imPRint

Public Relations as a Way of Life in the Big Apple

While I do not think that any born and raised New Yorker would mistake me for one of their own, after living in Manhattan for two months I no longer look or feel like a tourist.

A drastic change from the laid back lifestyle of San Diego, I definitely have come to believe the saying that we are a product of our environment, or maybe a collection of the environments we have experienced. I found myself in my first frustrating situation with “tourists” the other day and have taken to riding public transportation like a pro, which is not to say that I don’t look at a map a lot still. So how do I think that the fast-paced environment of New York will change me personally and professionally?

This is what I can gather so far:

In New York instead of just watching the ‘Today Show’ on television I can walk by the studio at Rockefeller Center and instead of attempting to build a relationship with a member of the national media via phone or email I can meet them in person and create a real connection. This city offers an unbelievable amount of access for a ‘publicist,’ as they are referred to, here. The biggest challenge, professionally and personally, is getting people to slow down for a moment to listen. You have to be aggressive, intelligent and memorable if you want to get and hold the attention of anyone here, coyness will get you nowhere.

It is not what you know, but who you know. This is a saying that we are all familiar with, but no place has it been more evident to me than in New York City. Creating connections and increasing the weight of your social and professional rolodexes is a way of life. So, my public relations and communications skills have come in quite handy. With the majority of people taking public transportation and walking, it is easy to meet new people on a daily basis, and create new contacts – if you are brave enough to step into other people’s personal space. And, contrary to popular belief, most people I have encountered in New York are very friendly.

Through all of the doubt and uncertainty that I have felt since moving here, there are several things that have become very apparent to me; I strongly believe that living in Manhattan is going to push me to be more confident and assertive both professionally and personally; my public relations skills will be an asset to me on a daily basis, whether riding on the bus or meeting with an editor; and being a ‘publicist’ means being aggressive, knowing all the right people and most importantly taking advantage of the access in front of you.

Amid all of the chaos of the city, during the workday I look outside my window at the calming East River. It’s not quite the Pacific Ocean, but as most of my co-workers and clients will tell you, I have a pretty good imagination, and that is one thing I plan on not letting my environment change.

-SR

posted by The Ardell Group @ 8:37 AM