Have I always been a pest?
Maybe PEST isn’t always the term, or always negative, but it sure feels like every job I’ve had involved pestering?!
Babysitter: “Come on, eat your carrots!” “Will you please stop throwing Legos at your sister?” “Time to go to bed. Get your PJ’s on.”
Waitress: “Would you like to start off with an appetizer like the spinach dip or a nice glass of Pinot?” “How’s your food taste? Can I get you anything else?”
Bartender: “Want another shot?” “I need to see your ID. And your friends over there need to show me theirs too.” “Can I please get the Friday night shift instead of Saturday this weekend?” “Please?!”
TV Traffic Assistant: “Hi, this is Charlotte from WZZM. Did you send in that new commercial spot? It runs tonight in the 11pm news. We need to log it in. You sent it yesterday? What was the tracking number?” (Calling Sales Executive) “Your agency didn’t send the tape in time. I need you to go to WOOD-TV and get a copy so I can get it to Master Control before the newscast.” “Do you really want to do a makegood? Please!?!”
TV Promotion Producer: “Hey (6pm Producer). What other stories did you add that I can tease?” “Is that story in the second block still going to run?” “Please don’t drop it, its the most promotable. Yes I know there is a five car accident and shooting, but this is teasable.” “Can I borrow the b-roll for the topical?” “Did the reporter read the copy I sent for a stand-up for my 10pm topical?” “Hey (Anchor), do you have time now to do the topicals?” “Can you please let me know when you’ll be ready, then?” (20 minutes later) – “Ready to read now?” “Can you please read that line with more emotion?” “Please look this way as you walk, and point your finger to the camera when you tag out.” “Pleeeassee!?”
Promotion Assistant at Ad Agency: “Hi, Its Charlotte, we still need to get that added value done before the end of the quarter.” “Did you put our logo on the banner?” “Yes, I know we are past the deadline, but we need 5000 T-shirts printed by Monday. Can you please rush the order?”
PR: “I sent you information on a new way to cure headaches, did you see the release?” “Did you hear from your editor?” “What time do you think you’ll want to schedule that interview?” “Did the story run yet?” “Will you let me know when it will air?” “Can you do coffee sometime?” “Can I call you at a better time?” “The story didn’t run, do you know when it will now?”
(To Client) “Did you get that hi-res photo headshot taken?” “Will you please send me the name and number of the customer who can talk about that to the reporter?” “I need the details on that new service now, even though you won’t introduce it for a month.” “Did you update your website yet?” “Can you call me back and let me know when you’ll be able to interview?” “Yes I know its 115 degrees out, but I need your Valentines Day products now!”
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Comments
December 5th, 2008 at 11:57 am
PR people are the ones that make things happen, and sometimes, you’ve got to be a pest to get the job done! So.. I say keep up the good work! Without folks like you, the world would be at a standstill.. kinda
December 5th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Freelance writers can be pretty big pests, too, as all of you PR people know!
“Did you get a hold of your client yet? Do you have any photos you can send? Those photos didn’t have any IDs or photo credits — can you please send those right away? Did you hear from your client yet? i need to schedule the interview by tomorrow afternoon.” etc. etc.
The thing is, pests do get things done. My clients want the story and photos in hand, not a lame excuse. They are often amazed at what I can accomplish, and I tell them, “I am the Queen of Bugging.” I would rather bug someone to death rather than tell an editor I can’t reach a source and can’t do the story, as I had to do recently (yes, it sometimes happens despite my best efforts).
December 5th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Agree with Jackie. PR people are the movers and shakers who make things happen. Sometimes, the pestering is a must (and appreciated, quite surprisingly)!
Case in point:
9/26 press release sent via e-mail for event
11/28 reminder pitch via e-mail
12/2 call and left message on editor’s vm
12/3 receive e-mail from editor of magazine “Hi Rebecca, I got your voicemail. Thanks for following up with me. This week has been hectic to say the least, so I needed that reminder. … can you please email me 2-3 photos that meet the attached photo specifications? We’d be happy to feature post-event coverage …”
Rest easy, Charlotte. You’re doing a fabulous job!
December 5th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I wish clients would realize that they pay for the time I spend chasing them down. wait…I take that back.
December 5th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Charlotte…you’re not a pest in your job when you say…”Thank you!”, or, in your new job when you say…”I love you!”.
Great blog!!
December 6th, 2008 at 10:09 am
You would have made an excellent concierge, Charlotte.
December 6th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Charlotte – No, that’s not a pest.
Per Thesaurus. com
Main Entry: pest
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: person or thing that presents problem
Here are real examples of pests/rats/vermin I’ve encountered in the past as a reporter:
“What do you mean the Easter Bunny visiting patients isn’t newsworthy? Your GM is on our Board and my CEO is going to call him.You’ll hear about this, you piece of XXXX.”
“Gee, it never occured to me when I set up this story on the surgery that required gowning up an entire crew and spending four hours at the hospital that the fact that the surgeon speaks English as a second language and his speech can’t be understood would be a problem.”
“Well, yes, your station has covered our organization many times in the past year….but when we got “XXX Big Story” it was so good that I just had to give it to “XXXCompetitor” as an exclusive because we never get on that station.”
“What do you mean, “XXXBlatant Product Plug With No News Value” isn’t a story? My company spends a lot of money advertising on your station and we will pull all of it if you don’t cover this.”
Real pests have never learned that a reporter is their customer and that reporters and editors always have the last word on what is and isn’t covered. Real pr pros know the difference. Charlotte, you’re NOT a pest, but I could name several people in the Valley who are.
December 7th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I think I’d use the word “catalyst” rather than “pest,” Charlotte.
Loved this post. Thanks for brightening my day.
December 7th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
but it sure feels like every job I’ve had involved pestering?!
Hmmm.. I didn’t see your “non-paying” job, wife, listed Charlotte.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I couldn’t agree more Charlotte. Value-added, that’s the key word for today. Most clients are delusional with respect to the amount of work that goes into getting the job done. Bravo for articulating what we go through on a daily basis. But we do this because we love it right? The underscore in your post is definitely never assume anyone is on the ball. Mostly though we are all faced with doing more with less and those we bug are no exception.