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Topic: How would you handle this?
| Author | Message |
| aj | Posted – 7/28/2007 8:15:48 AM | show profile My publicist got me on a national morning show (TV) while I was in NY. I had to change my flight to accommodate their schedule as it was a last minute booking-- no big deal. The morning before I was supposed to be on a producer called to tell me they had to bump my appearance and they were sorry. I then had to rebook my ticket. The minute I arrived home at the airport, a different producer called to tell me they'd be picking me up at 6 am the next morning (in NY!). I told them I had already left due to their schedule 'mishap' and asked kindly if there would be any reimbursement for the two flights I had to change. "We'll get back to you" was the reply. No word since...not only does this production team seem incredibly disorganized to me, but I'm beyond frustrated that I'm out so much money (2 flights worth of change. Should I just forget about it or pursue this compensation further? What would you do if you (or your client) was in this situation? |
| Cyrus | Posted – 7/28/2007 11:18:24 PM | show profile It stinks, I know. I rarely pursue much TV for my clients since I don't do consumer-oriented work. But I did book a legal client on msNBC not so long ago to comment on a much-publicized billboard that briefly was displayed in Chicago. He was coming from the Chicago burbs, got their in time, only to be bumped by breaking news. Since he was coming from an hour away, it wasn't so bad. My point is TV scheduling is very frenetic and changes all the time, so this kind of situation is very common. If you have interest in this outlet, you or your publicist should see if they will commit another booking to you. Then, call your travel agent or airline and ask them to book you a full-fare coach ticket (usually referred to as a "Y" class ticket). Those are fully refundable and allow you to make changes with no penalties. They'll cost you more, but not frightening amounts (usually about $500 tops). The likelihood they'll compensate you is very, very slim. It stinks, but their attitude will be that nobody forced you to rebook in the first place. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 7/29/2007 11:08:21 PM | show profile As someone who's produced a national morning television show I can tell you we NEVER compensate guests for their air travel. We're doing YOU a favor by giving you national air time for your book/movie/widget/whatever. I'm sorry for your inconvenience. But that's live television. And pressing for compensation for your flights will certainly ensure you'll NEVER get on any of my network's shows in the future. Chalk it up to a cost of publicity. |
| aj | Posted – 8/1/2007 8:24:00 AM | show profile I understand that they NEVER compensate for air travel. But do they EVER compensate for booking, cancelling and rebooking -- all in 24 hours-- so that the guest winds up changing a ticket 2 extra times and eating the cost? That was my question because it seems beyond professional. I understand that being on a show is the best publicity a person can get. Your super friendly response gives me my answer, I guess. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 8/1/2007 1:26:26 PM | show profile No. And your original whiny attitude is what elicited my "super friendly" response. |
| aj | Posted – 8/1/2007 3:45:16 PM | show profile No reason to be so nasty, my friend. I feel my question was appropriately worded, not a whiny complaint, and I was asking for some advice. Your curt and condescending replies were unnecessary. Perhaps you're jaded from being in the industry. Try looking at things from the other side every now and then. May do you some good. Cyrus, appreciate your reply. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 8/1/2007 7:27:08 PM | show profile AJ, my response was not "nasty" ... ...it was BRUSQUE. And if you expect to deal with network television producers, you'd better grow a much thicker skin. Good luck. |
| satchel | Posted – 8/3/2007 12:00:18 PM | show profile Matt, maybe your balls were snipped off long ago, no reason to be so grouchy. It's a good question and obviously the poster wondered if he/she would get any of money back. Why does this board exist if everyone jumps down your throat for asking questions? Geez. Get a grip and learn to be cordial. Has nothing to do with "growing thick skin." |
| df | Posted – 8/3/2007 2:13:52 PM | show profile manhattan matt is totally right - the sooner you get used to the fact that working with major networks and TV is like playing russian roulette... the better. if you would have gotten on, you would have gotten a big deal, and getting you booked was a good job by your publicist. so now quite quite and hope you get on again. the only problem here is that your publicist didn't explain to you the full extend of the gamble you are taking in order to get into national tv. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 8/3/2007 2:55:51 PM | show profile Satchel ... AJ didn't just ask a question. She was already pulling an attitude. Ask a question, I'll be cordial. Ask a question with a chip on your shoulder, get ready for a response with teeth. |
| fourfold | Posted – 8/3/2007 4:17:05 PM | show profile I agree with Cyrus. As usual, he is the voice of reason and experience here. I work for a high-profile magazine with a very busy PR department that frequently books us on all kinds of national media. My editor-in-chief was bumped from GMA FOUR times before she was finally on. Just last week, I was supposed to be interviewed by one of the top-rated radio stations here in NY. I called in at the appointed time, and spoke briefly to the producer, who called back to say that they were running late and would I mind being bumped until Tuesday? This kind of stuff happens all the time. AJ, I'm not sure what you're publicizing, but surely the value of being on a national morning show far outweighs whatever additional expense you incurred. I would NOT continue to ask for compensation. That will brand you as an amateur and a trouble-maker. One option to pursue with your publicist in the future: is there a station affiliate in your city who can provide you with a remote hookup? |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 8/3/2007 11:34:39 PM | show profile THANK YOU, Fourfold ... ...your suggestion just saved networks countless hours of frustration. Your publicist should already know this stuff -- nearest network affiliate addresses and contact numbers. So when he or she calls (an often neophyte) network booker, he'll already have the information to give to the booker for a much easier booking. Don't, however, have your publicist call the station himself. TV stations will not field phone calls from publicists to set up hit times for a network remote that may or may not even happen (and hasn't been paid for yet). That call should come from the network producer, who's in a much better position to give hard windows, coordinates, uplink information ... AND billing authorization. |
| ChicaMadrid | Posted – 8/5/2007 9:50:35 PM | show profile Another good solution is to map out your PR efforts so that you can maximize trips. Whenever one of our spokespeople is in NY for a meeting or something, we try to get him deskside briefings with print editors or if there's something going on that's very newsworthy, we pitch it to television. That way, even if it falls through, it's no big inconvenience. Same with other big media cities. Start local and do some media relations in your hometown so you can see how viable your product or service is. It's a great sign that a national morning show wanted to talk to you so don't let the opportunity pass. And Manhattan Matt, you must be projecting because I didn't detect any "attitude" in the original post. The poster said they were beyond frustrated, not beyond frustrated with YOU. Xanax anyone? |
