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Topic: Appropriate attire for press event?
| Author | Message |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:38:16 PM | show profile Matt, your friend sounds quite shallow and with feelings of self importance. If he gave them a hard time enough for being "buttoned-down", I would think after a while they probably changed their style of dress to make him more comfortable and to do precisely what he fired them for- meeting client expectations. Geez. And let's not forget that sources who are comfortable with you will share more information and be generally more agreeable. Would you go to a beach BBQ PR event for a company in a suit and tie because you're a "professional"? Of course not. The event and the organization does make a difference in what you wear- sorry. I don't condone going ultra casual for anything, but you can't go wrong with nice slacks and a blouse. |
| wineaux | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:40:06 PM | show profile What just baffles me me are the people who have to be nasty and bash people for asking an honest question. I have gone to press events on both coasts, in both northern and southern, and there are distinct differences in each area. And of course, depending on who you are covering. I don't think there is anything wrong with taking into account that Google was the one holding the event. My husband's company held a press event not too long ago, and the owners are two fairly high profile people in their industry that are known to be avid outdoorsmen. The press came very casual (no flipflops or jeans, but there were bare arms present, and khakis, and :GASP: some of the women were actually wearing...............FLATS. Not a pantyhose wearer in sight. This is a press event, not a boardroom. Being professional is one thing, but coming into a press event and wearing hose, a blazer and high heels can really make you look like a dated and naive fool in plenty of arenas. Or, at the very least, it can make you look like you are trying too hard. And, I wouldn't be so quick to take advice from someone who once posted on this site that women who don't wear hose look cheap That's got to come from someone who has bitterness towards women on a variety of levels. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:46:12 PM | show profile Mag Girl ... Perhaps my friend could be called shallow and self-important. But he's also called a C L I E N T. A NINE FIGURE client, at that. And like it or not, as long as you have to work for a living, you have to cater to even the most shallow and self-important C L I E N T E L E. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:50:57 PM | show profile What's really alarming me here now ... ... is the fact that my fellow "journalists" are seriously misunderstanding their function at a media event. If a company invites you to a BBQ "media event", you are there to COVER THEM for a STORY ... not frolic around as "one of the gang" with the employees. That's seriously crossing the line of objectivity. When I used to cover these kinds of things, my employer forbade us from accepting anything ... not even a bite of food ... because of the potential image of impropriety on our behalf as objective journalists. ONE exception: we were allowed to accept a glass of water, or use of the toilet facilities. |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:54:05 PM | show profile Matt, but that's my point - those people sounded as if they were trying to cater to him by dressing more casually. Whatever, it's not important. ANd no one said anything about frolicking at a media event - but you don't want to stand out like a sore thumb and have people not want to talk to you because you look like a weirdo compared to everyone else. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:58:46 PM | show profile Dressing like a professional hasn't made me a "weirdo" yet In fact, in my experience, it's had the opposite effect. It's distinguished me from my peers, and it's earned me a higher degree of respect from sources. I was perceived as a "pro" ... while my khaki-wearing and bare-legged competition was not. |
| cabaraba | Posted – 9/21/2007 4:01:16 PM | show profile bickering... Bicking seems to be what these longer threads end up being. I'm so sick of people going on tangents just to one-up someone else. Aren't these message boards for helpful advice? To share ideas with others? People are vulnerable asking questions when other people respond negatively (when it is obviously not necessary). There is no reason to attack someone for asking an innocent question. It's like some seem to crave the powertrip of making themselves feel better by putting others down. It's so childish. Plus who really has time to read all of these, keep up with them, and wait around for the next response just to get the last word in? ...professional? |
| noname1234 | Posted – 9/21/2007 4:58:40 PM | show profile matt, I know you work in TV News, and I'm not familiar with the standards in that industry. But norms may simply be different in different environments. For example, I work in women's magazines. The idea of women on the editorial/creative end of the industry sporting pantyhose and polished 1-inch heels to meetings just isn't what happens. I've been in many a meeting with the highest-ranking women at my company and those rules just do not apply to their attire. It's not so much about looking more casual as looking more fashionable (rather than, say, like a 1970s flight attendant). |
| snuffleupagus | Posted – 9/21/2007 7:16:40 PM | show profile I think the most surprising thing about this thread is how many different opinions we have on the purpose of a "corporate press event" and the journalist's role in it. I agree with Matt that dressing well can open a lot of doors for you (although I'm not sure how much panty hose helps). But when it comes down to it what you wear really depends on who you're trying to impress, or, well, disarm. Michael Moore may not count as journalist in many people's books, but he's refined his "character" as a total slob -- the average Joe. I know some women journalists who get great quotes by playing the ditz. What do you want? Are you trying to be a fly on the wall for a top secret narrative book project? Are you just doing a routine story for your paper/mag? Are you trying to ingratiate yourself to the PR folks or score an exclusive interview after the event? A journalist is bound by the needs of the story, not the social norms or his own self-image. |
| Letterbox | Posted – 9/21/2007 8:53:48 PM | show profile Apples and oranges I think Matt's advice is generally sound. If you don't know, dressing up is better than dressing down. But his argument is weak. Finance and law are very conservative industries. An attorney would never appear in court in a low cut top and a miniskirt or jeans. They'd get reprimanded by the judge if not sent home. And if you're talking corporate client relationships, the same might apply. Whereas I've been to a ton of tech press events, trade shows, etc. and they tend to be pretty business casual. |
