Year: 2019

Raleigh Bands: Our Fave Five

Cherith AndesBlog, In Our Community, , , ,

If you live in or near Raleigh, you know what September means. It’s finally full-fledged festival season! The fall heralds in a calendar of events and themed festivities across the Triangle, most notably our diverse music scene.

September alone will witness:

In the spirit of celebrating our city’s sounds, we at Clairemont have spotlighted a few of our own favorite local bands. We’ve culled well-known headliners as well as must-try up-and-comers — perfect for employing at your next event or simply for a good night of tunes!

Image from Old Habits’ Facebook.

Old Habits

Southern Roots, Bluegrass/Americana

These Triangle natives refer to themselves as “southern roots music,” a blend of bluegrass and Americana with a shade of country. Clairemont client Vita Vite has loved showcasing Old Habits’ talents and tunes at the wine bar’s anniversary parties. Fun bonus tip? These guys form an integral part of Raleigh’s culture. Banjo player/electric guitarist/vocalist Lin Peterson is also co-founder of Locals Seafood, a North Carolina supplier that provides locally caught seafood across the state.

Image from Sylvan Esso’s Facebook.

Sylvan Esso

Electronic Pop

Originally hailing from Durham, this “electronic pop duo” has toured the country, from the Durham Performing Arts Center to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A. Think soulful, fluid and thoughtful … but with a beat. Or, as The Guardian put it, “charming indie-dance diversion from the day job” who later morph into “purposeful pop bangers.” The duo is comprised of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn, and their collaborations are worth the ticket price next time they’re back in town. (P.S. The band is coming November 22 and 23 to the DPAC!)

Image from Jason Harrod’s Facebook.

Jason Harrod

Blues/Folk/Country

A new (and much-welcomed!) recommendation from friend Sean Wilson, founder of Fullsteam Brewery. Jason showcases his singer/songwriter talents with heart-tugging lyrics and a blues/folk/country style. As Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange said, “He possesses a strong voice and confident almost 50s-ish presence and sound, writing catchy melodies with a great band.” And boy, does this musician have a resume! Just to name a few, Jason has secured first place in the bluegrass category at MerleFest‘s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, first place in the North Carolina Songwriters Co-Op Contest and the spotlight performer position at the annual Healdsburg Guitar Festival. Heck, Jason even taught songwriting in Greece. We love his approachable, melodic style with a presence that could command big-stage attention or create the ambience at an intimate gathering.

Image from www.jennybesetzt.com.

Jenny Besetzt

Rock/Post-Punk

Thanks to friend Nick Neptune, general manager of client Transfer Co. Food Hall, musical savant and famed DJ, for suggesting this four-piece powerhouse. With Jenny Besetzt, indie rock meets punk rock filled with reverberating tones. One source said, “Jenny Besetzt frees you from the restraints of time, memory and circumstance. And makes you master of them all.” We’re not sure what that means, but the band’s music soothes and energizes all at once. Perhaps it makes sense that lead singer John Wollaber was born to a German opera singer!

Image from Janelle True’s Facebook.

Janelle True

Good Soul Music

“Good soul music” is a genre, right? Singer/songwriter Janelle True evokes a Sara-Bareilles-meets-Norah-Jones vibe with thought-provoking lyrics. As Janelle says, her music is, “Music with meaning. Good for the soul.” We discovered her at Sola Coffee Shop. Have a listen! (Your peaceful self will thank us later.)

We’ve got favorites. Raleigh favorites, food favorites, party-planning tip favorites.

Looking to plan an event for your company or business? Put our favorites to good use!

Let Us Help You Plan

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Pitch Perfect

Kelli FletcherBlog, Professional Development, Public Relations, ,

For many in PR, pitching media is their one job. Here at Clairemont, we’re in the communications business, so we wear many hats! And one of them is indeed pitching media.

When I first started in public relations, pitching was like a weight on my shoulders. Most days I just couldn’t gear myself up for fear of rejection from media. But with plenty of practice and the right guidance, I conquered that fear and even perfected the process that best works for me. Since then, I’ve had many successes pitching media and securing stories for clients. Below are four things I’ve found that have helped perfect my pitch process.

Top Tips

  • Know your audience. First thing’s first: find the right contact. Don’t pitch fashion to a finance reporter. Use a mixture of tools and personal research to confirm the most current contacts and their beats.
  • Create a strong subject line. It’s the first thing a reporter sees when an email enters his or her inbox, so make sure yours hits the spot. Tip: Make it short and include major keywords up front.
  • Make it clear (and be concise). Get to the point – and quickly. What are you asking of the reporter? State what you are pitching and why.
  • Make it timely. Take note of what’s going on in the world and think about how it applies to your client. Using current events to your advantage can result in coverage and help position your client as an industry expert for future opportunities.

Success Stories

When the pitch is on point, the result can be, too. Take a look at the examples below of a few clients we’ve put in the spotlight through creative, timely pitch strategies:

  • Wendell Falls: To attract media to the community’s location, Clairemont ditched a standard pitch for a more playful angle, sending tangible invitations that included a “wanted” poster and a cowboy hat, which one TV reporter even sported on her station’s morning show! 
  • WGU North Carolina: To highlight a critical partnership for this client, Clairemont used a timely military angle to grab the attention of multiple reporters at TV stations in different markets.
  • Lincoln Apartments: Individualized, creative pitches piqued the interest of targeted media and secured on-site coverage at the Lincoln Apartments ribbon cutting (which was performed by a dog).
  • North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs: The team landed a 24-minute iHeartMedia interview for several key leaders and volunteers of the NCAFC. The coverage was broadcasted across five major Triangle radio stations and helped to secure needed volunteer firefighters.

Have the perfect pitch all packaged up and ready to go? Make sure you don’t squash your chance of coverage by committing these six slapdash sins. Need help identifying and crafting the perfect pitch to tell your story?

Drop us a line!
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Leveraging LinkedIn

Clairemont InternBlog, Professional Development, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , ,

How you present yourself to the world matters.

If you brand yourself intentionally and authentically, you are much more likely to stand out and hone a positive image. While some elements of your brand are beyond your control (you can’t control what people say about you, for example), you can control the passions, skills, experiences and personality traits you share with the world. And LinkedIn is the perfect platform for doing so.

In fact, LinkedIn should be the starting point when building or refining your personal brand. Read on for tips on how to make the most of this popular platform.

Managing your time: LinkedIn vs. Resumes

“What’s better than the best resume? No resume.” These are the wise words of Gary Kayye, a professor at UNC whom I had the pleasure of listening to at a workshop. What he meant by this scandalous phrase is that your online presence should be so strong that you don’t need a resume. And LinkedIn is the perfect starting point for establishing a killer digital footprint.

According to Kayye, for every hour you spend on your resume, spend two or more on LinkedIn. First of all, most hiring managers look for candidates on LinkedIn. Second, the platform has an amazing job search function. Third, resumes have to be one page, but LinkedIn doesn’t even have pages. It allows you to connect your blog posts, upload graphics you’ve designed, link to articles you’ve written and more. LinkedIn is dynamic, whereas the resume is static.

Avoid a photo faux pas

Include a photo of yourself on LinkedIn. Profiles without pictures are not taken as seriously! While it goes without saying that your LinkedIn photo should be high-quality and professional, it’s also important that it is reflective of your personality. If you never wear suits, don’t wear a suit in your profile picture. Looking professional doesn’t necessarily require formality, especially if that’s not who you are. For instance, I’m a writer, I’m creative, and I like design; so my cover photo — an aesthetic desk featuring a typewriter — encapsulates these elements of my personality. You can go on sites like Unsplash, Pixabay and Canva to find quality photos you like and re-use them for free.

Experience

For each position you list, include a detailed description. Providing a lot of information demonstrates your full range of skills, your growth and your dedication to your previous jobs. If applicable, upload or link to portfolio pieces you created in each position.

Engagement

Consistent engagement on LinkedIn keeps your profile fresh, deepens your connections and supplies you with up-to-date knowledge on your industry. To stay engaged, it is important to like and comment on posts so that LinkedIn shows you are active. Post your blogs on LinkedIn, share work you’re proud of and mention seminars you’ve recently attended. In essence, you can’t put too much information on your LinkedIn page. Follow outlets, companies and agencies that you admire. This is the equivalent of a “like” on LinkedIn. If you apply for a job at a certain organization, make sure you follow it on LinkedIn.

Connecting

Connect with as many people as possible. Don’t decline invitations, unless the other person appears questionable. The more people you connect with, the more likely you are to have second-degree connections with people with whom you really want to connect. Furthermore, when sending an invitation, always add a note. If you’ve met the person before, mention your shared history in some way. If it is a cold invite, make sure to include in your message why you want to connect.

Recommendations

Ask a supervisor to write you a recommendation on LinkedIn. Similar to how people tend to trust product reviews by customers more than they trust advertisements, they place value in profiles that feature a thoughtful recommendation. It shows that your future success is important enough for a colleague to have taken the time to write a paragraph for you.

Just remember that LinkedIn isn’t a log-in-once-a-year kind of platform. If you want it to thrive after you invest time into polishing your profile, then you need to spend at least 15 minutes on it a week. And these few minutes will be well worth your time once you score a high-profile connection or discover a great professional opportunity.  

Next up, it’s time to grow your professional network on other social media channels. Check out this blog on making the right connections, no matter the platform!

Piper Anderson is a recent graduate of UNC. Check out her LinkedIn here.

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5 PR Lessons from Israel

Cherith AndesBlog, Inspirational, The Clairemont Team, , , ,

There I was, slouched on my bed, asking the ceiling for the 24th time, “What DOES one pack for two weeks in a middle eastern desert?”

Sun hat? Check. Hiking shoes? Fo’ sho’. Sunscreen? Make that three bottles — because I’m so pale that I glow. I tucked my passport in my purse and, without knowing a single person, embarked on a 14-day adventure to Israel.

My mind was blown on this trip, a whirlwind of experiences, knowledge and insights I never knew existed. And while the sojourn yielded many personal revelations, I humorously noted the similarities between a rugged desert adventure and the life of a marketing professional.

I’m happy to report I came back sunburn-free (here’s to you, SPF) and equipped with five lessons to inspire you in your business ventures.

1. Be adventurous.

Sign says, “Danger mines!” Definitely an adventure!

This trip to Israel was initially frightening — and not just for the obvious reasons. On a giddy whim, I signed up to travel with a group of people whom I had never met. Ever. But we were a group that shared the same passion. And I quickly found that we were open to whatever the adventure held, and we were palpably excited for whatever discovery might be just around the corner.

We should approach our PR strategies with the same curiosity, eagerness and sense of adventure. After the foundational research has shaped the marketing plan, be open to new ideas, fresh twists and creative risks. You won’t ever discover new surprises if you don’t venture beyond your own known territory.

2. Learn the whole story.

Garden of Gethsemane, rich with backstory.

Our tour group had the privilege of visiting a series of Biblical sites throughout the Holy Land. But our tour guide didn’t just drone through the usual facts. He provided a wealth of cultural background and historical insights that invigorated each location with color and meaning. He connected dots and answered long-standing questions that often made us smack our foreheads and say, “THAT’S what that means!”

Are you doing the same in your marketing? Adept marketers and agency partners will take the time to learn the entire story to inform a successful strategy. This might include developing a full understanding of your audience, immersing yourself in the public narrative around your brand or exploring the ins and outs of a new product in market segments. Every angle adds critical perspective that can change the interpretation of a situation and direct the approach.

3. Trust your leader.

Following our leader … up something very steep.

Fun fact: none of us were given an itinerary.

From day to day and literarily minute to minute, we were asked to simply trust our guide. (I won’t deny; there were a few times I wanted to pelt him with stones as we clawed up the side of a ravine in 100-degree heat). But our guide had proven his mettle and was expertly equipped for the journey. Similarly, trust your agency and your partners. You’ve properly vetted them and joined hands with people who share your vision. Trust them to carry their weight, craft a successful strategy and get results. 

4. Sometimes it gets hot.

Posing in a temple on a HOT stone seat.

We hiked an average of seven daily miles across desert mountains in 98-107-degree heat. In business, high stakes can create pressure as you might be required to meet aggressive goals or navigate steep change. It happens. A competitive market will necessitate competitive strategies. But don’t stop trucking. Curling up under a scratchy desert bush would have only temporarily assuaged my discomfort and prolonged reaching my destination. Define clear goals, craft a research-based strategy, link arms with your partners and keep going.

5. Go back to your roots.

ICYMI, I have kind of a different first name. Cherith. I’ve spent my entire life trying to explain the pronunciation. (It’s like “Chair” with an “-ith” on the end, or “cherish” with a “th.”) I’ve often been asked about its origin. There’s only one origin, and it’s not all that glamorous. I was named after a ravine (or “wadi”) where a Biblical miracle took place. (If you’re interested, hit up 1 Kings 17:2-5.) I had always wondered what that place must have looked like. Somewhere around day six of our trip, we trekked for two hours in the scorching heat across Jericho Road. We crested a ridge, and lo and behold, there it was. My namesake. The Brook Cherith or Wadi Cherith.

When things get hot and hairy, take a vital moment to reconnect with why you started. What are your core values? What change are you pursuing? What is your inspiration? Reconnect with the bigger picture.

Oh, and always wear sunscreen.

Looking for other inspiration?

Hone your thought-leadership skills.
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Plan a Magical Event: Lessons from Disney

Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PR, , , ,

Growing up in Orlando, I was raised in the shadow of the Magic Kingdom. Everywhere we went, there were signs of Disney’s influence. The company had a huge, white-gloved hand in all major city events, including the naming of our semi-beloved basketball team. Looking back, it seemed impossible to think there was a time that Disney wasn’t a cultural phenomenon or undisputed king of American theme parks.

But there was. Disney has made mistakes, including one of the most arguably terrible PR catastrophes. The 2019 summer marked the 64th anniversary of the opening of the original Disneyland in California – the day that became known internally as “Black Sunday.” You already know how this story ends, because … Disney. Instead, let’s take a look at some of the missteps Disney made that day and learn how you can avoid these faux pas to ensure success in your events.

Unfinished Ambiance

Believe it or not, this magical kingdom wasn’t fully prepared for its worldly debut. Even as the first guests poured into the park, crews of workers were still painting walls and finishing the gardens. The park was an active construction site as guests walked through the front gates.

Avoid being unprepared for party guests by building in ample time for your team to finalize preparations. Create a detailed run of show that includes pre-event prep time, a checklist with responsible parties and deliverables, a contingency plan for each item and a crisis plan for unexpected challenges. This list will help you circumvent those last-minute stressful situations.

Overcrowding

Opening day was supposed to only be for a select few friends and family – approximately 15,000 total. Disney welcomed almost double that number thanks to counterfeit tickets and lack of security detail along the perimeters.

Thankfully today, sites like Eventbright, Eventzilla and Evite exist to assist with invites and RSVPs to make it easy to organize and track attendees. For more private affairs, make sure to have a list of guests’ names at the door at the time of entry, and plan to have security stationed at any other possible entry points to avoid crashers.

Shortage of Supplies

The influx of guests brought with it another issue – a shortage of food and drinks. Even the public water fountains weren’t fully up-and-running, leaving guests wandering around both parched and hungry.

Keep an updated list of RSVPs and round up the number to anticipate a few extras. No one likes to come up empty when they go to get a drink – or bite. So skillfully stock your stations with food and beverages by calculating amounts needed using these tips. Not only will this keep your guests around, but it will also keep them happy!

As you know, in the end, Disney lived to tell the tale – and continues to do so. In fact, we can all share our Disney story, because despite the unfinished ambiance, overcrowding and shortage of supplies, Disney endured. If you haven’t arrived at your “happiest place on earth” yet, that’s ok. You might just be at your opening day. Take note of the challenges that arise and properly address them for a permanent fix. Then, continue on your mission to create magic for your clients – and others!

Want to read about a successful opening? Check out the celebration the Clairemont team planned and executed for our client, Vita Vite, when it opened its North Hills location.

Will Hornbeck is a rising senior at Wake Forest University. He thinks the best ride at Disney is the Carousel of Progress.

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