Comments on: Publicists and criticism

By: Maile

Maile — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:12:04 +0000

Just got my first press kit. Or, I will have, assuming the tickets are there when I get to the box office! :) No, I’m sure they will be.

A friend of mine who does a lot of acting in Chicago was just telling me “from the artist’s standpoint, any review is a good review.” That made me feel kinda good and important. :) But also it raises the point that to refuse cooperation with a reviewer kind of disservices the performers/directors/crew ,because it denies them opportunities to get feedback on their work.

By: Monica

Monica — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:47:16 +0000

Be glad you didn’t join me for “The Pillowman” because they lost the will call list.

At MCA, they give you a press release and also direct you to the press website they have where you can find images. But not really a kit.

By: Bob [CTA]

Bob [CTA] — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:14:38 +0000

Demand your press kit, Maile. You’re worth it! :)

By: Bob [CTA]

Bob [CTA] — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:14:11 +0000

Hi, a.j. – Thanks for commenting.

Great comments. And I agree that publicists have all the rights in the world to turn down a publication that is unreliable — as in no-shows, attending but not reviewing, no confirmed attendance, etc. However, in the case referenced above, it’s just a matter of the publicist not agreeing with a critic’s review. Nothing more. And that’s shady.

By: Maile

Maile — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:35:02 +0000

Well, as a baby reviewer this is very educational for me as far as what to ask for from venues. All venues have been happy to have me, and maybe it’s my “aw-shucks” self-presentation, but none have ever talking about anything as hi-falutin’ as a press kit to me! Even if they don’t do press kits (since I’m reviewing a lot of community theater) it’s good to know the the things that WOULD be in such a kit, so I can be savvy enough to try and request them if they have them.

So thanks for the edumacation. :)

By: a.j.

a.j. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:26:53 +0000

I’d be interested to know which of these offenses are from hired publicists versus in-house person-wearing-the-publicist-hat. I know that with many small companies, people are often tasked to do things that not only are they not necessarily skilled at – but also often without any guidance as to the proper way of doing them–all while also doing the things that they are good at, that they like, and that are their primary duties. While this is not an excuse, it is certainly a contributing factor to at least a few of your grievances.

With regard to low-res photos (huge pet peeve of mine is the vast number of people who don’t realize the difference between what works on screen v. what will work printed); I know for a fact that a lot of companies (again, smaller, and without a lot of wiggle room in budgets) shoot their own publicity photos, separate from the people they may have hired to handle their media relations and/or marketing/design, and quite frankly, just don’t know what they’re doing (see point 1).

As for pissy publicists, you’re right. The publicist’s job IS to bring in the press and the critics. And a critic or publication shouldn’t be treated poorly because of an unfavorable review. However, I can easily see a situation where a publicist might be hesitant or leery to invite critics who are on assignment for a publication who has burned them in the past – with repeated no-shows, showing up without having confirmed attendance, posting reviews of preview performances before the show has opened despite promises to the contrary, or just generally behaving without courtesy.

And I think that’s the key – we should all be acting courteously with each other. If we commit to doing so, small missteps can be corrected quickly and easily and without causing anyone too much inconvenience and certainly without being pissy.