Will a publicist help me reach for the stars?

March 11, 2009 11:13 AM

Would hiring a publicist help me to transform my podcasting and entertainment work into a full time gig? If so, how would I find one?

(I realize it's ironic for an anonymous person to be asking about publicists but if the answer is a resounding negative I don't want to be ridiculed by my peers for floating the idea).

I am a producer and host of several podcasts with downloads that average around 200,000 per month cumulative and have for well over a year now. I started several years back and my podcasts have been spotlighted by a popular cable network show. I travel literally coast to coast regularly for the podcasts every year. I have a staff of 9 people, counting myself, working on these shows in various capacities from hosting talent to web design.

However while very time consuming my podcasts are still very much a hobby. The monitization is not there at the moment with the economy. I did do consulting for a company, producing their official podcast for one year and they were very happy with my work. Though the company is no longer in business I am still in close contact with many of those who hired me.

With the consulting gone and the economy of web based advertising minimal, I am looking to take the experience I have podcasting to the next level, be it working again on professional podcasts, producing some other type of shows (radio, etc.), or even using the reporting experience I've gained with five years of doing this to somehow work for another company.

During these five years podcasting I have made some connections in Entertainment, though the closest connections are people in the low to medium range of Hollywood and Entertainment power, not really able to directly secure me a position.

So I am stuck trying to figure out how to "take it to the next level" and make it so I can truly make the type of work I have a passion for my career.

I had a thought recently that perhaps it might behoove me to hire a publicist to help increase the visibility of me and my work. My thinking is the more "notable" my online work becomes, perhaps the more it may translate to other gigs like those mentioned above. I have tried doing my own PR, sending press releases to outlets for major events happening on my shows, etc. but I thought a professional publicist might have more connections and more experience about how to position and promote these shows.

Again, I want to stress, the focus of the promotion is not necessarily to increase the downloads of those shows, the end goal is to somehow transition to being hired to do what I do versus doing it for free for myself.

Is this the type of thing a publicist would do? Would a publicist take on a client of my moderate notice, or do they limit themselves to higher-wattage clients?

All advice appreciated.

posted by anonymous to media & arts (4 comments total)

Your operation is pretty small and it's pretty unlikely that you'd get a whole firm to take your business - but a freelancer probably would gladly accept it.

Incidentally, I'm a PR professional with several years of experience in web stuff, and while your description is a bit too vague to issue any serious advice, I'd love to help if I could. Shoot me a MeFi note if you're interested.
posted by downing street memo at 11:22 AM on March 11

I'm a publicist. If your company infrastructure is that well developed, then there are any number of smaller, "boutique" pr firms which would be likely to take you on. Such firms are usually good at branding from scratch, have decent resources and typically charge less money. The downside: they often specialize. I agree with downing_street_memo that a freelancer may also be a great option for you.

So... some free advice: whether you look for a firm or a freelancer, you should determine whether or not they have experience working with web-based experts, entertainers and/or companies that have a strong online presence or are online-only. You want one who has some experience successfully branding and pitching clients to online *and* traditional media. The methods and positioning used to pitch web-based media are often different. (Audience and format-dictated)

When speaking with pr experts, have specific goals for yourself and your company in mind. Then ask them to tell you how they can help you achieve them.

If you have questions, feel free to send me a MeFiMail as well. Not sure how helpful I might be, but I'm happy to try.
posted by zarq at 11:50 AM on March 11

I am looking to take the experience I have podcasting to the next level, be it working again on professional podcasts, producing some other type of shows (radio, etc.), or even using the reporting experience I've gained with five years of doing this to somehow work for another company.

I'd suggest that you need better focus and goals before you pay someone to publicize you. If you're going to pay someone to get you in the door you need to be about to define what door it is you want to go in.
posted by phearlez at 2:36 PM on March 11

In part I'm echoing phearlez, but I'm not entirely sure how spending money on a publicist would make podcasting your career. You need to focus on how you're going to make money, then pursue that.
posted by YoungAmerican at 5:19 PM on March 11