Monthly Archives: January 2010

2010 Olympic Team Skip Shuster to LA

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MEDIA ALERT

U.S. MEN’S OLYMPIC CURLING TEAM SKIP JOHN SHUSTER VISITS THE SOUTHLAND PRIOR TO THE VANCOUVER GAMES SUNDAY, JANUARY 31-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1

America’s Top Men’s Curler Visits Los Angeles for the First Time Offering Instruction and Signing Autographs at Hollywood Curling’s Learn-to-Curl Event Sunday, Jan. 31

Who: John Shuster, the Skip (Captain) of the 2010 U.S. Men’s Olympic Curling Team, is making a guest appearance at Sunday’s Hollywood Curling Club Open House/Learn to Curl session. Shuster will be providing instruction, greeting new curlers and explaining the fastest-growing game on ice.

What: Hollywood Curling’s Open House/Learn to Curl event allows anyone of any age to get out on the ice and learn the basics of the sport of curling.

Info: The Hollywood Curling Club will provide all equipment necessary. Participants should wear warm clothes, sturdy flat-soled shoes (sneakers), and come equipped with the willingness to have a lot of fun! Visit www.hollywoodcurling.org for more info or e-mail info@hollywoodcurling.org.

When: Sunday, January 31, 2010 from 6:15 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m.

Where: Valley Ice Center (8750 Van Nuys Blvd., Panorama City, CA 91402)

Cost: The cost for the public is $10 per person or $30 for a group of 4. MEDIA ARE FREE.

Media For outlets interested in covering the event or arranging interviews with John Shuster Contact: while he is in Los Angeles, contact Marissa Messier at (818) 209-1721. Media interested in covering the session or needing more information, please RSVP to Marissa or email marissa@hollywoodcurling.org.

JOHN SHUSTER BIO INFO

Age: 26 Position: Skip Hometown: Duluth, MN Nickname: Shoostie

Home Club: Duluth Curling Club Years Curling: 12 Curls: Right-handed

How He Got Started: Sunday night Jr. Curling Program (in Chisholm) when he realized he wasn’t going to be a basketball player.

Career Highlights: 2006 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2010 Olympic Trials Champion, 2007 World University Games Gold Medalist, 4-Time Men’s National Champion, 2004 Jr. Men’s National Champion.

Curling Achievements: Olympic Winter Games: 2006 (bronze); U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2009 (champion), 2005 (champion), U.S. National Championships: 2009 (champion), 2008, 2007, 2006 (champion), 2005 (champion), 2004 (runner up), 2003 (champion); World Curling Championships: 2009 (5th), 2006 (4th), 2005 (6th), 2003 (8th); and World University Games: 2007 (gold)

Shuster takes command of the ice, the game and the team.

Conan O’Brien’s Unemployment Exit Statement

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Entering is so much nicer than exiting.

One of of your first days in out placement services, you attend workshops to finesse things like your resume, career objectives and more importantly, your exit statement if your position was redundant.  They teach you Never to say the words “laid off”- the term “Laid Off” is apparently dirty words in the career placement world.  To get around using this derogatory term  they have you write up an exit statement and I was just thinking about what in the world Conan or his staff say about their job transitions.

Some sample Conan exit statements could be:

The recent reorganization of NBC’s late-night schedule has afforded me the opportunity to explore new options.  With my record of entertaining mass amounts of viewers, connecting with the younger demographic and being funnier than my predecessor, my objective now is to locate a position as a host of my own show within a “sane thinking, business savvy” entertainment company.

Or

As a result of the recent merger of  “The Jay Leno Show” and ”Tonight Show Starring Conan O’Brien,” 200 positions were eliminated, including mine.  I am now exploring opportunities that will take further advantage of my extensive late-night comedy experience, as well as my hosting and writing background, in the entertainment industry.

These work for me – feel free to use them  any time Conan and good luck.  Remember never to say “laid off” or terminated! Nor say that you are unemployed.  You’re in transition.

Off to recite my exit statement,

Cindy

Conan O’Brien’s Package

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Did you see the size of Conan’s O’Brien’s package?  He’s bringing home a cool $30 mill* in his severance from NBC, while his brood gets to split approximately $11 million*.  Not bad for a guy who tells funny jokes before our bedtimes. 

Is Fox in His Future?

As one who is familiar with severances of late, I did a little math for I wanted to see how his staff made out for seven months work in Los Angeles.  Basically, his 190 person staff would each receive $41,000 (after taxes) if the $11 million was split evenly among them, which I’ m sure it will not be.  $40k is wonderful and much better than nothing – I mean it was very honorable that Conan fought for them – but their future lies with their former boss and whether or not he takes another job immediately. 

Conan will be fine financially, however, I am sure that his staff is secretly  hoping that he lands  a new gig soon and create another show where he needs to hire approximately 190 people.   If Conan decides to take a few months off and enjoy Los Angeles in the spring time, then their only hope is to attempt to work on one of the shows NBC is producing to fill its 10p.m. weeknight slots.  But, that’s a long shot. 

Also, California certainly doesn’t need another 200 people out of work-so Conan from one person in transition to another – heed this advice:  Get to work as soon as possible, not just for your fans, but more importantly, for your co-workers.  Forty thousand dollars doesn’t go far when you have to pay for your own benefits, rent, insurance, utilities, cable, college loans and cell phone, etc.

(*-I deducted $3 million from Conan’s $33 million severance and $1 million from the staff’s package to account for lawyers fees.  Not being anywhere near this settlement, I am giving a low-ball estimate. It could very well much more that the lawyers get to pocket out of the deal.)

The System is Broken

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DOWN WITH STRIFE

There is no perfect answer, however, our current two party system is broken.  It is wrong in so many ways and it’s not healthy for us.  I could go on and about this matter, but what I really want to talk about is STRIFE.

Yes, STRIFE.

This is how I feel when the Democrats and Republicans can't get along!

I have been experiencing strife in every facet of my life and I want it to go away. I’ve been pondering why it seems to be following me everywhere I go and I think I’ve found the answer.  Our last Election is where it all started. In all of my voting days I have never experienced a more conflicted, antagonistic and down right mean Presidential Election-the country was at each other’s throats. Never have the Republicans and Democrats been more divided and that still stands true today.  Just look at our news. Fox News and MSNBC keep throwing more kindeling on this fire.  How can we stop this back-biting and name calling? It’s not good for us or for anyone. It is causing Strife.

Thus, this STRIFE is now popping up everywhere, because it still exists in our government.  I have a favorite saying...the fish stinks from the head down, meaning our government is causing it to continue.

These two parties can’t be unified on anything.  Heaven forbid that they forget their party’s preferences and remember they are serving as our elected officials.  They represent Americans.

This world would be such a better place if the Dems and Republicans, once they were in office, would throw away these designations and act under one label – Americans.

With our current system, we are going no where fast.  Nothing will get done at this current pace.  We need a miracle.  We need pride to slip away.  We need an united government.  We need to end this strife.

I for one have had it – so please if you have any sympathy for me – stop sending me emails about how the country has died. I only want positive emails that help the country and not hurt it.  Don’t cause me anymore strife than I already have.

That’s my two cents for the day.  What do you think?  Are you strife free? If so, I envy you.  Do tell.

Haiti

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This is a time for the world to put aside its differences

I cannot even begin to wrap my head and heart around the devastation that Haitians are experiencing at this very moment.  Tuesday’s catastrophic earthquake has literally rocked the entire world.  I am at a loss for words  – the images I’m seeing from CNN have simply silenced me.  As a human being, I yearn to help in some way, and at the same time, I feel so darn guilty about how “good” I have it in my life.  How about you?

I mean there I was at the gym (a luxury item) and I was working out watching Larry King interview people in Haiti or soon going there and the images weren’t stopping of sadness, loss, chaos and rubble.  But, it was Anderson Cooper’s first story that sent me reeling.  It was so moving-that wasn’t sweat coming down my face – it was actual tears.

Ivan Watson from CNN told the story of a beautiful 11-year-old girl who was rescued from the destruction of her home Thursday. Ian was there to capture her ordeal.  We heard her cries during the report as men tried to free her from a mountain of concrete. She was such a pretty little girl, and courageous staying alive for two days.  Her spirits were holding her together and her will to live…but then Ian had the following announcement.  Here’s what he conveyed to us.  Here’s a link to the actual report. To see see it, click here.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) — An 11-year-old girl rescued from the rubble of her home Thursday in an hours-long effort has died, her family said Friday.

The girl — one of scores trapped beneath buildings that collapsed in Tuesday’s 7.0-magnitude quake — was rushed to a first aid station Thursday evening where doctors told her family they were not equipped to deal with her injuries. Her right leg had been pinned by a large piece of metal for two days.

She died before her relatives could drive her to a more sophisticated hospital outside Port-au-Prince.

Her last words, her uncle said, were, “Mother, don’t let me die.” She was buried Friday in her mother’s hometown, her uncle said.

Anyone who watched this report was moved by it. This bright, be-speckled girl, died without her mom or any relatives around here.  Ian went on to say that no one has told her mom that she has died yet. They have already lost so many in their family that they fear the mother would go insane-that she couldn’t handle anymore grief.

My heart aches. This is the saddest thing I have ever seen.

There’s nothing like this to put things in perspective.  I could care less about USC’s new football coach.  Or Mark McGwire’s woes.  The Senate races.  The Golden Globes.  The TCA.  Or my problems for that matter.  All that matters right now is that there are hundreds of people grasping for hope and breath tonight.  I mean I heard one reporter talk about the fact that the doctors there are practicing “civil war” surgeries.  Meaning, they have no general anesthesia to give patients.  The reporter saw one woman have her leg amputated and she was given local anesthesia.  Can you even begin to imagine?

We have no idea what life is like in Haiti right now.  The smells.  The cries for help. The lack of information on missing family members.  No home to go to for those who lost theirs. Heck, the government is even MIA.

So all I can think to do right now is pray. Pray for the people who are managing the chaos. Pray that the volunteers and professionals are not affected by what they see. Pray for hope for those enduring such incredible loss that they can’t feel anything but that pain. Pray. Pray. Pray.

This region needs help and there are many organizations stepping forward.  Despite whatever monies and donations that come through though, there is nothing that is going to help those who are suffering. Pray for healing and continue to pray for them for the effects of the earthquake will be felt for generations.

I still am pondering what I can do to help.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on Haiti and its recovery and how you plan to help.   I can use any ideas, especially for those on fixed incomes.  As for the little girl whose life was cut short…I am so glad Ian Watson was there to capture it on tape.  Now she will never be forgotten. She stands as the voice for those who are still living in the rubble.  Each needs to be found – each has a story – each needs to know that they are not forgotten.

Cindy

Sarah Palin’s Well-Managed Brand

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Sarah's continuing to woo voters

Kudos to whoever is managing Sarah Palin’s brand.  Her latest foray into becoming a Fox News analyst was brilliant for a number of reasons, mostly due to the following:

  • Her appearance on the #1 conservative news source puts her in front of her voting public.  She will on their minds when she announces she is making a run for President. (I feel sick even thinking about that.)
  • Even though she could not complete her role as the Governor of the State of Alaska, her stint at Fox News instills the fact that she is perceived as a thought-leader and influencer. (ugh)
  • Although, she got her geography and historical facts wrong during the Race for Vice President, she can clean up her perception in that area by having her comments on a teleprompter.  If she steers off the prompter, then the risk will arise for additional errors.  But, this is an astute way to build up her reputation that she really knows what she’s talking about.  It can build up her credibility.
  • Also, she will now have a wardrobe allowance again.  She loved that part of the Race and now it’s back again.

Despite what perceptions Americans have about Mrs. Palin – the Fox News gig is a win-win for her, the GOP and Fox News.  Fox knew Sarah is the brightest star in the Republican franchise and with that, she has the hearts of those red states.  The blue states have a differing opinion and thus, won’t watch her anyway.

But, she is now teed up to be a political expert and will be given experienced writers who will serve as her mentors, educating her along the way of world issues, world geography and just plain common sense.

She’s on her way now and getting well-paid for it too.  She certainly is a lady of luck.  There’s nothing rouge about her branding, it’s all calculated and they are doing an incredible job.  Democrats Beware.

It’s A Great Time For Publicists

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Nothing to Celebrate Now

Pals Again

A Mugshot of a Man in Need of a Publicist

It’s a great time to be a publicist for the harvest field has recently become full with so many influential people and institutions finding themselves caught in potential reputation tarnishing situations.  Just take a look at our current workload.

  • Mark McGwire
  • Charlie Sheen
  • USC
  • Harry Reid
  • NBC

Need I say more. Publicists are needed in each of the above situations and lives like never before.

In addition to being a benefit during crises, publicists as a whole have much to gain from high-profile situations for it is at these character building times that our craft is treated with the respect it deserves. And, if the publicists that are charged with the above situations do it right, then they will not only bring goodwill to our profession, but also help save the lives of individuals who have been lead astray by either greed, power or a personal demon.

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

As a publicist my first counsel is to come clean. I tell my clients if something has been done wrong and especially if it is on the verge of being found out that they need to confess.  That’s why I’m glad Mark McGwire had the saddest day of his life today and admitted to steroid use.  He no longer has to dance around this issue and keep the lie going.

Why did he come out with it now? Who knows, but I think it was because he couldn’t stand the guilt one more day.  As we all know, secrets hurt more keeping them in than in their exposure.  Yes, his reputation has been damaged, but Mr. McGwire can now rest his head on his pillow tonight with a clear conscience for the first time since perhaps 1993.  That’s a long time to keep a lie alive.

Is he in the clear now? No, I believe this is just the start of his healing. He now needs to apologize to his fans and face the music.  He will face some punishment, whether that be never being voted in the the MLB Hall of Fame or having an asterisk by his stats.  He is accountable for his actions and must face the consequences.

And my advice goes for the rest of them too.

Charlie Sheen needs to admit to his anger problems and get treatment. His actions need to match his words. He also needs to financially support battered womens abuse shelters and speak to men about this issue as part of his healing.

Pete Carroll is the smartest man at USC by getting out of the NCAA-violation laden athletic program.  The you-know-what-kind-of-storm is going to hit there and you haven’t seen anything yet.  The flood gates are just opening and the best thing USC can do is silence Mike Garrett, USC’s Athletic Director.  Now is the time for silence from the administration or its time to confess if there have been problems.

Harry Reid’s situation should be over in a few days regarding his racist remarks toward President Obama. He smartly issued an apology before the storm hit him and the President accepted his apology. Case closed. Well done.

And NBC-They have a huge mess on their hands.  They have pissed off their two best talents.  Jay and Conan are having a field day ridiculing the company on air that gives them their pay checks.  With GE soon selling the shop to Comcast, it could be that this lame duck administration is throwing up its hands to these boys who are behaving badly.  They might not care.  But as viewers, we love it. It makes great TV. And well, I think they will continue this outward protest for some time to come…even after the Winter Olympics.

So if you are looking for a job, you might want to think about being a publicist – that is if you like to clean up other people’s messes and don’t mind being expendable until a major poop storm hits.  When the talent is knee deep in you know what- that’s our time to shine. And right now there are a lot of people who desperately need us.  Tiger, do you still need some help?

What’s your spin on this post?

Not in deep water yet,

Cindy

If I Were Conan…

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Conan and Jay need to forget about their pride and do the make the best decision for their audiences.

For those of you following the soap opera that NBC has become…Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien are caught in situations that neither of them would have never thought possible.  From the outside, it does appear that they are part of a dysfunctional network system caused by miss-management, bad deals and promises.

By no means do I think that Conan nor Jay are victims nor should be pitied in their situations. The two of them are set for life financially no matter the outcome.  But, this situation that has arisen involves PRIDE and that sometimes is hard to swallow.

If I was either of their publicists the advice I would give them would be the same. Forget about your ego and the best decision to be made is what is best for their audience. Yes, in this day and age, you are only as good as to the size of your following.  Any missteps causing a reduction of fans are costly.

So if Conan and Jay can put aside their differences and their egos for a moment, the best decision for both of them is to stay on NBC.  They need to keep serving their audience base and not disappoint them by jumping ship.  Their audiences know them as NBC personalities and know where and when to find them.  Any changes in that area will only signal trouble for them regarding their broadcast futures.

Yes, it’s pretty crummy how NBC is treating them – flip flopping their schedule and lives like they have…but Jay and Conan must remember why they are successful – it’s because of their loyal fans which keep tuning in.   If they do anything to disrupt that, then I foresee their careers to be short-lived for  no one can not survive in today’s economy with low numbers.

Like social media, the community finds you – you don’t find it.  They join you as a follower or friend because they want to and they have the power to ignore or decline your invitations for friendship.  Once you have a “community” then you are responsible to deliver on the goods you promised them.  You don’t want to upset them for there is power in numbers.  That’s why the first calls that Jay and Conan receive everyday are from the NBC research department on how they’re performing. The number of followers is VERY IMPORTANT.

For forget about what promises were made or feeling like this isn’t fair.  Jay and Conan be thrilled that you both still have jobs and that people still tune in to see you weeknights. Do what’s best for your fans and if you, what comes around goes around – you’ll be rewarded beyond measure.

So swallow that pride.  Admit defeat. And expect opportunities as a result.

Be Kind To Yourself

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I love this message - Be Kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle

Ahhh. The start of a new year…better yet a new decade.  If you’re like me you’re hearing from just about everyone that they feel big things are in store for us in 2010.

For the first time in my life, I feel that everyone wants to be optimistic about this new year and are hoping that their lives will turn around from what they experienced in 2009.

I too am optimistic that we will see more positive growth in 2010. But, my post today is about you and my hope is that you are being nice to yourself, nevertheless.

A new year does bring expectations as well as goals and resolutions.  If you are under pressure due to the economy or because you are in a career transition it is VERY IMPORTANT that you heed this advice.  TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME.  Don’t let the added pressure of a new year, cause you anymore stress than you already have.  Check your innards to make sure you’re not putting any extra importance on turning things around.  You can only do so much. The only thing that you can control is your attitude.  So make sure you are working on making yours one that will help you stay positive as you weather the change in your forecast.

So right now, hand your burdens over and take some deep breaths.  That optimism you feel, feel it for yourself.  Things will turn around.

In my work group meeting today, one gentleman landed the perfect job after looking since September. The position was with his ideal company and his pay even increased.  People are landing jobs!  I was very happy for him, but was mostly impressed with one of his statements. He shared with us that the best thing that happened to him last year was being terminated.  He found out more about himself in the job search than he ever imagined and it caused him to dare to dream and land a job that he would love as opposed to keeping a job he could perform with his eyes closed.

So view your struggles in a new light.  Is your character being built?  What good can you see or lessons are your learning?

My advice is stay positive.  Try your best to push those negative thoughts out of your path.  Forget about the new year.  Just concentrate on today.

Check your pressure gauge daily!

So, don’t despair.  Take care of yourself.  Set realistic goals.  Like air in a car tire, make sure you have enough pressure for a smooth ride, but don’t add anymore to it.  You don’t want any blow-outs. Be kind.

What am I doing to make sure I’m not over-stressing?  I’m resting when my body says so. I’m taking lunches with friends to stay balanced.  I’m reading books that are positive and I’m writing.

That’s what I’m doing and I’d love to hear how you care for yourself. Do tell!

Well, I heard from my good friend Christy that this post reminded her of Journey’s “Be Good To Yourself.” I have to agree…this song will make you happy so I definitely needed to include in it in this post.  Sing along!!!!!!!

Journey – Be Good To Yourself

Best,

Cindy