PR for the Brave Shavers

Day one. Cue the nervous energy that resulted in a drive or two around the block (good thing I was early). But when I was breathing steadily enough to exit the car, I commenced my first day at the Leukaemia Foundation. An in-house internship.

I am lucky enough to get to intern with this amazing organisation, and work on general Leukaemia Foundation tasks, such as collate events into flyers for Support Services, and make template media releases. But most importantly, I get to assist in the work towards the World’s Greatest Shave. For those who don’t know, the World’s Greatest Shave is a nation wide fundraiser where people get sponsored to shave, wax or colour their hair to raise money to fund research and support services provided by the Leukaemia Foundation. 

On my second day, we went to drop off prize packs for a 92.9 competition. Upon arrival at the studio, we met the account manager in the lobby, and were invited for a tour of the offices and studios for 92.9 and mix94.5. It was very unexpected and amazing. I followed in quiet awe. However, the reason for this impromptu tour had more to do with the marketing side of the organisation than the PR side.

As of my fifth day, I had written several media releases. My task was to sift through a database and find the stories to right a release about. The whole time I just reminded myself: quotes, good lead paragraph, call to action! Mentally ticking my checklist. Though there are some points I still need to work on, I know that it is something I am able to do, and being able to write about some of the World’s Greatest Shave participant is inspiring.

In my time I have learnt one very important lesson. When I was making phone calls for the media releases, I made I had everything prepared before the call, all the questions I wanted to ask. But I should have prepared something for a phone call that gave me very little answers for my prepared questions. I will in future prepare extra questions that are less specific to the vision I had for the media release.

This brings on the common question: is the media release dead? There are so many opinions about it, and I'm still making up my mind, but currently swaying more towards the use of them being relevant. This article raises a lot of good points, specifically in that press releases allow organisations to concentrate on the message they want to convey. I think in terms of the Leukaemia Foundation, media releases are still very much a valuable communication tool, as targeting local outlets ensures a wider reach of the message, which can prompt a community to support a World's Greatest Shave participant. 

The internship is an in-house position, and though I have not had experience in a consultancy, in-house positions allow you to thoroughly understand all the messages of an organisation and be involved in every step of the process. You can compare each task to the results of a previous year and work to improve exposure. Since this is still early days, my opinion is not set in stone, and I'd be interested to hear from anyone who would agree or disagree.

I’m just a quarter through my internship, but I love it so far, and the experience is priceless.

I'm Inconsistent...

...but my intentions are good. I'm just so busy that writing on a blog with a readership of just one (myself) is less of a priority. In fact, I'm not even sure if this is public. The privacy settings don't bother me, since I'm only doing this as a way to keep track of my own writings. I will be including my internship work in this. Probably the next year of my career also, as I step out of the sheltered university life and into the competitive Perth workplace of my dreams.

I am interning at the Leukaemia Foundation with a bunch of truly fantastic, friendly and supportive people I have come across to date. In an organisation that deals with people facing the hardships of blood cancer, I understand why friendliness is a priority, but they go above and beyond. I have been writing about my time there on my Professional Practice 393 unit blog, but I'm going to repeat it here, because I can. 

As for that other, bigger, more difficult dream of the Big Apple, I'm working on it. I need to finish my degree and get some experience before I go, and my brother's wedding has been planned for New Years Eve this year in South Africa, and I want to go. So the aim is to leave Perth behind in May next year.

So now comes the visa forms, more budgeting, more saved money for those inevitable days of initial unemployment with the lingering chance for this pain to continue for the 4 short months my visa would allow me to stay for. 

The Spark of an Idea

The decision to move to New York City came very quickly, but made the most sense. I am due to graduate in September of 2014, so I needed to sort out what I wanted to do. I have already set aside 2 weeks in December over Christmas to think things through. I'm arming myself with a pen and a notebook, and while I relax with the beautiful views of Cape Town, South Africa surrounding me with the company of my brother and his fiancee, I plan on making some very important decisions. No Internet, no email, no phone. Just me, my mind and my decisions that need to be made...and fiction books of course.

Coming from Perth, Western Australia, I am used to isolation. It's not that it is that small. A population of 2 million is still competitive for jobs. But as the people of Perth always say, 6 degrees of separation in the world, 2 degrees in Perth. It is the most isolated city in the world (except for Hawaii, but ocean doesn't really count). From this comes the name of my blog, Isolation to Empire. Pretty self explanatory.

And here I am, wanting to spend the good part of my 20s in a city with over 8.8 million people. As soon as I start telling people, I know they're going to say I'm crazy. Which is why I haven't told anyone yet. I guess I want to make my own decisions uninfluenced by people's negativity.

As an PR student, I am aware of all the opportunities that New York City has. And all the competition to go with those opportunities.

I have spent time away from home, even in the U.S. I lived in Wilmington, North Carolina for 6 months when I was 18. But I was staying with a family. Amazing people. But I later realised I didn't have all the freedom I craved. I have some, at aged 21, but I also have an urge to do something big. Dramatic. Crazy. Different. I'll stop speaking in staccato now.

Now the big question. What do I do to prepare myself for the big move to the Big City? I have just under a year. Heaps of time, really. But as much as I'd love to say I was one of those spontaneous, jump off a cliff people, I'm not. I make calculated decisions. Think through all the risks. Which is why I have already begun saving money, just in case I don't get a job, or get one that doesn't pay enough for me to live in Manhattan (which would be ideal). I need shelter and food. So the plan is for me to have enough to survive at least 3 months without a job. And if luck were to bless me with a well-paying PR job, it would still take time to get a social security number and a bank account for my first pay cheque.

Lots to think about. And lots to plan.

Perth Fashion Festival

The glitter, gowns and glowing guests of Hackett Hall at the Western Australian Museum was an extraordinary experience. And I was a PR Intern for it.

It all began behind the scenes at ABC studios. I was on the door, checking in media, feeling professional in my brand new boots and black pencil skirt. When the media was in, and it had slowed down, I proceeded to the studios, where the launch for Perth Fashion Festival 2013 began. Displaying dresses from Empire Rose, One Fell Swoop and Wild Horse, just to start. 

A couple of weeks later, I was invited to the PFF office in the city to intern in the lead up and throughout the week of the festival (11-16 September). I was there for about two weeks altogether. 

The entire week was a chaotic, head-spinning rush that began at 10am and finished at 11pm daily. Every day was different. The days were spent preparing for the main shows at night, and the nights were spent checking in the media, and watching the shows from the media pit. There were days when my phone was ringing every three minutes, barely giving me time to finish one task before another, more urgent one was needing to be completed asap. Days were I stood in the wind tunnel of Kings Park holding a clip board. Nights running (not running, 'gliding') down St Georges Terrace in the rain with a faulty umbrella that I left in a bin, trying not to get documents wet as I tried to find a very well hidden building. Completing tasks that lead me to places in the city I had never seen before (and to be honest, never knew existed, including a trip underground Forrest Chase). 

It was the week where I drank way too much coffee, ate way too little, and relied on my Myer eyeliners and DL false eyelashes to hide the bags forming under my eyes.

But I loved it, and would do it again in a heartbeat. It was one of the best experiences ever, and I will never forget that last night, after the Ellery Closing event in the Linton and Kay Art Gallery, watching the show and then going back stage to enjoy a glass of champagne with other staff members, celebrating a successful week. 

About Me

A lot changed for me in 2012. I changed my name from the actually-not-so-difficult-but-everyone-seemed-to-have-a-problem-with-it Ailsa to my middle name, Tansy.

Half way through the year was the time that I decided that I wanted to change from studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Mass Communications, studying a Web Media stream with a Public Relations stream. I instead took the step in changing my degree to a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Public Relations. I was very hesitant at first, since I am terrible at Economics and Accounting, as high school classes displayed. I knew it would be a lot harder, going from doing two exams in my year and a half in an arts degree, to doing four a semester, and anyone who knows me knows that I don't do well in exam situations. 

I am glad I did it though. I did end up failing Economics 100, and Business Information Systems 100, which came as a shock to me. I passed Accounting thankfully. I will repeat my units and I am more determined then ever to do well to prove that I am capable. 

I have two jobs. I work at Kitchen Warehouse as a causal retail assistant, where I sell cookware, electrical, knives and gadgets, and have been doing so for the past three years. I can tell you the difference between Le Creuset and Chassuer, and why non-stick is better than stainless steel, so long as you don't use a high heat.

My second job is as a Sales and Marketing Assistant at Hospitality Pty Ltd, a company that owns and manages eight hotels and motels around Western Australia, including a retreat in Karijini National Park and a five star hotel in Perth City. 

Throw in some bar tending work and studying full time, and you have me. A well travelled 21 year old who is itching to see every part of the world. In a nutshell.