So now that you know how I came to be a PR professional, why do I enjoy what I do? Well if you didn't realize from my first entry... I love working with people! The knowledge, experience, and passion that I get from others in the industry (whether its media or clients) is amazing. Everyone in this business, as you can tell from all the previous TSG Speaks Out entries, have found their way by a completely different path and that allows for me to learn and share my work with a wide breadth of people.
Getting down to specifics... the client and media interaction. When I first started in PR I was terrified of pitching the media, but now it's one of the things I enjoy the most! It's a true accomplishment when you offer up a story idea to a feature reporter about a small non profit organization and they roll with it! Subsequently, seeing the reaction from that non profit client is thrilling! That's what makes it all worth it. (photo - WGN Reporter, Dean Richards, interviewing Jada Pinkett Smith and Jason Clarke at the 2008 Chicago International Film Festival)
I also love the event planning part of PR. Though rare in my day-to-day duties, I still get a thrill from working an event from the ground up whether it be a gala, awards benefit, or even a red carpet premiere! And to be honest they're fun!
And, the entertainment doesn't hurt. I've been fortunate to see a wide variety of entertainment including top-tier comedy shows, a live rodeo at the United Center, countless film screenings and theatre performances, a dog show, and much much more. The way entertainment can lift people's spirits (especially during these times) is truly inspiring. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine and in PR I'm able to help more people experience that. The more coverage I secure for a client, the greater the number of people who can be exposed to it. (photo - Mayor Richard Daley with the World's Toughest Rodeo Cowboys at the United Center, February 2009)
But still, the number one reason why I am and enjoy being a PR professional is because every day I am learning more! Whether it's about a specific art form, a specific media contact, or even a type of media, my knowledge is expanding all the time. With the array of clients I have had the privilege of working with, the different media personalities I have met, and the ever changing face of the media there is always more to learn and build off of in this industry. So keep the knowledge and interesting conversation coming and I'll plan to be in the Public Relations industry for years and years to come!
How did I come to a career in Public Relations? I guess it stemmed from my childhood dream of becoming the next Oprah. However, when I realized that this was an unlikely career path and that I much preferred to be behind the cameras while my actress sister was in front of them, I turned to journalism. Then I realized that as much as liked to write, I liked people more. Take that and couple it with the fact that I'm a planner, love events, and am thirsty for knowledge and you get my road to Public Relations!
I think it was senior year of high school when I was applying to colleges that someone mentioned public relations, I asked them to elaborate, and here I am!
I studied PR at the University of Miami (Go Canes!) with a double major in Math (just because!) and for the most part enjoyed everything I was exposed to. From the research to the writing, graphic design, and especially my campaigns class, I was hooked! What most kept my attention, however, was the opportunity to work and interact with so many different people. My professors alone were from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds as were my classmates.
My internship experiences only reinforced what I already liked about the industry... the diversity, the tempo, the events, and above all the chance to work with others. Seeing a pattern?
My first PR job was a result of an internship, in-house PR at a large regional theatre in Coral Gables, Florida. Though I truly enjoyed the work there, I wanted to move back to the midwest and wanted to be doing more than just theatre. My personal interests are so vast (hence the PR and Math degree) that an agency seemed like a great fit! The Silverman Group has allowed me the opportunity to work on a HUGE variety of clients (everything from mainstream theatre to film premieres and even a rodeo), always keeping me on my toes!
So that's how I got here... I guess I should thank Oprah because had she not inspired me to become her, I may have never discovered my own path.
Why do I enjoy Public Relations? What is it about my profession that really drives and satisfies me? After thinking long and hard about these questions, I came up with a few ideas about what really gets me going when it comes to PR…
I may not be the best dancer, painter or piano player, but I firmly believe that art, no matter what form it is packaged in, is something everyone should have access to. Chicago is such a culturally diverse city and this translates to a plethora of amazing artistic outlets. I feel that art helps us understand one another and the rest of the world as a whole. To have a musician from India, a vocalist from Greece or a dance company from Russia travel to America and collaborate with an organization here is something wonderful to see. To watch as an audience at Orchestra Hall is exposed to something other than Brahms or Beethoven is a thrilling experience. For a girl who grew up in Africa – watching this “globalization” makes me feel that I am working to promote a good cause!
Being at The Silverman Group has allowed me to experience and appreciate so many different cultures through the clients we work with. I have been able to meet the most amazing individuals and every season I am affected by these artistic geniuses that come into my life and invigorate my passion for my job. They have such a zeal for what they do and a desire to touch the world through their art forms – how could I NOT be passionate about working to bring them into the limelight? (photo of Kiran Ahluwalia, who performed with the Chicago Sinfonietta in March 2009)
Of course, we PR folk would be nowhere without the solid group of media outlets who give us a reason to do what we do. I love working with the writers, editors, producers, on-air personalities, bloggers, and tweeters to get them all what they need, how they need it, and when they need it. It has been so interesting to watch the media world change over the last five years. That alone keeps our job interesting. New/social media has added a new and unique dimension to what we as PR experts do every day! (still of the Indian silent film "A Throw of Dice" with a new score by Nitin Sawhney, which had its U.S. Premiere as part of the Grant Park Music Festival's 74th Season)
So, I guess the long of the short is that my passion for PR really stems from what and who I am working to promote and not so much the act of writing press releases and pitching stories…. Obviously, those techniques led me to this career path (see my blog dated November 24), but I actively chose the area of PR I wanted to be in and THAT is what really satisfies me when it comes down to it.
(photo of visual artist Luis De La Torre creating the backdrop for Eduardo Vilaro's "Quinceanera")
Someone once told me that if I made it through my first 2 years of working at a Public Relations firm, that I had chosen the right career field. January 3, 2010 will be my five-year anniversary with The Silverman Group. Phew! I made it!
If you had asked me where I would be in 10 years during my freshman year at Valparaiso University, I would have never imagined that Public Relations in Chicago would be my answer. International Relations, yes, but Public Relations, no way!
I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya (That’s EAST Africa, not South Africa!). Both my parents worked with Non-profit organizations, many times working with refugees or in war zone areas. Growing up surrounded by talks of the United Nations, wars, refugees, 2/3 countries all inspired me to want to do the same. Freshman year at University my major was International Service and Psychology with a minor in French. I wanted to go back to Africa and help in war zone areas, just like my parents.
So how did I get from International Service to Public Relations you ask? It all began when I took Communications 101 as a general class to fulfill a social science requirement. Somewhere between learning about the history of the radio and how to write TV script, I fell in love with the concept of public/media relations and within weeks, my major was changed from International Service and Psychology to Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. Through all my classes, I gained a great appreciation for effective communication. I already knew that I enjoyed writing (I would like to try my hand at writing a Children’s book one day!) and had always enjoyed the Arts (dance, music, theater and visual art). During my junior year of University, I chose to do a semester in Chicago through the Chicago Arts Program. For my internship during the program, I got to work at Carol Fox & Associates (admittedly, The Silverman Group’s friendly competitor). It was a wonderful internship experience and I knew that entertainment PR was the road I wanted to travel down.
After graduation I worked as an assistant community manager at a non-profit in Northwest Indiana for several months, but eventually found my way to The Silverman Group. I consider myself extremely lucky to be working in a field where I combine my love of the Arts and public/media relations. I am constantly learning and enjoy how many opportunities The Silverman Group has offered me. Of course, owner and president Beth Silverman is one of the most well-connected women in Chicago and has an amazing portfolio – there is no better place to learn!
Ready or not, the holiday season will officially begin this Thursday at 8 a.m. sharp. Be part of the annual tradition, whether in person or at home, as the 76th Annual McDonald's® Thanksgiving Parade marches down State Street. If you've never seen the Parade live, the sheer scale may be difficult to imagine (even with a 50" plasma). Here are some fun facts about this year's parade:
1934: The year the Parade was founded to lift people’s spirits in during the Great Depression
5,280 feet:the length of the Parade route
425,000: spectators expected to attend 76th McDonald’s®Thanksgiving Parade
65,500 cubic feet: the amount of helium used to inflate 12 giant parade balloons
6 hours: the time it will take to inflate all 12 giant parade balloons
408: people needed to handle the balloons throughout the Parade route
Almost 1,000: people volunteer at the 76th McDonald’s®Thanksgiving Parade
4,000: participants in the 76th McDonald’s®Thanksgiving Parade
2,462: high school and college students marching in the Parade
8,818 miles: the minimum total distance traveled by the visiting units in the Parade
Over 1,154 miles: the distance that the Central Florida Marching Brigade will travel to be in the Parade – more than any other unit except Santa Claus who is joining us from the North Pole!
Over 150 hours: The combined travel time that all visiting units will put in to be part of the 76th McDonald’s®Thanksgiving Parade
10: different ethnic groups participating in the Parade this year
568: horses’ legs in 76th McDonald’s®Thanksgiving Parade
45: members on the “poo crew” who work to pick up after all the horses in the Parade
The McDonald's® Thanksgiving Parade is a larger-than-life experience, and you can be a part of it! A limited number of VIP Packages are available, which entitles you to TV zone seating, a light continental breakfast and more. Whether you line up along State Street or receive VIP treatment for a day, don't miss a second of the action! Over 100 acts, including equestrian units, inflatable balloons, ethnic performers and a special appearance from Santa Claus will help make Thanksgiving and the holidays merry. WGN will broadcast the entire Parade in high from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Not an early riser? CLTV will rebroadcast the Parade at 2 p.m. For more information and a complete list of entertainers, balloons and floats, visit chicagofestivals.org.
The holiday season begins earlier every year. If you're not in the holiday spirit by mid-December, then check out a concert that goes beyond Jingle Bells and Rudolph. The Chicago Sinfonietta blends holiday traditions from around the world into a joyful multicultural singalong for its second annual holiday concert. The Global Holiday Celebration will feature the holiday favorite Joy to the WorldAfrican Sanctus; Adolphe Adam’s O Holy Night; Chip Davis and Calvin Custer’s and arrangement of Silent Night; Donny Hathaway’s soulful holiday standard This Christmas; and George Frederic Handel’s classic “Hallelujah!” chorus from Messiah followed by the gospel arrangement from A Soulful Celebration. (featuring Nicole Mitchell on wooden flute, Vikas Deo on sarod, Tatsu Aoki on shamisen, and Steve Gibbons on Gypsy violin); David Fanshawe’s Traditional favorites Feliz Navidad and O Hannukah will round out this festive program. For tickets call 312-236-3681 ext. 2 or visit http://www.chicagosinfonietta.org/.Children's tickets are only $10, while general admission tickets are $25.
Thomas Nicholas & Megan Quiroz, photo by Herbert Migdoll
The Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition for a reason - it's one of the few holiday performances with near-universal appeal. Children and their parents delight in Clara's adventure to the Land of Snow. With lavish sets, costuming and choreography, The Joffrey Ballet's interpretation of The Nutcracker is much more than a show. Clara's Christmas is a prelude to your own Christmas or holiday celebration.
Robert Joffrey's The Nutcracker is a reflection of Chicago as well as the holiday spirit. The Joffrey Ballet welcomes nearly 120 young dancers from the Chicago area, Indiana and Wisconsin to participate as snow trees or soldiers, every year. In the Auditorium Theatre lobby, Providence-St. Mel School Choir, the Oak Park and River Forest Children’s Choir, Barrington Children’s Choir, and Palatine Children’s Choir will serenade the audience with selections from Tchaikovsky's Snow Scene as well as popular holiday songs.Single tickets, priced from $25 to $115, are available for purchase at The Joffrey Ballet’s official Box Office located in the lobby of JoffreyTower, 10 E. Randolph Street, as well as the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University box office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by telephone at (800) 982-2787 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/.
For an...unconventional holiday performance, don't miss Jackie Hoffman's premiere of Whining in the Windy City: Holiday Edition. In town for four nights only, Hoffman skewers our most beloved holiday celebrations, showbiz and (of course) children. Full of stand-up comedy and original musical numbers, Whining promises to counteract even the most saccharine sources of holiday cheer. Fed up with the holidays already? Catch Jackie Hoffman tonight at the Royal George Cabaret, in her first of four performances. Deliciously directed towards audiences 18 and older, tickets are priced at $25 and are available by phone at (312) 988-9000, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/search?tm_link=tm_homeA_header_search&q=jackie+hoffman&search.x=0&search.y=0 or in person at the RoyalGeorgeTheatre box office.
On Saturday, November 14, volunteers gathered at the Museum of Science and Industry to get some hands-on experience with handling one of the balloons that will be a part of this year's McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade. Participants in "Parade School" practiced manuevering Bob The Builder in preparation for the parade on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, which travels along State Street from Congress Avenue to Randolph Street.
The clear skies and mild temperatures made for perfect conditions....we're hoping the actual conditions of the parade are quite so nice.
Bob is up and ready for action!
Bob goes for a stroll around the front lawn of the Museum of Science and Industry.
Bob takes a break: the balloon handlers get to practice laying Bob on his back.
Back to the ready position. Handling the balloon isn't as easy as it may look, but the volunteers are ready!
Beth gets to hang with none other than Ronald McDonald himself, the Honorary Grand Marshall of the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade.
In our efforts to allow you to get to know The Silverman Group a little better, we want to spend a little time on why we each enjoy PR, because everyone has a different reason for how and why they find PR rewarding.
As referenced in my first blog (on Nov. 10), I came to work with TSG through a love of dance and all things arts-related. After an active career as a performer and a foray into journalism, PR was a natural shift for me. So it will probably come as no surprise that the reason I enjoy working in PR and interacting with the media is because I love spreading the word about the arts. Whether it be dance or theater, music, film, comedy, or any hybrid thereof, it’s important to me that as many people as possible hear about all the wonderful, creative, inspiring work happening in Chicago. Granted, not all of our clients here at TSG are in the arts. Some are leisure-oriented while others are cultural institutions. But they all have something in common that makes them appealing: they build and enrich the community. PR is the bridge that makes possible the connection between the institutions, the media and the wider public.
(Above: Megan Quiroz and Thomas Nicholas in The Joffrey Ballet's "The Nutcracker," this year Dec. 11-27. Photo by Herbert Migdoll.)
Chicago has a plethora of knowledgeable culture aficionados, both seasoned critics as well as fresh voices eager to tout all that the city has to offer. Each media outlet brings their own insightful take to an event and they all have an uncanny knack for teasing out the most curious and fascinating aspects of a dance, play, concert, or other creation.
It’s incredibly affirming to see a show or event that we represent be highlighted in the media—whether it be in print, or on a blog, or on air. When you see or hear these highlights, you realize how many other people are seeing them, too, getting excited and thinking “I can’t wait to go see that!” It’s also stimulating to hear about the work straight from the creator’s mouth. The struggles they have gone through in the developmental process, the discoveries they have made and the enrichment they have found can be awe-inspiring. Being able to create an opportunity for them to express their ideas before they get to the final production is a gratifying endeavor. To experience the art first-hand is always a treat, but it’s equally evocative to get glimpses into the process leading up to it—the compulsions, revelations, fears and excitements. It’s like a back-stage pass into an intangible and often over-looked world.
(Above: Chicago Sinfonietta's "Global Holiday Celebration," this year Dec. 16.)
I love interacting with our clients and all the enthusiasm that the artists and their staff bring to the table. I also love the chance to promote art through the media. The relationship between arts and media can be tenuous at times, which comes with the nature of the ever-shifting media landscape. But when the synergy is there it can be magical, and the result is a chance to continually reach a new audience, one that is hungry for the invaluable world of art, culture and expression.
Welcome to the first installment of TSG Speaks Out!
My name is Eric and I’ve been with TSG since June, 2008, making me the most recent full-time addition to the team. I came to The Silverman Group via a not-so-traditional route. My background is in dance and sociology, both of which I studied at Northwestern University. While training with the likes of Billy Siegenfeld (Jump Rhythm Jazz Project), Brian Jeffrey (XSIGHT! Performance Group), Melissa Thodos (Thodos Dance Chicago), and many other formidable staples in Chicago’s dance community, at Northwestern I began to develop as both a performer and a burgeoning choreographer. I also developed a fascination with sociology. I loved exploring the idea of what makes people do what they do. While psychology tries to answer this question on an individual level, sociology tackles it from a group perspective, examining how our affinity for communities affects our daily life choices.
Following graduation I danced professionally for six years with Hedwig Dances and Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, two Chicago modern dance ensembles. Both were part-time and provided a wonderful artistic counter-balance to each other. On the side, I was a freelance writer for Windy City Times, contributing to the coverage of local dance events. I loved writing and spreading the word about dance in Chicago. The gig with Windy City Times also led to the opportunity to get to know some of the city’s leading dance PR representatives, including none other than—you guessed it!—The Silverman Group.
(Above: a "vintage" dance photo of me from my work with Same Planet Different World; photo by Cheryl Mann)
Unfortunately my dance career wasn’t fated to be as lengthy as I had hoped. In October, 2007 I tore my meniscus, my first major dance injury. (If you aren’t aware, the meniscus is a spongy layer of cartilage in the knee that helps absorb impact.) I came to realize that going back to professional dance wasn’t going to be an option if I wanted to maintain my health—in other words, keep walking—so I thought about how I could use my experience and knowledge in another way. I feel very lucky to have found The Silverman Group when I did. Not only was their reputation unsurpassed (and still is, if I may say so), but they also had a stellar client roster, not the least of which included The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Luna Negra Dance Theater (pictured right; photo by Cheryl Mann). Aside from dance, they also had theater, music, film, and a variety of other arts-related clientele, all of which were impressive. Granted, I was sad to permanently hang up my dance shoes, but the new endeavor in PR was a chance to learn, a new direction in which to grow. The kind of work that we represent, with so many creative people and intriguing shows to promote, is always a source of inspiration, and I’m happy to work in a capacity that is still connected to the arts community. Sometimes a whole new world can open up with just a little shift in perspective. For me that shift wasn’t planned, but in hindsight, it certainly was welcome.
For Fulcrum Point New Music Project, the haunting feel of the fall season extends far beyond Halloween. Last Friday, Fulcrum Point's screening and live accompaniment of the silent film The Golem! at the Chicago Cultural Center drew a standing-room-only crowd.Inner Torments follows a similar format, but explores tension and conflict in modern films indie and mainstream.
Holding Fast" was a collaboration between Woolf and the filmmakers Mary Harron (director of "American Pyscho") and John C. Walsh. Harron and Walsh visited a Tibetan refugee camp near Darjeeling, India, filming and recording sounds from the village. They then gave Woolf the material, and he used the chanting, speaking, and environmental noise to create an electronic track that gets played alongside a live solo violin. Woolf then sent the music over to Harron and Walsh, who edited their video footage into a short film to accompany what Woolf had written. The piece itself features somber, simple violin lines that slide around the recorded sounds, synthesizing the two in a startlingly cohesive - and beautiful - way.
"Grab It!" is one of Jacob TV's "boombox pieces," which, like "Holding Fast," features a live instrumentalist (in this case, a saxophonist) with an electronic accompanying track (instead of a Himalayan village, they're from the documentary "Scared Straight!"). The piece, written over a decade ago, has been reworked, with new bass and drum parts and an added video component.
Whether you're a classical enthusiast or a pop culture junkie, Inner Torments will defy expectation. Use promotional code 5587 and receive Inner Torments tickets for $10 - that's $20 offthe regular price. Offer not valid on previously purchased tickets. Visit the Harris Theater website or call 312-334-7777 for tickets.
Last Tuesday, Cirque du Soleil's Banana Shpeeltook over The Chicago Theatre. Fans and passersby lined the street to catch a glimpse of Schmelky and his assistants as they created mayhem on and around The Chicago Theatre marquee. All photos by Dan Rest.
Fans who brought a banana to the box office received two tickets to an exclusive preview performance. Nearly 400 fans scored free tickets.
Even if you missed Banana Shpeel last week, you still have a chance to win free tickets or get them for 20% off. Check out The Daily Shpeel for details.
Cirque du Soleil even showed up in my entrepreneurship class as an example of Blue Ocean Strategy. In fact, the company is mentioned on the first page of the first chapter of the book. Cirque du Soleil CEO Guy Laliberté's created an experience that does a traditional circus. As a result, the company was able to achieve a level of revenue (not to mention success) that it took Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey over a century to attain.
Most of the companies cited in my entrepreneurship class are technology companies who succeeded by eliminating steps from the manufacturing process. Where does an entertainment company, let alone one as diverse as Cirque du Soleil, fit into the mix?
Technological innovators such as Steve Jobs and Michael Dell saw opportunity in the market. Yet Guy Laliberté recognizes potential in people, especially Cirque du Soleil's audience:
“We're happiness merchants – giving people the opportunity to dream like children.”
Banana Shpeel, Cirque du Soleil's latest production, is nothing if not imaginative.
True to Cirque du Soleil tradition (if there is such a thing), Banana Shpeel is an innovative production - but not in the typical fashion. The show is a new twist on vaudeville, incorporating tap, hip hop, slapstick and an engaging storyline. It's inspiring and comedic, but not in the abstract sense. If you've seen Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas or Orlando, get ready for something entirely new. Get a behind-the-scenes look with dancers Joseph and Josette Wiggan:
Get an even closer look at Banana Shpeel at an exclusive performance on Nov. 18! The first 100 guests who bring a banana to The Chicago Theatre box office on Tuesday, November 3 will win two tickets and be the very first to experience Banana Shpeel!
Banana Shpeel, presented by Cirque du Soleil and MSG Entertainment, will perform at The Chicago Theatre from Nov. 19, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010. Tickets range in price from $23-$98 and are available by calling 1-800-745-3000 or visiting www.TheChicagoTheatre.com or www.CirqueduSoleil.com.
"Youthful" and "adrenalin" are typically associated with a roller-coaster ride rather than classically-inspired music. Yet Fulcrum Point New Music Project concerts can be as unpredictable as a roller coaster, yet still ambitious and avant-garde. "New Music" is actually a synonym for contemporary classical music, which includes subgenres ranging from New Complexity to Post-Minimalism. The abundance of individual genres, however, indicates that New Music is difficult to define:
Fulcrum Point New Music Project is entering a new era this year. For the 2009-10 season, Randall Woolf will be Fulcrum Point's Composer-in-Residence and each program in the season will include one of Woolfe's works. Woolf has collaborated with everyone from rappers to children's authors (For fans of Where the Wild Things Are: Woolf has an album based on the children's book). He deliberately combines classical with seemingly discordant musical styles and contexts, wishing for the audience to find common ground.
Rooted in technology and popular culture, Fulcrum Point New Music Project's 2009-2010 season is inspired by golems, Jerry Springer, computers and Being John Malkovich. Further extending their reach, the company will perform with Luna Negra Dance Theater, collaborating to exploreHeroes and Demons: Legends of Urban, Latin and Native America.
It's not surprising, then, that Fulcrum Point New Music Project's outreach program is as innovative as its music. They bring educational programs and performances to Chicago Public Schools and Cook County Correctional Facilities. Supporting its mission to be a leader in diverse performances, Fulcrum Point New Music Project reaches out to a diverse audience, specifically the immigrant community. By linking immigrants with composers from their home countries, Fulcrum Point New Music Project proves that innovation only serves to bridge the gap between place and time.
Don't miss Fulcrum Point Plugged In, "An intimate show of rarely performed new music influenced by cosmic astrology, Tibetan tantra, and Jerry Springer!" Up to four complimentary tickets per person are available.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. At the Evanston SPACE 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston
RSVP to info@fulcrumpoint.org by noon on Tuesday, October 27 for free tickets. Limit 4 complimentary tickets per person.
Offer includes admission only; cash bar will be available. Offer not valid on previously purchased tickets. See Fulcrum Point Plugged In, then stay plugged in and connected with The Silverman Group on Facebook. Join our group and receive more special offers.
The Silverman Group is currently accepting applications for its Winter Intern position.
The primary function of the TSG intern is to assist in the overall success of operations at the company. Because this is a boutique firm, all members of the team pitch in wherever needed. As an intern, you have the unique opportunity to be exposed to every facet of activities at a full-service public relations agency as well as experience a variety of types of entertainment clients. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in media interaction and tracking, writing, promotional planning, event facilitation, and market research in addition to some day-to-day administrative duties.
Students pursuing a career in public relations, communications, or arts management who are willing to immerse themselves in the fast-paced work environment are encouraged to apply!
This is an unpaid internship, school credit is available. Length of internship is 3 months minimum, 6 months maximum and at least 20 hours/week.
The SILVERMANifesto is officially running at full speed ahead (with great help from our current intern) so we thought we'd take a moment to introduce those behind the curtain. To see a run down of our qualifications and past experience check out the Staff Bios page on our website, but to really learn about who we are as Public Relations professionals and why we do what we do, stay put.
New to The SILVERMANifesto will be a series of posts where we SPEAK OUT! It's your chance to learn why each of us got into PR, why we've stayed in PR, and what are our favorite things about the ever-changing always-exciting Public Relations!
Chicago theater has come into its own, and reporters at home and abroad are taking notice. The New York Times praised the diversity and unassuming attitude of the theater scene here. Charles Isherwood went so far as to call New York "the east side of Chicago." Similarly, the Guardian posted an article last month reminding Chicagoans that while rivaling New York theater shouldn't be a goal, it is an attainable one.
It's heartening that the arts scene here is gaining recognition in terms of both quality and quantity (with nearly 200 theaters in Chicagoland). Kris Vire of Time Out Chicago praised Black Ensemble Theater as representative of the city's brand of homegrown theater: "Consider also the uplifting portraits of African-American icons produced by the Uptown district's Black Ensemble Theatre, run by one-woman gale force Jackie Taylor..."
As apt as the metaphor is, it still might not convey the breadth of Taylor's achievements. After writing over 100 plays, her goal is still to use theater as a platform to bring together audiences of all races to celebrate similarities and differences. The result is the most ethnically diverse audience in the country: "BE’s audience demographics are 50 % African American, 40% Caucasian and 10% other races; and 70% female, 30% male." Demographics alone can't account for the power of her plays, however:
Her productions are not only highly educational but uplifting and spiritual. She uses her plays to cross cultural barriers bringing people of all colors and kinds into the theater to celebrate the human spirit. For 30 years she has successfully used theater as a communicator and facilitator to help eradicate the basis of racism, which is ignorance.
Just 29 years after its founding, Black Ensemble Theater was listed in the Encyclopedia Britannica Almanac 2005 as one of the top 25 theaters in the country. Seeing a Black Ensemble Theater production is a spiritual yet educational experience.
The company is The Beatles of theater: Black Ensemble Theater is somehow prolific, inspired and culturally relevant. As Black Ensemble Theater is in its 33rd season, the similarities end there. Their latest production, The Message Is In The Music (God Is A Black Man Named Ricky), does feature songs from the Fab Four. Other artists featured include Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder and The Isley Brothers, The Temptations and Paul Simon.
The Joffrey Ballet and Lar Lubovitch's Othello premiered Wednesday! I blogged earlier about the rehearsal, yet still can't wait to see the full performance.
Lar Lubovitch's staging of Othello is dramatic, passionate and anything but typical. It seems like a strange ballet to perform given the current climate -which is exactly what I love about it. Instead of performing an uplifting, lightearted, escapist work, The Joffrey Ballet chose a piece that mirrors the turmoil in society and in many of our personal lives (though not too closely, I'd hope). It is artistic choices like these that truly make The Joffrey Ballet "America's Ballet Company of Firsts." Othello is the sort of ballet that, as cliche as it sounds, has something for everyone - from those who have never experienced professional ballet to those who think they know the extent of The Joffrey Ballet's artistic capabilities.
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My earliest memory concerning dance is watching a ballet at my aunt's house on the tiny TV in her bedroom. More likely than not it was The Joffrey Ballet that I was watchig on WTTW years ago. Still, it boggles my mind that Chicago did not have its own ballet company until 1995. Before then, The Joffrey Ballet split its time between New York and LA.
From the beginning, Joffrey and Arpino wanted a company that came out of their roots, out of America.
It's fitting, then, that the company made the Midwest its permanent home. It was a defining moment for Chicago in establishingthe city's reputation as more than a wannabe New York. Despite its ties to the city, the company that began touring out of a station wagon continues to tour extensively. Making stops that other companies might pass up, the company recently performed in Des Moines, Iowa. Fabrice Calmels describes the crowd:
They were a wonderfully responsive audience, even giving us a long standing ovation at the end of the evening.
The Hancher Theater in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo courtesy of Fabrice Calmels.
Perhaps outreach is such an integral part of the company itself because The Joffrey Ballet originally began as a touring company. They educate the next generation of dancers through school programs and through the Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet. To me, the most important aspect of the company's outreach program might not officially be considered outrech. The Joffrey Ballet literally goes where many other companies do not (artistically, emotionally and geographically). In my mind, this is what sets them apart from other companies and what makes them a true representation of a Midwestern city. From nomadic beginnings to their current state as artistic missionaries, the company has stayed true to its goal: innovation, offstage as well as on.
Othello runs through Oct. 25. Tickets are available here.
It happens in every form of entertainment - theater, film, dance, music - every now and again a performance is bound to receive a poor review and when that happens, as a publicist, what do you do? It is your job, after all, to sell said performance to the media and ultimately to the public, but when a reviewer bashes it from the get go, giving it the ill-fated "Not Recommended" label, how do you ensure that the production still receives deserved press and attendance?
For some clients reviews don't mean a thing. Yes, they like to see their product written about in the major papers, magazines, and websites, but whether or not they sell out a show has nothing to do with the reviews. Sometimes that's because the company has such strong credibility that one bad review can't come close to smudging their reputation and sometimes it's because the company has such a loyal following that, good or bad, they will be there to witness the newest form of art. However, for most companies a critic's review is important and bad reviews can sting.
Working in Entertainment PR it is imperative to look at the performance beyond the physical performance. For example, who in the cast and crew has an extraordinary tale to tell or where did those costumes come from? When bad reviews hit, it's our job to put on the research glasses and find another hook. Profiles, anniversaries, and special occasions are excellent ways of sharing the performance with the public without relying on the work its self. Just because a reviewer doesn't give a performance his praise does not mean the general public wouldn't enjoy it; however, the general public needs to be exposed to a positive story in order to catch their attention.
Despite bad reviews, clients have still received great write-ups in the Food, Business, and Metro Sections. Pitching specific people, ideas, or eating habits can help shine a light on a client as can pitching different media. For example, if a theater production has a great soundtrack why not reach out to a music writer?
Of course all this is easier said than done, but it's our job to try. Fortunately, one bad review will not ruin a company and there's always the next production! But it's always a good idea to look outside the box because one day a client may receive a bad review and hopefully you'll already be prepared with a list of other hooks!
So far, I've been introduced to many companies and concepts that I was familiar with before I started this internship - and many more that I have not had the privilege to see in person. One such company is Pegasus Players. I had the opportunity to conduct some informal research as their newest production, Ten Square, premiered yesterday.
Photo by Shepsu Aakhu
Pegasus Players has a unique, holistic view of theater. Part of their mission in performing as well as outreach is to inspire and train the next generation of actors. As a result, the company holds completely open auditions. Outreach goes beyond the classroom, as the company includes the elderly and middle aged among its extended audience. Pegasus Players is the only arts organization to win the James Brown IV Award of Excellence for Outstanding Community Service.
Their commitment to the continuity of the art exists onstage as well as off. They choose scripts based purely on artistic merit and contribution to social justice. As a result, Pegasus Players' performances include shows that were not originally hits on Broadway, including Assassins, Merrily We Roll Along, Pacific Overtures, Anyone Can Whistle, The Frogs, Passion, and Company. In addition, the company dedicated itself to restoring the Duke Ellington musical Jump for Joy, never previously heard by the public. Eight never-before-heard songs premiered as part of the musical in 1994.
More than 310,000 people have seen Pegasus Players perform since 1984 alone. Check out Pegasus Players' website and explore over thirty years of theater history. Then see the magic for yourself with this exclusive offer:
We'd like to offer you $10 tickets to the World Premiere of "TEN SQUARE" presented by MPAACT and Pegasus Players. (Tickets are regularly priced at $17-$25).
$10 tickets are available for: Thursday 10/8 at 8pm Friday 10/9 at 8pm Saturday 10/10 at 8pm Sunday 10/11 at 3pm and every remaining Thursday performance (Oct. 15, 22, 29; Nov. 5, 12, 19)
Pegasus Players is collaborating with MPAACT to present the world premiere of Ten Square. Ten Square will be at the O'Rourke Center at Truman College through Nov. 22.Tickets are now on sale.
Photo by Shepsu Aakhu
Befriend The Silverman Group on Facebook or follow us on Twitterfor more exclusive offers.
I've already seen that it's difficult to define a "typical" day in public relations, but my days are more typical than most.
On a given day, I may be conducting research, updating press materials, compiling media lists and clip packets, making recommendations to clients and of course, adding to the blog. Conducting research is my least favorite aspect of the writing process in class, but I really don't mind it in a professional setting. For two years, I've heard professors preach about the importance of research, but now I've seen firsthand the impact that it can have. During my first week, I found it much more difficult to write on behalf of clients with whom I was not familiar. Seeing or hearing a client's work and studying it beyond familiarity helps enormously. I can put myself in the place of an audience member and determine what sets an individual or a company apart.
While I've had the opportunity to work on hands-on projects, I think I've learned the most through osmosis. For a PR student today, determining whether or not you want to work for an agency is one of the hardest decisions to make (and naturally, we think we have to figure it all out now). Everyone in an agency environment seems to describe the trade off in terms of having a working knowledge of multiple clients or knowing one client very well. I'm not sure that's true any longer. As I've mentioned in other posts, working in a small agency and knowing your clients well seems to be both personally and professionally gratifying.
My time with The Silverman Group is only about a quarter of the way through and I've already experienced so many aspects of the business - more than I would have expected. My previous internship with a start-up was much different. Managing multiple clients and having existing relationships is somehow easier and more difficult than working with a small company. Bloggers were a key part of our strategy, and were a perfect fit for the brand, but it's much more satisfying to see TSG clients appear in major publications. I've enjoyed studying how to promote events and companies with mainstream appeal and a unique artistic vision.
This afternoon, I attended a rehearsal for Luna Negra Dance Theater's upcoming production of Eduardo Vilaro's Danzón. I'm so glad that I was able to see the company in person and truly understand its unique blend of contemporary and Latin dance. The company's performance style is difficult to describe without seeing, as it embodies both of the aforementioned styles at once, yet is something entirely different.
Vilaro's talent and enthusiasm for dance are both enviable. His company and his works show subtle reverence for the past yet are decidedly modern. While I'm not familiar with the company's past works, the above piece from the company's fall performance is definitely as retrospective as it is joyful. Luna Negra dancers are a close-knit group, in that its members are confident in their art and each others' performance. They rely on each other as much as the music (speaking of which, I can't imagine how the performance would look, feel and sound with Paquito D’Riviera and the Turtle Island Quartet this Friday and Saturday.
Don't miss Luna Negra Dance Theater's 10th Anniversary Gala, Noche de Luna, on Friday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are include a performance of Danzón at the Harris Theater, and are available from Luna Negra Dance Theater (312-337-6882).
Luna Negra Dance Theater will also be performing Danzón at the Harris Theater Friday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets for Luna Negra Dance Theater's Fall Performance are on sale now.
This afternoon, Farrah, the Account Supervisor for The Joffrey Ballet, was running down to Joffrey Tower to meet with a writer. When she asked me to come along, I agreed. She had just received a call and heard that Mikhail Baryshnikov would be attending a rehearsal for Othello, and that I could sit in.
We were seated in a small balcony overlooking the studio space. The room was dark and quiet, with all eyes focused on the activity below. After seeing so many performances over the years, and after taking dance classes myself, I saw firsthand the effort, dedication, and passion that goes into a professional performance. But what really struck me was that I had never seen so many Joffrey dancers offstage at one time: laughing, joking, practicing in between segments. Watching Lar Lubovitch interact with the dancers and bring his vision to life was eye-opening. I've always been fascinated by how the slightest change in tone, wording, etc. can profoundly impact communication. The same is true of non-verbal communication.
Photo courtesy of The Joffrey Ballet
Of course, watching Baryshnikov watch The Joffrey Ballet rehearse was like watching a tennis match. I'm not sure if I watched the dancers or him more. He has as commanding a presence offstage as he does on.
It was an amazing opportunity and an amazing afternoon, and would have been for any intern. Yet the experience reaffirmed why I'm glad to be working with a small group of people who truly know and love what they do. So many of my classmates work for large agencies. While I'm glad that Chicago affords us that luxury, I've never been able to see myself at a large, impersonal company. My father owns a small business, and I simply feel comfortable at a place where everyone knows all of their client's employees by their first name. Baryshnikov said the following about dance, but it's uncanny how well the metaphor applies to public relations:
It doesn't matter how high you lift your leg. The technique is about transparency, simplicity and making an earnest attempt.
Baryshnikov will be performing Three Solos and a Duet at the Harris Theater this Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25-27.
The Joffrey will be performing Lar Lubovitch's Othello for the first time Oct. 14-25 at the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.
The Silverman Group internship program is a 3 - 6 month committment for a current student to receive hands on public relations experience at a boutique agency. Our newest intern will be giving an "intern's point of view" on The Silverman Group clients and events and a first hand account of what is like to be a part of this team.
To be considered for future internships - send a resume, cover letter, and two writing samples to laura@silvermangroupchicago.com
Without further ado... here's Sarah!
Name: Sarah Year in school: Senior Hometown: New Lenox, IL School: Loyola University Chicago
From watching The Nutcracker on Channel 11 every Christmas to attending every community theater production in the southwest suburbs, I've been interested in dance and the arts from an early age. After taking dance lessons from age 6 to age 19, with few breaks in between, I was determined that the arts would remain a part of my life. Like many undergraduates, I want what I do to truly matter, both personally and on a community level.
Initially, I planned on submitting my resume for a spring internship. In the end, impatience and a desire to prepare for a career in a field I love won out. After interning with a small vintage fashion e-tailer, I interviewed with TSG during the summer, and started in mid-September.
I'm thrilled to share my experience as an intern at The Silverman Group. Watch for future posts about events, the arts, public relations, and what it's like interning at a boutique agency.
Here are some photos from the Joffrey's performance in Millennium Park, Thursday, September 18. The program included Gerald Arpino's Confetti; Helgi Tomasson's Valses Poeticos, Edwaard Liang's Age of Innocence and Val Caniparoli Aria.
Confetti
Valses Poeticos
Aria
The Joffrey's Exelon Strobel Step-Up Students performed a tribute to Michael Jackson.
Age of Innocence
The Joffrey will be performing Lar Lubovitch's Othellofor the first time Oct. 14-25 at the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.
tarted in PR I was terrified of pitching the media, but now it's one of the things I enjoy the most! It's a true accomplishment when you offer up a story idea to a feature reporter about a small non profit organization and they roll with it! Subsequently, seeing the reaction from that non profit client is thrilling! That's what makes it all worth it.
fortunate to see a wide variety of entertainment including top-tier comedy shows, a live rodeo at the United Center, countless film screenings and theatre performances, a dog show, and much much more. The way entertainment can lift people's spirits (especially during these times) is truly inspiring. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine and in PR I'm able to help more people experience that. The more coverage I secure for a client, the greater the number of people who can be exposed to it. (photo - Mayor Richard Daley with the World's Toughest Rodeo Cowboys at the United Center, February 2009)
Beth gets to hang with none other than Ronald McDonald himself, the Honorary Grand Marshall of the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade.
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Stay tuned....
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