Stephanie Thompson Public Relations

Ashton Kutcher makes one mistake exponentially worse.

2011-11-13T10:39:00.000-08:00

If you’re on Twitter you probably heard that movie and TV star/producer Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) stepped in it pretty badly on the night that Penn State University football coach and child rape enabler Joe Paterno was fired by that school’s board of trustees. Kutcher, who was apparently in a cave for the prior three days as the news cycle was raging over the collapse of the Penn State football program's reputation after coach Jerry Sandusky’s arrest for child rape, saw the news of Paterno’s firing and reacted as a football fan. Presumably, he thought Paterno was being fired for poor performance or some other football-related reason. As whatever percentage of his 8 million (yes, eight MILLION) followers who were paying attention at that moment piled on to flame him for his insensitivity, he immediately realized his mistake, apologized, and even retweeted some of the vitriolic tweets aimed at his stupidity, acknowledging “I’m an idiot.” (The offending tweets have been removed from the @aplusk timeline.)

The Twitterverse roiled, as it is wont to do, but its cycle moves rapidly. By the time I caught up with the controversy, some Twitter users were already defending Kutcher to other users who hadn’t read his apology or didn’t care. As usually happens when there’s a kerfuffle over a tweet, the Twitter community managed itself, churned through the issue, and was already moving through its approximately 30-minute news cycle. All Kutcher had to do was apologize—which he did, immediately—lie low for a short time, and then carry on as usual. It’s my professional opinion that that’s all it would take for this embarrassing error to be put behind him.

Instead, as is often the case with celebrities (or politicians) with large entourages and an over-inflated sense of their own importance, Kutcher’s team, one can only assume, went into full crisis management mode. What could they do to protect their star and justify their ridiculous fees? Not one of them thought to consider the reality: it’s already over, let’s just sit tight and let Ashton be Ashton. He’s human, he made a mistake, he acknowledged it right away and apologized, no one’s going to hold it against him. After all, he’s attracted 8 million Twitter followers by just being himself.

Instead, a short time later, came this tweet: “As of immediately I will stop tweeting until I find a way to properly manage this feed. I feel awful about this error. Won't happen again.”

Then, a day later, this announcement on Kutcher’s Posterous page:
“A collection of over 8 million followers is not to be taken for granted. I feel responsible to deliver informed opinions and not spread gossip or rumors through my twitter feed. While I feel that running this feed myself gives me a closer relationship to my friends and fans I've come to realize that it has grown into more than a fun tool to communicate with people. While I will continue to express myself through @Aplusk, I'm going to turn the management of the feed over to my team at Katalyst as a secondary editorial measure, to ensure the quality of its content. My sincere apologies to anyone who [sic] I offended. It was a mistake that will not happen again.”

As a professional publicist and public relations consultant, my reaction to this announcement is disappointment. I understand the panic and the reaction, but in my opinion this is absolutely the wrong decision. Kutcher’s fans feel a connection to him through Twitter, which is the whole point of social media. Knowing that his tweets will now be approved or edited by a professional management team immediately makes them less interesting and less valuable to the Twitter community. Kutcher doesn’t want to make any embarrassing mistakes again, but those mistakes make him human. Twitter will miss him.

20 Tips for Appearing on Television News

2011-07-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

Your carefully crafted pitch has hit home and you’ve secured your client a segment on the TV news. Now what?

1. As soon as your segment is confirmed, send the producer as much information as you can. Mark clearly the information that should appear on the screen to accompany your segment: usually the name, date, and time of your event and organization/business, and the website for more information. (Often the TV station will put their own website up with a link to your website.) Include a short list of talking points that are most important for your client to get across, and would be most interesting to the TV audience. If there are any words or names that are difficult to pronounce, include a pronunciation guide.

A typical TV news studio

2. If there’s anything you need to get to the station ahead of time, like b-roll (video footage), scans of photos, or a music CD, get it there early and mark it very clearly with the producer’s name. Follow up to make sure the producer received it. TV stations can be chaotic places and things get lost all the time. If you intend to retrieve it after your segment, mark it “hold for pickup” with your name and number.

3. Reconfirm the details of your segment the day before and make sure the producer has your cell number so he or she can reach you at the last minute if necessary. If you and your client are traveling separately to the TV station, make sure the producer has your client’s cell number too, and that your client has directions to the station and the producers’ name and number.

4. Arrive on time. The news producer will have given you two times when confirming your segment: arrival time and on-air time. Be there by your arrival time even if you don’t need a lot of set-up and it’s likely you’re going to stand around waiting. The producer needs to know you’re there and ready so they have one less thing to worry about during the newscast. They might also ask you to go on earlier than planned.

5. If your segment requires a lot of set-up, arrive early. Does the client have to get into a costume? Prep a cooking segment? Provide and cue up a music CD, or set up musical instruments? Construct a table display? If so, arrive well before your scheduled arrival time and get set up as early as they’ll let you. This will give you some wiggle room in case you’ve forgotten anything or something else goes wrong. It also gives you time to meet more people at the station and other guests waiting in the green room (networking!).

"Stand-up" interview

6. Unless you’re a chef, don’t wear white. Don’t wear any clothing with a small check pattern. Avoid stripes, zig-zags, and wild patterns. None of these register well on TV. Remember that you will look heavier on camera, so if you’re concerned about that, wear solidly dark clothes. Women who usually wear makeup should go a little heavy on it that morning. If you don’t normally wear makeup, consider doing so for a TV appearance, as it will make you look less washed-out on screen, especially next to a news anchor or reporter, who will be heavily made up.

7. Try to avoid wearing a clingy dress or other clothing that will not have anywhere to put your wireless mike pack. It’s about the size of a cell phone and needs to clip onto your clothes somewhere out of sight, usually the back of your pants or skirt. Also avoid wearing a clunky necklace or swishy scarf that might interfere with the wireless mike that will be clipped somewhere around your neckline. In order to have somewhere to clip the mike, don’t wear a turtleneck unless you’re wearing a jacket over it.

8. Turn off your phone’s ringer as soon as you arrive. If possible, leave your phone in the green room when you’re called into the studio. If you have to take it with you, turn it off completely for the whole time you’re in the studio, whether you’re on camera or not.

9. Unless you know your way around a TV news station very well, don’t wander around. Stay put until they come get you, and make sure one of the news staff shows you where to go. If you need the restroom, ask where it is and follow directions. You don’t want to step in front of a camera or get in the way of busy staff.

10. Don’t talk in the studio, or whisper if you have to. It can be hard to tell when the cameras are on and you don’t want to inadvertently be heard during the newscast. If you’re singing or performing music and need to warm up, carefully do so only when told it’s clear.

11. When it’s your turn to be on camera, act natural. Speak in your normal voice and address the anchor or reporter as if you were having a regular conversation. Stay in one spot as much as possible. Don’t look into the camera unless specifically directed to. Listen to the questions carefully and try to pick up on your interviewer’s cues to have a lively chat.

12. On the other hand, don’t assume your interviewer has all the information you sent them ahead of time memorized or will have time to cover it all. They are reporting on dozens of stories each day and although your segment is the only important one to you, it’s just one of many to them. If the interview is coming to a close and you sense a key point you wanted to make is going to be missed, try to work it in without being too obvious.

13. If the interviewer makes an error during your segment, respond with the correct information and move on. Don’t make a big deal about it. If an error shows up on screen, though, let the producer know right away.

Live cooking segment

14. If your segment includes food, bring plastic serveware and plenty of extra food to leave at the station for the staff and crew. If it’s an event, bring as many free tickets as you can to hand out or leave in the staff room.

15. This may seem obvious, but be polite and friendly to EVERYone. This week’s intern could be next month’s assistant segment producer. The sound guy at one station could be hired next week at a different station you haven’t been able to crack yet. They work with a lot of guests and publicists, but they remember the nice ones – and the ones that weren’t so nice, too.

16. Don’t ask for a copy of your segment. Set your DVR to record it, but if you don’t, you can easily buy a copy from a video monitoring service. Most TV stations also post clips of news segments on their websites, usually within hours.

17. When your segment is over, ask if they need you to stick around for anything. Especially with a performance-oriented segment, if they liked it they might ask you to stay and close out the show.

18. When you’re completely done, thank everyone and clear out as quickly as you can. Follow up right away with a thank-you to the producer. When you post or link to the segment from your and your client’s website or social media, let the producer know. They will appreciate the additional promotion you’re providing for their newscast.

19. If the worst happens and your segment is cancelled, even if it’s at the last minute, even if you’re already on site and all set up, don’t react badly. The nature of live TV news is that things happen quickly and nothing is set in stone. Be gracious and, if possible, make it clear you’re happy to reschedule at their earliest convenience.

20. If your segment went well, the next time you pitch the same producer, remind him or her how great it was to work with them last time. You’ll find yourself invited back sooner than later.

This is not a paid message.

2011-04-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

Something interesting has happened to us several times in the past couple of months. STPR has been confidently identified by friends or colleagues as representing businesses or events that we actually don’t.

In one instance, an event organizer was referred to us because someone else told him we were the publicists for a similar event, and he wanted to collaborate. We had to tell him we were not affiliated with that event.

A few days later, at a dinner party, the talk turned to restaurants and I heard a friend airily tell everyone I was the P.R. rep for a popular eatery, one I love and patronize but do not actually represent. When I corrected her, she looked surprised, then a little annoyed. “Are you sure?” Yes, I’m sure someone who’s not my client is not my client.

What does this mean? What would make anyone assume I’m representing someone when I’m not? In both cases the assumptions were made because in my enthusiasm for the event and the restaurant, I post to Facebook and Tweet about them regularly. I’m passing on information and making recommendations based on my personal likes and dislikes. I’m engaging in social interaction and joining the online conversation. Isn’t that what social media is supposed to be about? So why is the assumption made that I’m shilling?

Has it come to this, that when someone is known to be a publicist, every statement he or she makes is assumed to be a paid message? I’ve seen people Tweeting who, every time they mention a product or service, feel the need to append “they’re not paying me to say this” afterward. (On the other hand, I rarely see Tweets by individuals that make it quite as clear when they ARE being paid to say it.)

Promoted Tweets are a thing, and they’re officially identified as such. But sponsored messages, viral marketing, and celebrity spokespeople are so pervasive in all types of media now that any statement, no matter how innocent, is suspect. (Not that I’m confusing myself with a celebrity spokesperson.) No one is willing to believe you can just plain like something enough to comment on it unless the company is paying you.

I’m not going to fall into that trap, though. My list of current clients is posted on my website. You’ll notice they don’t include, for example, Diet Coke, Honda, or Nutella (I wish!). If I’m posting or Tweeting about anything not on that list, you can safely assume I’m acting on my own volition. If I like you, I’ll say so. You don’t have to pay me. Just keep doing a great job, being yummy, and making me happy.

Our website has been redesigned.

2011-02-28T17:15:00.000-08:00

We'll continue to post items of interest to this blog, but here's our new official website. That's where you can find information about our company, the services we offer, and the latest news about our clients and what they're up to.

2011-02-24T11:29:00.001-08:00

Thanks to the Union-Tribune for this profile of Lakshmi Basile, whose show "Flamencalicious" is this Sunday. Not to be missed!

San Diego Premiere of "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I’m In Therapy!"

2011-02-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

San Diego Premiere
Lyceum Theatre, downtown San Diego
June 15–September 4, 2011
Tickets ON SALE NOW!

HILARIOUS ONE-MAN COMEDY WILL STAR RON TOBIN
WHAT: San Diego premiere of the international hit comedy, MY MOTHER’S ITALIAN, MY FATHER’S JEWISH & I’M IN THERAPY! featuring Ron Tobin

One part lasagna, one part kreplach & two parts Prozac; you don’t have to be Jewish or Italian to love this show. All you need is to know what it feels like to leave a family dinner with heartburn and a headache!

WHEN: Opening June 15, 2011, running through Sept. 4, 2011
Tickets are on sale now!
WHERE: Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown San Diego
DETAILS: Written by award-winning author Steve Solomon, the hilarious one-man comedy is based on Solomon’s life growing up in a wacky family noted for its bi-ethnic diversity and aptitude for dysfunctional behavior, and all the people in his life whose sole purpose was to drive him into therapy!

The show stars actor and comedian Ron Tobin, who has hosted cable TV’s Late Night ‘Laffs’ with Ron Tobin, Comedy on the Bay, and Showtime Comedy Club Network.
“Amazing! Hysterical! A wonderful show! I still hurt from laughing!” - BroadwayWorld.com
“Hysterically funny! Non-stop laughs all the way! I can’t recommend this show enough, it’s just great!” - Regis Philbin, Live With Regis & Kelly
“As heartwarming as comfort food! Everyone can relate to this!” - Martha Stewart Living Radio

The show is produced by Philip Roger Roy, Dana Matthow and Bud Martin in association with the San Diego Repertory Theatre.

PERFORMANCES: Wednesdays at 7pm; Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at
2pm & 8pm; Sundays at 2pm & 5:30pm
TICKETS:
$42.50 Wednesdays & Thursdays; $47.50 Friday-Sunday
GROUP DISCOUNTS for groups of 20 or more: $10 off per ticket
MILITARY DISCOUNT: $5 off per ticket
For tickets, please call 619-544-1000
For Group Sales of 20 or more, please call 888-264-1788
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Sculpin Four Ways at Sessions Public

2011-02-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to San Diego Magazine for this nice post on client Sessions Public's special event tomorrow, Sculpin Four Ways. Fans of great beer and good food continue to flock to this great little bar in Point Loma, one of our very favorite clients.

Bach Collegium San Diego presents Two Choral Masterpieces in One Program: Bach Magnificat and Vivaldi Gloria

2011-01-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

Calling all choral junkies! Bach Collegium San Diego (BCSD), the city's only early music performance ensemble, continues its eighth season with two of the most well-known and beloved choral works in the repertoire: Bach's Magnificat and Vivaldi's Gloria, on Friday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12, 2010.

BACH: MAGNIFICAT, VIVALDI: GLORIA
Friday, February 11, 2011: St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, La Jolla, 7:30pm
Roundtable discussion with the artists: 6:45pm
Saturday, February 12, 2011: St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, Los Angeles, 7:30pm
Roundtable discussion with the artists: 6:45pm
Ruben Valenzuela, Conductor
Anne-Marie Dicce, Soprano
Jenny Spence, Soprano
Angela Young Smucker, Alto
Matthew Tresler, Tenor
Michael Blinco, Bass

Perhaps no two 18th-century choral works are as well known as J.S. Bach's Magnificat and Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria. Both works share common themes and embody the exuberance of the announcement and birth of Christ. While the Gloria displays Vivaldi's distinctive melodies and rhythms, the Magnificat shows to great effect Bach's large-scale choral writing, foreshadowing his other large choral work in Latin, the B Minor Mass.

BCSD will be performing the less familiar E-flat version of Bach's Magnificat, written to be first performed at Vespers on Christmas Day at St. Nicholas' Church, Leipzig in 1723 and includes trope-like interpolations on Christmas texts including "Vonn himmel hoch" and "Virga Jesse floruit."

Bach Collegium San Diego's eighth season will continue with:
J.S. BACH: ST JOHN PASSION BWV245

In celebration of Early Music America's 25th Anniversary
Friday, April 15, 2011: St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, La Jolla, 7pm
Sunday, April 17, 2011: Pt. Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, 7pm
Monday, April 18, 2011: St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, Palm Desert, 7pm
HENRY PURCELL: DIDO & AENEAS
An Opera in Three Acts (staged performances)
Saturday, June 11, 2011: Location TBD, San Diego, 7pm
Sunday, June 12, 2011: Location TBD, San Diego, 3pm
All dates, times and artists may be subject to change.

DETAILS AND TICKETS
Tickets to individual concerts are $25 or $35. Senior/Student Discount: $15
Student rush tickets may be purchased at the door for $10 (subject to availability, student ID required).
For more information and to purchase tickets please visit the BCSD website.

ABOUT BCSD
The Bach Collegium San Diego was founded in 2003 by Ruben Valenzuela with the purpose of enriching San Diego's music community with historically informed performances of the Renaissance, Baroque, and in particular the vocal works of J.S. Bach. Its members bring longstanding experience from such ensembles as the Academy of Ancient Music (UK), American Bach Soloists, Festival Ensemble Stuttgart, and the Philharmonia Chorale. During its first seven seasons, the ensemble has earned an impressive reputation, captivating diverse audiences with its unique style and highly expressive and provocative approach to the Renaissance and Baroque repertoire and beyond. The ensemble regularly participates in an international tour to Mexico City with performances at the Festival Internacional del Órgano Barroco. BCSD has brought many historically informed first performances to San Diego for the first time. Such works include Handel’s Theodora and Messiah, Bachs St. John Passion and B minor Mass, and Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers.

For detailed bios and a list of ensemble performers please visit the website.

Bach Collegium San Diego
Ruben Valenzuela, Music Director
Pierre Joubert, Associate Director
P.O. BOX 33754
San Diego CA 92163 USA
619-341-1726
Bach Collegium San Diego Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and visit our channel on YouTube.

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Sessions Public in the news

2010-12-16T19:46:00.000-08:00

Recent coverage for our client Sessions Public on Gayot.com and in the San Diego Daily Transcript.

Kelly Bennett on SoCalPRBlog

2010-12-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

Get to know Voice of San Diego's new arts editor, Kelly Bennett, on today's SoCalPRBlog "Media Pulse" post. In a short time on the job, she has really shaken up arts coverage in this city.

2010-11-11T18:40:00.000-08:00

From this month's San Diego Magazine... yummy...

Upcoming Events at Sessions Public: San Diego Beer Week Specials

2010-11-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sessions Public, the new American bar and eatery at 4204 Voltaire Street in Point Loma, presents a full slate of special events for San Diego Beer Week, kicked off by a night of sampling five custom-made beers on nitrogen from Ballast Point Brewery.

San Diego Beer Week at Sessions Public, November 6-14

Saturday, November 6: Ballast Point Nitrogen Night

Sessions Public will serve five custom-made Ballast Point beers on nitrogen: Sculpin, Big Eye, Calico, Black Marlin, and Victory at Sea, creating a rare tasting opportunity for beer fans. Flights will be specially priced and pints will be $5.

Sunday, November 7: Lost Abbey Brunch

Sessions Public's Sunday Brunch menu, with a seasonal selection of beers from local award-winning Lost Abbey brewery.

Monday, November 8: Belhaven Monday Night Football Night

Take in the NFL game while enjoying Scottish Ale and Scottish Stout from Scotland's award-winning brewer Belhaven on draught. $5 for souvenir glass & first pint, $4 refills. Plus, with every pint, receive a raffle ticket to win a Sessions Public gift card.

Tuesday, November 9: Abita Beer "Fat Tuesday in November"

Cajun menu specials with beers from Abita Brewing Company, the pride of New Orleans. "Keep the glass" pints: $5 for souvenir glass & first pint, $4 refills.

Wednesday, November 10: Delirium Tremens Souvenir Glass Night

Sample Delirium Tremens, the famous Belgian strong pale ale from Huyghe Brewery in Melle, Belgium, named "Best Beer in the World" at the World Beer Championships in Chicago.

$7 for souvenir glass & first pint, $5 refills.

Thursday, November 11: Flying Dog Brewery Night

Meet the VP of award-winning Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, MD, and sample their beers including Raging Bitch IPA.

Friday, November 12: Coronado Brewing Company Night

Specials to be announced.

Saturday, November 13: Late Night Sessions

$3 pints of all Sessions Public's featured Beer Week beers, while supplies last.

Happy hour prices on food and drink from 9:30pm to 12:30am, plus guest DJ.

Sunday November 14: Lost Abbey Brunch

Sessions' Sunday Brunch menu with a seasonal selection of beers from local award-winning Lost Abbey brewery.

Sessions Public at San Diego Bay Food & Wine Festival, November 20

Join Sessions Public on Saturday, November 20, for the Grand Tasting Event at the 7th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, at Embarcadero Park North behind Seaport Village. The Grand Tasting Event offers sampling from 170 wine and spirit purveyors, 70 of San Diego's top restaurants, and more than 30 gourmet food companies for a dining extravaganza.

Grand Tasting Event at 7th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010

Time: 12pm-4pm

Location: Embarcadero Park North, behind Seaport Village

Tickets: $125 in advance, $150 onsite

http://www.worldofwineevents.com

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food festival is an international showcase of the world's premier wine and spirits producers, chefs, culinary personalities, and gourmet foods, benefiting the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship program. For more information visit http://www.worldofwineevents.com or call 858-578-9463.

Sessions Public is located at 4204 Voltaire Street, at the corner of Catalina Boulevard in Point Loma. Hours are Sun-Mon 11am-11pm, Tue 5pm-11pm, Wed-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-2am.

619-756-7715

http://www.sessionspublic.com

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Copy Editor For Hire

2010-10-11T13:11:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and colleagues:

Starting immediately, I am hanging out my shingle as a copy and content editor and manuscript consultant. I’m interested in any and all copy editing work, and especially in helping self-publishing authors prepare their manuscripts for print, whether on paper on in e-book form.

My qualifications: a bachelor’s degree in Communication (emphasis on print journalism), and a master’s in English. Five years of experience as a newspaper writer, editor, and layout and copy editor, followed by eighteen years in P.R., including writing and preparing publications and materials for print and distribution. I’ve taught high school journalism, and English 101 at two community colleges. I’ve published book, music, and film reviews for UPI and several websites including Epinions.com.

Most of you know my delight for catching typos and errors. My unofficial motto: “Give me a Sharpie big enough and I will proof the world.” In the past few years, I edited three books for my uncle, Claude Salhani, and my friend, Martha Hart. I found I enjoyed those projects so much that I’d like to do more of them.

So, after all these years, I’ve decided to go back to school, and am enrolled in UCSD Extension’s Copyediting Certification program. I’ll hone my existing skills but also get up to date with current procedures and policies, and using online copy editing platforms like MS Word and Adobe Acrobat properly.

As things develop, I’ll create a new website, with more details. In the meantime, please keep me in mind and refer me for any and all copy editing, proofing, content editing, and consultation needs. No job is too small or too big, and my rates are reasonable. I’m eager to grab my little red pen and get to work. Thanks for your support!

2010-09-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

From today's Union-Tribune: all about Lyric at the Birch's "Gigi," Laura Bueno. The show opens tomorrow, tickets are still available.

A Brief History of the Carlsbad French Bakery Café

2010-09-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

"Is Carlsbad French Bakery Café really French? You bet your croissants! In fact, with actual certified, authentic Frenchmen Eric Briens and Olivier Baudier as the driving force behind the successful bakery and its sister location in Vista, the only way you could get much closer to France is by taking a plane."

Read the rest of this Brief History of the Carlsbad French Bakery Café on their Facebook page. Then go buy some éclairs. Trust me.

Sessions Public is Now Open For Lunch! and other news...

2010-09-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

Sessions Public is Now Open For Lunch!
Also Introducing Grilled Cheese Tuesdays and Sessions Social Weeknight Specials

“Sessions Public turns out to be a genuine neighborhood restaurant, in a genuine “people’s” neighborhood (renters, not condo owners), with commensurate easy prices. Best of all is the brave heart behind the menu, offering genuinely fresh new dishes, along with some fresh interpretations of old dishes.”
— Naomi Wise, The Reader

Sessions Public, the new American bar and eatery at 4204 Voltaire Street in Point Loma, is now open for lunch beginning at 11am six days a week, and has added weekly specials to its eclectic menu this week as well as Sessions Socials every weeknight.

SESSIONS LUNCH is a delicious alternative for Point Loma and Ocean Beach residents and working folk, and anyone else looking for a quick, tasty lunch getaway. Lunch is served beginning at 11am every day except Tuesday.

Kicking off lunches is the Craft Combo: any of Sessions Public’s sandwiches and a pint of craft beer (or fountain drink) for just the price of the sandwich. This includes Sessions Public’s popular Natural CAB Burger.

WEEKLY SPECIALS
Shortly after opening the bar in July 2010, owner Abel Kaase launched Cask and Mussels Night on Thursdays. Each week he taps a freshly delivered cask of craft beer and the kitchen prepares fresh mussels in a seasoned broth that includes and complements the beer. The Mussels special goes for $13 with the Cask beer usually $8 a pint. Cask and Mussels has already become a sell-out on Thursdays.

Tuesdays at Sessions Public are now Grilled Cheese Tuesdays. A selection of gooey grilled cheese sandwiches made with artisan breads, different cheeses and fresh toppings of all kinds include the Veggie (roasted red peppers, white asparagus, torn basil and Fontina on Kalamata olive bread), the Sweet & Smoky (Serrano ham, apple slices and smoked Gouda on rosemary olive oil bread), and the Bacon & Eggs (Gruyère, sunnyside-up egg, Nueske bacon and tomato confit on Challa bread). Grilled Cheese sandwiches range from $5 to $8.

SESSIONS SOCIAL
Also just launched is Sessions Social every afternoon with $2 off of all draught beers, specialty cocktails, and shared plates. Hours for Sessions Social are 2pm to 6:19pm.

Sessions Public is located at 4204 Voltaire Street, at the corner of Catalina Boulevard in Point Loma. Hours are Sun-Mon 11am-11pm, Tue 5pm-11pm, Wed-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-2am.

619-756-7715
http://www.sessionspublic.com

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2010-09-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our client Rock'n Gold Creations, who just won Best Designer Jewelry in Channel 10's A-List for the fourth year in a row!

Are You Neglecting Your Most Important Online Portal?

2010-09-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

So, after nearly a year of fits and starts, you’ve finally got your social media program up and running. You’ve got a few hundred or more Twitter followers and Facebook fans, and more joining every day. Your designated Tweeter/Facebooker is posting regularly and the retweets and shares are fairly frequent. Your chosen blogger is posting a few times a week and generating some good comments. In fact, you’re feeling pretty good about your online presence -- like you’ve got it all dialed in.

Before you start feeling too smug, though, ask yourself this question: In spending so much time and energy on your social media outlets, could you be ignoring your most important online outlet?

Yesterday I made a lunch date at a popular downtown restaurant and since it was a Monday, I paid a quick visit to their website to check they were open. The website said Mondays to Sundays, opening at 11am. I drove downtown, found a parking spot, filled the parking meter, and walked to the restaurant only to find it closed and my date waiting outside. On the door a different set of hours were posted; apparently on weekdays they now aren’t open until 5pm.

In another example, a local performing arts organization’s website hasn’t been updated since spring, and still has coming events and information promoted on the site that happened months ago. In addition, several of their links loop back to their home page, and several of their “Contact Us” links are broken.

This is just plain bad customer service. Worse, it’s bad P.R. I’m pretty ticked off at the restaurant, and said so all over my own social media. And I’ve given up on the performing arts group in question. It made me think: how many businesses and organizations are neglecting the stodgy old web site in their quest to keep their sexy blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages hopping?

Don’t underestimate the power of the good old website. It’s still the first and most important place your business or organization can be found on the web. It’s the main portal and source of information for regular and prospective clients alike, and it should ultimately be where all your social media efforts lead. Every time your name appears anywhere on the web, the links should come back to your website, first, last, and always. So, keeping that in mind: Have you been neglecting it?

A static website is bad enough, but as long as it’s attractive and the information on it is correct, you can let it go unattended for short amounts of time. But there is nothing worse than a website with incorrect or out-of-date information or broken links. Fail your customers in this way and you may as well kiss them goodbye.

It’s tempting to put your time and energy into social media. It’s the hot thing of the moment, and after all, aside from the time it takes, it’s free and you’re probably doing it in-house. If you have a professionally designed and maintained website, on the other hand – and you should – it costs you money every time your webmaster has to make changes or updates. Nevertheless, this is money well spent and you should not be skimping on it.

Aside from keeping your basic info up to date -- for example, have your hours of operation changed? -- it’s a good idea to cycle fresh photos into your gallery, add reviews, awards, or news clips to your brag page, and generally keep the website active and updated so clients will find using it useful and pleasant. After all, it’s the front door most of them pass through on the web before they ever walk through your actual door on the street. Make sure it’s always open and welcoming.

Cafe Sevilla in the News

2010-09-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

Here's some recent news coverage of our client Cafe Sevilla: a story about the San Diego location's upcoming move and an interview with Sevilla CEO Eric van den Haute.

"Gigi" is Opening Soon at Lyric

2010-09-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

Client Lyric at the Birch opens its 32nd season soon with the musical "Gigi." Here's a preview in Uptown News.

The Word is Out on Sessions Public

2010-09-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

Some good stuff has been coming in over the transom about our client Sessions Public. Word is out!

Here's a review in the Reader from Naomi Wise.

And: getting some love from 944 magazine, in good company on page 54 of the new issue of Riviera, highlighted in Peter Rowe's U-T blog, and a shout-out on sdurban.com.

2010-08-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks to George Varga at the U-T for this nice preview of Holly Hofmann and Four Women Only, a jazz concert coming up at our client the Birch North Park Theatre.

Sevilla of Long Beach Introduces High-Tech Vinoteca Wine Lounge with Enomatic® Systems – One of Just a Handful in California

2010-08-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

Sevilla of Long Beach, 140 Pine Avenue, is now one of just a handful of establishments in California offering the Vinoteca Wine Lounge, featuring up to 45 wines by the glass poured from innovative state-of-the-art Enomatic® machines.

With the installation of the Vinoteca system, Sevilla of Long Beach offers the largest Spanish wine tasting selection in California. Patrons may purchase a Vinoteca Card with a prepaid amount which allows them to taste as many wines as they like until the card is used up, when it can be reloaded.

Rather than tasting wine from just a few bottles, Sevilla patrons can now choose to try up to 45 different top quality wines, at just an ounce or three ounces at a time, matching wines to the extensive tapas menu to create a new experience each time they dine. They can choose a wine not just because of its label or reputation alone, but because they’ve tasted it and liked it.

The wines on offer are chosen for value and luxury, allowing patrons the ability to span the gamut of wines, many of which are not usually available by the glass. This is a great way to try a wine before purchasing a bottle, and all wines on the System are available at retail price with only a $6 corkage fee.

In addition, four imported gourmet olive oils are also available for tasting through the Enomatic® System, served with bread at $2/oz to $5/oz. They include extra virgin olive oil, garlic-infused olive oil, unfiltered olive oil, and blood orange-pressed olive oil, from Italy and Spain.

About the Vinoteca Wine Lounge Enomatic® System

Sevilla of Long Beach’s new Vinoteca Wine Lounge features Enomatic® systems which dispense wine directly from the bottle using revolutionary inert gas preservation. The flavors and characteristics of the wine remain intact for more than three weeks, as if the bottle had just been opened.

Enomatic® systems dispensers protect and conserve the wine and feature computer programming that allows the poured volume to be preset (in the case of Sevilla, an ounce at a time). The pouring spouts are automatically self-cleaning after each pour, guaranteeing maximum hygiene. The technology and design are patent protected and all products are certified according to European and International reference standard.

Sevilla of Long Beach, located at 140 Pine Avenue, brings you the cuisine, wine and festive atmosphere of an authentic Spanish Tapas Bar experience.

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Ensign International Yacht Brokerage Adds Joe Saad to Sales Team

2010-08-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

Contact: Ensign Yachts, 619-294-4545

russ@ensignyachts.com

Ensign International Yacht Brokerage, 1450 Harbor Island Drive, has added sailing enthusiast and former business broker Joe Saad to its sales team.

Yacht broker Russ Cornelius purchased 100% of Ensign Yachts from Mariann Feeney one year ago. He committed to keeping everything at the brokerage status quo for a year. Russ states that he is now ready to build upon the existing team by adding some seasoned salespeople with yachting experience. The first step in that direction is the addition of Joe Saad.

Joe Saad is currently Junior Staff Commodore of Cortez Racing Association, a San Diego yacht club with a strong focus on competition. An avid sailor for more than 30 years, he and his crew recently won the CYC Crown Cup aboard his boat Fiasco II, adding to a long list of accomplishments on the San Diego sailing calendar.

Joe has a long professional history in sales, most recently as an independent business broker in San Diego for the past 25 years, specializing in assisting business owners with selling small- and medium-sized businesses. He will bring his years of sales experience to the Ensign team to help sailors and cruisers find the boat of their dreams.

“I’m excited to have Joe on our team,” said Russ Cornelius. “Joe is well known in the sailing community as he has become known for winning a race or two or three or…! Added to Joe’s knowledge about boating are his years as a business broker. He knows what it takes to negotiate a good situation between a seller and buyer – and having them both walk away pleased. Plus, he’s straightforward and honest. We like that at Ensign Yachts.”

Mr. Saad can be reached by calling Ensign Yachts or by email at joe@ensignyachts.com.

About Ensign Yachts

Ensign International Yacht Brokerage represents sellers and buyers of vessels ranging from small sail and powerboats to mega yachts. It has been in its current location in the Cabrillo Isle Marina on Harbor Island for more than 18 years. Ensign Yachts is a member of the California Yacht Brokers Association.

Ensign International Yacht Brokerage 

1450 Harbor Island Drive #203

San Diego, California 92101, USA

(619) 294-4545

http://www.ensignyachts.com

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38th Annual Harvest Festival Brings Affordable Family Fun and Hot Holiday Shopping to Del Mar Fairgrounds

2010-08-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

Handmade High-Quality Art and Crafts, Food, Live Entertainment, and Fun for the Whole Family: Del Mar Fairgrounds, October 22–24, 2010

San Diego, are you ready to kick off the holiday fun? Now in its 38th year, the Harvest Festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds returns on October 22–24, the perfect opportunity to pick up holiday decorations and goodies for your family and friends.



Note: This is the only Harvest Festival show in the San Diego area in 2010.

For close to four decades, Harvest Festival has been the premiere art and craft show in San Diego, providing families a safe and affordable experience in which to enjoy the best of handmade crafts, great food, and fun entertainment.

The Harvest Festival features more than 300 artists and craftspeople -- dozens of them new to the show -- showcasing unique handmade works, including Halloween and Christmas decor, handmade wearable art, garden decorations, unique holiday gifts, handmade pottery, jewelry, children's toys, and much more.

NEW THIS YEAR!
Carpooling: Avoid parking fees and traffic by carpooling to the show! Harvest Festival will offer guests the opportunity to carpool to the shows for free. Visit http://www.carpoolworld.com/harvest to check it out.

Facebook Promotions: Harvest Festival is now on Facebook! Fans of the Harvest Festival Facebook page can enter a contest to win a free hotel stay during the show at the Del Mar Hilton, $50 in Harvey Bucks and two free tickets to the show!

Home Depot Hosts Kidzone: A fun Kidzone hosted by Home Depot is among the features this year to keep all members of the family entertained at this affordable event. Proceeds will benefit the San Diego chapter of Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization providing support for families of servicemen.

All products in the show are American-made, and each exhibitor is chosen through a stringent selection process in order to display their work at the Harvest Festival.

Top features of the 2010 Del Mar Harvest Festival:
- NEW and DEMONSTRATION ARTISTS
- FREE CARPOOLING
- FACEBOOK PROMOTION to win a hotel stay, tickets to the show and $50 in Harvey Bucks!
- KIDZONE featuring Make-It-and-Take-It Craft by Home Depot
- EDIBLE ARTS
- LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT with bands and strolling entertainers
- "TOPS FOR TOTS" featuring San Diego Woodturners
- GRAND PRIZE DRAWING
- TWO PRIZE DRAWINGS EVERY DAY for $100 in Harvey Bucks, to spend at any booth in the show!
(Must be present to win; must use entry form from the website.)
- PARCEL CHECK benefiting Greyhounds 2 Go Greyhound Adoptions

Hours:
Friday Oct. 22            10am – 6pm
Saturday     Oct. 23            10am – 6pm
Sunday        Oct. 24            10am – 5pm

Tickets:
Adults: $9,
Seniors 62 and over: $7,
Youth 13-17: $4

Children 12 and under: FREE with an adult

One ticket is good for all three days.
$2 off coupons available at CVS and Michaels.

Information:
The public may call (800) 346-1212, or visit www.harvestfestival.com.

For interviews and photos please contact Stephanie Thompson Public Relations, (619) 840-7353.

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Lyric at the Birch Opens 32nd Season with the Romantic Comedy GIGI

2010-08-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

Take a musical trip through the romance of Paris as Lyric at the Birch launches its 32nd season with “Gigi,” based on the classic film of the same name, performed in San Diego for the first time in 20 years.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

“Gigi” – Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe

September 24, 25, 26, 30, October 1, 2, 3, 2010

Birch North Park Theatre

About the Show

From the same team that created “My Fair Lady,” 1958’s “Gigi” is one of the most beloved classic romances of all time, and helped cement the image of Paris as a city of love. It earned a record-breaking nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film’s cast includes Leslie Caron as Gigi, as well as Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, and Eva Gabor.

The stage version of “Gigi,” created by the team of music theater masters Lerner and Lowe, actually was the last time they would work together. It featured a cast of music theater marquee names: Alfred Drake in the Maurice Chevalier role of Honoré, Agnes Moorehead in her final role ever, Daniel Massey as Gaston, and Lila Kedrova as Mamita. Lyric’s production will feature Laura Bueno as Gigi, J. Sherwood Montgomery as Honoré (singing “Thank Heaven for Little Girls”), Benjamin Robinson as Gaston, and two debuts of local stage personalities: Leigh Scarritt as Aunt Alicia and Rita Cartwright as Mamita.

Directing and conducting “Gigi” will be Leon Natker, with scenic design by J. Sherwood Montgomery; lighting design by Elvira Perez; and costumes, make-up, and hair by Pam Stompoly-Ericson with costumes from The Theater Company. Delightful dance numbers are created by choreographer Shirley Giltner.

“Gigi” also features Lyric Academy alums Shawn Bray (dancer), Morgan Hollingsworth (Violinist), Erica Malachowski (dance ensemble), and Grace Paxton (dance ensemble).

All productions in the 2010-11 season feature Lyric’s own live orchestra and chorus, performed at Birch North Park Theatre. The fall season continues with Rossini’s comic opera, “The Barber of Seville.” In spring 2011, the company revives its very popular production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers,” and the season ends with the Broadway smash “Fiddler on the Roof.”

All programs and artists are subject to change without notice.

PURCHASING TICKETS

Single tickets for “Gigi” are $32, $37, $42, $47, and $52. Subscription renewals AND new subscriptions are $108, $128, $148, $168 or $188 for all four shows. Full season subscribers will receive complimentary tickets to Pre-Show lectures. Children 5-17 are half price. No children under 5 years old are admitted. Box Office: (619) 239-8836 or order online.

General Information

All Lyric performances take place at the Birch North Park Theatre. Disabled persons seating is available with at least 72 hours notice. Evening performances are at 7:30pm; matinees at 2:30pm.

About Lyric at the Birch

Lyric celebrates 32 years of bringing accessible, affordable opera and musical theatre productions to San Diego. The company proudly performs operas and musicals from the European and American tradition, in English, presenting the finest young musical talent available with full orchestra and chorus accompaniment at its new home, the Birch North Park Theatre.

Lyric’s Outreach Department presents preview performances to students and social service organizations throughout San Diego County.

For more information, please call the Lyric office, (619) 231-5714.

http://www.lyricoperasandiego.org

Check out our blog. It’s fun.

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BNPT Featured in UT Redesign Video

2010-08-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Some nice placement of our client the Birch North Park Theatre in this video about the San Diego Union-Tribune's redesign:

Why the 140-Character Limit is Here to Stay

2010-07-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I see a complaint on Twitter about the 140-character limit for tweets. A whole lexicon of abbreviation and symbology has arisen to help Twitter users express themselves in 140 characters or less. There are services like TwitLonger to allow you to write a longer tweet, which appears truncated in the Twitter window. Why is this necessary, I hear people ask. Can’t Twitter just change its programming to allow for longer tweets?

Questions like these ignore the technology behind Twitter’s origins. I'm no telecom expert, but some research has made the setup fairly clear to me. Twitter began as a way for friends to keep each other updated about their locations and what they were up to when they were on the move. It was first a cell-phone texting service, and so was limited to the same number of characters as SMS text messages: 160.

Fair enough, you ask. But why are text message limited to 160 characters? Now that SMS services are being used for so much more than quick messages between cell phone users, why don’t cell phone providers increase their size? We’re paying for them anyway, right? It’s not like they’re free.

Well, no, they’re not free – at least not to us, the users. But here’s the key to the whole SMS/Twitter character limit issue: SMS messages are, in fact, practically free to the cell phone providers.

According to the Los Angeles Times, back in 1986, when the inventors of Twitter were barely out of diapers, the Global System for Mobile Communications, a group that sets standards for the majority of the global mobile market, decreed that all cellular carriers and mobile phone must support the newly created Short Messaging Service (SMS). Looking for a way to fit these short messages, a German communications specialist named Friedrich Hillebrand came up with the idea to harness a secondary radio channel that already existed on mobile networks.

This smaller data pipeline had been used only to alert a cell phone about reception strength and supply it with information regarding incoming calls. Voice communication itself is on a separate signal. This data pipeline could carry these short messages, but there was only room for 160 characters. So once the cell phone companies were required to carry SMS, capping each message at 160 characters meant that SMS messages are piggy-backed onto the existing cell signal emitted from cell phones at all times anyway. By charging for SMS, cell phone providers make almost pure profit on each text. For example, in 2009 Verizon Wireless and AT&T each charged 20 to 25 cents a message, or $20 for unlimited texts. As of last year Verizon had 86 million subscribers, while AT&T's wireless service had 78.2 million. You do the math.

When inventing Twitter, a service making use of SMS, its creators capped messages at 140 characters to save 20 characters for each user’s name to be added to their tweets. Many users now use Twitter on computers, but many are still texting their tweets. There’s not doubt that at least in its first years, Twitter vastly increased the amount of texting being done by its users. They pay for more texts, which cost cell phone companies almost nothing.

So: practice your abbreviations and symbols. The 140-character limit is here to stay, as long as the telecoms are raking in money for nearly nothing.

Liverpool Airport, I Salute You

2010-07-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

Apropos of nothing at all, look at the logo and tagline for Liverpool Airport. Genius.

2010-07-21T10:55:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the Beach and Bay Press for this nice write-up of client City Ballet's upcoming Summer Intensive.

Sessions Public Starts to Make a Splash

2010-07-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

The buzz is building over our newest client, Sessions Public, an American eatery in Point Loma with great beer and great food that is already endangering our diets. Their grand opening is this weekend, but they've been open for a couple of weeks and folks are beginning to take notice.

Here's the UT's beer guy, Peter Rowe, plugging "Cask and Mussels Night" in his blog. And here's a nice write-up on Thrillist.com.

If you'd like an invitation to the grand opening, let me know!

2010-07-15T09:03:00.001-07:00

The fabulous Barbarella reports on last weekend's Counter Culture event featuring City Ballet.

Counter Culture: City Ballet on Fox 5

2010-07-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

Fantastic segment on Fox 5 San Diego this morning, previewing Pacific San Diego magazine's Counter Culture event tomorrow at Quality Social featuring City Ballet of San Diego! Thanks Leslie and Chrissy!

City Ballet Counter Culture Event at Quality Social

2010-07-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

Always on the cutting edge, our client City Ballet of San Diego will be featured in a Counter Culture event presented by Pacific San Diego magazine this Saturday, July 10, 2010.

This one-night-only performance by San Diego’s premiere ballet company will happen in an intimate and unlikely setting: Quality Social in the Gaslamp Quarter.

In a seamless integration of modern dance and nightlife, the ballet’s prima ballerinas will reveal a series of sultrier-than-Swan Lake dances set to booming DJ beats, choreographed exclusively for this special night.

The event goes from 10pm-2am. It will fill up quickly; please arrive by 9:30pm.

• Complimentary tray-passed appetizers ’til 11pm  

• Ballet performances ‘til 11:30pm

• DJ Adam Salter ‘til 2am  

Admission is free. Donations to the ballet are strongly encouraged.

Add your name to the guest list: insider@pacificsandiego.com

Del Mar Harvest Festival News: Home Depot Signs On as Partner

2010-06-30T22:34:00.000-07:00

One of our very favorite events each year is the annual Del Mar Harvest Festival, which this year is October 22-24.

We've got some exciting news this year: in an exciting new collaboration, The Home Depot store in Carmel Valley is bringing its famous Kids’ Workshops to the Del Mar Harvest Festival this year, with voluntary donations benefiting Operation Homefront!

The Home Depot Kids’ Workshops offer fun projects including the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks, and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse, or frame kit. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates’ aprons, and an achievement pin.

Although the Kids’ Workshop will be free, suggested donations in any amount will benefit Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors.

Bring your kids to The Home Depot booth at the Del Mar Harvest Festival this year!

West Marine Challenged America Regatta Weekend

2010-06-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

The West Marine Challenged America Regatta weekend was a huge success. Talk show host and author Dr. Laura Schlessinger chatted with attendees at the West Marine Challenged America Regatta at the Bali Hai Restaurant on June 11, with more than 150 in attendance. After opening remarks by three-time America's Cup champion Dennis Conner, Dr. Laura charmed her audience with a keynote speech in which she humorously recounted how she came to fall in love with sailing and become a top competitor, and encouraged support for Challenged America so that all people, even with disabilities, can have the chance to enjoy sailing as well.

In the Regatta itself on the next day, June 12, on San Diego Bay, Alec Oberschmidt graciously lent Dr. Laura his 50' yacht, Staghound, on which she soundly beat Troy Sears' retired 2000 America's Cup yacht, Abracadabra, to win in her class.

Congratulations to all who made this happen and who participated. We thoroughly enjoy working with this event each year.

2010-06-10T14:04:00.001-07:00

A nice piece in La Prensa about "Flamenco a Mares":

Fox 5 Previews "Flamenco a Mares"

2010-06-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Fox 5 San Diego for previewing "Flamenco a Mares" on the morning news today! A great interview by the lovely and smart Chrissy Russo. Click here to see the segment.

2010-06-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to KUSI's segments on the West Marine Challenged America Regatta coming up this weekend.

Media Coverage for West Marine Challenged America Regatta

2010-06-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

More good stuff from our friends in the media, on the West Marine Challenged America Regatta. First, a nice story by Amberly Dressler on SDNews.com; then some photos from this morning's KUSI live shots with Mike Castellucci. Great coverage for a great cause. Tickets still available.

Mike interviews Challenged America's Urban Miyares

Interviewing sponsors Commodore Lee Pearce of Cortez Racing Association and Louis Holmes, general manager of the Point Loma West Marine store

Great Challenged America sailors and volunteers!

2010-06-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

Click here to hear Art Rocks! radio's Philly Joe Swendoza interview Rocio Carrera about the upcoming "Flamenco a Mares" show. He is always so enthused and such a great supporter of the arts in San Diego.

2010-06-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to The Log for this great write-up about the upcoming West Marine Challenged America Regatta! There is still time to sign up to participate in this great event and attend the celebration dinner, outdoors on the Bay at the Bali Hai - what could be better?

@BPGlobalPR and the Power of Internet Satire

2010-05-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Another month, another monumentally mishandled p.r. disaster. Yes, we're talking about the BP Deepwater Horizon oil "spill" (more like a geyser), but it could just as easily be Tiger Woods, Toyota, or any number of other massive errors compounded by bad public relations decisions.

Plenty of news accounts and comments have outlined for you all the many ways BP has mishandled the oil rig explosion and leak from moment one, but there is one aspect of the situation that stands out. It started as a joke and has taken on a life of its own. BP has a fairly uninteresting official Twitter account, @BP_America, but about ten days ago some bright spark created a satirical account, called @BPGlobalPR. First tweet: "We regretfully admit that something has happened off of the Gulf Coast. More to come."

The tweets emanating from this account have been uncomfortably hilarious. Some samples: "Catastrophe is a strong word, let's all agree to call it a whoopsie daisy." "Please do NOT take or clean any oil you find on the beach. That is the property of British Petroleum and we WILL sue you." "If we had a dollar for every complaint about this oil spill, it wouldn't compare to our current fortune. Oil is a lucrative industry!"

Predictably, @BPGlobalPR has drawn a huge following (more than 77,000 followers to date, four times BP's official account) and gained attention from the national press and pundits, like this guest article in The Guardian. Every new tweet makes followers laugh, but also wince a little. BP, I hope because they have more important things to do, aren't taking much notice of the fake account, even though Twitter would probably take it down if they asked. That's probably a good decision -- wasting any time or energy shutting down the fake account would just make them look petty and humorless (as opposed to just greedy and criminally negligent). That's a tiny drop of goodwill in a big, oily ocean of rage and recrimination, but it's better than nothing.

Why are @BPGlobalPR's tweets so fascinating? Because, admit it -- some of them, outrageous as they are, are so very close to what we imagine BP might conceivably say, or at least what they're really thinking. If tragedy plus time equals comedy, as the saying goes, with the help of the internet and social media the time frame is compressed like never before. It appears just about a month is now all the time we need to turn tragedy into farce.

Bach Collegium Triumphs with Monteverdi

2010-05-24T16:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our client Bach Collegium San Diego on a season-closing performance of Monteverdi's Vespers 1610, a San Diego premiere, that elicited this great review from SDNN's Valerie Scher.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger to Speak, Race at West Marine Challenged America Regatta, June 11-12

2010-05-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

We're excited to be donating our services again this year to a fantastic event for a great cause: the West Marine Challenged America Regatta on June 12.

This year the nationally renowned talk-show host and author Dr. Laura Schlessinger lends some star power to the sailing event, having agreed to be the keynote speaker at the celebratory dinner on June 11 and also participate in the race itself on June 12.

Here's the scoop:

Nationally renowned talk-show host and author Dr. Laura Schlessinger will lend her voice and winning sailing skills to Cortez Racing Association and West Marine for a benefit to support sailors with disabilities in the second annual West Marine/Challenged America Regatta, June 11 & 12, 2010, in San Diego.

“Dr. Laura Schlessinger is known all over the country for her very popular radio talk show and best-selling books, but what most people don’t know is she’s an avid sailor who was won several trophies,” said Lee Pearce, Commodore of the Cortez Racing Association. “Having Dr. Laura take time out of her busy schedule to come to San Diego to help us by giving the keynote speech at our Friday, June 11 dinner and auction is truly a special treat. And to have her participate in the Regatta on June 12 will be as much fun for us as it will be for her.”

The second annual West Marine/Challenged America Regatta is a fundraising event launched by Cortez Racing Association (CRA) and sponsored by West Marine to help support the charitable Challenged America adaptive sailing program for disabled veterans, kids and adults with disabilities.

Thanks to Challenged America, people with disabilities of all kinds, from military veterans to wheelchair users and the blind, learn to sail in specially modified boats with the help of skilled volunteers and sailing enthusiasts.

“Sailing is a magnificent experience of sensations,” said Dr. Laura Schlessinger. “One can ‘feel’ the wind on your face or neck, and judge its direction and strength; one can ‘feel’ the warmth of the sun or the chill of its absence; one can ‘feel’ the powering up or powering down of the boat as wind strength picks up or drops out; one can ‘feel’ the power of the waves as they challenge the hull; one can ‘feel’ the boat surging through the elements by its heel and motions; one can ‘feel’ the shared excitement through the camaraderie of the crew mates. One doesn’t need sight, nor hearing, nor all one’s limbs to experience the essence of sailing.

“I am looking forward to sharing the awesome experience of sailing with all those who participate in the West Marine Challenged Regatta.”

TWO DAYS OF EVENTS

Beginning on Friday, June 11, at 4 pm, local yacht club commodores will race in the Challenged America program’s Martin 16, two-person sailboats from the Bali Hai Restaurant’s dock for bragging rights of winning the (perpetual) “Commodores’ Challenge” trophy. Point Loma Yacht Club will defend their win from last year in this hotly contested race, attracting many to cheer on their favorite commodore as he or she learns to sail and navigate the course in a 16-foot sailboat that the disabled sail regularly on San Diego’s Big Bay.

CELEBRATORY DINNER AT BALI HAI

Following the Commodores’ Challenge race, dinner begins at 6 pm in the outdoor pavilion of the newly renovated, lovely Bali Hai Hawaiian Village restaurant, with America’s Cup champion Dennis Conner making introductory remarks. The four-time America’s Cup winner has a long association with Challenged America, including skippering their boat, B-Quest II, to victory in many race events, and has shown his personal support of the organization with generous donations.

Following Conner’s remarks, Dr. Laura Schlessinger will give the keynote address. The silent auction (with surprises) follows, and the evening’s festivities end with an after-dinner social on the waterfront edge, overlooking the scenic lights of downtown San Diego.

REGATTA ON SAN DIEGO BAY

On the next day, Saturday, June 12, the West Marine/Challenged America Regatta officially begins with a noon first race start of more than 50 sailboats racing on San Diego’s Big Bay. The course is planned from the Marriott Hotel to Harbor and Shelter islands. The post-race awards and festive party begin at 4 pm (with food and drink provided by local restaurants, prizes, music, etc.) in the parking lot of the Point Loma West Marine store, on Rosecrans Street.

"We are expecting a capacity crowd for the dinner and auction on Friday, and more than 400 racers and volunteers on Saturday, plus countless others on the water in spectator boats and on the shoreline watching the racing. Two races are planned for the day, with many sailors with disabilities also racing," said Urban Miyares, blinded Vietnam veteran, sailor, and Challenged America co-founder. "Everyone in San Diego will want to be part of this exciting and fun San Diego event on the waterfront to benefit kids and adults with disabilities, and meet those sailors and celebrities in attendance. We are still seeking sponsors, auction items, and donations ... and registration for the Regatta and ticket sales for the Friday event are now being taken."

The West Marine/Challenged America Regatta is a yearly event organized by Cortez racing Association to benefit the charitable Challenged America program for kids and adults with disabilities. A therapeutic adaptive sailing program conceived in 1978 by disabled San Diego veterans, hundreds participate in this free, volunteer-driven sailing program each year.

Funds from the West Marine/Challenged America Regatta will go directly towards maintaining the program’s fleet of 12 vessels, providing free learn-to-sail and advanced sailing opportunities for those hospitalized, in therapeutic recovery or rehabilitation programs, and for kids and adults living with disabilities, along with their loved ones in the community.

Challenged America is a 501(c)(3) charitable program, and all contributions, vessel donations, gifts, and business support and sponsorship are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

ABOUT KEYNOTE SPEAKER DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER

As one of the most popular talk show hosts in radio history, Dr. Laura Schlessinger offers no-nonsense advice infused with a strong sense of ethics, accountability, and personal responsibility; she’s been doing it successfully for more than 30 years, reaching approximately 9 million listeners weekly. Her internationally syndicated radio program is also heard on Sirius/XM Radio, and is streamed on the Internet and podcast via StreamLink.

She’s a best-selling author of eleven adult books and four children’s books, and writes a monthly column for NewsMax, a daily blog (www.drlaurablog.com), and posts videos weekly on The Dr. Laura YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/drlaura). Dr. Laura holds a Ph.D. in physiology from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, and received her post-doctoral certification in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from the University of Southern California. She has received an award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for her Exceptional Public Service, and among her numerous other honors, has been the first and only woman ever to win the National Association of Broadcasters’ prestigious Marconi Award for Network/Syndicated Personality.

In addition, Dr. Laura holds multiple trophies for sailboat racing, and is a Black Belt in martial arts. In the last several years, she has designed and handcrafted elegant jewelry for charitable causes, most recently raising over $1 million from the sale of her jewelry for Operation Family Fund, which provides financial assistance to families of military personnel severely injured or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

INFORMATION AND TICKETS

Friday night’s dinner and auction tickets, to hear Dr. Laura speak, are $75 each, and the cost to participate in the Regatta is $50 per boat. Scholarships are available to active Challenged America program (sailor and volunteer) participants, based on financial need.

For additional information to become a sponsor, donor or supporter, or to register your vessel for the regatta or purchase tickets for the West Marine/Challenged America Regatta dinner or other events, visit www.WMCARegatta.com, or contact Kelli Gardner at Challenged America, (619) 523-9318, email Ahoy@ChallengedAmerica.org.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

2010-05-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

The time for one of my favorite client events of the year is finally here - Gator By the Bay is this weekend at Spanish Landing, which means early morning TV for yours truly.

Great stories have been rolling in all week: in the North County Times, on About.com, in the NC Times again, Sandiego.com, and in the San Diego Union-Tribune's Night and Day section.

The TV fun started this morning with the irrepressible Ruben Galvan from San Diego 6 coming out to party with the gator, for the third year in a row. Theo and the Zydeco Patrol provided the great music while Chef Frankie from The Big Easy fried up some beignets for us and members of the Bon Temps Social Club.
Here's the video.

Tomorrow KUSI's Mike Castellucci will be setting up his "office" at Gator, with special guests, music and food all morning long. Yes, we really do have this much fun, and more, at the festival, so come down this weekend.

It's All In the Eye of the (Stressed-Out) Beholder

2010-04-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

So, according to a study just released by CareerCast.com, Public Relations Officer is the 8th most stressful job in America. Our unemployment rate is 4 to 7 percent (below the national average), we work 9 hours a day, our time pressure is "high," (we're always on deadline) and the competition level is "very high."

But here's the kicker: "Public relations specialists make speeches and give presentations, often in front of large crowds. Because it is a highly competitive field, specialists must work quickly and creatively to meet deadlines. In addition, some P.R. officers are required to interact with potentially hostile members of the media," says CareerCast.com.

This makes me wonder -- is the stress level of these jobs determined by whether an average person not in that field perceives it as stressful, or whether the person actually doing the job does? Because if you find public speaking and dealing with the media -- even its potentially hostile members -- stressful, maybe you shouldn't go into P.R. I'm just sayin'.

Not that I habitually have to deal with hostile members of the media; I don't, thankfully. It's true this job can be pretty stressful, if not for the reasons cited in the study. Still, I'm relieved that my job is not as stressful as that of a firefighter, senior corporate executive, taxi driver, surgeon, or police officer -- numbers 1 through 5 on the list. (Executives more stressed than surgeons or cops, really?)

Second Annual West Marine/Challenged America Regatta

2010-04-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

We're excited to be working again with a great event, the West Marine/Challenged America Regatta, that raises funds for Challenged America, an organization that teaches people with disabilities how to sail in specially modified boats.

West Marine, the nation's largest retailer of boating supplies and accessories, is the title sponsor of this fun event, which is presented by San Diego's Cortez Racing Association.

On Friday June 11, there'll be a pre-race dinner at the newly renovated Bali Hai restaurant on Shelter Island, with a guest speaker and silent auction. The Regatta itself is on Saturday June 12, with more than 50 boats expected to compete on San Diego Bay.

We were moved to donate our time to this event last year after meeting some of those involved with Challenged America and hearing amazing stories of people with disabilities who have found a new hobby and in some cases become accomplished sailors.

Challenged America's story begins in 1978, when two disabled veterans in wheelchairs were at San Diego's Mission Bay watching others sail, and said: "That looks like fun…and all of them are sitting too. Now, that's something we should be able to do."

Unable to find a sailing program or school able to accommodate their needs and desire to sail a boat themselves, other than just provide a ride in a sailboat, they purchased a Cal 20 sailboat, and invited others, with and without disabilities, to learn how to sail with them.

Soon racing became a focus, and the grass-roots effort moved to San Diego's Big Bay, graduating to a Santana 27 racing sailboat, and then followed by a Beneteau First Class 10 (34-foot) racer. The sailing program by and for the disabled developed and grew, with sailors of all ages, having various types of disabilities, most experiencing bay and offshore sailing and racing for the first time.

Today, Challenged America attracts the disabled and their loved ones, professionals in sports therapy and recreational rehabilitation, sailing instructors, yacht designers, educators, researchers, innovators, engineers and adaptive technology developers from around the world to San Diego to participate or observe the Challenged America program. Hundreds visit and sail with Challenged America each year.

If you'd like to participate in the Regatta or attend the dinner, or make a donation or the silent auction, please contact Kelli Gardner or Carolyn Sherman, (619) 523-9318.

Meet the Press

2010-04-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

Behold, my first post for the great SoCalPRBlog! Meet John Gregory, my former boss, old-school newspaperman, and all-around good guy. He taught me to almost always write "more than" rather than "over" when describing quantities, and when it came to reporting local news, his motto was "Show us our heroes." That and more that I learned from him, I use every day.

CITY BALLET presents "Celebrate Balanchine" at Spreckels Theatre, May 7-9, 2010

2010-03-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

Program: Valse-Fantaisie, Rubies from Jewels, Sonatine and Walpurgisnacht Ballet

City Ballet of San Diego, under the direction of Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich, continues its multiyear tradition of presenting works by one of the greatest choreographers in dance history, with "Celebrate Balanchine," May 7-9, 2010 at Spreckels Theatre.

Two historic ballets will be performed by City Ballet for the first time: "Sonatine" (1975), with music by Maurice Ravel, and "Walpurgisnacht Ballet" (1980), with music by Charles Gounod. The program also includes George Balanchine's iconic ballet "Valse-Fantaisie" (1968), music by Michael Glinka, which the company last performed in 2004, and "Rubies," from "Jewels" (1967), music by Igor Stravinsky, last performed by City Ballet in 2006.

As a company, City Ballet has a strong connection with George Balanchine. Artistic Director Steven Wistrich was coached by "Mr. B" in the 1970s, and the company is one of a very few around the country given permission by The George Balanchine Trust to present the master's works. Former New York City Ballet dancers come to San Diego to stage the works with City Ballet company members.

The Program

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, with two 15-minute intermissions

"Valse-Fantaisie"

Music: Michael Glinka

Choreography: George Balanchine (1968)

"a small gem" – Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times

Attended by the male dancer, the ballerinas move together in a whirl of perpetual motion. The music, roughly contemporaneous with the waltzes of Frederic Chopin, is fast and light, although it was popularly called "the Melancholy Waltz."

"Rubies" from "Jewels"

Music: Igor Stravinsky

Choreography: George Balanchine (1967)

"Rubies" is one section from the unique ballet titled "Jewels": a full-length, three-act plotless ballet that uses the music of three very different composers. Balanchine was inspired by the artistry of jewelry designer Claude Arpels, and chose music revealing the essence of each jewel. He explained: "I have always liked jewels. I like the color of gems, the beauty of stones, and it was wonderful to see how our costume workshop, under Karinska's direction, came so close to the quality of real stones (which were of course too heavy for the dancers to wear!)." Each section of the ballet is distinct in both music and mood. "Rubies" is crisp and witty, epitomizing the collaboration of Stravinsky and Balanchine.

"Sonatine"

City Ballet premiere

Music: Maurice Ravel

Choreography: George Balanchine (1975)

"Sonatine" was presented as the opening ballet of the New York City Ballet Ravel Festival during the 1975 Spring Season, which marked the 100th anniversary of the composer Ravel's birth. In this work the pianist and dancers share the stage.

"Walpurgisnacht Ballet"

City Ballet premiere

Music: Charles Gounod

Choreography: George Balanchine (1975)

"Walpurgisnacht Ballet" was choreographed for a 1975 production of the opera "Faust" by the Theatre National de l'Opera, danced by the Paris Opera Ballet. The New York City Ballet premiere in 1980 was the first presentation of the choreography as an independent work.

The Walpurgisnacht scene occurs at the beginning of the opera's last act, when Mephistopheles brings Faust to watch the traditional celebration on the eve of May Day when the souls of the dead are released to wander at will. Although the ballet does not depict Walpurgisnacht per se, it does build on a sense of joyful revelry.

Programming, musical selections, and artists are subject to change without notice.

PERFORMANCES

Friday, May 7 at 8:00pm

Saturday, May 8 at 8:00pm

Sunday, May 9 at 2:00pm

VENUE

Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, downtown San Diego

TICKETS

$59 Center Orchestra

$49 Side Orchestra and Center Mezzanine

$39 Side Mezzanine

$29 Upper Mezzanine

Saturday Night Champagne Reception and priority seating: $75

Mother's Day Ballet and Brunch - Sunday, May 9

Brunch at The Bristol Hotel followed by 2pm performance at Spreckels Theatre - $85 per person

Discounts: Friday Night Student & Military Discount $10 off regular price

Saturday Night Senior & Military Discount $10 off regular price

Free Pre-performance Lecture - 1/2 hour prior to all performances

The Balanchine ballets presented in this program are protected by copyright. Any unauthorized recording is prohibited without the expressed written consent of The George Balanchine Trust and City Ballet of San Diego.

The performances of these Balanchine® Ballets are presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and are presented in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

Tickets and information:

(858) 272-8663

http://www.cityballet.org

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"Peter Pan" Soars

2010-03-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

We love good reviews for our clients' work! Sheila Orysiek of ballet.co.uk apparently enjoyed City Ballet's "Peter Pan."

(photo below by Dale Stokes)

2010-03-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

Lyric Opera's blog has a new post introducing the two young men making their company debuts in "The Pirates of Penzance," bass-baritone Ashraf Sewailam as the Pirate King and Benjamin Robinson as Frederic.

The Essence of Advertising

2010-03-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

Setting the Mood for Holy Week: Bach Collegium San Diego presents "The Mysteries of the Passion"

2010-03-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

As Holy Week approaches, Bach Collegium San Diego gets in the mood for Holy Week with a program of Baroque liturgical music, "The Mysteries of the Passion," on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at St. James-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla, and Sunday, March 21 (Passion Sunday) at St. James Episcopal Church, South Pasadena.

Music Director Ruben Valenzuela has created a program of solemn yet beautiful pieces in the tradition of early church music, in which every cycle of the religious calendar was celebrated with masses and choral and instrumental performances.

François Couperin, Leçons de Téneèbres

French composer François Couperin (1668-1733) has been called by the early-music expert Jordi Savall the "poet musician par excellence," who believed in "the ability of Music (with a capital M) to express itself in its prose and its poetry." He believed that if we enter into the poetry of music, we discover that it is "more beautiful than beauty itself." His Leçons de Ténèbres was written for performance specifically on Wednesday of Holy Week. Traditionally, candles were extinguished in church throughout this song cycle, a tradition Bach Collegium will continue with its presentation on March 20 & 21.

Jan Dismas Zelenka, Lamentations of Jeremiah I & II

Czech composer and Bach contemporary Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745), like many composers of his day, wrote mostly sacred music. His Lamentations of Jeremiah are rarely performed, so this is a wonderful opportunity to hear these pieces with texts taken from the Old Testament, telling of the grief of the Jews upon their exile from Jerusalem.

Antonio Vivaldi, Sinfonia & Sonata 'Al Santo Sepolcro' RV 130 & RV 160

One of the best-known composers, Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) is best known for his cycle "The Four Seasons." His Sonata and Sinfonia 'Al Santo Sepolcro' is often presented on recordings with "The Four Seasons," and are likely the most recognizable pieces in this program.

"The Mysteries of the Passion"

Saturday, March 20:

St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, La Jolla

743 Prospect St., La Jolla, CA 92037

Sunday, March 21:

St. James Episcopal Church

1325 Monterey Rd., South Pasadena, CA 91030-3291

Both concerts begin at 7pm.

Praise for Bach Collegium’s recent performances:

Handel, Theodora:

"As the final offering in the Collegium's sixth season, 'Theodora' under the direction of Richard Egarr is an unmistakable achievement, a rite of passage for the organization as well as for San Diego's cultural community. And it's one more reason to look forward to the Collegium's next season." – Valerie Scher, San Diego News Network, 2009

Bach, B Minor Mass:

"From time to time San Diego transcends its provincial cultural mindset with amazing and unexpected musical choices...when Ruben Valenzuela's Bach Collegium San Diego offered Bach's 'B Minor Mass' with period instruments–these ventures momentarily put the city on a par with cultural capitals here and abroad." – Kenneth Herman, 2008

Remaining Performances in the 2009-10 Season

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: Claudio Monteverdi Vespro della Beata Vergine, 1610

Sunday, May 23, 2010 (La Jolla)

Monday, May 24, 2010 (Los Angeles)

Single Tickets for "The Mysteries of the Passion" in either La Jolla or Los Angeles are $25 to $35, or $15 for students. To purchase, please go to BCSD’s website (www.bachcollegiumsd.org) or call 619-341-1726.

Bach Collegium San Diego

A Vocal and Period Instrument Ensemble

P.O. Box 33754

San Diego, CA 92163-3754 USA

www.bachcollegiumsd.org

@bachcollegiumsd

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City Ballet of San Diego Soars On Stage with “Peter Pan”

2010-02-24T13:54:00.000-08:00

City Ballet of San Diego continues its 17th season with a magical production of Peter Pan, directed by Las Vegas choreographer Bruce Steivel. The story of Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell comes to life on the Spreckels Theatre stage in a stunning production, filled with dazzling costumes and high-flying special effects.

Under the direction of City Ballet artistic directors, Las Vegas choreographer Bruce Steivel mixes ballet and fantasy to create a magical show to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. An award-winning choreographer and teacher, Mr. Steivel was previously the Artistic Director of Bern Stadt Theatre in Switzerland, the Hong Kong Ballet, the Universal Ballet of Korea and most recently Nevada Ballet Theatre, where he served as artistic director for over a decade. He has created many original works for international companies, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a new Romeo and Juliet, and Peter Pan.

PETER PAN: Copyright @ 1928 by J. M. Barrie, Copyright @ 1956 (in renewal) by Cynthia Asquith, Peter Llewelyn Davies and Barclay’s Bank, Ltd. Performances are Saturday, March 20 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm; Sunday, March 21 at 2:00pm at Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, downtown San Diego.

Music composer Thomas Semanski has created the original score for Bruce Steivel’s Peter Pan. In addition to his work on commercials, movie soundtracks, and experimental electronic compositions, Mr. Semanski has composed four full-length ballets. His first ballet, Dracula, was performed all over the U.S.A. and won an ASCAP Popular Music award. Peter Pan is Mr. Semanski’s fourth ballet composition.

Colorful sets and costumes for Peter Pan are by Catherine I. Irving, courtesy of Eugene Ballet. For the unique flying effects, City Ballet has engaged the premier stage flying effects provider, Flying by Foy. Since 1950, Flying By Foy’s innovative systems have allowed for soaring aerial choreography that thrills audiences and has become the standard of the industry. Foy continues to lead the industry in safety, artistry, innovation, and collaboration, from scores of Broadway shows, to NASA moon simulations and angels flying in churches.

The Story: In London, the Darling children, John, Wendy, and Michael, love hearing the wonderful tales of Peter Pan’s adventures with the friendly Indians and nasty pirates. One night, as Wendy is telling John and Michael a story, Peter Pan arrives looking for his shadow. Finally catching the shadow, Wendy helps Peter sew it back on as the other Darling children watch in amazement. How could Peter Pan thank them for all they had done? After all, the children are growing, and Peter comes from the land where you never grow up. So… Peter Pan summons Tinker Bell to sprinkle pixie dust over the children and tells them to think happy thoughts so they can fly away with him to Neverland, where everyone is always a child at heart. In Neverland, the evil Captain Hook captures Tinker Bell and the Darling children and holds them captive while looking for Peter Pan. Wendy is about to walk the plank as Tinker Bell reaches Peter Pan and guides him to the ship. Peter saves Neverland and the Darling children by throwing Captain Hook back into the waters, where the Crocodile who took his hand years ago is ready and waiting for him. Pixie dust flies once more, taking the children back home, never to be bothered by Captain Hook again. And, as Peter Pan and Tinker Bell fly away, they promise never to forget the children.

All programs are subject to change without notice.

All performances are at Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, downtown San Diego.Tickets: $29-$59. Student Discount, Saturday Night Senior Discount & Military discount: $10 off. Saturday Night Champagne Reception and priority seating: $75. Free Pre-performance Lecture: 1/2 hour prior to all performances.

For tickets or more information call City Ballet’s Box Office, (858) 272-8663 or order online at www.cityballet.org.

2010-02-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

This is NOT how P.R. works. Really.

As you were.

Lyric Opera San Diego Announces 2010-11 Season

2010-02-22T15:37:00.000-08:00

Lyric Opera San Diego takes audiences on a musical trip around the world in its 32nd season, filled with crowd-pleasing musical masterpieces.

“Our commitment is to remain the best live entertainment value in San Diego,” said General Director Leon Natker. “For less than the cost of one ticket at many other entertainment events, you can purchase an entire subscription of four shows at Lyric Opera San Diego, with something for every taste in the coming season.”

All productions in the 2010-11 season feature Lyric Opera’s own live orchestra and talented singers, performed at Birch North Park Theatre. Lerner & Loewe’s “Gigi,” based on the classic film musical of the same name, shares the first half of the season with Rossini’s comic opera, “The Barber of Seville.” In spring 2010, the company revives its very popular production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers,” and the season ends with the Broadway smash “Fiddler on the Roof.”

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Gigi – Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe

September 24-October 3, 2010

Our trip around the world begins in Paris. From the team that gave us “My Fair Lady” comes this delightful musical based on the hit musical film of the same name. “Gigi” has not been produced in San Diego in more than 20 years, and will star J. Sherwood Montgomery in the Maurice Chevalier role, singing “Thank Heaven for Little Girls.”

The Barber of Seville – Gioachino Rossini

November 12-21, 2010

“Figaro, Figaro!” Next it’s off to Seville, Spain, for one of the most popular comic operas of all time. Returning to our stage is the lovely Emily Douglass, most recently seen here as the Daughter of the Regiment, as Rosina.

The Gondoliers – W. S. Gilbert & Sir Arthur Sullivan

February 4-13, 2011

Is it Venice or Venice Beach? Never mind, in this crowd-pleasing version of a Gilbert and Sullivan smash hit, tuneful melodies and snappy patter keep the story moving between the imaginary kingdoms of Venice and Barataria and satirizes nobility and royalty.

Fiddler on the Roof – Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick & Joseph Stein

March 25-April 10, 2011

The season closes with a visit back to Tsarist Russia as Leon Natker reprises one of his signature roles, Tevye in the record-breaking, award-winning Broadway smash “Fiddler on the Roof.” Jimmy Ferraro returns to our stage for his first turn as Lazar Wolf in this beloved tale of tradition, family, love, and change in a Russian shtetl, featuring the hit songs “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and more.

All programs and artists are subject to change without notice.

PURCHASING TICKETS

Subscription renewals AND new subscriptions are $108, $128, $148, $168 or $188 for all four shows. Full season subscribers will receive complimentary tickets to our Pre-Show lectures. Regular single tickets go on sale July 15; children 17 and under are half price. For more information please call the Box Office, (619) 239-8836.

Website Facebook Twitter

Our new blog.

# # #

Tiger Woods' "State of My Union" Address: A P.R. Win

2010-02-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

Like most of the sentient universe, I watched Tiger Woods’ live “State of My Union” address this morning and I have to say I applaud the team of public relations and image consultants who crafted it, and Tiger himself for striking what I thought was exactly the right tone.

The speech was a success, and here’s why:

He was specific. Although Tiger began by referring to “events,” he eventually got to the point, talking about being unfaithful and having affairs. He addressed rumors of domestic abuse. He said he was in therapy and referred to his Buddhist beliefs. He made sure to single out each and every organization or person he felt had been hurt by his actions. In doing so, he forestalled or answered many questions that would have arisen had he kept to generalities. On the other hand, he stopped short of indulging us with prurient details (like, say, the odious Mark Sanford) and made it clear the resolution of this situation is a family matter that will remain private – which is also perfectly appropriate.

He took personal responsibility for his actions. There was no beating around the bush, no plausible deniability. No one said “mistakes were made.” He didn’t blame substance abuse, an abusive parent, the media, or a colleague or friend who played upon his naïvete. Tiger made it clear he and only he was responsible for screwing up, and he admitted that he felt entitled due to his fame and fortune to not follow the same rules as everyone else, and that this was wrong. For that alone, in this day and age, he should receive some sort of medal.

He apologized. He did not trundle out “I regret it if I offended anyone by my actions” or some other current meme that is just another way of saying “I’m not sorry I did it, I’m sorry I got caught.” He said “I am sorry.” And he said it to a great many people and organizations, including some I hadn’t even really thought about being damaged by this scandal, such as his charitable foundation. Recognizing his position as a role model, he even apologized to the parents of children who looked up to him. As painful as it must have been, he looked straight into the camera and he said it.

And finally - he threw himself upon the mercy of the court of public opinion. He said he and his wife were working on it, and asked to be left alone. He said he planned to return to golf, but wasn’t specific about when. He asked for forgiveness. In doing all that, he made us partially complicit in his recovery. If the media and the public continue to hound him now, it will be partly our fault if he fails.

Several of my colleagues faulted Tiger for reading from a script and seeming too rehearsed. To me this smacks a bit of schadenfreude, and an unseemly desire to see a public figure break down on camera. If I were making the most important speech of my life, I’d want to rehearse it too, and it was long and detailed enough that only the most skilled orator could have committed it to memory. Tiger, after all, is not a professional speaker. I don’t believe reading from a script means the words are any less genuine or heartfelt – just better crafted. As far as I’m concerned, this speech was a public relations win for Tiger. Now, the sooner he can chalk up a win on the golf course too, the sooner he’ll be back in business.

2010-02-15T09:24:00.001-08:00

Happy Monday! We've had another successful opening weekend... On Lyric Opera San Diego's blog, you can see excerpts from the first reviews of their show "A Little Night Music." There are four performances left this week and weekend at the Birch North Park Theatre.

Tune in to KPBS FM's "These Days" tomorrow, Tuesday Feb. 16, from 10am to 11am to hear an interview with musical director Ruben Valenzuela of the Bach Collegium San Diego, and live performance of excerpts from the Bach Six Motets, which the group will perform for the first time in San Diego on Feb. 20, at St. James-by-the-Sea church in La Jolla. They'll also be on NBC 7/39's news first thing Wednesday morning.

It's going to be a great week!

Welcome Lyric Opera San Diego's blog

2010-02-11T14:13:00.000-08:00

Friends, we're now blogging on behalf of Lyric Opera San Diego, so be sure to check it out. On their blog you'll find some neat items about "A Little Night Music," opening Feb. 12, meet some of the cast, and enjoy photos from the final dress rehearsal. This is one of the best LOSD shows we've ever had the pleasure to work on, and we hope you see it.

2010-02-04T10:51:00.000-08:00

Check out my latest post for Cafe Sevilla's blog: El Día de los Enamorados. The Valentine's Day Flamenco Show at Cafe Sevilla is one of the most romantic evenings I've ever experienced, personally.

Bach Collegium San Diego presents San Diego Premiere Performance of Bach's Six Motets

2010-01-20T21:55:00.000-08:00

In a marathon of virtuosic singing, Bach Collegium San Diego, the city's premiere early music performance ensemble, presents J.S. Bach's Six Motets, performed in one evening for the first time ever in San Diego, on Feb. 20, 2010 at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, La Jolla.

Bach Collegium's Third Annual Gala and Reception will be held immediately following the concert in the Van Schaick Room at St. James-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $50 and all proceeds benefit Bach Collegium San Diego. For information on concert/gala ticket packages with discount please call the BCSD box office (619-341-1726).

Bach's Six Motets (BWV 225-230), written in German in the 1720s and 1730s, are considered a pinnacle of the motet tradition, the oldest compositional genre in European polyphonic art music popular during the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras. Bach's Six Motets have a performance tradition dating from Bach's own day to the present. Although the Bach Collegium San Diego has performed select motets over the years, it is rare to offer the Six Motets in one performance, and it has never been done in San Diego!

The Motets will be performed by a choir ranging in size from 8 to 16, accompanied by continuo: violone, organ, and theorbo.

J.S. Bach: The Six Motets, BWV 225-230

Saturday, February 20:

St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, La Jolla

743 Prospect St., La Jolla, CA 92037

Followed immediately by Post-Concert Gala and Reception

Sunday, February 21:

Loyola Marymount University – Murphy Recital Hall, LA

1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Both concerts begin at 7pm.

Praise for Bach Collegium’s recent performances:

Handel, Theodora:

Bach, B Minor Mass:

"From time to time San Diego transcends its provincial cultural mindset with amazing and unexpected musical choices...when Ruben Valenzuela's Bach Collegium San Diego offered Bach's B Minor Mass with period instruments–these ventures momentarily put the city on a par with cultural capitals here and abroad.” – Kenneth Herman, 2008

New! Season Subscriptions

For the first time, Bach Collegium San Diego is making season subscriptions available.

Season subscriptions for either the La Jolla or Los Angeles series of concerts are available. Please refer to BCSD's website or call 619-341-1726 for pricing options.

Single Tickets for The Six Motets in either La Jolla or Los Angeles are $25 to $35, or $15 for students. Tickets to the Gala on Feb. 20 are $50 per person.

www.bachcollegiumsd.org

@bachcollegiumsd

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Lyric Opera San Diego Presents “Jazz in North Park,” a New Series of Jazz Concerts at the Birch North Park Theatre

2010-01-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

Lyric Opera San Diego presents a new series of jazz concerts at the Birch North Park Theatre, featuring top-notch musicians and vocalists. “Jazz in North Park” begins with a CD release concert for the Jeff Hamilton Trio on Wednesday, February 3, 2010.

The Jazz in North Park Series begins with the Jeff Hamilton Trio CD Release Concert on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 7:00pm, presented by Lyric Opera San Diego in collaboration with Music Director Holly Hofmann, and KSDS (88.3 FM) radio. Single tickets are $27 for Adults, $15 for Students (Day of Show). A 3-show package is offered for $66, and a 6-show package for $132 ($6 handling charge waived). Discounts and show packages are not available online. Show your Lyric Opera San Diego or KSDS Jazz 88 membership card and save $5 off single show tickets.

On its new Capri release, “Symbiosis,” the Jeff Hamilton Trio creates a delicate and swinging interplay between Hamilton’s perfect rhythms, Christoph Luty’s bass lines and pianist Tamir Hendelman’s harmonic explorations. “Symbiosis” is the next step in the evolution of the trio’s sound. Hamilton, one of the great drummers working today, has spent time with some of the music’s legacy musicians, including Ray Brown and Oscar Peterson. Luty, known for his melodic bass lines and imaginative solos, studied with John Clayton, who says, “Christoph’s playing exemplifies … swinging bass lines, lyrical solos, and a great, natural sound that is huge and full.” The Israeli-born Hendelman has performed with Diana Krall, Tierney Sutton, James Moody, and recently with Barbra Streisand. He joined the Jeff Hamilton Trio in 2001, and is the pianist with the renowned Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

The Jazz in North Park Series continues with:

Carmen Bradford Quartet featuring Gary Motley on March 3, 2010

Duo Jazz Piano Concert featuring Kenny Werner and Mike Wofford on April 7, 2010

Graham Dechter Quartet featuring Tamir Hendelman, John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton on May 5, 2010

Terell Stafford Quartet featuring Gerald Clayton on June 2, 2010

Denise Donatelli with Geoffrey Keezer Quartet on July 7, 2010

General Information:

The Stephen and Mary Birch North Park Theatre is owned and operated by Lyric Opera San Diego. It is located at 2891 University Ave. in North Park, at the corner of 29th St. and University Ave. and is easily reached from highways 8, 163, 805, and 15. The theatre is fully ADA compliant, and paid parking is available adjacent to the theatre and in the parking structure across the street. For more information or directions please call (619) 239-8836.

Tickets and information: www.birchnorthparktheatre.net or (619) 239-8836.