and June becomes October and very few communications-related goals are achieved because strategic plans are not followed or even revisited for tweaking. In effect, they are an exercise like climbing the rope ladder at a team-building event–you feel good about completing it and everyone pats each other on the back, but it has dubious far-reaching benefits.

Hair on fire: well, all I can say about that is good luck. If you work in an organization that cannot come to grips with a coherent, basic communications strategy and instead spends all its time and energy reacting instead of managing communications to prevent brush fires, then you need help. Fast.

All it may take is one PR crisis, the loss of key personnel or a competitor with its stuff together to start your company on the path to failure.

Which communications management does your company or organization practice? Do you have any horror stories–or better yet, stories of hair on fire being doused by a competent strategy? Let us know in the comments section–you can remain anonymous.

Originally posted at the AlexanderG Whiz Blog.

Shaken Not Stir Fry

2010-03-29T14:46:00.005-05:00

or: A Quantum of Stir Fry

In keeping with the Sauce's predilection for good recipes, we present this offering, loosely inspired by James Bond (somehow).

I’ll be the first to cop to being a pretty boring cook. Unless it was toast, eggs, spaghetti or something you could put on the grill I was reliably Dr. No. However, one evening in a fit of inspiration I gave my wife a break and created this dish using ingredients we had on hand. It’s now a family favorite (at least I think it is).

The shot of vodka is really the only thing remotely tied to James Bond, but hey, it sounds cool. Tastes alright, too.

Have fun with this—you don’t need all these ingredients (you may not eat meat–hey, whatever works for you) or you may want to add some ingredients of your own. It’s really up to you. After all, you only live twice, 007.

Your License to Kill…The Ingredients:

1 medium-sized red, yellow or white onion, chopped

1 medium-sized red pepper, chopped

1 medium-sized green pepper, chopped

1 medium-sized yellow pepper, chopped

1 clove of fresh garlic, chopped

Optional: Fresh diced tomatoes, chopped

¾ cup of olive oil*

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

* Or 1/4 cup butter

1-2 tsp crushed black pepper

1-2 tsp kosher or sea salt

14 oz. summer “rope” sausage or kielbasa, sliced

Louisiana Hot Sauce

1 shot of vodka

3 cups No Yolks egg noodles

5 cups water

From Q…The Tools:

1 medium-sized skillet

1 medium-sized pot

Strainer

Spatula

Walther PPK (Kidding…)

The Mission

1. Heat olive oil and balsamic vinegar (or if you choose, melt REAL butter—if you use margarine I don’t know you) in a medium skillet over low heat. Add onion, pepper(s), garlic (tomatoes if you choose) and sauté all over low heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add sliced sausage or kielbasa—they should resemble little coins of flavor amidst a sea of veggies. Move the pieces around in there frequently.
3. Season with Louisiana Hot Sauce, black pepper and salt to taste, stir frequently.
4. Add 3 cups of egg noodles (or noodles of your choice) to 5 cups boiling water. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until tender.
5. Cover skillet and let cook 10 minutes—especially good when sausage starts to blacken at edges. Juice should be red and taste a little spicy. Add more olive oil and vinegar if necessary.
6. Drain noodles.
7. Try not to let the skillet contents overcook, as vegetables will become too soft.
8. Add shot of vodka just prior to serving, stir.
9. Serve vegetables, sauce and sausage over noodles in wide bowl. I prefer chopsticks, but it’s a little labor intensive. (Keep in mind, though, the chopsticks are an effective weapon in case Blofeld and his cat shows up uninvited.)
10. Serve with wine, beer, Vesper martini or any other beverage.

Enjoy and try not to let it drip on your tuxedo—Moneypenny will notice!

Originally posted at AlexanderG Whiz Blog.

Blogging Here and There

2010-03-05T15:56:00.002-06:00

Hi we're doing a lot of blogging here these days, so if you want more sauce, just say G.

Toyota Does the Right Thing

2010-01-27T08:34:00.006-06:00

UPDATE (2/5/10): Perhaps we spoke too soon...our bad. Though Toyota did admit there was a problem, turns out they have made many, many PR and management missteps on the way to this point. We apologize for not investigating further. --Ed

Toyota rocked the already shaky automotive industry yesterday by announcing the halting of sales of their top models until they fix a potentially fatal defect.We've said it before, we'll say it again:

Mistakes owned-up to quickly are a matter of forgiveness. Drag your feet, dissemble or lie and it becomes a matter of corruption, criminality or mistrust. Ducking or covering up and apologizing only after you have nowhere else to hide--or under court order--will effectively destroy your reputation and cost you in money, energy, time and brand equity.

Toyota screwed up their cars. They are doing the right thing to prevent complete destruction of their brand image.

What do you think? The comments section is open.

Dominos Turning It Around?

2010-01-08T10:51:00.000-06:00

What if your product wasn’t good? What if your customers tell you that your product isn’t any good? What do you do? The natural reaction is likely to get defensive and tout the aspects of the product that you think are strong and shy a way from conversations that are negative about your product. This means that social media marketing for your business is likely out of the question. However, what if you had the opposite reaction and tackled the negative head on. Domino’s Pizza did.

Happy New Year from Bernays Sauce

2009-12-31T13:47:00.003-06:00

May your 2010 be better than 2009....shouldn't be too tough in many instances. Be sure to check back here throughout next year for PR news, tips and views, and feel free to comment.
Best wishes.

Happy Hollandaise from Bernays Sauce and EventPros

2009-12-23T08:20:00.006-06:00

We hope it's been a banner year for you, and if it hasn't here's hoping things turn around in 2010.

In the meantime, being holiday time again, we're proud to present to you our favorite Béarnaise Sauce recipe, courtesy of John Short at EventPros, Inc.

The Best Béarnaise Sauce
Ingredients:
1 lb 4 oz butter 1/8 tsp peppercorns, crushed 1/8 tsp salt 3 Tbsp tarragon vinegar 2 Tbsp cold water 6 egg yolks 1 Tbsp fresh tarragon cayenne pepperlemon juice
Instructions:
Clarify the butter. Keep it warm but not hot.
Combine the peppercorns, salt, and vinegar in a saucepan. Reduce until dry.
Remove from the heat and add the cold water. Transfer the diluted reduction to a stainless steel bowl.
Add the egg yolks and beat well.
Hold the bowl over a hot-water bath and beat the yolks until they are thickened and creamy. Do not overcook them or they will curdle.
Remove the bowl from the heat. Using a ladle, slowly and gradually beat in the warm, clarified butter, adding it drop by drop at first. If it becomes too thick to beat before all the butter is added, beat in a little of the tarragon vinegar.
When all the butter has been added, beat in lemon juice to taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and cayenne. If necessary, thin the sauce with a few drops of warm water.

Variations:
For Hollandaise Sauce delete tarragon and tarragon vinegar - replace each with lemon juice
For Mousseline Sauce fold 1 cup whipped cream into basic Hollandaise Sauce
Other variations: Substitute each for tarragon/tarragon vinegar – Paloise Sauce (fresh mint); Maltaise Sauce (orange juice with orange zest); Mikado Sauce (tangerine juice with tangerine zest); Choron Sauce (1/2 cup diced Roma Tomatoes).

Be creative!

Happy holidays. Stay safe.

PR Trend Predictions for 2010

2009-12-18T16:41:00.001-06:00

We tend to agree with these points from Communications Catalyst:

What does 2010 hold for PR pros?

I’m sorry to say that I don’t have a crystal ball – for that matter, I don’t even have a Magic 8 Ball – but there are a few trends I think we’ll see unfold over the next 12 months.

So to kick up some lively conversation about the immediate, short-term future of PR, here are four trends I think we’ll spot in 2010.

1. PR Pros Will Learn that Social Media isn’t a Three-Trick Pony. Okay, we get it. Corporate blogs and Facebook and Twitter. There’s nothing wrong with using them, but if you don’t think those three platforms are the beginning and end of many social media proposals these days, you’re kidding yourself.

PR people will begin getting past the shiny object syndrome of these three and realize that it’s a big digital world out there. They’ll start to better understand technology and the possibilities it unlocks online – or hire and/or partner with people who do.

Why?

Other than being a smart business decision, the next best reason is that many advertising and digital agencies DO understand technology and platforms, and how to leverage them to develop creative content and efforts online for clients. If PR people don’t get smarter about this in 2010 and look beyond “Tweeting 101” as a prominent example of the social media value they bring to the table, advertising shops are going to eat their lunch.

Read the rest here.

December and All That...Larry King Rambling Style

2009-12-01T08:54:00.008-06:00

Just a little end of the year housekeeping, Larry King style...you can find your humble editor on Twitter here, follow me for news, tips, personal junk and the outright banal...The Raspberry Dinosaur blog is in the running for funniest blog of the year...Poor Sooners had a rough one, hope Coach Stoops doesn't go to Notre Dame...EventPros has work all the way until Christmas, so not too shabby...we would love to help you plan your 2010 events and PR (we do more than special events, remember?!), just contact us...more soon...until then, have a great week.

Thanksgiving is Upon Us

2009-11-23T11:36:00.004-06:00

A great bit from Armada:

There are all kinds of holidays in the US. Some of them are pretty low key affairs that hardly require much planning. St. Patrick’s Day is all about finding the shamrock pin and getting some green on. The reaction to Mother’s day and Father’s day both require some attention to food but only in the sense that one requires attendance at a restaurant and the other involves grilling in some way. But then there is Thanksgiving and no holiday is so strategic in nature. It starts with the travel that is often required. This is the week that most of us learn just what a mess the airlines are in. I can only suggest my personal mantra at this stage – “if Southwest doesn’t go there – neither do I”. Some will drive and learn that the nation’s infrastructure still needs that stimulus money.

Analysis:
The real strategic comes when dealing with the family. This is the holiday when all those to whom we are related feel compelled to make an appearance – the time when we become painfully aware that we don’t choose our relatives. They will descend upon some hapless member of the clan who has been designated host but few of the guests will even make an attempt at being gracious. There will be all the food demands (I don’t eat this and can’t stand that and must have that). There will be the relatives who bear long standing grudges against one another and will have to be separated at some point. There will be examples of really lax child rearing and terrified pets to contend with. The US demonstrates solidarity with traditional Islam at this holiday as there is no point when there is more segregation by gender – men in thrall to the TV and women in the kitchen. But once the tryptophan kicks in, there is that wonderful moment when everybody is too stuffed to squabble and we all have a chance to acknowledge that our family is no more dysfunctional than the neighbor’s.

Holiday Parties On A Budget Can Be As Simple As A Potluck With A Plan

2009-11-16T08:22:00.007-06:00

Has the dreaded down economy put a damper on your company’s holiday cheer? No worries, with an eye on your budget and a little planning you can still turn the dreaded “office potluck” into something festive and hip.

“Lavish, chic corporate holiday parties are one of my favorite events to plan,” said Lisa Holst, a certified meeting planner with EventPros Inc., a Kansas City-based special event and communications services firm. “However, it can be just as fun to transform an office or someone’s home into a fabulous event space.”

“You don’t have to be extravagant to throw a holiday party,” Holst said. “Keeping it simple can be just as nice. Start with designating a planning committee. You will be surprised at who might volunteer and how creative a group of people can get.”

“A successful event, regardless of how much money you spend, should appeal to all five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing),” she said. “If you can master this it’s sure to be a great time.”

Tips from the EventPro:

What, When and Where
The options are endless. Consider turning that lunchtime potluck into an after work cocktail party or dinner in the office. Look for an associate willing to volunteer their home. Make it cocktails and appetizers, perhaps desserts only; or go big and plan for dinner. You can still do this on a small budget.

The Food
Have your planning committee design the menu by assigning who will bring what. It can still be a “potluck” it just needs to be a “potluck with a plan”. I’ve had great success doing this with friends. A more frugal approach is to work with your local grocery store or favorite restaurant in designing a menu. Don’t be afraid to ask for something different that’s not on their menu.

The Décor
“Keep it simple stupid” is a rule to live by. Simple is classy. There are so many hip, festive things you can do for little to no money. Have your planning committee designate an overall theme and try not to stray from it. Get into your personal décor inventory from home: if everyone has black table cloths, start there. I helped plan an event with friends and we were each responsible for designing our own tables of ten from china to centerpieces. Each table ended up with a different holiday theme from a collection of nutcrackers to a vintage collection of oil lamps as centerpieces, and what a great excuse to use grandma’s real silverware and the fine china that collects dust! Traditional florals such as poinsettias or fresh garland (smells good too) with votive candles or twinkle lights are always a classic. Your local farmers markets are a great place to find these seasonal plants.

The Entertainment
The possibilities are endless. This is a great time for your coworkers to bring out their hidden talents. You never know-- you might have an “American Idol” amongst you or a DJ wanna-be. There are also many cool video games out there like Wii or Playstation. Recently I attended a party and the “Dancing with the Stars” Playstation game was a huge hit. The new “Band Hero” might stir up some excitement as well. Of course, the simple elegance of traditional holiday music from an iPod playing softly in the background also works.

“Holiday fun doesn’t have to be a budget breaker,” Holst said. “And of course, if you have some budget available, look into hiring a professional event planner. You might be surprised at how affordable and indispensable they can be. A planner also affords you the luxury of focusing on the fun instead of worrying about the details.”

For more information, contact Holst at EventPros, Inc. at 816-960-3400 or visit the website at www.EventProsInc.com or on Facebook.

Mark Ragan: Getting Inside a Speaker's Head

2009-11-15T10:38:00.005-06:00

As a former politician and speechwriter for a college president, I can affirm that these tips from Ragan PR are right on target. Click here to hear Chuck Toney, Policy Analyst and Speechwriter at the University of Georgia, tells us how he got inside UGA President Michael F. Adams' head and how this helped him write better speeches for Adams. Great stuff. Listen carefully--not only to this video, but the person for whom you are writing.

EventPros Partner Quoted in Kansas City Star, Grand Forks Herald Today

2009-11-10T08:13:00.007-06:00

EventPros Partner John Short was quoted in not one, but two major metro newspapers today. The Kansas City Star's Business section sourced him in an article about cool places to hold your office holiday party:

“There are lots of really cool, fun places to have events in Kansas City,” said John Short, a partner at EventPros in Kansas City. “Sometimes it actually can be a little less expensive to go to an off-premises location rather than a hotel. Some locations are able to work with you in ways that hotels can’t.”

There's more from John and some great tips on planning your party in the article. Click here to read more.

Not satisfied to be in just one major publication, John's Op/Ed in the Grand Forks, ND Herald was also published today. If he gets published one more time, he's scored the hat trick. Wait a second, he's made Bernays Sauce, that counts for something, doesn't it? (He says yes.)

Check out an excerpt of John's Op/Ed here:

The Central Association of Physical Plant Administrators held their annual conference at the Alerus Center and Canad Inns in September. About 250 people attended the roughly four-day-long event.
We wanted to take a minute to praise Grand Forks and a few of the incredible people who represent it.
We could easily write volumes about the level of service we received from each of these groups, but for the sake of brevity, we’ll just mention their names along with a sincere thank you for the tremendous reception we received.

Read the entire piece here.

Congrats John, on preaching the gospel of good events!

KC's Kramer Wins NOW Award

2009-11-03T15:27:00.004-06:00

Woo hoo! Your humble editor digs Ms. Kramer's Twitter teachings and also enjoys her wry wit. Congrats Shelly--we'll buy your next martini.

From the press release:

Shelly DeMotte Kramer, co-founder of Kansas City-based V3 Integrated Marketing, was recently honored at the 140 Character Conference in Los Angeles as a winner of the NOW Award.

The conference was conceived and created by Jeff Pulver, one of the pioneers of the VoIP industry and a leader in the emerging TV on the Net industry. Pulver is a globally renowned thought leader, author and entrepreneur. He is the publisher of The Pulver Report and and creator of the industry standard Voice on the Net and is the co-founder of VoIP provider, Vonage.

Pulver’s purpose in creating the 140 Character Conference was to bring together people with many diverse backgrounds and levels of expertise, all of whom were actively engaged with and utilizing the microblogging platform of Twitter. The focus of the event was the State of NOW, and the impact of the real time Internet on business and industries. The 140 Conference events, which are held globally, are an opportunity for people who are passionate about Twitter as a platform as a language we speak today to get together and share community, exchange thoughts and together map out a future, exploring the effects of living in the real time Internet.

It Is Not Heroic to Show Up to Work Sick

2009-10-30T09:34:00.004-05:00

Great commentary from the folks at Armada Corporate Intelligence, who write the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Daily Business Brief:

The End of “Typhoid Mary” at the Workplace?
In the panoply of things that have bugged me for years (and there are so many) is the determination of people to spread disease in the name of corporate gamesmanship. We all have these people in our midst. They struggle in to work hacking, coughing and sneezing. They can’t function at all as they are in the grips of the flu or some other malady but they think they are showing commitment and loyalty by
showing up to infect everybody else. They refuse to stay home and carry their illness like a badge of honor I am equally baffled by the company that doesn’t demand they take sick leave or at least encourage it. Have they not noticed that one afflicted person will soon ensure that the whole staff is falling apart. Things appear to have changed a little with H1N1flu.

Analysis: Now the reactions are different. People are aware that this strain is brutal and they don’t want it. I have now seen people who would be tolerated in the old days receive the kind of shunning that used to be worthy of a religious cult. One guy was attempting to board an aircraft in the grips of an explosive case of the flu and no less than three fellow passengers provided him with a face mask accompanied by threats that he had better keep it on or suffer bodily harm. I have seen offices issue strict orders that the sick stay home and well away from colleagues and there are far more hand washers in the public toilets than usual. It can only be hoped that this pattern continues once this year’s crisis passes. It is NOT heroic to show up sick. It is selfish and massively inconsiderate.

Thursday Excerpt: Stop the Social Media Madness

2009-10-29T10:24:00.002-05:00

Logical Juice has the Sauce today...

Excerpt:

I speak to large and small companies on a daily basis and everyone seems to say the same thing: “We have to get in on social media marketing.” Some companies are taking the lead to do it themselves. They are establishing “social media” or “new media” or “digital media” departments that will head up the company’s social media initiatives. They are asking about tools that will monitor the social space and easy ways to distribute content. And of course, everyone wants to know about tracking and reporting. Some are going through a very rigorous exercise of shutting down renegade bloggers and using taskforces to establish guidelines and standards prior to foraying into the social space. And yes, there are still a small few who haven’t quite drunk the Kool-Aid®. For this article, I want to focus on the enthusiasts – companies that are eagerly entering the social media space.

To give you a sense of how many are doing just that, Facebook fan pages are being added at the rate of 24,000 per day. It’s clearly reached a critical mass, and most companies at this point are eager and enthusiastic to get going. Last year, companies exhibited a lack of urgency and interest in social media – this year, they are trying to more than make up for “lost time” and in some cases are forgetting their common marketing sense. For all the companies that are getting themselves “some of that social media,” I ask you to please take a deep breath and consider a few things before you drive yourselves – and your companies – down a wrong path.

First, do not establish a new silo in your company. If social media is leveraged correctly, it can influence and impact multiple organizational functions – not just marketing (advertising, direct, promotion and PR) but sales, operations, HR, customer service, product development and research. Social media should not be sanctioned to one department in a company.

Read the rest here.

Get the Scoop on Social Media (in Plain English)

2009-10-20T14:04:00.000-05:00

Boost Your Festival Attendance

2009-10-20T09:08:00.005-05:00

No strangers to festival production ourselves, we found this article from Special Events magazine worth a read for all you budding (or struggling) festival organizers out there.

Excerpt:

The economy may be in a slump, but that doesn't mean you have to lower expectations for your event. Sometimes it simply takes a good hard marketing push to pull in the crowds. Three festival experts show us how they use everything from uber-popular Facebook to still-relevant direct mail to do just that.

MUSIC PEOPLE

THE PULL: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival brings in 400,000 attendees annually to the legendary city for a celebration of Louisiana music and culture. The seven-day end-of-April affair offers 12 stages of musical options ranging from jazz, gospel, rock, and rhythm and blues to Latin and African music. Headliners Aretha Franklin, Joe Cocker and the Dave Matthews Band have graced the stage of the event, which dates back to 1970.

THE PUSH: “The festival's Web site is the most aggressive Internet-based marketing tool,” notes Louis Edwards, associate producer of promotions. But he stresses it's mainly a source of information. “With an event the size and scope of Jazz Fest, it's difficult to get too cute without being confusing,” he says. “We strive for clarity.”

Beyond the Internet, the festival's organizers rely on good, old-fashioned print and radio advertising, both locally and in major metropolitan cities across the U.S. In fact, paid advertising has “proven extraordinary,” according to Edwards.

Read the rest of the article here.

Water's Promo Uses Power of Positive Drinking

2009-10-16T11:00:00.032-05:00

One of the pardners at the ranch here is managing an event in California, and he needed to track down some bottled water for the client. He stumbled across this one, which we Midwesterners found delightfully...er, um...well, I guess the only word we could come up with is "Californian."

H2Om water is billed as "water with intention." Now, my first impulse is "Hey, that's great, but I don't want my water to have any other intention than to hydrate me." H2Om explains further:

H2Om is the world’s first interactive water. While you drink, use the words on the label as the driving force in creating your own intention. Visualize great, extraordinary, vivid, mental creations. For the good of you, for the good of mankind, for the good of the planet. Drink in the thoughts as you absorb the crystal clear vibrationally charged spring water, then resonate the positive energy throughout your day.

They also say that "scientific studies have shown that water is directly effected by the words, sounds and thoughts it is exposed to."

Prepositionally awkward sentence structure aside, that sounds kind of unlikely to me. But I'm not here to bury H2Om (or drink it, for that matter. I avoid bottled water for environmental reasons). My intent is merely to share the interesting marketing strategy, which includes celebrity endorsements (Jim J Bullock drinks it!) and sharing the power of positive drinking. The company also contributes to many eco-friendly causes, which is of course a good thing.

The real appeal may best be summed up by Sandy Fox, H2Om co-founder: "People feel good about purchasing H2Om because they know they are contributing to a cause larger than themselves. That's why I believe we are so popular with Hollywood's celebrity role models."

It appears to be working for the water with intent. Even though there are critics, such as the Gallery of Water-related Pseudoscience ("Emoto-style nonsense creates a water"), this California aqua seems to be selling. Their press describes it as "hot in Hollywood," and their website has plenty of photos of celeb role models (!) posing with plastic (Ed Begley, Jr., shame on you!) bottles of liquid intent. It is also available in some Whole Foods locations.

The Sauce

Good for them on tapping into the celebrity/activist pool to push their product. However, their initial press release announcing the water in 2006 had this one drop of info I find conflicting:

Newly released statistics by Beverage Marketing Corporation show U.S. bottled water sales and consumption continuing to rise as consumers increasingly choose bottled water over other commercial beverages. This upward trend was reflected in 2003 category volume of nearly 6.4 billion gallons, a 7.5 percent increase over 2002, and a 2003 bottled water consumption level of 22.6 gallons-per-capita, compared to 21.2 gallons per capita the previous year. These statistics demonstrate continued consumer demand and appreciation for the convenience and good taste of bottled water brands consumed on-the-go, during exercise, at restaurants or meetings, and at home or the office.

If they are an eco-friendly brand, how do they get around the damage plastic water bottles do to the environment? I know that's not their intent, but it has to be a public relations consideration. They deftly "answer" the question on their website by talking up the non-toxic qualities of the bottle.

Intentionally or not, landfills are not discussed.

Small Biz Missing the Boat on Social Media

2009-10-09T13:28:00.005-05:00

Small business is ignoring one of the most cost-effective, targeted means of reaching new customers and keeping current clients: social media.

Take a look at this excerpt from a story posted by Reuters:

Few U.S. small businesses have adopted social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter for business uses, according to research released Thursday.

Three-quarters of small businesses say they have not found sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn helpful for generating business leads or expanding business in the past year, according to a survey conducted for Citibank Small Business of 500 U.S. businesses with fewer than 100 employees.

Also, 86 percent said they have not used social networking sites for information or business advice. Ten percent said they have sought business advice and information on expert blogs.

The low number of small businesses using such sites for business purposes was unexpected, particularly as social media use has grown overall, said Maria Veltre, executive vice president of Citi's Small Business segment. Citibank is part of Citigroup Inc.

"We were very surprised we did not see more use of some of the social media outlets, even if just for advice," she said.

"What this survey indicates to us is small businesses are very, very focused on running their business and on generating sales and managing their cash flow and doing the things that are really important, especially in these economic times," Veltre said. "I don't think quite yet the social media piece of it has proven to be as significant."

The survey found 42 percent of small businesses have made greater use of their company websites to generate business leads and sales.

The Sauce

Small businesspersons ignore social media at their peril...

Not a lot of analysis needed here. Small business is missing out on some heavy artillery by ignoring social media such as blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

As a small businessperson, I get it that people are very focused on the nuts and bolts of running the business and keeping afloat. But social media--with a relatively small investment in time--can be a major boon to stabilizing or even increasing business.

It's all part of the religion we preach about being proactive in an economic downturn. If you're not using every tool available to reach new customers and keep current customers you may "save" some funds and effort now, but I assure you, you're going to pay later.

Join EventPros on Facebook

2009-10-09T10:22:00.002-05:00

Come on, become a fan!

Click here.

Ad/PR Agencies More Likely to See Clients Cut Spending

2009-10-08T14:52:00.003-05:00

A mixed bag from AdWeek...excerpted:

While detecting greater client optimism than they'd encountered earlier in the year, CEOs of privately held advertising and public relations agencies are still more likely to see their clients cutting than fattening budgets during the rest of 2009. That's among the key findings, at any rate, of a global survey of such CEOs, released yesterday by Worldwide Partners Inc. and ECCO International Communications Network.

Just 22 percent of the ad/PR agency CEOs said they expect client budgets to increase during the rest of this year, vs. 34 percent anticipating further cutbacks. Already, 76 percent of those polled said clients had reduced their 2009 spending through September.

This pattern of austerities comes despite 78 percent of respondents saying "their clients were 'more optimistic' about the business climate in their region than at the beginning of the year." One dreads to think what would be happening to budgets if clients were not becoming more optimistic.

The survey also found a trend away from "budgetary commitments" on the part of clients. "When asked if clients had stopped making annual budgetary commitments due to economic pressures in 2009, 76 percent of the CEOs globally responding said 'yes,'" according to the report.

Under the circumstances, it's hardly surprising that the ad/PR firms have been reducing their own staffs. Forty-two percent of the survey's global respondents (including 47 percent in North America) said they've reduced the full-time head count this year. Looking to the rest of the year, though, 65 percent of global respondents said they expect staff levels to hold steady, and 24 percent think staffing will increase. In North America, 71 percent said they expect the head count to hold steady through the rest of 2009, and 29 percent think it will rise.

Congrats to EventPros

2009-10-06T12:11:00.003-05:00

We've done it again, this time scoring a rare honor from a noted educational association:

EventPros, Inc. was honored with the President’s Award at the recent Central Physical Plant Administrators (CAPPA) annual conference in Grand Forks, N.D.

The honor was bestowed for EventPros’ years of exceptional work in producing the regional conference. This marks the first time in CAPPA history that the honor has been conferred upon a conference planner.

Of course, when you have great clients like CAPPA, it makes it all the more flattering!
Read the rest here.

Brand Lessons from Starbucks to Star Trek

2009-10-02T16:18:00.007-05:00

My column in the October, 2009 issue of KC Small Business is on making your employees into brand ambassadors. As an unapologetic fan of both, I thought Starbucks and Star Trek were good examples. So, here's a taste. Click on the link below the excerpt to beam over to the entire article.

Excerpt:

The heart of your repeat business model is the mechanism that perpetuates the best aspects of your company: your employees. Some of the best companies in the world foster a culture that makes employees into brand ambassadors. The company trains and empowers employees to embody the company’s brand message.

At Starbucks, everyone from the barista to the CEO is on message about the company’s environmentally friendly, pro-trade policies and giving customers the “coffee shop experience” with every cup. Even better, Starbucks has been successful in making their customers into brand ambassadors. It speaks volumes that in today’s challenging economy, you still see brand-loyal people start their day with the iconic, premium-priced Starbucks cup in hand.

[...]

So how do you make your employees into brand ambassadors? Start with your “elevator speech.” If you were on an elevator and someone asked you what your company does, could you explain it in a coherent, appealing way in less than a minute?

[...]

Let’s take a page from the summer blockbuster movie Star Trek. You don’t have to be a Trek fanatic to know the mission statement of the starship Enterprise: “To seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.” In All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Watching Star Trek, Dave Marinaccio aptly points out that every crewmember—from the lowly (and generally short-lived) red-shirted crewman to the elite bridge officers—knows the ship’s mission and “brand.”

Read the entire article here.

Of course, hailing frequencies are open (the comments section) for your thoughts, mind-melds, or favorite barista joke.

Trade Show Exhibitors Use Social Media to Promo Presence

2009-10-01T13:09:00.002-05:00

From Meetings.net:

Forty percent of exhibitors use online social media to promote their exhibits, according to a new study by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research.

Personal social networks, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, are the most popular online tools among exhibitors. Roughly 41 percent of survey respondents say they use these networks for promotional purposes, while 36 percent use videos, and 34 percent use blogs, according to the paper, entitled “Effective Methods of Visitor Promotion, Part II: Exhibitors.” The use of these three tools is expected to rise in the next three years, especially the use of blogs. In three years, 44 percent of the 218 exhibitor respondents anticipate using blogs to promote exhibits.

Approximately 26 percent of respondents use virtual events, while 23 percent use microblogs, like Twitter. These percentages are anticipated to rise to 31 percent and 30 percent, respectively, in three years.

Pizza The Hut Strikes Back

2009-10-01T08:18:00.004-05:00

Word on the street is that Pizza Hut is looking to fire advertising agency BBDO.

Looks like declining revenues may be tied to a confused brand identity, which of course points back to the Ad firm responsible for brand awareness.

As we said before, BBDO needs to avoid antagonizing intergalactic pepperoni crime boss Pizza the Hutt, who has bigger things to worry about than his own brand status changing.

Spot Social Media Snake Oil

2009-09-24T16:31:00.002-05:00

Is social media the savior? Great piece on that here.

Twitter Worm Spreading via Direct Messages

2009-09-23T16:55:00.002-05:00

From Mashable:

We have received multiple reports that a new, convincing, and dangerous worm and phishing scam is making the rounds on Twitter. Hacked accounts are sending DMs to users and stealing their login information. In fact, one of our own has received one of these direct messages.

Unsuspecting users are receiving DMs with the following text:

If you get this DM, DO NOT VISIT THE LINK. It takes you to a replica of the Twitter (Twitter) login page where the hackers will steal your account and use it to send out more infected DMs to your friends.

If you’re one of the unlucky ones to be fooled by this worm, make sure you change your password. Also delete any tweets or DMs that have the link. If you can’t log into your account, reset the password and contact Twitter Support.

This is not the first worm to hit Twitter, but this one is especially dangerous because the login page is convincing and it is spreading via DMs from friends you trust.

When we have more information, we’ll update you with it.

Update: We contacted Twitter and they quickly got back to us. They are aware of the threat and are on the case.

We have not received this worm at the Bernays Sauce Twitter page, but we're hoping to get the chance to ignore it.

Go Inside Brookside

2009-09-10T14:12:00.007-05:00

Great new Brookside/Waldo (Kansas City neighborhoods) blog here.

It's about things to do, see and experience in our little slice of heaven. The blog had me at:

I am not a dog lover. I am not a pet lover at all..I can’t even fake petting a dog with enthusiasm. But I can understand the whole ‘my pet is part of the family’ emotion. Lots of my friends have dogs and love ‘em like a child. I get it.

However, I have followed with great interest WOOF’s (Well Organized Off Lease Friends) three year quest to get an off leash dog park established in Sunnyside Park at 84th and Summit. Earlier this week the KC Parks and Rec Department once again ruined WOOF’s diligent efforts to get the OK for the park.

Read the rest of My Bark About the Dog Park here.

Anyway, the blog is pithy, fun and worth your time.

Disclosure: I have advised the blog's owner on some PR matters in the past, but not on this blog.

Execs Say F2F Meetings Best

2009-09-08T11:58:00.002-05:00

From Corporate Meetings & Incentives:

When the goals of a meeting include persuasion, leadership, engagement, inspiration, decision-making, accountability, or candor, U.S. business executives overwhelmingly believe that holding a face-to-face gathering is the only way to go.

In a June 2009 survey of 760 executives from businesses of all sizes, Forbes Insights found that 84 percent of them prefer in-person, face-to-face business meetings, citing those as more effective than webconferences, videoconferences, or teleconferences for reaching a dozen goals, including those listed above.
[...]

However, technology-enabled meetings have their place as well. The respondents deemed virtual meetings best for “information dissemination” and “data presentation.”

The 16 percent of executives who preferred virtual meetings overall cited a savings of time and money as the top two reasons for their preference, followed closely by “flexibility in location and timing.” Their fourth reason for preferring virtual meetings—“allows me to multitask”—is one of the reasons other executives worry that virtual meetings do not meet business goals as well as face-to-face meetings. (And in fact, more than half the respondents said they surf the Web, check e-mail, or do unrelated work while “attending” virtual meetings.)

More here.

Local Flavor: Kansas City’s Best View of Tour of Missouri is Berkley Park

2009-09-02T15:41:00.002-05:00

Port Authority of Kansas City Hosts Picnic Watch Party

The best view of the Tour of Missouri Cycling Race is right on the River at Kansas City’s Richard L Berkley Riverfront Park. The Port Authority of Kansas City and Friends of the River--KC invite the public to a picnic watch party on Sunday, September 13 as the final stage of the 600-mile bicycle race heads through Berkley Park.

Berkley Park features one of the longest straightaways in the 72.3 mile Kansas City circuit and a dramatic view as the cyclists crest the Grand Avenue viaduct. Beginning at 1 p.m., the park will offer food, drinks and entertainment for all ages. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own picnic lunch. The watch party continues until 4 p.m.

It will include inflatable moonwalks for kids, food and beverages and beer on sale from the largest American-owned brewery in Missouri, Boulevard Brewing Company. Indie folk duo Truckstop Honeymoon will perform throughout the afternoon. Park guests can also check on the Chiefs game on big screen TV.

Richard L Berkley Park is located just off I-35 at Front Street. Park at the Isle of Capri or in the River Market and take the Town of Kansas Pedestrian Bridge to the Riverfront Heritage Trail - just a short walk to Berkley Park. The event is sponsored by the Port Authority of Kansas City, Isle of Capri Casino, Boulevard, Kissick Construction and Friends of the River—Kansas City.

Do You Need An Ad Agency?

2009-08-28T09:11:00.004-05:00

Sean X. Cummings says that agencies need clients more than clients need agencies.

Agencies over the last 20 years have morphed into advanced communication production shops.
[...]
But agencies used to be so much more than that. They were the creative powerhouses. The ideation shops. The meme creators for their brands across society. Some still are, but is meme creation needed anymore?

The explosion of communication methods to reach the consumer has had a natural dilution effect. As the playing field got wider, it gave something to consumers they didn't have before: instantaneous access to desire fulfillment and an ability to access information about a product, not just from the company and the agency's perceived lens, but through other consumers and competitors. There have been three profound effects on the technological expansion of media: a wider communication platform for all, the persistence of data on that platform, and a plethora of spawned agency models.

So how is this all related to no longer needing an ad agency? SEM, SEO, interactive, offline, online, media, social media -- the breadth of these elements has made clients' heads spin, and the rapid pace has left many core agencies scrambling.

No longer does the client feel that one shop can handle all their needs, because in reality, no single shop can. But there is something being lost by all of the expansion: message and brand cohesion. Since your "main" agency is no longer the idea shop, and since that message has inherent problems cascading throughout so many communication channels, why have one?

I am about to commit sacrilege.
[...]
Most corporate websites are painful reflections of their internal structure. They spend millions on revamping and solving problems, but in reality, they do not address the core issue. The agency model preys on this behavior. It is as if you built a shack that has had room after room bolted onto it -- kitchens, dining facilities, bathrooms, showers, etc. It may appear to be somewhat cohesive on the front end, but at what cost? This is not an agency problem but the client's unwillingness to make substantive decisions for their external web presence.

When you decide to redesign that shack, all of the extra detritus comes along for the ride. You may discard items here and there, but feature-creep somehow always results in another monstrosity being built, and you end up building an Edsel.

The Sauce

Cummings makes some very provocative points (focus groups as CYA, the practice of moving a top performer in an agency to a new venture altogether in hopes of replicating performance) which may give agency honchos and their clients pause.

The current mantra of "adapt or die" brought on by the economy, social media and the rapidly evolving internet will make this a watershed decade. Agencies will have to make a true commitment to the online age--not just slap a new website up and call themselves experts in new media, charging the same fat fees.

Watch for more mergers, big accounts getting pulled and a lot of hand-wringing...

The comments section is open for your thoughts.

Where Are They Now? Bush PR Staff Score New Gigs

2009-08-18T08:45:00.005-05:00

Life after power? Looks like it...and lucrative, too.

From Politico:

They represented a controversial president during a time of an unpopular war and a major economic crisis. And now, the former members of George W. Bush's communications staff are ready for anything. In the six months since Bush left office, ex-White House flacks have landed well — in the corporate world and the athletic world. And yes, the political world too.

Read more here.

The Sauce

No matter where you stand on the political map, I submit it's hard to argue that these folks earned their pay. Even the least eventful presidencies have a tendency to chew staff up and spit them out relatively quickly.

PR and Advertising At a Crossroads?

2009-08-11T12:33:00.004-05:00

``This is business Darwinism right now,'' says Sissy DeMaria, president of Coral Gables public relations firm Kreps DeMaria. ``You're going to see a lot of consolidation in the industry, and only the strongest will survive.''

[...]

``Public relations and advertising are blending much more than they did in the past,'' says Jeff Steinhour, director of content management at Coconut Grove-based advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky. ``They used to be separate worlds -- like church and state. Now you're seeing them at the same meetings at the same time.''

Check out the entire article.

The Sauce

I've been seeing more and more of the "blending" the past few years; where I used to be apprehensive, now I accept it as the way of things. Advertising and PR, properly synced, can bring hugely successful results. Also being a small shop, more and more of my clients want me to advise them on ad buys as well as PR plans.

Your thoughts?

Twitter Attacked

2009-08-06T11:36:00.004-05:00

I guess it goes without saying that nobody could Tweet about it.

From CNN:

An attack on the social networking site Twitter shut the site down for about two hours on Thursday morning, causing headaches in the online community and glitches in other Web sites like Facebook.

In an e-mail to CNN.com, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said the site was hit with a "denial of service attack," or an attempt to shut the site down by overwhelming it with traffic.

"There's no indication that this attack is related to any previous activities. We are currently the target of a denial of service attack," Stone said in the e-mail.

"Attacks such as this are malicious efforts orchestrated to disrupt and make unavailable services such as online banks, credit card payment gateways, and in this case, Twitter for intended customers or users. We are defending against this attack now and will continue to update our status blog as we defend and later investigate."

Twitter's site went down around 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday. A message posted on Twitter's status blog said the site was active again by 11:30 a.m., but that the site remained under attack.

"We are continuing to defend against and recover from this attack," the message says.

Follow Bernays Sauce on Twitter

2009-08-02T21:32:00.002-05:00

Take Me to the River...World's Longest River Race!

2009-07-29T15:12:00.003-05:00

Friday Sauce: TV Beats Internet as Source of Economic News

2009-07-24T15:35:00.002-05:00

Whoa...I never saw this coming:

Television Beats Internet as Source of Economic News, Pew Says

By Nikolaj Gammeltoft
July 15 (Bloomberg) -- Television, radio and newspapers beat the Internet as sources of economic news in the U.S. as people sought information about the recession, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center.

The survey, conducted in March and April and released today, shows that 84 percent of those who answered watched TV or listened to the radio for general economic news, 64 percent checked newspapers, magazines and books, and 48 percent went online.

The results may bolster broadcasters and publishers such as Gannett Co. and New York Times Co., hurt by an advertising slump as more marketers move to the Web. In the season through April, CBS Corp., Walt Disney Co.’s ABC and General Electric Co.’s NBC increased their nightly newscasts audiences by 5.9 percent from a year earlier, according to Nielsen Co. data.

“We have consistently seen that traditional media and particular TV is still the number one way most Americans get political news and information,” said Lee Rainie, a project director at the Washington-based non-profit organization Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.

Among Internet users who have high-speed access, the Web is the most important source for information about personal finance, the poll shows.

“It’s an information-intensive environment and people are using multiple sources for their different needs as they try to make meaning out of what’s going on as well as make personal decisions,” Rainie said in an interview.

Pew surveyed 2,253 adults by phone between March 26 and April 19. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.4 percentage points, it said.

There's life in the old gal still.

Hat tip: Stephanie G.

Back Again

2009-07-22T08:27:00.003-05:00

Your humble editor is back from a much-needed vacation on the heels of a very successful KCRiverFest. No pot of fresh sauce today, I'm afraid, but hopefully you'll forgive a little recycling of our piece on marketing in a recession, posted on eHow.

Now, as we endure the dog days of summer there are signs the economy is picking up. Good news, to be sure, but it will still be a long time before employment levels and consumer confidence returns to even a faint semblance of the pre-recession period.

My colleagues in the PR biz say business is picking up here and there, but they are very cautious about buying that cheap summer home just yet.

How's it going for you? How do you feel about the economy? The comments section is open for you predictions, observations, rants, etc.

Bad Branding Hits Sci Fi, Er, I Mean Sy Fy

2009-07-08T14:46:00.006-05:00

RLM PR CEO Richard Laermer takes apart the Sci Fi channel's hideous new monster: it's own rebranding to "Sy Fy":

On Tuesday morning, the Sci Fi channel became Sy Fy, which you can be assured will be back as Sci Fi not long after that. Just about everyone who has heard about this wondered "What branding company is sleeping with who over there?" You cannot pretend to like this moniker. There are reasons for this change--and none make sense. I don't know why they did it, but as one who's watched thousands of companies make change for no reason, here are some guesses:

[...]
4. A branding company sauntered in and told the suits it's time to grow with the times. That happens a lot, and quite needlessly. Slick branders speak a hi-toned language to make Senior VPs, all of whom are worried about their jobs, go "Man we gotta do this now!" I harken back to truTV, which has fared horribly since the change. You don't know this because no one watches it--tru is a trailer trash version of reality TV. Or, as they pointed out: it's "Not Reality. It's Actuality." Both of these networks think its audience is the lowest of common denominators. And oh yeah, the former Court TV laid off over 150 people last week. That, my friends, is tru(e).

5. Sy Sims is funding the rebrand. That explains Sy. As for the Fy suffix, one of the Sci Fi chiefs was in the military and doesn't know how to spell Semper Fi. That's all I got.

I told my closest pal about Sy Fy and he said he wished he could have been in the room when the decision was made. Since he's not in marketing, I wondered why. "So I could have seen the look on the faces of people who heard the top person say 'Great idea'."
Just because someone wants to do something 'different' or 'greater than' what existed before, you could in fact be the sane person at your company and step in with the loudest voice on record and suggest that aybe we should reconsider. Or better yet: "Do we need to change this much?" Even if the business isn't skyrocketing this second, there is that one reality: a brand that's known the world over!

Or remind the doofuses how far orange icon Tropicana fell after tossing a well-loved carton design away early this year, after which it lost valuable market share. When asked why 2009 was a downer, a spokesperson pointed to the change of carton: "Draw a line from there."

Once again, it doesn't take anyone's help to make you look stupid.

Hard to argue with him. I rather liked the old "Saturn" logo. It reminds me I've always been amazed at how many executives value "activity" over achievement:

'Look busy, dude, or you're outta here!'

'But I just won two Clio awards!'

'Then slap a coat of paint on 'em!'

Of course, your Bernays Sauce editor thought Sci Fi lost it when they canceled "Farscape."

United Airlines Broke This Guy's Guitar

2009-07-08T09:03:00.003-05:00

Nice little PR problem for United Airlines...shame the airline isn't savvy enough to head these things off at the pass...or departure gate.

Is YouTube Hemorrhaging Millions? Is the King of Pop Ruling the News Cycle?

2009-07-07T10:56:00.009-05:00

An interesting article in The Independent posits the financial viability of Internet video behemoth YouTube:

YouTube's lack of profitability other than as part of a colossal global multinational may signal the end of a dream that has somehow managed to extend past the bursting of the dotcom bubble back in 2001, and the options for new online ventures seem to be as follows: either produce something that people are willing to pay for, or come up with an idea for a free service that's so ingenious that a benevolent multinational is willing to take it off your hands. But remember: that trick of making a home video of yourself in front of a few elephants has already been done.

We shall see....

In other news, Michael Jackson's final act is staking out what seems to be about 90% of the news media real estate. Bernays Sauce wonders if two wars, a serious economic recession and a health care debate should be out of the headlines for two weeks (and counting) while they examine the minutiae of the singer's last will and testament. Your thoughts are welcome in the comments section.

Pizza Hut to Remain PIZZA Hut

2009-06-22T16:22:00.004-05:00

AgencySpy reports that rumors of Pizza Hut changing its brand i.d. to the hip, trendy "The Hut" are unfounded:

Despite several reports over the past two weeks that Pizza Hut is slicing out the word "Pizza" and rebranding itself as "The Hut", the stalwart Yum Brands chain finally issued a statement to the contrary on Friday.

While our sister blog PRNewser offers a full report including the press release, we managed to snag a quick explanation regarding the rumors from Pizza Hut spokesman Chris Fuller, who says:

"We just started using [The Hut] more and more in our marketing. And with text and mobile ordering, it's just easier to type in 'The Hut'. From there, we went for a cleaner, more contemporary look to put on our pizza boxes, but there is no name change."

Bernays Sauce believes this is an immense relief to intergalactic pepperoni crime boss Pizza the Hutt, who now doesn't have to worry about his own brand status changing.

And yes, AgencySpy guys, I did pile on with a lame 'Spaceballs' joke. So sue me.

Is Facebook Hurting High School Reunions?

2009-06-15T09:38:00.007-05:00

Facebook and other social networking sites are proving themselves an invaluable tool in keeping people connected or finding long-lost friends, but apparently there is a downside...

Excerpt:

But such self-organization is hurting businesses devoted to reunions, says Jonathan Miller, co-owner of Reunited Inc, a 20-year-old company that has helped planned more than 1,000 high school reunions. "It's definitely affected our business," Miller says. "Classes can now easily say to me, 'Jonathan, we have 150 people in our Facebook group right now, and we really don't need your services.'"

College alumni associations are dealing with the same issues. "Students now are all connected through Facebook and MySpace and other sites, so they leave college with their own network completely intact," says Deborah Dietzler, executive director of alumni relations at the University of Georgia. "This is not like 20 years ago where, if you wanted to get in touch with someone, you kind of needed to call the alumni office."

Of course, the flip side to that argument is that people still want to see who got fat, who is bald and who is rich in person:

Marc Dizon was a class officer for Virginia's West Springfield High class of 1999. Nine or so years later, dozens of former classmates began to e-mail him through Facebook to ask if a reunion was going to happen. The interest was there. "I don't think reunions are redundant on account of social media," he says. "You're always going to want to see people face to face. And those who don't go are probably those who wouldn't have gone even if there was no Facebook."

Your humble editor found his ten year reunion quite sufficient in satisfying his curiosity. I skipped the 20.

(And if I get another virtual "gift" from an old high school classmate on FB, I am going to return it at the virtual store for a virtual gift card.)
The comments section is open for your thoughts.

How to Pitch To A Business Reporter

2009-06-03T14:13:00.005-05:00

Mopwater PR has a great interview with Jennifer Nycz-Conner of the Washington Business Journal on pitching to a biz reporter here.

excerpt:

What’s the worst pitch you’ve gotten recently and why?

JNC: Looooong releases. Oh, no, worse – I received an e-mail pitching a story on cosmetic surgery procedures. In New York. Not about business. Not local. Please, please, please read our paper before pitching us. If I have any strong pieces of advice, that’s one of the best I have.

Saucy Fun: Plan Your July 4th in Kansas City!

2009-05-28T15:34:00.010-05:00

Tired of the same old, same old July 4th? Then you owe it to yourself to pack up the friends and family and come out to KCRiverFest!

Presented by KCTV/myKSMO TV, the annual KCRiverFest at Richard Berkley Riverfront Park is recognized as the place in Downtown Kansas City to celebrate July 3-4!

Astounding bands (including Julia Othmer, Dan Coyle, The Air Force Shades of Blue Band and many many more,) fantastic food, family activities and breathtaking fireworks make KCRiverFest the natural choice for Independence Day fun.

Sponsored by Friends of the River—Kansas City, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, enhancement and protection of the Riverfront, KCRiverFest has drawn international recognition as a finalist for Best Fair/Festival by Special Events Magazine.

KCRiverFest hours are Friday July 3: 3-11 p.m.; Saturday July 4: 1-11 p.m. Ticket Info: $6 for adults, Children 5 and under FREE. Advance discount tickets are available online--click here!

KCRiverFest is a celebration of our culture, heritage, nation and all the elements that combine to make America great. Visit www.KCRiverFest.com for details.

Click here for a quick video of last year's festival.

Come on out and join us in KC--July 4 done right!

Three Day Weekend (BBQ) Sauce

2009-05-22T09:40:00.015-05:00

Okay, I just have to ask: how can CNN write about America's best barbecue without even mentioning Kansas City? Come on--no mention of Arthur Bryant's legendary ribs? The renowned Gates BBQ--or the sublime Oklahoma Joe's?

Now, I'm a transplant to Kansas City and I grew up in a decent but far-from-legendary BBQ state (though the best BBQ sandwich I ever had is the Smokestack from Oklahoma City's own Earl's BBQ.); I've had Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and even British BBQ (don't ask)--and I know you just cannot argue with KC BBQ.

So boo to CNN's lack of foresight on this issue. They deserve any ribbing they get.

Many say the secret is in the sauce. I agree. So, licking my fingers and wishing you a great weekend...see you next week.

Tell Your Friends--The Facebook Deathwatch Has Begun

2009-05-22T08:27:00.004-05:00

Mark Lazen thinks Facebook is on its way out.

excerpt:

There are a number of reasons to believe that FB is bound for a mind-blowingly profitable death. And the interface is a symptom, not a cause.

The reason it's impossible to figure out where to go and what to do with that interface is because FB is trying to be all things to all people. It's a photo gallery. It's a meeting place. It's an email system. It's a game arcade. It's a shopping mall and gift exchange.

Aside: If one more person gives me a "gift" of any kind on FB, I will flip out. It's not a gift. It's a picture of a gift. Or not even. And what you've actually done is steal a minute of my precious time, the time it took to log on and realize FB is crying wolf again.

And what is it with you and your gifts anyway? Do you not have enough to do?

But onward: Scoble seems to think that becoming all things to all people will represent the company's culminating "Phase 7": World domination.

I am of a more cynical mindset. I believe that when you're everything, you are actually nothing.

FB's impossible challenge--one they've unconsciously embraced--is to compete to be the best at everything. Yes, people love to post pictures at FB. But can FB compete with Flickr, a company focused only on providing that one service? Can FB compete with dedicated gaming companies? And while FB is busy trying to secure its far flung borders, it faces a threat to its core "status update" business from a tunnel-visioned competitor called Twitter.

The Sauce

He has a point. Facebook has so much going on--it's like a costume party at your high school reuniuon held in a busy casino.

Your thoughts? Be a friend and let me know what you think. The comment section is open.

AIG Effect Still Hampering Meetings Industry

2009-05-12T10:40:00.005-05:00

According to this article, the dreaded "AIG Effect" is still with us...

excerpt:

AIG’s spending spree at a St. Regis resort last September, just days after receiving federal bailout money, continues to send aftershocks throughout the resort and luxury segments of the industry. The opening session of the virtual Resort Conference—a webinar titled “The Voice of Customers”—gave resort owners and operators a chance to hear from meeting planners (corporate, incentive, etc.) earlier this week.

Moderator and HSMAI President and CEO Bob Gilbert called the current landscape “dismal” and talked about the media firestorm and the “collateral damage” still being felt after AIG’s junket. Some of the damage: $1 billion in U.S. company cancelled bookings in the first quarter because of outrage over AIG; 56 percent of corporate planners reported canceling at least one meeting or incentive trip; 40 percent less group business at Starwood during the first quarter; a $50 million estimated statewide loss for Hawaii. A bit of irony: The Resort Conference went online because of lack of attendance due to travel costs and cutbacks.

Read the rest here.

Béarnaise Sauce Update

2009-05-08T09:11:00.005-05:00

John Short of EventPros figures we could all use some simplicity these days, so why not offer an easier, no-hassle Béarnaise Sauce recipe? Thanks John!

Okay, who has time these days to throw together such a challenging sauce? (It’s just a sauce – you still have to prepare something to put it on!) For those of you with lives to live (or hopefully not searching for new or better employment), here is an easier, simpler, and every bit as gratifying way to produce this classic enhancement to many recipes.

Ingredients:
½ cup sliced shallots (as thinly as possible)
1 Tbls. DRY white wine
1 Tbls. white wine vinegar
Juice from ½ fresh squeezed lemon
1 tsp. dried tarragon
1/2 cup sour cream (no light or fat free substitutes)
Salt, Pepper, Cayenne (cayenne optional) to taste

Directions:
Combine the shallots, wine, vinegar, lemon, tarragon, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if desired) in a small heavy saucepan. Slowly cook to a simmer – do not allow to boil. Add sour cream and heat for approximately two minutes over low heat stirring frequently. Serve (great on asparagus, oven roasted potatoes, and even pork or chicken).

MoveOn's Healthcare Ad Misses Mark with Misspelling

2009-05-07T14:55:00.009-05:00

MoveOn.org sent out a funding appeal for this somewhat clever spot, asking supporters to pony up so the spot can air in response to the "right wing" which has "just launched a million-dollar attack on President Obama's health care plan."

Your humble editor doesn't talk politics on this blog, (and certainly has no problem with reforming healthcare) but I do like to talk about ads and their effectiveness. So, politics aside, I say MoveOn might want to hire a good proofreader before running this spot--unless they really do want you to support one candy bar over another.

Just sayin'.

Millennials: Spoiled Brats or Unfairly Maligned?

2009-05-06T14:34:00.002-05:00

CW has a fair take on the much maligned (and they say misunderstood) creature known as the Millennial. Your humble editor has worked with both incredibly good and incredibly bad examples of this generation and feels that like any generation, they have their good and not-so-good attributes.

Excerpt:

The complaints about the younger generation are cliché and include concerns about their alleged unwillingness to work hard and pay their dues, along with their unrealistic expectations about career progression, work environment and work-life balance. These are the same universal complaints that every generation of elders shares about the up-and-coming crop of young workers. Given time, the concerns fade for a few years until the generations shift once again.

The news reports certainly feed the stereotypes of the younger generation, with scenes of office partying, endless texting, and interviews with young workers expressing their expectations of running departments, divisions and companies sooner rather than later.

While there are elements of truth in some descriptions of the behaviors and expectations of the Millennials, concentrating on these points will blind leaders to their true potential.

Consider these three major advantages that this generation has over others:

1. This is a technologically savvy generation, in an era when technology is the tool of competition and technological drivers are constantly reshaping how and where we do just about everything.
2. The Millennial generation grew up with texting and instant messaging, and ubiquitous use of the Web at a point in time when businesses are just discovering and beginning to harness the power of social networks.
3. Those of us who came of age while the world was truly becoming a global marketplace still relate to a style of conducting and running businesses that will never return. This new generation grew up and developed socialization and communication skills with tools and technologies that the more experienced among us still find remarkable and even a bit frightening.

Read the rest here.

The comments section is open.

Sauce Tasting: Stuff We Tasted Today

2009-04-30T14:56:00.006-05:00

Check out this piece on Google's "PR Campaign," an attempt to blunt criticism of the internet behemoth.

Whither Twitter? As we prepare our own post (coming soon!) on the hip, happening new microblogging app, others are questioning its reach and longevity.

Bottom Line Communications takes the Kansas City Star to the woodshed over its new StarTV guide policy.

Anything saucy you'd care to share? The comments section is open.

Harlem Gospel Choir Coming to KC

2009-04-17T11:08:00.008-05:00

Hey Kansas City-area readers: want to hear some great music and support a great organization? Well, you're in luck.

The world-renowned harmonies of the Harlem Gospel Choir will headline an evening of music, food and fun benefiting the Front Porch Alliance (FPA--an organization supported by your humble Bernays Sauce editor) May 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the historic Gem Theater in Kansas City.

Besides the music of the Harlem Gospel Choir, there will be a live auction, food and fun activities. All proceeds benefit Front Porch's youth programs, which strengthen youths' academic achievement, provides entrepreneurial education, enhances leadership skills and helps secure a future full of hope and opportunity.

Sponsorship levels for every budget are available. For more information about the event, tickets and sponsorships, contact Patsy Shawver at 816-921-8812 or visit the FPA website.

I hope to see you there!

Dominos Pizza Crisis: A Booger of a Problem

2009-04-16T14:19:00.007-05:00

When a couple of dimwits working at Dominos Pizza with a video camera and a nasal fixation decided to share their stupidity with the world, a booger of a corporate PR crisis was born:

“We got blindsided by two idiots with a video camera and an awful idea,” said a Domino’s spokesman, Tim McIntyre, who added that the company was preparing a civil lawsuit. “Even people who’ve been with us as loyal customers for 10, 15, 20 years, people are second-guessing their relationship with Domino’s, and that’s not fair.”

In just a few days, Domino’s reputation was damaged. The perception of its quality among consumers went from positive to negative since Monday, according to the research firm YouGov, which holds online surveys of about 1,000 consumers every day regarding hundreds of brands.

“It’s graphic enough in the video, and it’s created enough of a stir, that it gives people a little bit of pause,” said Ted Marzilli, global managing director for YouGov’s BrandIndex.

The Domino’s experience “is a nightmare,” said Paul Gallagher, managing director and a head of the United States crisis practice at the public relations firm Burson-Marsteller. “It’s the toughest situation for a company to face in terms of a digital crisis.”
[...]
In the most popular video, a woman who identifies herself as Kristy films a co-worker, Michael, preparing the unsanitary sandwiches.

“In about five minutes it’ll be sent out on delivery where somebody will be eating these, yes, eating them, and little did they know that cheese was in his nose and that there was some lethal gas that ended up on their salami,” Kristy said. “Now that’s how we roll at Domino’s.”
[...]
As the company learned about the video on Tuesday, Mr. McIntyre said, executives decided not to respond aggressively, hoping the controversy would quiet down. “What we missed was the perpetual mushroom effect of viral sensations,” he said.

In social media, “if you think it’s not going to spread, that’s when it gets bigger,” said Scott Hoffman, the chief marketing officer of the social-media marketing firm Lotame. “We realized that when many of the comments and questions in Twitter were, ‘What is Domino’s doing about it’ ” Mr. McIntyre said. “Well, we were doing and saying things, but they weren’t being covered in Twitter.”

The response from Dominos was slow at first, but they have become more aggressive. Patrick Doyle, President, Domino's U.S.A., responds (a tad stiltedly, but nonetheless):

Is it enough?

The (Pizza) Sauce
Your humble editor worked in fast food as a high school student (oh Chik-Fil-A, how I miss coming home from a shift smelling like a boneless breast of chicken!), and though jokes about such actions were common, I never saw it happen. If it did happen back in those simpler days, there was no internet in which to prove it. Idiots like the pair from Dominos would have had to videotape or photograph themselves doing the dirty deeds and pass it around to all their friends "manually"...obviously not even close to the power of the internet.

Time will tell if it significantly hurts sales or if it's a blip. One thing's for sure--ignoring this type of thing and hoping it will go away is no longer an option.

Dominos is trying to get ahead of the story, but is it enough--or too little too late?

The comments section is open for your remarks.

More Bad News for Newspapers?

2009-04-15T09:21:00.005-05:00

As the former proprietor of a political news aggregator site and avid browser of aggregator sites like Huffington Post, I can attest to their popularity. Unfortunately, this trend in the next generation of news consumers may be another nail in the coffin of newspapers.

Excerpt:

The bad news comes from a new study for the Newspaper Association of America by Northwestern University’s Media Management Center. It found that teens, who were raised on free internet content, can’t imagine a situation in which they’d have to pay for their news.

Even loyalty to a brand won’t sway this generation. Today’s teens value a news site’s usability and depth of content more than the brand name associated with it. What they want is convenience and compactness, thus the allure of aggregators.

Your comments welcome.

Friday Sauce: Hoppy Easter and All That

2009-04-10T08:37:00.003-05:00

In keeping with our culinary moniker, please enjoy this excellent recipe for Mediterranean-style lamb--just the thing for your holiday celebrations.

Source & Photo: Washington Post

Tuesday Quickie: Is Your Company Drinking the Kool-Aid?

2009-04-07T14:42:00.003-05:00

Thought-provoking stuff on marketing and brand management from BlueBird Public Relations in Dallas:

All the “branding” in the world can’t change those simple equations, which is why the concept of “brand marketing” is intellectually bankrupt."

This absolutely reminds me of the old maxim: "Great PR makes bad products fail fast."

An agency or internal public relations and marketing extraordinaires can create all the buzz, find the perfect product position in the market, launch relevant campaigns to build a brand and demand the attention from target markets, but (surprise!) this will not change a bad product or service.

You can't hide behind fabulous marketing, at least not for long.

Read the rest here.

KC Event Planners Talk About the State of the Industry

2009-04-01T09:25:00.006-05:00

Bernays Saunce mothership EventPros, Inc.'s owners are featured in an interview in Special Events Magazine, where they discuss the state of the Special Events industry and the birth of EventPros, Inc. They also touch on marketing and public relations firms doing special events:

In 2008, for instance, while other event business owners were wringing their hands about tightened budgets, canceled events and the prospect of more bad news to come, Svoboda and Short debuted a communications services department. As Short explains, the duo created the new department to compete directly with marketing and public relations firms that were cutting into EventPros' market share.

“These companies were handling events, but they didn't even like doing it — they were just doing it because their clients needed it,” Short says. “Because they weren't making any extra money on events, they weren't hiring us to do them. They were just doing the events themselves, and not doing a very good job.”

With its new division, EventPros is able not only to sell clients on the strength of its event-production capabilities but to add value by offering marketing and communication services such as Web development, scriptwriting and video production. Short adds, “It speaks to our fiscal responsibility that we were able to bring in-house a lot of services we were farming out.”

Read the rest here.

KU Researcher Explores Interpersonal Communications in the Age of Facebook

2009-03-31T16:29:00.005-05:00

Interesting...

Nancy Baym, (University of Kansas) associate professor of communication studies, became interested early on in how the Internet shapes interpersonal communication and of late has focused her research on social networking sites in particular.

Sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter have revolutionized interpersonal relationships for the digital age, she said. Within these online communities, users share status updates, self-generated media, journal entries and other interpersonal communication with an ever-growing cadre of online friends. The purpose is to reinforce established friendships and form bonds with new friends.

“They start in the mid-late 1990s based on this idea that Stanley Milgram had that everybody’s connected by six degrees of separation — and the first one was actually called ‘sixdegrees.com,’ ” said Baym. “And they’re based on the premise that you’re more likely to want to get to know people who know people you already know than all-out strangers. So rather than a dating site that just has people putting up profiles and trying to randomly match, what if you could put up profiles of people that had shared friends. Wouldn’t those be more likely to succeed?”
[...]
“Different people have different reasons for compulsive Facebook use,” Baym said. “But I think it comes down to the fact that there’s a continuous dribble — there’s always something new — so every time you go something has changed; somebody has updated their status; someone has sent you a request; someone has posted an item. So it’s a continuous link of hanging out in the halls with your friends between classes or hanging around the water cooler at the office.”

Baym recently has completed research on Last.fm, a niche site that connects fans of similar music. She found that online friendships based on common taste in music tended to be more fragile, although people also used the site to maintain closer relationships.

“What I found on Last.fm was that on average these relationships are not very strong,” said the KU researcher.

More here.

Is Obama's Press Conference Another Sign of Newspaper Decline?

2009-03-26T13:55:00.004-05:00

Check this out from Michael Calderone's blog at Politico:

During President Obama's second East Room news conference, he took questions from 13 reporters over about an hour -- that's the same as during his first presser on Feb. 9.

But in quite a departure from the first presser -- and White House protocol -- Obama skipped over the nation's top newspapers. Indeed, there were no questions from the NY Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal or USA Today. That might not sit well with the already insecure newspaper industry.

Considering the trends we've been seeing lately, is this a subconscious sign of the end of days for printed news? Or is it merely the President's way of "spreading the love around" to media outlets which normally get ignored?

The comments section is open for your opinion, sauciers!

Boneheaded Corporate PR: Take Two...Or is That Three?

2009-03-23T13:45:00.008-05:00

Stupefyingly stupid.

You would think after this and this and this that corporate honchos would get the idea that lavish spending after you receive government bailout money is just plain stupid. JPMorgan Chase is the latest victim of their own greed and arrogance.

According to ABC News, the company, which is "the recipient of $25 billion in TARP funds, is going ahead with a $138 million plan to buy two new luxury corporate jets and build "the premiere corporate aircraft hangar on the eastern seaboard" to house them."

And they have no idea why that is outrageous:

But on March 11, the chairman of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, said he could not understand why corporate America has such a bad image.

"When I hear the constant vilification of corporate America I personally don't understand it," Dimon said.

Dimon, whose 2008 compensation package, according to SEC documents, was worth more than $19 million in salary, stock and options, declined to speak with ABC News about the proposed plans.

Say what?

The Sauce

Their PR team either has some bizarre form of corporate Stockholm Syndrome or are the most incompetent people on the planet. What more can we say that has not been said before on this very blog? We'll let Nell Minow say it for us:

"It's a remarkably boneheaded decision," said corporate watchdog Nell Minow, the editor and founder of The Corporate Library, a group that provides independent corporate governance research and analysis. "It's completely tone deaf."
[...]
"There are going to be business school case studies for generations about exactly these decisions, and people will be learning forever about what incredible stupidity these executives showed," said Minow.

Oh yeah.

Friday Sauce: With Tonic

2009-03-20T08:55:00.006-05:00

Looks like noted Kansas City PR firm Sprenger McCullough has rebranded in hopes it will be just the right Tonic for today's challenging business climate.

Now called "Tonic," the firm's new website is lively and has a definite focus on branding services with a touch of liquid-flavored "fun." Fun figures heavily on their team bio page:

"We take fun very seriously, in fact we hire for it."

The overall philosophy seems to be one of taking the stuffiness and bureaucracy out of the agency experience:

"Ready for a refreshing change from that bloated agency feeling? Tonic offers light and fresh branding solutions from effervescent pros who don't just talk about the work... we actually do it ourselves. No thick, heavy layers to slow you down. And no unpleasant billing after taste..."

Sure this is fun, but why shed the tried and true Sprenger McCullough brand? The site explains:

"As an industry, we have routinely stamped our names on the doors of our businesses, as a choice of pride or arrogance, or maybe, simply tradition. For us, it was time to put a new stamp on the door that better represented what we stand for and what we do. Tonic represents true passion and unlimited energy. And that’s what makes it the perfect culmination of all we do."

The site also features a blog, "Spitballs at the Battleship." We'll let you read up on that one.

The Sauce
If you're going to be a company that brands and rebrands products, services, companies and people, what better place to start than yourself? It's a bold move, but one we think can really "gin up" business (sorry). Having once worked with "Chief Brandologist" Stacy McCullough's team on a project, we can certainly testify that they are positive, fun, talented folks. We at the Sauce wish them the very best.

Death of a Brand: AIG

2009-03-18T13:21:00.004-05:00

Here's part of a great post by author and communications consultant James Moore on AIG's diminishing brand. You'll recall our multiple posts about AIG and its effect on the events and conference industry.

excerpt:

There is an old saw in marketing and public relations that if you don't quickly brand your company's products and services the public will brand them for you. Whether that brand ends up being good or bad becomes secondary to the fact that you are not likely to ever get out from under the image the marketplace has provided.

The new adage we are likely to see adopted will say something along the lines of, "When the president of the United States starts bad mouthing your brand, it's not going to survive."
[...]
There is, quite frankly, nothing a crisis communications expert can do to mitigate AIG's situation, which is why you have seen the company and its executives remain decidedly silent. First, they run what amounts to one of the world's greatest financial scams and help send the U.S. economy into a state of collapse and then they ask taxpayers to save their company because it is so important to America and the world that it can't be allowed to die and then they use that bailout money to provide bonuses to the precise individuals who drove the company and the country off a cliff. How can that be fixed, either in reality or perception?

It can't. No matter what a communications expert advises an AIG executive to say, it is too late; actions have outstripped any ability to undo harm. Anything anyone says will be a bit like what Texans describe as "puttin' earrings on a hawg; there's some ugliness there ya just can't hide."

Check out the rest of his post here. Jim Moore really nails it.

Bernays Sauce Editor Talks Entrepreneurship in Kauffman Foundation Video

2009-03-17T08:45:00.007-05:00

Your humble editor is featured in this video promoting the Kauffman Foundation FastTrac Program. (I'm the guy who says "Think outside your self!")

Learn more about this tremendous Foundation:

Friday's Sauce: Mom Currency, Bronze Quills and Inspired Networking

2009-03-13T08:48:00.034-05:00

It's been another banner week here at the Sauce. After attending a couple of stellar presentations we almost (almost!) wish it weren't Friday. We'll just have to keep the enthusiasm going throughout the weekend (while painting the living room, playing with the new baby and doing our taxes) until Monday.

Fleishman Hillard's Liz Hawks clued us in to "Mom Currency" in her informative talk at the March Kansas City IABC meeting. FH's survey on today's mom (Momocracy!) and her influence on the economy revealed some points to ponder:

* Women play a key role in "setting the agenda in millions of households, an effect that aggregates across the country into a society dominated by the new woman's sense of success, self-determination, leadership, competence and generosity."

* Every mom surveyed described herself as "having significant input into household decisions." In fact, 79% say "in the end, my opinion determines family decisions."

* 91% feel they are "the manager for the quality of my family's life."

* Moms surveyed "consumed more than 40 hours of media per week--essentially a full-time job." That's more time online (17 hours) than watching TV, listening to the radio or reading newspapers and magazines. In fact, the trend shows that moms are using blogs, forums and other sites to "compare notes" on everything from pediatricians to coupons to products.

"Soccer Moms" are so 90s.

So in the 21st Century moms are in the drivers seat in huge numbers when it comes to purchasing and quality of life decisions and they're heavily using the internet to make those decisions. Good stuff, Liz!

Speaking of IABC, there's still time to get your Bronze Quill entries in. KC/IABC is extending the BQ entry deadline by one week, to March 27. Questions? Email Sara Miller or click here.

Thursday night I was lucky enough to attend Denise Upah Mills' presentation on networking--and I don't mean my beloved online networking.

Denise is a fantastic speaker who inspired a whole room to break out of their shells and truly network face-to-face. She covered the basics (don't spend your entire networking event talking to people you already know, don't hog the conversation, etc.) along with some great tips to sharpen your networking skills:

* Be Purposeful. Know who you want to meet. Make a Top 25 list of people you want to meet to advance your business or project. Seek collaborative referral partners, do your research and be proactive.

* Prepare for purposeful small talk--tie current events into your business, let other people talk, describe your business at a 5th grade level and rehearse it with a friend.

* I think one of the best pieces of advice she gave was "be memorable." Tell stories. She related that interesting stories about someone she just met or events that transpired in the course of business are far more interesting than straight facts about "what you do," and that will make you memorable.

The advice I most appreciated was that "events are not the place to sell." Geeze, we've all been there with the guy you just met at a networking event who tries to close a deal before you've had a chance to eat your piece of square cheese. Networking events are about meeting people, not selling services. Once people know (and like) you, your network will be more likely to help you out and the sale will follow.

I'd add that once you make a connection face-to-face, a follow-up invitation to join your network on LinkedIn is a great way to keep the "conversation" going and building that relationship.

Great stuff. I'm looking forward to putting this new information into practice.

In the meantime...have a great weekend.

Instant Sauce: 10 Reasons To Have That Conference

2009-03-10T10:31:00.005-05:00

We've covered a lot of ground here at the Sauce about the "AIG Effect" and the industry. In that vein, Bob Phibbs' "10 reasons to have that conference with a professional speaker" has more good reasons to move forward with your conference.

Here's an excerpt:

1) Community. A conference is the one place the people who “get it” are able to come together and do a better job. The very power of a meeting comes from the community that forms for those couple days.

2) Competition. The old mantra you get 80% of your business from 20% of your customers is still true. Those 20% are looking for how to do better – these are the people who attend conferences. When you don’t listen to that need, you are cutting them off to fight for themselves. If you are a vendor, it is only a matter of time until they look for someone else who gives them the inspiration and training from a competitor. If you are an association, it makes them question what they get from being members.

Read the rest at his blog, here.

More Layoffs Announced at Kansas City Star

2009-03-09T15:19:00.011-05:00

Another note in our continuous coverage of the changing paradigm of the news media....this time it is the hometown paper of Bernays Sauce, The Kansas City Star.

excerpt:

The Kansas City Star expects to cut its workforce by another 15 percent, or about 150 positions, publisher Mark Zieman told employees in a memo this morning.

The cuts are in line with overall reductions at The Star’s parent company, The McClatchy Co. of Sacramento, Calif., which announced plans today to reduce its overall workforce by the same percentage, or 1,600 full-time equivalent employees.

McClatchy, which owns 30 daily newspapers, said that the reductions will begin by the end of this month and that it expects to incur $30 million in severance costs.

“We have been transitioning steadily from a traditional newspaper company to a hybrid print and online, news and advertising company for some time,” McClatchy Chairman and Chief Executive Gary Pruitt said in McClatchy’s announcement. “The effects of the current national economic downturn make it essential that we move even faster to realign our workforce and make our operations even more efficient.

“We previously discussed a plan to reach a targeted level of cost savings, but given the worsening economy, we must do more. I’m sorry we have to take these actions, but we believe they are necessary.”

[...]

“Like all other companies and industries, we are making dramatic changes to survive this recession and come out safe and profitable on the other side,” he wrote.

The Sauce
Unfortunately, this is not the first layoff the Star has announced in the past year. You'll note that Star parent company McClatchy is seeking a way to make money as both a print and online concern--or "hybrid" as they call it. That's probably the best transitional strategy a news organization can make at this point, but it still remains to be seen how online content can be monetized enough to support adequate newsgathering efforts.

Your thoughts are welcome in the comments section.

Octomom's Latest PR Person Quits: "She's Nuts"

2009-03-09T14:48:00.003-05:00

Looks like the "Octomom" has lost another public relations person. She lost her first one after death threats were issued. This one, Victor Munoz, says that she's "nuts."

"Nadya got real greedy. This woman is nuts," he continued. "This I can say: what ultimately destroyed the business arrangement was personal reasons."

The Sauce
And Munoz isn't even a licensed psychiatrist.

P.S.
Don't get me started about "personal reasons."

The Hemorrhaging Continues...More Conferences Canceled

2009-03-05T15:17:00.009-06:00

In keeping with our reports on the "AIG Effect", we see two more prominent national annual conferences have thrown in the towel, citing the economy. This one is a twofer, though, as it also ties into another focus of this blog, the fitful death of newspapers/print publications...

Excerpted:

Two annual meetings in the publishing industry have been canceled for 2009, both casualties of the economic recession.

The American Society of Newspaper Editors announced that it is canceling its 2009 annual meeting just two months before the convention was to take place, April 26-29 in Chicago. Plans were well under way, but officials decided to cancel it because of low attendance projections and the stress of the economy on members. With the newspaper industry struggling, ASNE leaders concluded that the challenges editors face at their newspapers demand their full attention, said Charlotte Hall, president at ASNE, in a press release. Also, said Hall, attendance would have been significantly lower than normal. The convention typically attracts between 400 and 500 attendees.

This is the first time since 1945 that ASNE has canceled its annual convention.

“This is a uniquely stressful period in our business as we face both structural change and deep recession,” stated Hall. Even though the learning opportunities at the convention would have been valuable, the greatest priority is leading our own newsrooms as we shape the future of the business,” Hall stated.

The board of directors will meet electronically to handle association business that would have otherwise occurred at the meeting. One piece of business is a vote to change the bylaws and drop “paper” from its name to expand its membership to include editors of online-only news Web sites. “We intend to press on with our transformation of ASNE to ensure its relevance in the digital age,” Hall said.
[...]

For many of the same reasons, the Magazine Publishers of America canceled its annual convention, the American Magazine Conference. The conference was scheduled for October 18-20 in Boca Raton, Fla.

“The cancellation of this year’s AMC is in response to the difficult economic climate facing all businesses, including the magazine industry,” said Nina Link, president and CEO at MPA in a press release. “We recognize that this year our members are looking at a variety of ways to achieve savings, which would include curtailing certain discretionary travel and hotel expenses.” They hope to resume the AMC next year in Chicago.

The Sauce
This is far, far from over. I hate to use a hackneyed phrase like "perfect storm," but this situation truly is.

Take a look: the events and travel industry is suffering from bad press because of bad actors like AIG. Simultaneously, in an almost perverse twist of fate the print media is being ground under the heel of Internet news.

Is the death knell of print pubs a Thermidorian reaction to the hegemony of corporate media? Or is it mostly the depressed economy coupled with the rise of the Internet as a credible means of delivering news?

Or is it something else? I don't know. But I do think we ain't seen nothing yet.

Another Venerable Publication Dies

2009-03-04T09:07:00.007-06:00

The venerable trade publication RCR Wireless News today joins the list of publications wiped out by a changing news paradigm and a disastrous economic downturn.

From their announcement:

RCR Wireless News has suspended publication of its print and online products immediately and is closing operations. Unfortunately, the market for RCR's products has been hit particularly hard by the global financial meltdown.

"RCR Wireless News was passionately run by first-class people and it pains us to make this move but the economy gives us no other choice," said Crain Communications Chairman Keith E. Crain.

The Sauce

It is becoming accepted wisdom that print media is decreasing and may eventually fall victim to the Internet. Even so, until a serious, effective and accepted method of monetizing online news content is adopted, these dominoes will continue to fall.

Skitter or Twittle? Skittles Uses Twitter As Website

2009-03-02T14:54:00.013-06:00

UPDATE: The Experiment has ended.

Twitter the rainbow.

Skittles.com is no longer a typical website, but instead a Twitter Search result page.

Here's what you get when you go there, a Wikipedia entry with a demo ask (your birthday):

If you register and move on from there, you get to the Skitter or Twittle or whatever you want to call it page:

The Sauce

Clever gimmick, but their Twitter feed is rife with nasty language, spam, racial slurs, inanity and other mob stupidity. It doesn't make me want to "taste the rainbow," it's just annoying. Of course, I'm not a huge fan of Twitter anyway. (Apparently neither is Jon Stewart.)

Or Skittles, it would seem. Nice experiment, Skittles, but what good did it do your brand?

The comments section is open for your Skittular enjoyment.

AIG Gets New Money... Need a Giant Shamwow to Soak Up Bad Press

2009-03-02T09:45:00.004-06:00

As our recent postings have discussed, insurance behemoth AIG has been accepting unprecedented amounts of government bailout cash...and they used it in indiscreet and boneheaded (read PR-unwise) ways.

The latest is they are getting tons more government assistance. Hopefully the execs will be more judicious this time.

Perhaps they'll buy a giant Shamwow to clean up their soggy image. Apparently that's about all that can do it at this point.

Rocky Mountain News, Colorado's Oldest Newspaper, Dies

2009-02-26T16:19:00.005-06:00

The Rocky Mountain News publishes its last paper tomorrow.

Rich Boehne, chief executive officer of Rocky-owner Scripps, broke the news to the staff at noon today, ending nearly three months of speculation over the paper's future.

"People are in grief," Editor John Temple said at a news conference later.

Boehne told staffers that the Rocky was the victim of a terrible economy and an upheaval in the newspaper industry.

"Denver can't support two newspapers any longer," Boehne told staffers, some of whom cried at the news. "It's certainly not good news for you, and it's certainly not good news for Denver."

The Sauce

What can we say? There is nothing good about this. Yes, the method of how we get our news is inevitably shifting; but it's still chilling to see these venerable institutions fold. The implications for a media monopoly and the potential demise of professional journalism as we know it are disheartening to ponder.

The comments section is open for your thoughts.

“Nobody Wants to Be Perceived as the Next A.I.G.”

2009-02-25T16:32:00.009-06:00

UPDATE (Feb. 28, 2009): Click here for the latest perpetuation of the "AIG Effect."

As our last post revealed, the well-publicized actions of a minority of companies has sent shockwaves throughout the travel and meeting industry, potentially affecting millions of jobs. Rather than risk a public relations backlash, many companies are cutting back or eliminating their travel and meetings.

An article in the New York Times sums it up:

According to a survey released last month that was conducted by the industry trade group Meeting Professionals International and American Express, 7 percent of business meetings already scheduled for 2009 have been canceled. And attendance is expected to be down by about 5 percent at those meetings that are still being held, the survey found.

While anecdotal reports indicate that few industries have been spared, a large number of the canceled events appear to be in industries hit hardest by the recession: banking, mortgage lending, credit cards, housing construction and renovation.

Reasons behind the cancellations vary. In some cases, image — not wanting to appear to be spending lavishly in a recession — is the impetus.

“We’ve received notices of cancellation along with a check for the full amount,” said Steven Rudner, a hotel industry lawyer. “Nobody wants to be perceived as the next A.I.G.”

[…] One conference planner, who did not wish to be identified because of continuing hotel negotiations, canceled a two-day seminar a month before it was scheduled to take place when only 16 delegates had registered. The event had drawn an average of 125 people in years past. The organization refunded registration fees for the handful who had signed up, and offered a credit toward a future event to offset the expense of canceling their flights.

[…] Canceling an event is not cheap. Costs can run into six figures, starting with the hotel’s cancellation fees and including any planned entertainment and functions planned outside the hotel.

Holding a conference with a drastically reduced head count is not much better, though. Typical contracts include clauses that require the host to compensate the hotel for the difference between the number of guest rooms held for the group and those actually filled.

As a rule, hotels would rather have fewer guests than receive a cancellation check, because conferences usually generate revenue from purchases like minibar snacks or fitness center passes.

Obviously, the lavish spending of AIG executives and other PR missteps such as the Big Three Automaker private plane debacle has the public angry and companies gun-shy about meeting and incentive travel.

Kansas City special event professionals Bill Svoboda and John Short believe that trend will exacerbate the problem. They own EventPros, Inc., a leading special event and communications firm in Kansas City and have more than fifty years of special event experience between them.

“Unfortunately right now everyone has the perception that all conferences are lavish junkets,” said Short. “That perception factor leads to the bottom dropping out of the industry.”

“The business community as a whole has been at one big party the past decade,” Svoboda said. “Well, the party’s over and we have one huge hangover.”

Svoboda believes that events and conferences became more lavish partially because employers wanted to reward performance and felt a need to “top themselves” each succeeding year.

“You want to reward performance, it builds every year,” he said. “But you often have poor communications in a company—departments have different perceptions of what is appropriate, and that can get out of hand quickly.”

“And then because of the public’s perception, all the meetings go away,” Short added. “Unfortunately the spotlight goes on the people who misbehave or are insensitive to the current economic situation and in the mind of the public that perception becomes the reality.”

Short believes the Keep America Meeting strategy of educating the public about the real need for business travel and meetings—as well as the jobs lost when travel and meetings are cut—is the best way to calm the public fervor fueled by sensational news reports.

Svoboda agrees that there is a perception problem, and that companies should employ a third party to review their public activities.

“When you’re not doing business as usual as we are now its important to have a third party take a snapshot (of what you’re doing) to keep you out of hot water,” Svoboda said. “This would have made a huge difference in AIG and the Big Three.”

“It’s too bad this (AIG Effect) occurred, because many of these events and conferences are part of incentives for the ‘little guys’ who make their goals,” Svoboda said. “Not only do they suffer for the actions of a very few, but industry employees also are at risk of losing their jobs.”

“It’s overcompensation,” he said. “The pendulum is swinging too far in the opposite direction.”

“You see news reports that show events being held in Las Vegas, for example, as if that were bad. Las Vegas is a top meeting and convention location,” Svoboda said. “You can do a conference in Vegas inexpensively. Flights are cheaper, there’s lots of reasonably-priced meeting space. But because it’s Vegas, people freak out.”

Dollars and Cents

Besides the “AIG Effect,” there’s also the matter of dollars and cents.

In an announcement on MeetingsNet.com, it was announced that the “high-profile launch of Reed Travel Exhibitions’ first U.S. conference—the Americas Incentive Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition—will be delayed at least a year.”

According to RTE Meetings and Incentive Events Group Exhibition Director Paul Kennedy, the “global economy is the reason for the cancellation of the Baltimore event, which expected to attract more than 400 VIP buyers and 250 exhibitors.”

“We have decided to delay the launch until 2011 or 2012 because of the macroeconomic climate," Kennedy told the Australian meetings magazine Conference & Incentive Travel. "We look forward to staging this event in Baltimore, but later. I am very sure about the health of the meetings industry, and I am very sure about the health of our portfolio, but this would be a bad time for such a major investment."

Frequent business traveler and trade show exhibitor Brian H., a manufacturing marketing executive in the Midwest, said he has seen changes in business travel and conferences recently.

“I spend at least twenty-five percent of my time on the road,” he said. “I see trends where sales conferences and training have been canceled in favor of webinars, conference calls or incorporation of training into downtime during trade shows.”

Looking Ahead and Staying in the Game

Pros like Svoboda and Short believe that now is the time for companies to step up to the plate with reasonable, well-considered meetings and events. In fact, they believe that companies that do not continue to expand revenue streams and invest in employee growth and training will suffer.

“Long-term, this situation will weed out weak businesses,” Svoboda said. “And someone will need to fill that void. A long-term growth strategy is key. The American economy thrives on growth, and companies that cut back completely are ultimately self-defeating.”

Both are optimistic that companies that focus on their current clients—finding ways to help them through the tough economic situation—will prevail.

“You have to help your clients stay in the game,” Short said. “If you do that, you will be rewarded when times get better. That’s why we will continue to work with our standing clients, even with reduced budgets.”

Echoing that perspective, marketing executive Brian H. says now is the time for companies to be planning for the recovery.

“Smart companies are going to be thinking far enough ahead to position themselves to grow when things improve. The ones who are retracting will suffer—they won’t be ready to run when the economy recovers.”

"Keep America Meeting" Campaign Seeks to Cool Public Anger Over “AIG Effect”

2009-02-19T15:57:00.024-06:00

Remember when the CEOs of Ford, GM and Chrysler flew their private jets to D.C. to ask for bailout money? Regular readers of Bernays Sauce may recall our appalled reaction. As we said in that post:

It would also seem that their public relations advisors are either too "in the bubble" or too powerless to point this [the PR fallout of using private planes when asking for public money] out to their bosses. This kind of tone deaf handling of a crisis situation could very well be a nail in their coffin when trying to shore up public support for a bailout. These guys apparently learned nothing from AIG, where executives of the bailed-out-by-taxpayers insurance behemoth met at swanky resorts.

We all know now the terrible reaction and humiliation the CEO's rightly suffered for their boneheaded travel choices. It's unfortunate that their thoughtlessness may have done fatal damage to their companies, and by extension their employees and the overall economy.

A similar situation is brewing in the travel industry, where the boneheaded actions of a few may well cause serious harm to countless others. Take the aforementioned AIG, for example.

It would seem that the “AIG Effect” has caused serious collateral damage for the event planning, conference, travel and hospitality industries. An article in the Miami Herald illustrates:

In past years, partners of global executive search firm Stanton Chase conducted business meetings in South Africa during a long trip with their families that included a safari. They also enjoyed Sydney during a gathering at the Australian city's Ritz-Carlton.

But next month, the firm's partners will huddle at a Marriott in the suburbs of Nashville, chosen partly for its access to low-cost Southwest Airlines, says Mickey Matthews, a Stanton Chase executive. The firm is also overlapping meetings to avoid the expense of flying people out twice.

Today, "practical" has replaced "memorable" as the buzzword in high-end business circles. Companies are canceling splashy events and lavish business dinners or revamping the way they plan them. The new mood means drastic changes for employees who've come to expect five-star treatment, as well as hoteliers and travel planners who base their businesses on such meetings and incentive travel trips.

They've even coined a new phrase for the trend: "the AIG effect."

It comes from the embarrassing disclosure last fall that struggling insurance giant American International Group had spent about $400,000 on a retreat at a luxurious St. Regis resort and spa after taking an $85 billion federal bailout. After that, hoteliers saw mass cancellations or postponements of previously booked upscale trips and meetings.

Businesses usually cut back on luxury travel spending in tough times, but new image concerns raise additional worries, says Bjorn Hanson of New York University.

"There's not many companies out there that want to see their name on the reader board in a four-, five-star hotel nowadays," he says.

Geoff Freeman, U.S. Travel Association vice president, put it more bluntly in an interview with the online trade pub Travel Weekly: “We’ve become a target.”

He explained that President Obama’s public shaming of bad corporate actors has had a dampening effect on business travel by giving an angry public something tangible to heap their scorn upon. This leads to pressure on lawmakers who in turn lash out at the perceived "epidemic," thus continuing a cycle damaging to the industry.

We all need to help take the pressure off policymakers by doing a better job of cooling the public outcry [over perceived or truly extravagant travel spending], by explaining better the value of meetings and events. We need to help people understand who the real victims are if travel is cut. It is not the top executives.

We have to be better because elected officials respond to the calls they get. Also, companies that are taking government loans say they want help in reducing the risk [of bad publicity] when holding meetings and events demanded by their businesses.

Part of that public education effort is Keep America Meeting, a PR campaign started by the U.S Travel Association in conjunction with TBA Global, a privately-held agency that "creates nontraditional marketing and communications programs, events and meetings for high-profile businesses and associations worldwide."

Their press release lays out their case:

Two days after the U.S. Travel Association and industry leaders from key organizations issued guidelines for recipients of TARP funding, members of the meetings, events and incentive travel industries have banded together in a grassroots effort to draw attention to the important role meetings play in building successful businesses, as well as the vital role meetings, events and incentive travel play in the American economy.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, meetings and events are responsible for 15 percent of all travel-related spending, create nearly $40 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state and local level and generate more than one million jobs. Without the jobs generated by meetings, events and incentive travel, the current unemployment rate of 7.6 percent would rise to 8.2 percent and cost the average American household an additional $136 in taxes annually.
The campaign asks supporters to go to its website and sign an online petition. The petition signatures will be delivered by Keep America Meeting to the U.S. Travel Association and industry leaders from key organizations to fuel industry-wide efforts with the White House and the U.S. Congress.

The Sauce
The travel industry has moved swiftly to respond to this damaging public relations situation. However, it will take some mighty cool breezes to chill the white-hot fervor of Americans frustrated by the seeming impunity of “wealthy fat cats.” We agree with the Keep America Meeting strategy of educating the public about the jobs that will be lost—jobs held by “ordinary,” non-wealthy Americans.

Bernays Sauce has conducted interviews with business travelers and special event experts about the economy’s effect on travel. We’ll get into their take on this situation as well as cover some information on the value of meetings in our next post.

In the meantime, what do you think of the “AIG Effect” backlash and the efforts at damage control?

Public Relations A Deadly Vocation?

2009-02-18T08:58:00.009-06:00

No doubt you have seen or heard--like it or not--about the woman called "octomom". She's the person who through invitro fertilization has just birthed eight new babies, making her total kid count 14.

Emotions are running pretty hot about the single mom, who many believe is wreckless, irresponsible or even mentally ill. She has apparently received death threats. Strangely, (or perhaps not so strangely) so has her PR agency:

Killeen Furtney Group's president, Joann Killeen, said Saturday that her Los Angeles-based company was stepping down as Suleman's publicist because of death threats. Killeen said Nadya Suleman told her Yoder signed on as Suleman's agent.

It appears there aren't many agencies lining up to fill the void, either. Just goes to show you, not all business is business you want. Who wants to wear a flack (pardon the pun) jacket to the office?

What I really want to know is, who was paying the PR firm's bill for representing the octomom?

More here.

"Beard Look Okay? Great." Media Firm Markets with President's Day Humor

2009-02-13T12:26:00.018-06:00

Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition. --Abraham Lincoln

Our friends at Thill Media in Kansas City generated some worthy recognition by having a little fun with President's Day in the form of a clever email.

Sent to clients and friends, the email links to a short video titled "Early Experiments in Video Interview". Bedded with downhome fiddle music, an animated "Abe Lincoln" appears on scratchy film stock--and he's clearly having a bad day on the set. Anybody who's had to record a spot can sympathize with "President Lincoln" as he flubs his lines.

Check it out here.

Thill Media Creative Director Dave Simmons came up with the concept and put the piece together, even doing Lincoln's voice.

What spurred the President's Day spoof?

"We had noticed a couple of messages from clients and vendors with Valentine's Day banners or messages. Not being much of a romantic (and with Valentine's Day looming -and still no flowers bought for my beautiful wife), I decided to stay away from some of the potential pitfalls of a Valentine's message," Simmons said.

He added that in the contracting economy he wanted to do something to "lighten the mood and get a message to our potential clients at the same time."

"The over-reaching philosophy is that video, marketing, communications, etc. can be fun. It can be simple. It can be cost-effective, and it doesn't have to involve a three week shoot, fancy computer graphics and a focus-grouped concept. It can just be a simple (albeit disparate), fun message. All that being said --- we also want to put our serious side to work. So call us."

Simmons said a follow-up print piece--unrelated to the Lincoln spoof--is also in the works.

The Sauce
"Beard look okay? great."

Love it.

Dave's right. This is a fun way to show off your abilities and keep in touch with your client/prospect list without appearing to make an obvious sales pitch. It speaks for itself as a great marketing tool...I mean look, we're blogging about it, aren't we?

Don't let anybody tell you a down economy is an excuse not to amp up your marketing and public relations efforts. Now is the time to be bold. Fortune favors the brave, and businesses that conserve their resources to the point of adopting a bunker mentality about marketing do so at their peril.

The comments section is open for your take on Abe Lincoln, the Thill Media approach or your marketing strategy in general.

Oh, and Dave? Get your wife some flowers. She deserves 'em.

Sunny San Diego and The Special Event

2009-02-05T10:35:00.006-06:00

Your humble Bernays Sauce editor here--just checking in to report that San Diego was sunny and fun, but alas, the Special Event Gala Award for KCRiverFest eluded our grasp.

Just getting nominated was a great honor for EventPros, producers of the event. KCRiverFest was in the rarified air of top three fairs/festivals in the world as recognized by the "bible" of the special events industry, Special Event Magazine.

We also attended some great seminars which may turn into a posting or two here on the Sauce.

Anyway, trophy or no, it's good to be back.

Will KCRiverFest Bring Home the Gold?

2009-01-21T08:10:00.004-06:00

EventPros to Represent KCRiverFest and Kansas City in San Diego

Kansas Citians know that KCRiverFest is a great July 4th festival and the event’s producers hope judges for an international award think it’s the best festival in the world.

“We’re very excited to be in the final three for the international Special Event Gala Award,” said Bill Svoboda, co-owner of EventPros, Inc., KCRiverFest’s producers. “We view this as an award not only for KCRiverFest and EventPros, but for Kansas City as well. Whether we bring home the trophy or not, we’re proud this event brings tourist dollars and positive recognition to Kansas City.” Svoboda, co-owner John Short and colleague Alex Greenwood will journey to San Diego for the gala awards ceremony Jan. 30.

Late last year, the Special Events Magazine Advisory Board released the list of entries nominated to receive a Gala Award, the most prestigious prize in the special events industry. EventPros, Inc. received the nomination for their work producing KCRiverFest, Kansas City’s annual Independence Day festival. EventPros produces KCRiverFest on behalf of Friends of the River—Kansas City.

"We had nearly 400 entries, a 20 percent increase over last year," says Special Events editor Lisa Hurley. "The competition was fierce." This year’s competition drew entries in 35 categories from Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, England, Germany, Spain, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and the United States. Nominated entries went through three rounds of judging. The Gala Awards will be presented Jan. 30 at a black-tie gala ceremony.

As finalists for the Best Fair/Festival, EventPros/KCRiverFest is in competition with events in Sacramento, California and Harrisburg, N.C. Last year’s winner in this category was Marketing and More of Munich, Germany for “Mini United 2007,” a three-day car festival in Zandvoort, Netherlands.

“EventPros is the premier event planning company in Kansas City, and their nomination to receive a Gala Award from Special Events Magazine is a testament to the quality of their work,” said Chris Gutierrez, KCRiverFest chairperson. “KCRiverFest has become Kansas City’s Riverfront tradition and Friends of the River-KC is pleased to be working with EventPros on this event through 2011.”

The 2008 KCRiverFest, presented by KCTV 5/myKSMO, was the first produced by EventPros. Shortly after the successful festival, EventPros accepted a three-year contract to produce the acclaimed festival.

“We’re very proud of our team, as well as the leaders and volunteers of Friends of the River,” added John Short, EventPros co-owner. “It’s an honor to work with them on this growing event, and we’re looking forward to making KCRiverFest 2009 an even bigger success.” The EventPros team producing KCRiverFest includes Svoboda, Short, Greenwood and Lisa Holst, along with a host of professional staff and volunteers.

Major sponsors for KCRiverFest included KCTV 5/myKSMO, the Port Authority of Kansas City, Isle of Capri Casino, Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund, EventPros, Inc., Time Warner Cable, Cumulus Radio, Urban Times Magazine, Radio Disney, Burns & McDonnell, Hertz, King Hershey Attorneys at Law, Clarkson Construction, Liberty RV and BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas City.

For more information on The Special Event show, visit thespecialeventshow.com. For more on the magazine, visit specialevents.com.

Friends of the River-Kansas City (FOR-KC) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate the heritage and to promote the development of the Kansas City riverfront through education, community outreach, volunteer commitment and fundraising.

Founded in 2001, EventPros, Inc. specializes in all facets of event planning and production of any size and budget, including large-scale community festivals. The firm recently introduced extensive image management, marketing and communications consulting services. EventPros also performs functions for events, conferences and parties including theme development, food and beverage design, transportation and tours, talent sourcing and on-site event management. Visit http://www.eventprosinc.com or call 816.960.3400 for more information.

Open Forum: PR Challenges in 2009

2009-01-09T08:39:00.005-06:00

Happy 2009...as we begin a new year, let's open up the comments section and ask: What Do You Think Will Be the Biggest PR Challenge This Year? You can also vote in the poll on the right side of your screen, but we'd like to hear your thoughts--did we miss something? Let's hear from you!

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T14:27:00.002-06:00

May 2009 be free of economic freefall and bad PR.
Be well.
Be safe and we'll see you next year.--Editor

Sprint Ad Spending Soars

2008-12-30T12:56:00.002-06:00

From "The Street":

Not all companies are slashing advertising spending. Sprint is on track to outspend its larger wireless rivals AT&T and Verizon this month in an effort to reverse its alarming subscriber losses.

The Overland Park, Kan., telco is buying three to four times as many TV ads in December than it normally buys in the summer months. And this week, Sprint will overtake top spender AT&T in the TV ad buying race, according to an analyst familiar with the industry's current advertising activity.

The surge in ad spending comes after Sprint swung to a loss in the third quarter on a 7% year-over-year decline in sales. The No. 3 wireless shop has lost nearly 4 million subscribers in the past year as disgruntled Nextel users tore up contracts and other carriers picked off customers with fancier phones like AT&T's Apple iPhone.

Last month, Sprint announced it was slashing costs, closing offices and offering buyouts to bring expenses in line with sagging sales.

The recent advertising push has attempted to put CEO Dan Hesse in the spotlight as a symbol of the new direction and leadership at Sprint.

Sprint has also been emphasizing its family calling plans and its lower prices to tailor its offering to a more cash-strapped customer in a faltering economy.

The move to the top of the telco TV ad buyers spending is not likely to be sustainable for Sprint, however. AT&T spends around $800 million on TV ads annually and No. 2 Verizon typically budgets around $650 million for TV ads. Sprint's annual ad budget is usually around $400 million.

THE SAUCE

Smart move. A down economy is no time to slash marketing--Sprint (and the telecom industry) already has enough problems. Fortune favors the brave, we say. An intelligent ad campaign centered on their steady leader, CEO Dan Hesse, is a smart strategic move--especially when they have been taking it on the chin from competitors for quite a while.

Disclosure: The editor of this blog owns shares in Sprint and is related to a Sprint employee.

Happy Holidays from Bernays Sauce

2008-12-23T10:51:00.004-06:00

We'll be back shortly before the end of 2008, but in the meantime, whatever holiday you celebrate, we hope it's a great one. Be safe and have fun.--Editor

P.S. Now's the time to try out our great Béarnaise Sauce recipe, don't you think?

The Best and Worst Ads of 2008

2008-12-23T10:47:00.005-06:00

Ah, the end of the year, when the "best and worst" lists are upon us. From the Wall Street Journal comes the "Best and Worst Ads of 2008." Here's one of the worst (and I happen to agree it was bad, as it was just plain too oblique):

Odd Couple
Client: Microsoft Corp.

Agency: Crispin Porter + Bogusky

Content: Microsoft shelled out about $10 million for pitchman Jerry Seinfeld and paired him with Bill Gates for a massive Windows ad campaign. In one spot, the pair shopped for shoes; in another, they bunked with a family.

Feedback: The much-anticipated ads were largely panned by viewers and ad experts. A Microsoft spokesman says, "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. We're thrilled."

Get the entire article here.

Have a best or worst local or national ad you'd like to nominate? The comments section is open.

Politico's "Top 10 Media Blunders"

2008-12-22T12:46:00.003-06:00

Politico.com has come out with its list of the "Top Ten Media Blunders of 2008"--a fun read. Though these are political blunders (your Sauce editor is a bit of a political junkie), its instructive to see examples of ways the media can alter a message through their own mistakes or biases.

excerpt:

4) “Terrorist fist bump” and “baby mama”: Fox News, in one week last summer, twice took racially tinged shots at Michelle Obama. Host E.D. Hill apologized for calling the playful fist pound between the Obamas at the convention a “terrorist fist jab,” and then days later, the network placed an offensive chyron up next to the future First Lady: “Obama’s baby mama.”

Response: Hill’s contract wasn’t renewed when it expired in November, and the producer responsible for the “baby mama” line went to CNBC.

5) “Pimped out”: MSNBC’s David Shuster said that Chelsea Clinton was being “pimped out” by the campaign for calling superdelegates on her mother’s behalf. The Clinton camp and NBC executives became embroiled in a tense back-and-forth, with the Democratic contender threatening to withdraw from a network-sponsored debate.

Response: Shuster was suspended for a couple weeks, but the incident wasn’t a career setback. Just last week, MSNBC named Shuster host of “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”

Click here to read the entire story.

EventPros Garners KC Small Business Honor

2008-12-19T08:59:00.000-06:00

We just found out that our firm, EventPros, is among the 2009 KC Small Business Magazine "25 Under 25" businesses in Kanasas City. We are very excited, especially on the heels of our nomination for the International Gala Award for KCRiverFest (we find out if we won that one Jan. 30 in San Diego).

Who says good things don't happen these days?

So...if you want some award-winning communications and special event services, give us a shout. We'd love to work with you.

Small Firms Being Studied for Acquisition

2008-12-16T09:15:00.000-06:00

Attention small shop PR firms...blue light special! Seriously, it is encouraging to see that not only is the public relations sector surving the recession, its growing. Any ideas as to why? More outsourcing due to corporate PR layoffs? Your comments and opinions welcome.

Excerpt:

5W Public Relations, today announced intentions to make acquisitions, and aggressively pursue small PR agencies in 2009. The firm is currently in discussions with several firms. 5W Public Relations has quickly grown to be the nation's 21st largest independent firm since their founding in 2003.

"Thankfully, despite the tough economy, 2008 was a growth year for 5WPR as we continue to organically grow and mature. Given the state of the economy, as entrepreneurs, we understand the struggles small firms may have with collections, lowering of retainers and simple balance sheet issues, and as such we are interested in acquisitions or agencies that may be looking to merge into a larger agency," said Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5W PR. "We are targeting small firms and we are seeing a lot of Public Relations firms doing great work, but are facing tough times. We are very confident that we will continue to grow and view acquisitions as a component of that process. We are cash positive and want to invest in acquisitions to grow."

Smart PR: When You're Bailed Out By Taxpayers, Nix the Partying

2008-12-09T09:16:00.001-06:00

Adam Bradbury of Dow Jones Newswires reports that "Citigroup has canceled a Christmas party for London-based staff in its fixed-income division because senior executives in the group decided it would be inappropriate amid ongoing layoffs, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

The cancellation comes after Citigroup announced in November that it plans to shed 52,000 staff worldwide and reduce expenses by 20% in an attempt to weather the global financial crisis and a sharp economic downturn.

It also comes after the bank canned an equities division party, which was due to be held Dec. 3 at London's Cafe de Paris for the same reason.

The fixed-income party was due to be held Dec. 11 at Paper, an exclusive nightclub on Regent Street, in the West End of London, which boasts of a range of celebrity guests such as world champion Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and actress Keira Knightley.

The event was going to be paid for by the managing directors in the bank's fixed-income division, which include the interest rates, foreign exchange and commodities businesses, the person said.

"It was obviously a commitment made a long time ago," said the person familiar with the matter. "Given that (Citigroup) is letting so many people go, the managing directors didn't feel it was right to host a big party for those who are staying so they decided to cancel it."

The Sauce

Good thinking. Bernays Sauce is all for celebrating the season (contact these guys!)--especially in depressing times such as these. However, if a company is laying off thousands and are the recipient of taxpayer largess to bail them out of poor business decisions, then perhaps they need to put down that egg nog and back away...quickly.

It's a no-brainer, but as big corporations have proven lately (see AIG, GM, Ford, etc.) public image is not always a serious consideration, even when they go hat in hand to the people for a rescue.

Disclosure: The writer of this post owns a miniscule amount of stock in Citigroup. Stop laughing.