Behind the Purple Door | The Brooks Group PR | New York, NY

All Aboard! A Look Inside Jacques Torres' NYC

Rebecca Brooks — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:01 EST

"My City My Secret" profiles notable people who show viewers their hometown from their perspective. Jacques is an avid fisherman and spends half the year on his boat. We brought the CNN crew on a tour of NY from Jacques' eyes. Here’s a look at our day:

Behind The Scenes: Launching Curtis Stone's 'Whats for Dinner?'

Rebecca Brooks — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:01 EST

For 5 months we’ve been strategizing and pitching Curtis Stone’s new book “What’s for Dinner,” which launched earlier this week. After countless hours, here’s a peek behind the scenes.

Today Show

Rachael Ray

Dr. Oz

Yahoo! Shine “Daily Shot with Ali Wentworth”

Meredith Editor Demo

Fox News, Health Talk with Dr. Manny

Say Anything! With Joy Behar

Bloomberg, Taking Stock with Pimm Fox

The Chew

WPIX Morning News

In The Foxlight with Michael Tammero

Huffington Post Live

South Beach Food & Wine Festival...The Brookette's Take Miami

Rebecca Brooks — Mon, 4 Mar 2013 00:00:01 EST

One of my favorite business trips of the year is the South Beach Food & Wine Festival. Each year I attend with amazing Brookette's and clients including Curtis Stone, Andrew Zimmern, Nadia G, Ingrid Hoffmann and Reed Alexander. The days start early with events, client meetings or even a run on the beach...then continue non-stop through the wee hours of the next morning.

Here are some highlights:

The first night may have been our favorite. We went to The Q Hosted by Paula Deen, then to The Q After Dark hosted by our client, Curtis Stone then we partied into the early morning at the William Morris Endeavor Festival party.

We kicked off the next day with Andrew Zimmern and Curtis Stone team meetings, then right to the beach for a Celeb Chef Beach Volleyball contest. The chefs gave it their all and the underdogs, The Dolphins with our very own Andrew Zimmern came out victorious...

Burger fans went wild at the annual Burger Bash, where Andrew Z was a judge . Celebs from all over came out to compete with their best burger from Al Roker and Guy Fieri to Bobby Flay and Jeff Mauro (winner). Thankfully we employed the "take a small bite" strategy so we could enjoy a little of everything. Then off to the SLS “chefs party” where we enjoyed MORE amazing food and worked off the calories with many hours of dancing.

Along the way, there were tons of interviews...we were so busy that we forgot to take pics during each one:

Both Curtis and Andrew's demos on the beach drew huge crowds, tons of cheers and lot's of laughs.

Nadia participated in Jose Andres Celebrity Chef Golf Tournament.

Ingrid's Red Hot Nights event with Target had something for everyone from salsa to hip hop.

The festival ended on a high in Miami's Design District with Andrew's Trucks on Midtown Tracks.

Chocolate Marathon! Valentine's Day with Jacques Torres

Lindsay Smith — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:01 EST

Valentine’s Day is like Jacques Torres' Super Bowl Sunday. It's the time of year where he launches sassy new items such as Chocolate Lipsticks, and “Do Not Disturb” Door hangers, and brings back all-time favorites like the Spank Me chocolate lollipop, Champagne Truffles, I Love You Puzzle ....and everything in between. It's an exciting time for us - each year we challenge ourselves to secure more press than the last. Countless interviews and 7 video shoots later, here's a peek at our results:

In honor of National Chocolate Month, Jacques Torres Chocolate was named one of America’s Top 10 Chocolate Shops by Relish.com:

http://relish.com/slideshows/americas-top-10-chocolate-shops/

And one of NYC’s best Chocolates by Time Out NY Kids:

http://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/things-to-do/celebrate-chocolate-week-2013-with-the-citys-best-chocolate

And by Elle UK:

http://www.elleuk.com/travel/holiday-inspiration/five-of-the-best-new-york-chocolate-shops#image=3

From Product Reviews and Round-ups:

The Daily Meal featured Jacques as the first stop on an Artisanal treats tour of NYC:

http://www.thedailymeal.com/10-best-artisanal-treats-try-new-york-city

So did The USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2013/02/10/10-artisanal-treats-to-try-in-new-york-city/1906685/

And DNA Info:

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130213/new-york-city/artisanal-chocolates-now-valentines-day-gold

New York Magazine loved his Spanker Lolli-pops and I Love You Puzzle:
http://nymag.com/guides/valentines/2013/valentines-day-chocolates/

FoxNews.com shared two of Jacques’ dessert recipes you can make at home for your Valentine.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/02/12/10-recipes-to-make-for-your-valentine/

YumSugar reviewed Jacques’ 'Loves Me, Loves Me Not' Bon Bon Box, and they loved it!
http://www.yumsugar.com/Chocolate-Gift-Boxes-27864176#/?slide=6

iVillage.com loved Jacques’ Unique and Edible I Love You Puzzle:

http://www.ivillage.com/unique-edible-valentines-day-gifts/3-b-422929

Jacques’ Valentine’s Day Chocolate Lipsticks made the Valentine's Day Treats round-up on Real Simple:
http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/valentines-day/valentines-day-candy-00100000095819/page10.html

And the Top 10 Gift Guide on HuntingForTheVeryBest.com:

http://huntingfortheverybest.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/top-10-valentines-day-gift-guide/

The Wall Street Journal touted his Kissing Game, as a tribute to the unordinary Valentine’s Day Gift

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/02/13/why-valentines-day-shouldnt-be-like-a-box-of-chocolates/

MarketWatch.com loved this –out of the box- chocolate gift idea too!

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/valentines-day-outside-the-heart-shaped-box-2013-02-13

To Chocolate Making (and tasting!) Videos:

Yahoo! Finance entered Jacques Champagne Truffles into a Chocolate Taste Test, (SPOLIER ALERT: they came out on top!)

http://shopping.yahoo.com/financially-fit/

AskMen.com needed Valentine’s Day Chocolate ideas for the ladies:

http://www.askmen.com/video/series/#/video/dating/valentines-day-chocolate-video.html

Channel One News and Jacques delved into the science behind chocolate, and love:

http://www.channelone.com/video/chocolate!/#ooid=kweWRjOTr_CDJQ_Bc5uWx28KlXaNmseG

Wall Street Journal’s website asked “Why does eating chocolate make you feel so good?”

http://live.wsj.com/video/why-chocolate-makes-you-feel-good/E3922407-27EA-45C8-9FD8-9F5BF8561A62.html?KEYWORDS=jacques+torres#!E3922407-27EA-45C8-9FD8-9F5BF8561A62

The Marie Osmond Show thought Jacques’ Chocolate was a perfect gourmet gift that could be ordered online, and delivered right to your door:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3xjD-DTBVQ&feature=youtu.be

Jacques shared the secrets of his success and what National Chocolate Month meant to him with WomenWorking.com:
http://www.womenworking.com/get-taste-mr-chocolate

Jacques shares his secrets of great chocolate with Bloomberg TV’s Pimm Fox:

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/good-quality-bean-important-for-chocolate-torres-DdQM_WHyTZycdY67mSTdCQ.html

Editors and producers know that their readers will love Jacques’ holiday treats because they’re outside of the “heart-shaped” box.

As the holiday comes to a close, we’ve learned that the busiest time of year for a chocolatier can also be the most fun time of year for a chocolatier’s publicist!

“Cheep Cheep”…. “Baaaa, Baa”….

What’s that we hear right around the corner? It must be time for the Easter rollout!

Bring it on!

A Typical Shoot Week at The Brooks Group

Rebecca Brooks — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:01 EST

Everyday at work is an adventure! Last week was particularly exciting. In between staff, media and client meetings, here’s a peek at a few shoots.

Monday

We kicked it off with Dr. Jennifer Ashton’s appearance on Better.TV where she offered her prescription for better sex.

Who doesn’t love chocolate? We placed Jacques Torres’ products on the Marie Osmond Show:

Tuesday

We start rolling out press for Bruce Bozzi’s CBS The Job premiere. First stop is a shoot with Fox, a show called In The FOXlight with Michael Tammero hich airs during Fox & Friends at Palm West:

Thursday

Kicks off with an early morning visit to Z100 with The Palm

Play the interview

Then we head over to Live with Kelly & Michael with Andrew Zimmern. We were there for a post tape (to air the following week) so were there for many hours. During that time, we rehearsed, chatted with Josh Groban in his dressing room, then spent a half hour with the most popular man of the week – Joe Flacco, SuperBowl MVP!

In the afternoon, we brought The Palm team to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ. It was such an exciting event.

I come from a HUGE soccer playing family so it was fun when I bumped into a few MLS executives including the EIC of MLSSoccer.com, Greg Lawlas.

Then Bruce shoots a business show called “Taking Stock with Pimm Fox” over at Bloomberg.

Watch a clip here.

That evening Bruce shoots Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live – and I must say we were fortunate enough to be on one of the dirtiest shows yet! What a blast!

The week wound down with two morning shoots – one with Bruce Bozzi at CBS’ The Couch, and another with Andrew Zimmern at Anderson Cooper.

Watch Live from The Couch here!

Hello?? Does Anyone Answer The Phone Anymore!?!?

Brianne Carmody-Perea — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:01 EST

Riiiiiinnnnggg…. Riiiiiinnnnggg…. Riiiiiinnnnggg…. Riiiiiinnnnggg….

You have reached the voicemail box of …

Sometimes, I just want to scream into the machine…PICK UP THE DARN PHONE!! I KNOW YOU’RE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO IT!

I’ll admit, there are often times when I look at the caller ID on my cell and choose not to answer it. However, I don’t afford myself that luxury at work. Unless it’s a sales call that has nothing to do with my role at the company, I take the call. As a publicist, I know that a great opportunity or partnership can come at any moment – that’s why we’re always on our toes (and our 3^rd cup of caffeine by 3pm).

An important part of our work is connecting with the media, giving them targeted story ideas that suit their needs. However, as the digital age plows ahead, one thing is deafeningly clear – keyboard is king. Nine out of 10 times when I’m forwarded to a work voicemail, the recording goes something like this, “This is Joe Smith with the Hill Valley Telegraph. I’ve stepped away from my desk, but instead of leaving a message, it’s best to reach me via email at Joe.Smith@hvtelegraph.com.”

Chances are, if you do get someone on the line and share your grand story idea (that you practiced, polished and perfected in advance), they will ask you to send the information in an email…or resend the information you already sent in an email. SIGH! Typing ensues…

Do you find yourself increasingly avoiding phone calls? Could the phone - like the fax machine – soon become a dying breed in the work place? Let us know what you think.

How To Build A Brand: Introducing My New PR Column

Rebecca Brooks — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:01 EST

I joined the team at an exciting new magazine called Where Women Create BUSINESS. My first column is about what a PR firm can do for your business. You can have the coolest business in the world, but if no one knows about you, it’s impossible to build a brand. I reveal how we've been successful with past and present clients including Andrew Zimmern, Guy Fieri, Buddy Valastro, Mally Roncal, Gary Vaynerchuk and more. Check it out:

http://tinyurl.com/a8udkoa

What would you like to read about in my next column?

Christmas in July, a Chance to Meet Lori Greiner the Newest Star of ABC's Shark Tank

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:01 EST

Known as the Queen of QVC and the newest Shark on ABC’s hit show, Shark Tank, Lori Greiner is rarely in one place for long – you’ll either find her shooting in LA, on QVC in PA or developing new products and traveling the world to have them made. When a client is this busy it’s important our PR activities capitalize on her limited time. With only 1 day in NYC, and so much news to share, we strategized and conceptualized an intimate media event to launch her holiday offerings and meet with business media to discuss Shark Tank.

The New Products:

Lori has so many stand-out holiday products this season! Some highlights include Wrapitz Decorative Sheets for candles, a Pre-Lit Fold-Flat Tree, Refillable Travel Perfume Bottles and Lori’s top selling, signature jewelry cabinets.

The Details…

To ensure Lori’s products were showcased appropriately and messages communicated effectively, we arranged branded décor and materials that reflected her impressive holiday offerings, including a Look Book. Each attendee left with Lori’s products, including a Readerest, Shark Tank’s most successful product, selling over 3 million dollars worth in the past year.

The Result…

An impressive range of media attended from Shape, InTouch, Woman’s Day, Family Circle and Everyday With Rachael Ray to Bloomberg, Forbes, Good Morning America, All You and more. We were also able to secure instantaneous results - Forbes and Jane Dough wrote their features on Lori the next day, a great indication of an informative presentation and a successful media event.

Small Business Owners Need to Tell Their Brand's Story All the Time

Rebecca Brooks — Tue, 7 Aug 2012 00:00:01 EST

When PR News approached us to speak with Maxwell Ryan, founder of www.ApartmentTherapy.com, about the impact PR has on his business, we were thrilled. Naturally, we know how important it is for our clients to have PR, but then again…that’s our business. Here’s the feature – let us know what you think.

http://www.smallbiz-pr.com/2012/08/03/small-business-owners-need-to-tell-their-brands-story-all-the-time/

Posted in: Q&A, Social Media • By Jamar Hudson, PR News

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Successfully running a small business takes time, effort and, of course, an effective plan. Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, CEO of Apartment Therapy, knows this firsthand. Having launched Apartment Therapy in 2004, Gillingham-Ryan has seen his business—which provides resources on making homes more beautiful, organized and healthy, and which depends on ad sales and integrated partnerships for revenue—transform into a well-known brand with the help of social media and an effective PR strategy.In this Q&A, Gillingham-Ryan shares tips for small business owners and communicators.

PR News: What PR advice would you give to someone who’s starting their own small business?

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan: I would say you need to get rolling early and be your own PR machine. You have to realize that part of the challenge is telling your story all the time. Telling that story needs to be done at every point—on your Web site, in the “about us” section especially. Personalization right up front is a big deal. E-mail is a huge, powerful way to get your story and news to all of your customers. Giving your readers the ability to subscribe is a powerful way to connect with them. It’s a much more personal challenge, but it’s a must.

PR News: You work with an outside PR firm. How has that helped Apartment Therapy?

Gillingham-Ryan: We started working with a PR firm, The Brooks Group, in December 2011. We knew we were strong, but what we wanted to do was find the places where we needed to grow and connect with new readers. We realized we had great content and happenings that were not publicized outside of the site. We found ways to connect. We handed over our calendar and I was amazed at how quickly and how many opportunities we had.

PR News: How big a role does social media play in your business’ PR plan?

Gillingham-Ryan: It’s hugely important. You can’t underestimate it at all. For us as a media business, we publish everything on our site to Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. We are a young organization. We rely on being very intimate with our readers. We don’t have a lot of rules. Our strategy is to remain relevant, and it’s really good for us to get our name out there through social media.

PR News: What is a common PR mistake made by small businesses?

Gillingham-Ryan: Not being authentic. The biggest thing that we have focused on is that we have to be authentic when speaking to our readers. We can’t manufacture events or news.

PR News: What role does your team play when working with your PR agency?

Gillingham-Ryan: It’s all of the above. They are lining up interviews or phone interviews in reference to something that I am asked to respond to. We try to schedule everything in a weekly calendar, and throughout the week there are constant e-mails. We talk every day—multiple times a day—and see each other once every two weeks. The biggest surprise to me was how our PR team helped increased our site traffic numbers, which is how we make money. We really wanted to lift our site to make it more of a lifestyle site for readers. With their help, I was able to see them make the calls and set up interviews, which freed me up to do what I like to do.

Follow Jamar Hudson: @jamarhudson

Andrew Zimmern, Today Show, Andy Cohen and Atlantic City....A Day in the Life

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:01 EST

Friends think I have the coolest job....and at times they are right! Each week I have the opportunity to meet with magazine editors, go to photo shoots, spend time with clients, go to television studios, work with a smart group of women, and more. Last week I spent half the day with Andrew Zimmern. We kicked it off bright and early at Today Show and I ended the day in Atlantic City. Here's a snapshot of the day:

Non-stop action from the second Andrew and I walk in the doors at NBC. We arrived with Sacha Baron Cohen who is promoting his movie, Dictator.

View from the greenroom looking outside as the hosts set up their next segment.

Andrew and I had a nice chat in the greenroom with Andy Cohen who is launching his book, Most Talkative.

Andrew and Bianca (food stylist) prep the set before the segment.

A sneak peek at Andrew's delish sandwiches.

Andrew's 10 second tease letting viewers know his segment is coming up.

Andrew and I goofing around in the greenroom before his segment.

I'm able to watch Andrew cook with Al and the gang a few feet away.

Next we went across the street to People Magazine where Andrew shot a video to accompany his print story.

We took Andrew over to Men's Journal where he met with a group of editors to discuss story ideas.

After meeting with editors, Andrew shot a video for MensJournal.com

Then I hit the road and 2 hours later arrived in Atlantic City. That's me just before giving a speech (about How to Build Your Brand) to a great group of women at the NJ Governor's Conference for Women.

Respect The Strudel: Sarabeth Levine Amazes Editors With Her Recipe, Tips and Grace

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:01 EST

We invited a small group of editors from InStyle, O, The Oprah Magazine, Ladies’ Home Journal, Daily Meal and Woman’s Day to meet Sarabeth (www.sarabeth.com) and have a personal baking lesson. She could have made cookies, muffins or cupcakes, but thought it would be meaningful to teach them the lost art of making apple strudel.

Before the festivities begin, SB's PR team snaps a photo

Once the editors arrive, SB presents an overview of her brand and how she 'fell' into the business - it was the best accident that could have ever happened! For a complete overview click here.

SB begins by making the dough by hand (never with a machine) - she works it for 10 minutes till it blisters then lets it rest for 30 minutes. SB Tip – when stretching the dough always work with fingers parallel or down…if fingers are up the dough will rip!

We were entranced by the way SB gracefully stretched the dough – she does it with love and makes it look effortless.

To effectively roll and stretch the dough, SB spreads out a tablecloth, lightly flours it and begins rolling and stretching it with weights...yes, weights!

SB loves to shop for baking tools at yard sales and flea markets – one of her favorites is a 1955 rolling pin with a red Bakelite handle – she uses it every day.

SB preps the filling which includes chopped apples, sugar, vanilla bean and almond extract – light, fresh and delicious!

SB tip – gently pat a thin layer of melted butter on the dough with hands instead of a brush, then sprinkle cookie crumbs and a layer of toasted almonds on top.

SB places the apple mixture along the edge of the dough

Amazingly SB uses the table cloth to roll the dough and then gently place it on the baking pan.

The best part….tasting!

Since we’re talking apples…we also recommend SB’s Rustic Apple Pie.

Valentine's Day: Jacques Torres Style

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:01 EST

Valentine’s Day is a special day for many, but for Jacques Torres, the holiday of love is as special as they come. Unlike Christmas shopping which lasts several weeks, Valentine’s Day is just a few days of delicious mayhem! Not only were Jacques’ stores in NYC packed to the gills this year, but his PR team, yours truly, worked feverishly to oversee 5 TV segments – all airing on February 14^th! We wouldn’t want you to miss out on some behind-the-scenes shots of Jacques on Today, The Chew, Better TV, Bloomberg TV’s Rewind with Matt Miller, and Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live. Scroll down to enjoy!

Jacques, Kathie Lee & Hoda seconds before their live segment.

Jacques trying his best to convince a supermodel to kiss his chocolate frog live for their tease. They couldn't stop laughing!

This is the chocolate mousse inside Jacques' home made chocolate cups right before the whole crew ate every last drop.

Jacques making the chocolate mousse for the segment which goes inside his delicious chocolate cups.

Jacques and the lovely ladies in red on Valentine's Day - moments before they whip up some amazing sweet treats.

Rebecca's favorite box of chocolates which she lifted from the set right after the segment.

Jacques back stage at The Chew playing hide + go seek behind his huge heart of chocolates. What you don't see is just moments before he was learning how to chair dance from a Pussycat Doll!

Jacques always has a blast at Better with hosts Audra and JD. They made his I LOVE U Puzzle.

Bloomberg TV’s Rewind with Matt Miller paid Jacques a visit to learn all about Jacques’ business and how the economy affects chocolate prices.

Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live sent a couple on a blind date to Jacques’ Hudson Street workshop!

Valentine’s Day may be over, but Jacques and his team doesn’t stop. It’s on to Easter – see you in April!

A Week in the Life of the Brookettes!

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:01 EST

As Brookettes, we are constantly jetting around the city for meetings, shoots and events. This week was no different: we clocked in 9 TV segments, 2 editor meetings, a photo shoot, and an in-studio radio interview. This doesn’t even include the 5 segments, 1 rehearsal, and a dozen print interviews that we handled for Jacques Torres Chocolate. Valentine’s Day is after all his Superbowl! Stay tuned for our next blog just on Jacques’s Valentine’s Day marathon media tour.

Few people realize that a 3 minute segment requires hours of work! It’s all worth it in our book. We’re thrilled to offer you a behind-the-scenes look at this week’s happenings with our clients: Lori Greiner (www.lorigreiner.com), Reed Alexander (www.kewlbites.com), and Teresa Giudice (www.teresagiudice.com):

Better TV’s hosts, Audra and JD, were big fans of ABC’s Shark Tank – Lori is a new Shark!
Check out the segment below:

http://better.tv/view/C465539P234331V1604897

Lori takes a break to respond to her Twitter fans at the new Brooks Group office.

Lori visited ABC News Money Matters where she talked about her experience on Shark Tank and how she can instantly tell whether a business idea is a “hero or a zero." Here is a link to the segment: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/video/shark-tank-star-15577450

Before the cameras roll, Kathie Lee couldn't get enough hugs with Reed Alexander.

Reed goofing around with a fake mustache before his tease.

Reed + Rebecca prepping in the greenroom before the segment.

Reed chatting it up with Mindy on Kids Place Live, Absolutely Mindy on Sirius XM.

Teresa made a surprise appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Valentine’s Day. See it here: http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/password-with-donald-trump-part-1-2-14-12/1385441

Teresa and her Celebrity Apprentice Castmate in the greenroom at Jimmy Fallon.

Jimmy, Teresa, Dee, and Donald Trump played Password. Teresa & Jimmy crushed the competition! Here is a video: http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/password-with-donald-trump-part-2-2-14-12/1385424

Teresa with the photographer for a Nymag.com’s Grub Street shoot.

Teresa met with editors at Parenting and Us Weekly. Here she is at Us Weekly getting prepped for an online video interview.

As you can see, we love spending time with our clients. They are all so hard-working and committed – but know when to have fun too! Don’t forget to come back to check out the whirlwind that was Valentine’s Day with Mr. Chocolate himself!

Seeds of Inspiration from Women at the Top of Their Game

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:01 EST

As we bring in the New Year, I’m excited to share a little inspiration from notable foodies like Ruth Reichl, Dana Cowin, Carla Hall, Padma Lakshimi, Kim Severson, Sara Moulton and….myself! We candidly discuss how we successfully balance our personal and professional lives…which is no easy feat.

I was so honored to be featured, along with 49 incredible women in a book by Monica Bhide (www.monicabhide.com) called, "In Conversation with Exceptional Women.”

The real-life conversations are practical, inspiring, funny and thought-provoking. In my chapter I share my definition of success, that I grew up car racing, what I would say to my 16 year old self, how to handle difficult work situations, social media, publicity advice and even what you’d find in my fridge.

Ruth Reichl (www.ruthreichl.com) reveals, “I wish I’d known that there is a huge hunger out there for good writing, and you can start at the top.” Dorie Greenspan (www.doriegreenspan.com) reminds us to, “Be open to change. Things rarely go according to plans or wishes, and so often the twists and turns that pop up along the way bring something wonderful –be ready to follow them.” Kim Severson (www.kimseverson.com) reveals, “Imagine if the story you have in mind would be something you would want to tell someone else about. If it holds your interest, it will probably interest a reader.” When asked how she motivates herself, Aarti Sequeira (www.aartipaarti.com) says, “I think about my kid sister in India. And my parents. I feel very responsible for them, especially my sister who never had the chance to go to University.”

I believe in sharing abundance and so do these amazing women. To read my chapter see below, and click here to buy the book for $4.99 on Amazon.

Rebecca Brooks, Brilliant PR Strategist

Rebecca represents some of the biggest food names in the industry. What I really love about her is her practical approach to her work and her motto of loving the people she represents. It shows in her work.

My one word for Rebecca: Magical

Please tell us a little about your background. Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I grew up in St. James, Long Island, which is in Suffolk County right on the Long Island Sound. My parents were extremely loving and supportive and provided me with the confidence and can-do attitude I have today. Growing up I had several jobs, from babysitting, teaching tennis, and candy striping to working as an assistant in my Dad’s doctor’s office. I ran track, played competitive tennis, and loved being outdoors. I have a sister and one cousin—sis lives in D.C. and cousin lives in San Francisco. I went to Boston University and studied Communications and majored in PR. I loved going to college there—loved the city, loved having such a wide range of friends, and most of all loved that I met my husband, Marc.

You have had stupendous success in your career. For you personally, which success or achievement was the most important and why?

I’m extremely proud that I started The Brooks Group when I was twenty-five and have been able to work with people and brands that are groundbreaking and inspiring. There are so many that make me proud, but two examples are Bare Escentuals and Rachael Ray. We worked with BE for eight years and were integral in building the brand and making mineral makeup “cool.” We worked with Rachael for four years leading up to her daytime talk show and during that time launched several books, products, her magazine, several shows and more. We secured her “first” in all the biggest press from the New York Times, Tonight Show, Late Show with David Letterman and People magazine to Good Morning America, Parade, Glamour, Regis & Kelly and of course the biggest of them all … The Oprah Winfrey Show!

Can you tell us about one very difficult work-related situation you faced and how you came out of it?

After working with a client for many years whom I was very close with personally and did an amazing job for professionally, our relationship ended abruptly due to bureaucracy and corporate culture. It was my first taste of the “ugly” side of Hollywood. It took some time, but I learned that sometimes business is not personal and I came out of it stronger, smarter, and more successful than ever.

You have had a very successful career in PR. Who inspired you the most?

There have been many people who have inspired me along the way. The most important person has been my husband. He studied business and also runs his own business. I shared office space with him for my first five years and during that time he taught me everything about running a business and making smart decisions for the short and long term. Along the way, there have also been a few clients who have inspired me. My first client, Denie Schach, was a hairstylist and inventor who created a hairstyling tool called The Hairdini Magic Styling Wand. Everyone told her it wouldn’t work and there was no way she could make money and be a success. She was a kind, giving person, and was so passionate about it and didn’t give up—not only did she make it work, but she made more than $20 million in less than two years. I learned to follow my dreams, not give up, and always be a good, caring person. Fast-forward almost ten years and there are a few other clients who have made an impact and inspired me. Rachael Ray, for her extremely hard work and ability to connect with absolutely everyone she meets; Gary Vaynerchuk, who always reminds me (with his actions) that exuding passion and extremely hard work are king; and Guy Fieri and Buddy Valastro, who are inspiring not only for their incredible talent and success, but for their dedication to their families.

If you look back at your sixteen-year-old self, what advice would you offer yourself?

I would tell myself not to sweat the small stuff.

So, let’s pretend it is 11:00 p.m. and you are in the mood for a midnight snack. What do you reach for?

I rarely ever reach for a midnight snack, but on those rare occasions I can‘t stop myself I love peanut butter chocolate ice cream.

If a new author came to you, and they did not have a big platform behind them, what would be the criteria you would use to take them on?

For me to take them on, they would truly need a point of difference. I would need to be very inspired by their book and their personality —I’d need to feel the passion and personal connection the moment I met them.

How important is TV and social media presence in today’s world for authors and writers?

Today in order to build a brand and even make a little money, it is extremely important. For many it is hard to control the outcome of getting a TV show, but if you dedicate time to social media every day (talking, listening and reacting), you will build a community that will be there for you in the future.

If I opened your fridge, I would find…

Almond milk, tons of fruits and veggies, turkey, a range of cheeses, zatar, natural chunky peanut butter, smoked salmon.

One fact about you that would surprise people?

I grew up going to the race track with my dad and love the thrill of driving fast.

What is your definition of success?

Waking up in the morning with a smile and looking forward to the day ahead.

What publicity advice would you give some who has just had a book released?

In addition to having a great publicist, contact each person personally in your Rolodex to let them know about your book (no mass emails, please) and leave no stone unturned.

Rebecca Brooks is the PR lady to the stars and counts folks like Rachael Ray Guy Fieri, Gary Vaynerchuk, Cat Cora, Samantha Brown, Mally Roncal and many more in her portfolio.

5 DON'TS FOR TV INTERVIEWS

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 00:00:01 EST

During any given week, we are working on at least 4 television interviews for our clients. Pending on the type of segment – from cooking, beauty, business or home – it entails countless details about what TO do, as well as reminding them what NOT to do. Here are our top 5:

1. DON’T MEMORIZE YOUR ANSWERS: I’ve seen it time and time again – clients try to memorize their answers and are totally derailed during their segment. Live TV is unpredictable and as long as you know your content you will do a great job.

2. DON’T PLUG YOUR WEBSITE OR PRODUCT: Our job is to work with the producer to ensure your message, site or product is mentioned in an effective and tasteful manner. You will be chyroned (which will mention your product or site), the host will mention the reason you are there and your site/product can even be featured on the show's website. If you plug your company too much, you will likely NOT be asked to come back on the show…let the host do their job.

3. DON’T DISCUSS TOO MANY POINTS: Go into your segment with 2-3 key points that you want to get across. If you have too many, the viewer could lose interest and the segment loses focus.

4. DON’T WEAR STRIPES ON CAMERA-BE STYLISH! If you know you need help putting together a good outfit, get help! Appearance is incredibly important – and don’t forget, the better you look, the better you will feel.

5. DON’T GIVE ONE WORD ANSWERS! One word answers are boring. If the host asks, “How was your holiday?” and you say “Good,” it’s not only lame, but you miss an opportunity to highlight something important. For ex., if you are a cook, you can jump in and talk about an amazing meal you made. If the host asks “What have you been up to lately?” and you say “The usual – I’ve been busy” you miss an opportunity to say something like “I’m about to shoot the 2^nd season of my show, which is the top rated on the network…or I’m about to hit the road for my book tour.” I think you get the picture.

We’ve put together a few blogs about television - To learn how to get asked back on a show, check this one out. If you are curious how much time goes into a 4 minute segment, the secret is here.

11 TELEVISION SEGMENTS IN 6 DAYS...ENDING THE YEAR WITH A BANG!

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:01 EST

We often have clients in town at the same time who have major television appearances. At The Brooks Group we like to end the year with a BANG. Over the next few days we are working on 11 television segments for our clients from The View and Today Show to Good Morning America and Access Hollywood Live ....if you factor in that it takes at least 10 hours to work on each segment, that's a whole lot of Brookette power.

First up is a major new show launch with Guy Fieri (www.guyfieri.com) and Rachael Ray (www.rachaelray.com) called RachvsGuy. Since I worked with Rach for many years, it's extra exciting to have the opportunity to work with them together. They are two of the busiest people I know so coordinating their schedules was no easy feat. With only a day and a half of them together for television, we were responsible for executing a joint appearance on The View, Guy on Good Morning America and 4 co-hosting shows on....what else...Rachael Ray. Here are a few behind the scenes pictures at The View, GMA and Rachael Ray:

Catherine McCord (www.weelicious.com) ended the year with a segment on Access Hollywood Live, Good Morning America Health and LA's KABC-TV with a range of delights from her waist-line friendly cookies for Santa and Chocolate Orange Snaps to her Holiday Snowballs (aka Mexican Wedding Cookies) and Almond Cookies, Catherine thinks of every detail on the table. She even made a plate for the reindeer ... celery and carrots for them of course.

Reed Alexander, one of our newest clients is in town to meet with a few editors and appear on Today Show, Good Day New York and FOXNews.com's Live show. While Reed is best known as Nevel on iCarly (www.iCarly.com), they will soon find out what a culinary rock star he is becoming - www.kewlbites.com.

NJ Housewife Teresa Giudice (www.teresagiudice.com) is crossing the bridge to NYC to shoot a holiday segment for Better TV and an appearance for The Nate Berkus Show that will air in February. On Better TV (which airs 12/20) she's making her Devil Shrimp with Angel Hair Pasta in celebration of Festa dei Sette Pesci, the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Check out Teresa on set prepping for her segment:

Jacques Torres (www.mrchocolate.com) is bringing the crew from New York's ABC Eyewitness News behind the scenes of his chocolate factory where he'll show how he creates his beloved holiday chocolate molds. Who can pass up these Santas and snowmen?

Chef and entertaining expert, Heather Christo (www.heatherchristo.com) headed from Seattle to Orlando to shoot 2 segments with the syndicated morning show, Daily Buzz (www.dailybuzznation.com). Heather showed off some great edible holiday gift ideas for one segment and will teach you some simple, but super thoughtful craft gifts for everyone in your life on an upcoming show.

We are excited for the year ahead. Over the next few weeks keep an eye out for Gretta Monahan (www.grettaluxe.com) on Access Hollywood Live, Guy Fieri on Leno, Michael Schlow (www.michaelschlow.com) on Today Show and Bruce Bozzi (www.thepalm.com) on Better TV as well as some huge book and show launches.

A Sneak Peek at the Sweet Life: Our Event at Jacques Torres Chocolate

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

When the Brookettes first began working with Jacques Torres Chocolate, we were lucky enough to get a behind the scenes glimpse at the famous chocolatier’s production facilities on Hudson Street in Manhattan, and across the river in DUMBO, Brooklyn. To say we felt like ‘kids in a candy shop’ was an understatement! It was amazing for us to see how much skill, effort and dedication goes into making the sweet and decadent treats sold at Jacques Torres Chocolate’s five NYC locations.

When beginning a relationship with a new client, it’s always important for us to get to know their brand AND product as well as possible, so of course some taste testing was in order! From Jacques’ frozen hot chocolate, bon bons, and artisanal ice cream to his signature chocolate chip cookies, each treat was amazing and delicious!

After we returned to the office we knew we had to give the media a sneak peek (and taste!) of how Jacques creates all of his quality products, and let them know what Jacques Torres Chocolate is all about.

We invited editors and bloggers to visit Jacques Torres Chocolate’s Hudson Street store, where much of the company’s product is produced. One of Jacques’ biggest pleasures is to share his love of chocolate with everyone he meets, and this particular store is no exception. The store was actually designed in the shape of a cacao bean, and is surrounded by windows, giving its customers a glimpse into the factory, where the chocolates they are buying were actually created.

When the media arrived, we lead them into the back, and showed them some of Jacques’ holiday products. They were also invited to enjoy fresh, homemade croissants and pain au chocolat, made by Jacques himself. Jacques is not only a famous chocolatier, but an accomplished pastry chef, who was once Executive Pastry Chef at Le Cirque here in NYC. Once they finished breakfast, everyone donned a hairnet and jumped in to their first chocolate lesson!

At our first station, Ken, Jacques Torres Chocolate’s co-founder and head chef at DUMBO, showed everyone how to create chocolate bark, and chocolate-covered cornflake clusters. Although Jacques’ chocolate gives these sweet treats that extra punch, both recipes are quite easy to make, and many of our guests said they were inspired to try making them at home. Ken also showed us how chocolate covered orange peels are produced, using a machine that is reminiscent of I Love Lucy’s brief career as a chocolatier.

Next, we visited Christophe, who is Executive Chef of Jacques Torres Chocolate’s Hudson Street location. Christophe introduced everyone to the process of creating Jacques’ signature ‘Bean to Bar’ chocolate bar, which is entirely produced on-site, starting with small cocao bean nibs. Christophe explained each part of the process, and showed our guests how each machine contributes to the final product. We even got a chance to mold and wrap the chocolate bars, which requires quick reflexes!

At our third and final station, the media was able to learn some chocolate-making secrets from Jacques Torres himself. The Hudson Street store has already begun preparing for the Halloween season, and in the factory’s ‘cold room’ we invited each guest to create their own spook-tacular molded chocolate. From the chocolatier’s signature ‘Jacques’ O’ Lantern, to skeletons and haunted houses, every person used their own artistic genius to design their mold.

When the event was over, each person took home the chocolates they created. Chocolate tastes a little sweeter when you’ve made it yourself! Our guests shared their behind the scenes tour with their followers on Twitter, and even blogged about the event the next day. Check out these posts on PopSugar, SeeJaneFly and Food & Wine.

The Making of a Beauty Blogger Event

Rebecca Brooks — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

As publicists, we appreciate the events we attend and take notice of all the details. From the lighting and signage to the flowers, food, and attendees, we recognize that an incredible amount of time, love and stress goes into the planning. During Fashion Week we hosted a breakfast event for beauty bloggers and website editors for Mally Roncal (www.mallybeauty.com), to launch her infomercial and latest products.

Although the event lasted an hour and a half, it took weeks of tireless planning! Here’s a glimpse of how it all came together.

The Venue: After researching and visiting several venues, we chose Landmarc Restaurant in the Time Warner Center. We are known for our beauty and food expertise so choosing one of Marc Murphy’s (www.marc-murphy.com) restaurants was a natural. In addition to the incredible food, their events coordinator and AV technician are top notch.

The Guest List: Four weeks before the event, we designed an invite and sent it out to the top beauty bloggers. From http://www.stylelist.com/, http://www.dailymakeover.com/ and http://beautyblitz.com/ to http://www.dailyglow.com/ and http://www.makeup.com/ - there were close to 40 amazing attendees. We also flew in a woman who is a YouTube extraordinaire to document the event and shoot an original video with Mally. In her words, it was “one of the best days of her life.” http://www.youtube.com/emilynoel83#p/u/0/zoxL_Mj19ak

The Décor: When we put together an event, we ensure everything is on brand from the flowers (an arrangement of pink daisies, off-white roses, green moss, and silver dusty miller, all of which play into the colors of the brand) and signage to the bags, video and more. We rented iPads for each table so guests could view Mally’s website and new infomercial. In addition, there were mirrors and all of the new products for them to test. At the back of the room we arranged a showcase of products so bloggers could view the brand.

The Rundown: Perhaps the most important part of pulling together an event is a projection of how it will flow. We choreographed the whole event from beginning to end.

The Swag: Upon arrival, editors received a black branded tote with Mally’s saying “Kindness is the new Black” filled with full-size samples of all the products Mally discussed during the event. At the end, we gave them a gift bag with branded iPod speakers and in true Mally fashion, a set of bangle bracelets.

The Results: During the event, bloggers and web editors captured every moment with tweets and video. We secured results even before the event ended...and they are rolling in every day. The beauty of the internet!

By the time we returned to the office, we already had emails from guests, thanking us for an amazing event. Their appreciation and dedication makes all of our time and effort worthwhile.

5 Things We Need From Our Clients to Be Successful and Have a Long Lasting Relationship

Rebecca Brooks — Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

I read a blog on PRdaily.com about what PR firms need from their clients and was so inspired, I'm sharing it with you with my own spin. We could have the most amazingly talented clients, but if they aren't active in the PR process, success will be challenging.

Here's what we need:

1. Your Time: My favorite saying at the office is "we are not mind-readers." It's key for you to tell us what's happening with your business. If you want results, you have to be available for approvals, press requests and interviews.

2. Your Expertise & Opinions: Our job is to take your expertise and knowledge and turn it into a newsworthy story that will capture the attention of the media. Working together has to be a two way street where you are available to brainstorm with us, offer feedback, and provide ideas.

3. Your Trust & Honesty: Ideally, you can consider us like Rabbi's and Priest's. We need to know the truth about your expertise and brand - give us the whole story. Again, we are not mind-readers - we need to know when you are happy and when you are not.

4. Your Belief: We speak with journalists on a daily basis and know what they want and don't want. We want what's best for you. If we advise you that a change in strategy is necessary, listen to our reasons and trust what we have to say.

5. Your Patience: While I wish it did, PR does not happen overnight and if someone tells you it does...run for the hills. It takes time and consistent effort to get results and build a strong reputation for a person, service or brand.

Good things come to those who wait. Give us these 5 things and you will be thrilled with the results.

Shakshuka, Labane, Cafe Hafuch: A Great Way to Start the Day

Rebecca Brooks — Mon, 1 Aug 2011 00:00:01 EST

When I visit Israel each meal is a delight of fresh breads, salads, cheeses, yogurt, meat and fish...then there are the creamy desserts, baklava and the freshest fruit you can imagine. Luckily there is so much hiking, biking, walking and swimming that I can afford to think about food 24/7. There were so many amazing meals but one of my favorites was breakfast at Rothmans in Lotem which is in the Northern Mountains of Israel. As we walked up to the restaurant we pass pomegranate, lemon and olive trees. There was a fragrant smell of nana, rosemary and lemongrass from the garden to the side. Not only was the food out of this world, but the atmosphere was unparalleled.

Each table was different and the décor, warm and inviting. We sat outside looking out onto a sprawling countryside at Israeli and Arab villages, fields of watermelon and olive trees and the beautiful colorful mountainside.

Pictures can't convey the beauty. Here's a sampling of what was on the menu:

Started with a cup of fresh fruit salad
We each had a delicious cafe hafuch- which is Hebrew for upside down or basically an amazing latte
Then they served a group of tiny bowls each filled with little delights to spread on homemade bread
Fresh Tehina with cumin sprinkled on top
Creamy cheese with black sesame on top
Tzstiki w finely chopped cucumber + homemade za’atar
Eggplant roasted with sesame, soy and lemon, lime, oranges
Feta cheese sprinkled w za'atar and olive oil
Labane balls w za’atar
Sweet potatoes that were delightfully sweet + tart - made with soy, mint, lemon, orange juice and honey
Homemade Olive spread and pesto which was not pureed but chopped with garlic, lemon and olive oil
Fresh Strawberry + Apple jams
One of my fav dishes - Shakshuka made with fresh eggs from their farm and spices from garden.
At the end of the meal they served a creamy amazing middle eastern dessert made with sugar, milk, corn mill rose and water

Ready to visit Israel yet? What are your favorite Middle Eastern meals?

How To Stand Out In A Crowded Inbox

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:01 EST

In the world of PR, publicists are constantly vying to attract the attention of the media. Journalists receive hundreds of emails everyday from PR professionals across the country, so it is crucial to communicate in a way that sets you apart in a positive, compelling way. We spoke with a few of our favorite editors and producers and asked what they feel is the best way for a publicist to catch their attention. Here are the results:

When I can tell someone’s taken the time to go through past issues and see what works. Calling out a story or item we’ve run previously and mentioning how a pitch—for a product, a person, or an idea—could deliver in a similar fashion really shows me that the publicist understands our brand, our reader, and how I can sell her idea.

— Marissa Stephenson, SELF, Fitness Editor

My favorite publicist: organized, efficient, one step ahead.

— Alicia Ybarbo, Morning Show Producer

Any pitch that has some sort of quirky, unique angle – an interesting statistic, a funny back story, a wacky new ingredient gets my attention!

— Runa Bhattacharya, SELF, Beauty Assistant

A well-crafted email can certainly get my attention. I think the best publicists think about how their clients fit into the bigger beauty picture. What other companies are targeting the same issue? Is there an expert who can also give tips on the particular problem the product solves? If you present it to me as a story rather than just a product I'm more likely to cover it. (And always include a low-res image!) It's also super helpful to explain how the product or expert could be covered in different mediums. I'd love to know how the product could work in the magazine, on the web, or in a TV segment. Finally, never underestimate the power of an interesting statistic. I love using numbers and factoids to break up a page, and good ones are difficult to come by!

— Ellen Miller, SHAPE, Beauty Director

What actually gets my attention is a note that addresses me personally, and makes some connection to a specific story or column in Health magazine, a TV segment they saw me do, or a product they know I love. The best pitches are brief and to the point. And while I’ve seen far too many useless products come my way over the years, a lovely, useful, unique item certainly can grab an editor’s eye.

— Frances Largeman-Roth, Health, Senior Food & Nutrition Editor

A publicist catches my attention with wit, humor, and most of all by being themselves - my biggest pet peeve is someone trying to pretend to be something they're not! New beauty products pitched with acreative twist also always strike my attention.

— Jennifer Rice, Freelance Writer

Even Beauty Queens Love Cake!

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 00:00:01 EST

When Miss California won Miss USA she was asked if she could meet anyone in the world who would it be - her answer was Buddy Valastro (www.buddyvalastro.com www.carlosbakery.com). Naturally the first thought was ‘How are we going to get them together?” We connected with her PR team and arranged a live surprise meeting on Good Day New York.

Buddy gave us a sneak peek of a special cake he made for her backstage:

I taped their meeting for the first time as it happened on the show – check it out:

The Making of a NYT Best-Seller: Launching Guy Fieri's Cookbook: Part Three

Rebecca Brooks — Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:01 EST

Today we are wrapping up our journey Behind the Purple Door to Guy Fieri’s Guy Fieri Food book launch with his last appearance on The View.

The View put together an out of this world Cinco de Mayo segment. From the Shrimp & Potato-Topped Spinach Tostados and No Can Beato This Taquito to Tex Wasabi’s Koi Fish Tacos, the food was an incredible hit. All of the hosts were in on this segment and everyone was eating! For details and recipes, visit http://bit.ly/jkUfOY & http://bit.ly/lyRI5w and check out Guy’s behind the scenes View Tube interview. There was even an appearance by yours truly in the orange sweater (oops I thought I was out of the shot!).

In addition to the segments I shared with you, Guy had 20+ morning show interviews during a Satellite Media Tour (which his publisher booked) including Associated Press Television, Better TV, LXTV, Bloomberg News, AOL and Sirius XM radio.

Are you exhausted just thinking about all of the details that went into the launch? If you want to know how much time actually goes into a 4-6 minute segment on television, the answer is revealed here…I guarantee you won’t believe it.

After the countless hours of work are through and we look back at our whirlwind week…there is nothing more rewarding than seeing Guy Fieri Food on the NYT Best Sellers List! We are so passionate about what we do, and couldn't ask for a better indication of a job well done!

The Making of a NYT Best-Seller: Launching Guy Fieri's Cookbook: Part Two

Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:01 EST

Today we are continuing our journey Behind the Purple Door to Guy Fieri’s Guy Fieri Food book http://www.guyfieri.com/ appearances on Z-100, Rachael Ray and Nate Berkus.

My personal fav of the week was Z-100 - Elvis Duran and The Morning Show (www.elvisduran.com). What a kick ass way to start the day – interviewing with the most talented, nice (yes it’s true) and entertaining (that’s why they are #1) group on the radio. Here’s a link to the interview and tons of photos:

http://tinyurl.com/3uvg4f3

http://tinyurl.com/45x3o2w

Rachael did a special show titled “Food Legends,” which you can watch here - http://tinyurl.com/3vaju4p. Below are photos of Guy before and after the show. How cool is the life size fork he made for her? Don’t tell but The Brookette’s got one in the office first.

Nate Berkus went all out for sweeps with an amazing outdoor grilling segment right on the water in NYC. This was Guy’s first time on the show and their chemistry was off the hook.

Tomorrow I will take you behind the scenes to the last day of the tour.

The Making of a NYT Best-Seller: Launching Guy Fieri's Cookbook

Rebecca Brooks — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:01 EST

Creating a NYT best seller takes thoughtful strategy, many months of hard work and an incredible team. This month we launched Guy Fieri’s first cookbook, Guy Fieri Food http://www.guyfieri.com/ and a few days later it made the NYT best seller list!

I can’t reveal details about the many months of planning, pitching and tireless executing, but over the next few days I will take you Behind the Purple Door for a peek at Guy’s blogger party and appearances on Today Show, The View, Nate Berkus, Rachael Ray and more.

We kicked it off in the Food Network kitchen – a small group of NYC bloggers and website editors were invited to meet Guy and sample his food. We even had another client, Catherine from Weelicious.com in town who popped by to say hello. Check out a few blogs that were posted as a result, along with a few photos.

Woman Around Town: Guy Fieri Food Kick-Off Party

Mouth of the Border: Cajun Chicken Alfredo

Guy kicked off his media tour with an appearance on The Today Show. In case you missed it, you can learn how to make his Grilled Peppercorn Tri-tip Steak and Sangria Glazed Shrimp - http://tinyurl.com/65rmw64. We were standing in the studio and snapped a few pics:

We shot with Extra in NYC’s Times Square and the crowds went wild! Ice-T was there promoting his book – I can’t think of two more distinct voices on television! Here’s a peek at all of G’s Extra appearances: http://tinyurl.com/6bgy92p

Tomorrow I will take you behind the scenes to Rachael Ray, Nate Berkus and Z-100.

5 Questions A PR Firm Should Ask A Potential Client Before Accepting Them

Mon, 2 May 2011 00:00:01 EST

I love this topic because it’s important for a PR firm to only accept clients they believe in. That’s the true recipe for a successful long term relationship.

What are your goals? This is a key question – PR firms need to make sure that their goals are well thought out, but also realistic. Also ask how long they feel it should take to achieve these goals. Make sure everyone is on the same page.

How do you define your brand? What is its point of difference? If the individual or company is truly invested in their brand, they will have a clearly defined answer.

Are you looking to build your brand over the long or short term? If the answer is they want to build it as fast as possible for a short term goal, consider what it will be like working with them. From experience I can tell you it is not pleasant.

Have you worked with a PR firm in the past? If yes, tell us what you liked and didn’t like about them. This is one of my favorites….their answers are very telling.

Who will be our day to day contact? Just like clients want to know who their contact will be each day, it is just as important for the firm to know who they will deal with.

Have I left any out? Let us know what you think – we’d love to hear from you.

5 Questions to Ask a PR Firm Before Hiring Them

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:01 EST

Working with a PR firm is an invaluable way to build your brand. Do your homework and find an agency that has the capability, demonstrated knowledge and impressive staff to get the job done. Here’s what you must ask:

Can you show me demonstrated results? The agency must be able to show you their top tier print, broadcast and online results that are related to your business. If they can’t, then how are they going to get YOU results?

Who will work on my account? I’ve lost track of how many new clients tell me that at their last agency, they met with the high level execs during the new business meeting and they were never seen again. Since your PR team is like your extended family, it is critical that you trust them, they are seasoned and capable AND that you like them. Make sure to meet them!

Can I speak with a client? A great way to get a true sense of your PR team is to either read testimonials from past and present clients, or by giving them a call on the phone to find out for your self.

Whether you are an individual or a company, if you are looking to build your brand, you want the PR firm to be well rounded in traditional and new media. Look at their twitter feed and see when they started using it. Do they effectively tweet about their clients? Do they engage and respond?

What are their core services? I’ve noticed that many clients confuse what PR people do vs. agents and managers. They also at times don’t understand where PR ends and marketing begins. Make sure your expectations are clear and know what your PR firm does and does not do.

Feel free to ask questions – I’m happy to answer them anytime.

The Ultimate South Beach Food & Wine Survival Guide

Rebecca Brooks — Tue, 8 Feb 2011 00:00:01 EST

Since this will be my 7^th year attending this exciting festival, I’d like to share my tips and tricks for those attending for the first time. Now if you are reading this and are a SOBE veteran, remember…nothing is obvious to the uninformed.

Water is your best friend! At the Grand Tasting Tent they hand out water so drink to stay hydrated BUT also make sure to take a few back to the hotel. When you come home after a long night of parties, you will be so happy to have delicious H2O at your fingertips.
Advil. Before you leave the hotel room at night, leave 2-3 sitting by your toothbrush to ensure you pop them before going to sleep.
How to Pack:
- Flats or Wedges – Every year most women wear three+ inch heels to beach parties – they sink in the sand and are miserable. So remember that flats and wedges are the way to go.
- Sunscreen, stylish hats, sunglasses…enough said.
- Layers –The weather is so unpredictable – you will be the happiest person on the beach and inside at events with layers.
- Cash – Running around town taking cabs from event to event adds up so don’t be caught without cash…or have to run around searching for an atm. Bring cash and use the hotel safe – that’s what they are for.
- Leggings – Two years ago when it was warm weather, a few friends and clients were wearing short dresses for our evening event, but it got cold and windy (dresses flying in the air) so we ran to a store to buy leggings...bring them, they will come in handy.
- Over pack. I hate to recommend this, but between crazy weather and countless events and parties, a girl needs choices.
- Flip Flops – Perfect for day events - leave the Jimmy Choo flats in your room for evening. Trust me - the sand has a way of discoloring them forever.
- Carry on Bag: Pack a few key clothing and essential items in a carry on…lot’s of friends and clients have lost their luggage.
Hospitality Suite. The Festival has a suite for talent, their people and media. It is a hidden gem managed by the nicest and most organized team. Stop by for a drink, snack, mingle or if you need any help or advice.
PR People and Managers/Agents:
- FedEx two extra copies of clients itinerary, books, press kits, etc. One set for you, and one set for them. Why…you will be a hero!

Navigating the Blogosphere: How to Handle Blogger Product Requests

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

Working for top beauty brands like Mally Beauty, the team fields emails daily from bloggers and vloggers requesting product samples to "review." Why not? Easy publicity to add to the monthly report, right? Not so much. At The Brooks Group, we take pride in delivering results that truly impact the brands we represent and make sense for their growth. Here are some steps we take to ensure we're focusing our time & efforts on valuable media opportunities.

1. Carefully read the blogger/vlogger's email. Does it look like you're part of a mass blast? Or do they show a true passion and/or interest in your product?

2. Research the blog or YouTube Channel. Here's a checklist of things to look for...

What other brands have they reviewed?
Are they actually posting a review or regurgitating the product info they were provided?
Do they sound educated in the field (in this case beauty)?
Are readers/viewers interacting with the content posted?

3. When it comes to technology, everything can be monitored! Today there are great sites like Compete.com that list updated information about site statistics and audience profiles.

4. Don't be afraid to ask the blogger/vlogger questions directly! Ask them how many subscribers they have, why they started the blog, etc.

5. Trust your gut. If it doesn't seem like the right opportunity, politely decline.

On Tour With The Cake Boss - Buddy Valastro

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

I’m bringing you Behind the Purple Door to experience a few days of media with Buddy Valastro (www.buddyvalastro.com). November was an incredibly busy time for The Cake Boss – he launched his first book (which made the NYT best seller list), kicked off a 17 city tour, announced that he will expand the business with a new building in Hoboken so he can ship nationwide and much more.

Here’s a look at the press conference we held at Buddy’s new building at Lackawanna. Buddy gives a speech about the history of the building, Carlo’s Bakery and why he is proud to grow the business in Hoboken.

After the speech he unveiled a cake, which looks like the building – here’s a glimpse.

We handled the press strategy for Buddy’s book launch and tour. In addition to appearing on national morning and talk shows in NYC and across the country, Buddy stopped by the crew at Elvis Duran and the Morning Show on Z-100. Come inside the studio with Elvis, Danielle and Carolina while Buddy reveals a few secrets from his book.

Next we went uptown to Times Square to shoot with Extra.

That night Buddy had his first show at Town Hall Theater in NYC. They were sold out across the county – fans came to hear him talk about his family, how he became The Cake Boss, give cake decorating tips and much more. Here’s what the stage and theater looked like right before the fans came in…

Now here’s a peek at what Buddy was doing on stage.

And finally, after 3 weeks on the road, Buddy ended in Newark, NJ at NJPAC – fans were out in full force.

Think Buddy can't make an icing flower for a cake blindfolded?

For updates on Buddy check out www.buddyvalastro.com.

Press Highlights from 2010

Rebecca Brooks — Wed, 5 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

What a year! Come Behind the Purple Door for a look at few client press highlights from 2010 (in alphabetical order):

Buddy Valastro – www.buddyvalastro.com
It’s been an incredibly exciting year for The Cake Boss. We launched his first book, which made the New York Times best-seller list, and handled press for his 17 city tour. The result was over 100 placements in television, print, radio and online; including EXTRA, USA Today and The Boston Globe.

Charla Krupp – www.charlakrupp.com
We kicked off our relationship in December, and have already created her press kit, PR strategy, working on a Today Show segment and helped Charla sign a manager.

Catherine McCord – www.weelicious.com
After almost one year of pitching, we booked Catherine on The Today Show followed by her first appearance on Good Morning America. A few other exciting press moments included shooting videos for People.com plus connecting her with highly trafficked sites like Baby Center, Babble and Lilsugar. Her web business has grown tremendously and with her first cookbook coming out in 2012, Catherine is one to watch.

Gary Vaynerchuk – www.garyvaynerchuk.com
In 2010 we continued to expand upon the success of Gary’s 2009 New York Times and Wall Street Journal best seller Crush It. Gary has been on The Today Show, MSNBC, CNBC and featured in Fast Company and Food & Wine. We are gearing up to launch his second business book, The Thank You Economy. One of our ideas was for Gary to create personalized thank you videos to media that has covered him and supported him over the past few years– here’s a look behind the scenes.

Gretta Monahan – www.grettaluxe.com
Having her first baby barely slowed this business mogul down. Between designing for QVC, operating her salons, spas and retail clothing stores, Gretta ran around the country shooting with Rachael Ray, executing elaborate makeovers on The Early Show, traveling between homes in LA, NY and Boston and worked on her new column for Health Magazine.

Guy Fieri – www.guyfieri.com
With so many press highlights from last year, it’s hard to know where to begin…Guy co-hosted Regis & Kelly, appeared on The Tonight Show 3 times, had a 2 page feature in The New York Times and donned a gold lame’ suit (a la Elvis) in Playboy.

Ingrid Hoffmann – www.ingridhoffmann.com
One of our hardest working clients, Ingrid continues to amaze us even after being together for 5 years. Ingrid launched Simply Delicioso on Cooking Channel, was featured on The Today Show several times and even shoots her own weekly national morning show on Univision. Ingrid’s t-fal line sells like wildfire on HSN and launched in retail outlets across the country.

Lori Greiner – www.lorigreiner.com
Not only did Lori exceed sales expectations during her countless hour-long shows on QVC, she had an incredible day long event for editors so they could preview her newest products. Results poured in from Oprah Magazine, Family Circle, InStyle, Woman’s Day and more.

Mally Roncal – www.mallybeauty.com
Mally managed to triple sales of Mally Beauty in a recession and we secured an average of 15-20 brand and product placements a month. Notable stories included a full-page feature in New York Times, another in Oprah Magazine, 7 Rachael Ray Show segments, beauty awards in Allure and Redbook, and here’s a never-seen-before sneak peek from her infomercial, which will launch soon.

Michael Schlow – www.michaelschlow.com
It was an exciting year for Michael – we secured features in People Magazine, Esquire, Rachael Ray and more. He also started building his 5^th restaurant which opens early 2011 and we arranged stories in key Boston publications – Boston Magazine, Boston Globe and Boston Common.

Mindy Kobrin – www.mealsonheels.com
We launched Mindy to the media and as a result she was featured on Better TV, LXTV, First, Comfort Food from America's Best Chefs, Hamptons Magazine, Real Simple and more. In the coming months, she will also be featured in Daily Candy and Working Mother.

Nadia G – www.bitchinkitchen.tv
Nadia brought her Canadian Food Network show, Bitchin Kitchen to the US on Cooking Channel. She hired The Brooks Group to launch and promote the show with the goals of securing local and national press and a second season. Her first US appearances were on Today Show and Wendy Williams and we secured a range of print, online and radio placements.

Additional press placements can be viewed on our website, www.brookspr.com.

The Brookettes Take Nashville by Storm

Rebecca Brooks — Tue, 7 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

We were thrilled when our newest client, Gigi’s Cupcakes (www.gigiscupcakesusa.com), invited The Brooks Group to their Annual Franchise Owners Convention in Nashville. Gigi’s is one the fastest growing franchises in the country and their cupcakes are adored by celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Reba McEntire. Brookette’s Erika and Amanda will be spearheading the team and landed this sweet assignment. Below chronicles their adventures in Music City, USA.

Upon arrival our first order of business was attending a mixer at the historic Wild Bill’s (it’s the oldest building in Nashville). Over vino from their special wine vending machines (we were so glad we have @GaryVee on speed dial to ask what to choose!) we had the chance to speak with Gigi executives and franchise owners from around the country.

We learned about everyone’s backgrounds and how they became Gigi’s owners. Most stores are owned by families, including married couples, fathers/daughters, sisters and friends. Many owners even have other full times jobs, which include everything from doctors and lawyers, to contractors, teachers and more.
After the mixer, we had free time to explore Nashville’s famed Broadway. First stop visiting authentic cowboy boot stores! Later we met up with Gigi and her crew and hit several of the famed live music venues.

Saturday was packed with conferences and planning meetings for 2011. We learned about the day to day operations of each Gigi’s Cupcake store and discussed business operation strategies. Someone from each department spoke, from website and marketing, to the founder Gina. During the Vendor Session, we set up a “Brooks Group” booth which gave owners the opportunity to learn more about PR and our strategy.

Following a long day of meetings, we made a quick visit to a Gigi’s location in Franklin, TN. We were hoping to indulge in our first cupcake of the trip but the store was completely sold out (over 500 cupcakes)! Back at the hotel we attended a dinner where several owners received awards for their impressive achievements over the past year.

After dinner, we were treated to an intimate concert by famous Nashville singer/songwriters Kevin Denny, David Lee, and Wynn Vrable.

It was incredible, but the highlight of the evening was when Gigi jumped onstage and sang two songs (she originally went to Nashville to be a country singer)!

Following the live performances, a DJ took the stage and we enjoyed a few hours on the dance floor.
It was a great weekend! Not only did we learn about running a successful franchise, we made fantastic friends and can’t wait for the New Year!

Top 4 Most Important Things Behind The Purple Door

Rebecca Brooks — Sat, 6 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

Since we spend so many hours in the office, there are a few things that are incredibly important to me. Today, I’m bringing you Behind the Purple Door to share my top 4:

- We do an amazing job for our clients and they are happy
- The Brookette’s love coming to work in the morning
- No attitudes allowed in the office
- We have fun!

In order to attain those goals, it’s important for The Brookette’s to love their clients, and work hard, but to also step away from their desks and experience fun exciting activities as a team.

The Brookette's getting ready for a serious session of Zumba

Practicing for our cooking lesson with Michael Schlow

Brookette's about to get pampered - sorry it's blurry...I was too relaxed to focus

We even bring our kids to work - they love to put together press kits

It's part of the job...we HAVE to go to parties with our clients

It's important to have pedicures!

Behind the Scenes with Guy @ Regis & Kelly

Rebecca Brooks — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

I’m bringing you Behind the Purple Door to share an exciting day….we booked Guy Fieri to co-host Regis & Kelly, shoot with Extra and meet with 60 editors from Wenner Media (US Weekly, Men’s Journal and Rolling Stone).

A few months ago when we found out that we had a half a day in NYC to book media for Guy, our first call was to Regis & Kelly – that turned into a booking…not just for a segment but to co-host with Kelly. Seriously…words can’t describe how exciting it was to deliver that news to Guy! We only had a few hours – to make the most of his time we booked a behind the scenes shoot with Extra and arranged a lunch with Wenner Media.

So what does a snapshot of this day look like?

6:00AM: Left NJ bright and early so I could read all the papers and be ready if Guy needed ideas for the first part of the show. There were a few great articles – USA Today had one called “Going to Pot Country” about legalizing marijuana tasting rooms Southern Cali. While that would be a fun topic, prob not something ABC/Disney would go for.

8:00-9:00AM: Guy arrived, did a run through with each producer about the guests (Emma Roberts & Mary Louise Parker), rehearsal, makeup, wardrobe and off he went. He and Kelly had great chemistry, they were funny and engaging –Guy did a fantastic job and dare I say…even stole the spotlight during a few segments…he didn’t miss a beat.

Guy and his producer Joni

Guy rehearsing his food segment…so boring huh?

Jason, Jeff & Reid who are part of Guy’s management team in the greenroom

Chatting during commercial break

Guy was outside doing a cooking segment so we watched on the monitors

9:15AM: We invited EXTRA along for the morning to shoot behind the scenes. We also shot on the street in front of ABC - here’s when Guy talks about rumors:

Fan surrounded Guy while shooting Extra

12:00-2:30PM: We arrived at Wenner Media for an incredible event. We ate with the editors then Guy answered questions. Here are some pics and a vid of Guy talking about the first day he arrived on the DDD set:
Guyatwenner video

Part of our krew at lunch

Guy answering questions

Turned out to be an amazing day that kicked off an incredible Food & Wine Festival Weekend…more about that next time!

Meeting The Media & Finding The Brooks Group

Catherine McCord — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Catherine McCord, founder of Weelicious.com goes Behind the Purple Door to dish on the importance of meeting media face to face AND finding the right PR firm.

Brookette Tips

Rebecca Brooks — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

Now that you've met The Brookette's, I will bring you Behind the Purple Door into our Monday morning meeting where the team will share a few of their fav PR tips - enjoy!

Meet the Brookette's

Rebecca Brooks — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

When it comes to PR, the saying "it takes a village" is true! For this episode of Behind the Purple Door I thought it would be nice for you to meet the amazing sparkling Brookette's. One of our wonderful clients gave us that nickname...no, it's not because we are amazing at kickline (although we are pretty darn good).

Cooking With The Pros!

Rebecca Brooks — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

While PR is an extremely challenging job, it also has amazing perks. Today I'm taking you behind The Purple Door into my house where chefs Michael Schlow and Claire Robinson cooked for the team. They prepared an amazing menu, taught us a few tricks of the trade and treated us like queens. We had an amazing time and want to share it with you!

Behind the scenes at the Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival

Rebecca Brooks — Thu, 5 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

Last weekend I went with Guy Fieri and his Krew to AC for the Food & Wine Festival. I’ve been to dozens of festivals with clients over the years including Rachael, Cat, Ingrid, GaryVee and others. It’s ALWAYS exciting. While there I wear many hats – publicist, buddy and bouncer to name a few. The festival was a hit – I spent a day with Guy and his family and friends and 2 full days filled with media and events.

Below are a few behind the scenes pictures and a glimpse of an interview Guy did in the media room (sorry for my shaky hand). Guy reveals that he stays balanced by having an amazing publicist (TRUE), agent, team and family, along with how he feels about…

Photos from the Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival

Guy & the Krew (I'm second from left) including his agent, manager, wife and buddies

Guy, Anne Burrell, Robert Irvine - goofing around backstage

Guy on stage during his show

Robert Irvine & Chef Carl Ruiz

Me and Aarti - one of my favs from Next Food Network Star

Timing Is Everything

Rebecca Brooks — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

I started this company when I was 25, so over the years I’ve learned a few things about timing. The saying ‘timing is everything’ is true, but not always easy for a client or publicist to accept. We want everything NOW! If a producer from a big TV show wants your client on next week, but their book comes out in 6 weeks… not good timing. If you keep pitching a really important media outlet and they keep saying no, then the timing isn’t right… keep trying until that ‘no’ turns into a ‘yes.’ When that yes happens, you will look back and realize now IS was the right time, whereas, a while ago when you started pitching was NOT. Prime example: For 3 years we pitched Rachael Ray to Oprah and producers kept saying no… it was disheartening, but when the answer was finally YES, not only was it during book tour (score), BUT there was a love fest and the rest is history. That’s just one of hundreds of stories. Helps keep the job in perspective.

Things That Make Me Mad...At Work

Rebecca Brooks — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

The other day a producer saw an angry tweet from me and was shocked. She said I’m the most even keeled publicist she knows. She also said that in all the years she has known me, she never sees me angry (note: when I told my husband he got a good laugh). Yes, sometimes I get mad…here’s my top 5:

Number 1
When we bring a client to a television show they usually kick ass - I’ve found that 8 out of 10 times a producer says “we’d love to have you on any time.” Note: Clients take that very literally - please only say it if you mean it.

Number 2
Publicists at Brooks Group try very hard to be strategic and targeted when it comes to pitching media. We spend hours researching outlets, reading columns, watching shows, etc before pitching. If we (or any other good pro) send you a to-the-point, well thought out pitch, can you respond?   I know you can’t respond to everyone…especially the dimwit publicists who send mass mailings that make no sense, but why do the good ones have to suffer?

Number 3
Clients who don’t respond or miss deadlines. If you don’t respond, the media takes note.

Number 4
People who think we are mind readers. If you want or need something, simply let us know. We are here to make you happy!

Number 5
People smoking (visualize ash flying in my face) or walking slow in front of me when I’m on my way to the office.

Phew – I feel so much better now. What makes you mad?

What In The World Are Poodle Tips?

Rebecca Brooks — Tue, 6 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

My nickname around the office is Poodle, but most know me as Erika Martineau. This might sound like a silly nickname for the Vice President of a prestigious PR agency, but I embrace it. I can't remember when it exactly started but I think it stems from the combination of my curly hair, my admiration for the super smart four legged creatures, and my overall state of mind. In my first career I was a teacher, and as the second in command at The Brooks Group, I take my role as advisor to the other Brookette's very seriously. On a daily basis I offer the girls my words of wisdom AKA “The Poodle Tips” along with the story of how I learned the lesson. It’s taken me years to amass all my tips but since we only have a few minutes here on Behind The Purple Door, I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with you:

Poodle Tip #1 – BE RESOURCEFUL
Working in PR is sort of like being a handyman. You come across new situations that need fixing everyday - whether it's tracking down contact info for a producer, or finding a tailor that will stay open late and fix a dress for a red carpet event. If you are resourceful and think creatively, you'll be able to skillfully and promptly deal with any situation and go far in PR.

Poodle Tip – The Agency Client Relationship Is A Lot Like Dating
In the agency business, bringing on new clients is a lot like courting. We start out with a few meetings to check each other out, and then decide whether we’d like to go steady. Bringing on new business is a big undertaking and the most important thing to consider is how passionate you are about a potential client and their brand. Your head should be swimming with pitch ideas and dream placements. Only date the ones you are truly crazy about (in personal life and work) and you are bound to wind up happy and successful. (Note: Inevitably along the way there will be some break-ups and there are tips for getting over those too).

Poodle Tip - Always Bring Sneakers
We represent our clients when we are out at events and meeting with media, so it’s important to dress the part. However, the truth is PR often results in some running around, so my secret weapon is to always have a pair of comfortable shoes or sneakers with me. One minute you’ll find me in cute stilettos walking the red carpet with a client, and the next in my sneakers running 20 blocks to Bed, Bath & Beyond for last minute props.

Poodle Tip - Don't Be Shy or A Prude For That Matter
You know the expression, “it doesn’t hurt to ask”? It’s a lie, it does. Being a publicist can no doubt be an embarrassing job! You constantly have to ask for favors - often of people you don’t know that well. Whether it’s in person, by phone or even email, it can be awkward and there are many cringe worthy moments along the way, but a good publicist puts on a brave smile and asks. You never know what will happen when you do…I once got Katie Couric to wear the most ridiculous looking flowered hat during a Today Show segment, and instantly became my client’s hero. And that feeling is priceless!

Poodle Tip – Listening, Not imitation, May Be the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Dr. Joyce Brothers actually came up with that piece of advice, but I think it’s brilliant so I’ve adopted it. In this job, you do an awful lot of talking, but sometimes what you really need to do is be quiet and listen. Whether it’s a client talking about their goals or the media explaining why a pitch won’t work, take time to absorb everything being said. You can only deliver amazing results, when you truly understand what people need.

The Exhilaration of Securing a Big Placement

Rebecca Brooks — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

When a smart strategic publicist pitches a story, she (let's go w she for this blog) spends a good amount of time researching the journalist or producer she is pitching…reading articles, watching segments and more.

When she is sure this is the right media outlet and person to pitch for her client, then it’s time to start generating ideas. If it’s the right fit then the ideas should flow…

Let the person you are pitching know you did your homework and start sending ideas. If you are positive it’s the right fit, be tenacious (without being annoying) and let the producer/journalist know why…if you tried your hardest and he/she said no, it’s so important to accept it gracefully and think of other ideas.

There’ve been times where I’ve pitched big outlets like Oprah and New York Times, and its taken years for them to say yes, but when they do…it’s the BEST feeling ever!

Just last week, after pitching someone for quite some time, she said YES to a tremendous profile about a client…I can’t even wait to let him know. It’s one of the BEST parts of my job!

What a Week!

Rebecca Brooks — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

It is astonishing how much the Brookette’s accomplish in one week, so we thought it would be fun to share a snapshot with you. Last week we had 5 clients in town, conducted a media tour and 6 tv segments. In addition, we were worked on countless interviews for Guy Fieri, created a media strategy for Jonathan Eismann, booked interviews for Ricky Paull Goldin to launch his new TLC show, planned a media tour for Ingrid Hoffmann, Beauty Editor meetings for Mally Roncal, book pitching for Cat Cora, Mother’s Day gift pitching for Lori Greiner….and more…phew!

MONDAY
We kicked off the morning with Danny Seo on the CW talking about Earth Day freebies…everyone loves a freebie…here’s the clip: http://weblogs.wpix.com/news/local/morningnews/blogs/2010/04/earth_week_day_1.html. At the same time Caroline and Courtney met an editor for breakfast from Real Simple to talk about story ideas for fall. When they returned everyone got together for a staff meeting to discuss strategy for each client that week. Then Diana headed up to ABC News Now with Danny for a segment (http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/earth-day-2010-10447595) while I went downtown to have lunch with the PR Director from Food Network to talk about our clients and PR activities for the next few months.

In the office Niki and Caroline were busy arranging the details for Catherine McCord’s media tour, and they also confirmed a Green Fashion Segment for Gretta on The Early Show for Thursday – we typically have weeks to put something like this together but only had 2 days! Exciting and completely insane! With no time to spare, Erika, Caroline, Courtney and Ursula agreed to be the models. Then we quickly started pulling samples from a range of designers from H&M and Loomstate to Stella McCartney and TOMS shoes…as a full service agency we do it all!

Today Guy told us about a heartwarming project he is working on. Next week he is going to start building a replica of his first biz – a pretzel cart (below), which he will donate to his own elementary to teach the 8^th graders about entrepreneurialism. The team brainstormed ways to promote this project.

TUESDAY
Well, this is quite rare…we kicked the day off again on the CW, but this time for a segment on healthy school snacks with Catherine McCord. http://tinyurl.com/yyqf4pn At the same time, I was at a business conference with Gary Vaynerchuk called Re-Set: The Business Models of Tomorrow. Speakers included Gary, Michael Eisner, Anna Bernasek, Seth Godin and Tom Peters. They were amazing and I’m sharing a few quotes with you:

Gary: “It’s illegal how much self-esteem my mom gave me”
Tom: “Manners are more important than God”
Anna: “Trust and integrity are our most valuable assets”
Seth Godin: “Use the recession as a time to reinvent your business and yourself…if you wait for it to be over you will loose”
Michael: “The Devil you know is better than the Devil you don’t – promote from within.”

After CW, Catherine and Niki headed over to meet with the editor of Ser Padres, then I met Catherine and the whole Food team at Woman’s Day in their test kitchen and had a blast. From there we had a quick bite, then stopped at the office because Gretta was there working with the team on the Early Show segment. Catherine and Gretta met for the first time!

Catherine then went to meet with the editor at Parade

then over to a shoot Fox News with Dr. Manny – it went so well that he asked her to be a correspondent http://video.foxnews.com/v/4159440/weelicious-for-kids/t. At the end of the day Catherine met with the editor from Working Mother then uptown for a meeting with her super agents at William Morris Endeavor.

That afternoon Michael Schlow drove in from Boston for the Food Bank awards – we asked him to come a little early so we could pitch a few media meetings. Amanda arranged to take him to both Rachael Ray Magazine and Bloomberg Business. Both meetings were a success and will lead to feature stories.

WEDNESDAY
The morning started early for Diana – she went downtown to Gary Vaynerchuk’s Vaynermedia office to participate in a brainstorm. It’s important for us to be entrenched in our clients business so we can truly understand what they do and generate substantial ideas as a result. Catherine started her day in meetings with editors from American Baby and Parents, then went uptown to shoot a segment with Better.tv (airs in May), had an amazing lunch at Milos, then over to meet with the fabulous editors at Health and Family Circle.

That afternoon Diana went to Fox Strategy Room with Danny who was on for the full health hour. He talked about ways to green your life including bedding, cooking and most rooms in the home. He even got the hosts to eat organic pesticide on crackers! http://video.foxnews.com/v/4160985/greening-your-home

After work, two of the girls took an editor from Ladies’ Home Journal out for drinks to talk about upcoming story ideas.

THURSDAY
Happy Earth Day! The team met bright and early for Gretta’s Green Fashion Segment. It could not have been better - I’m so proud of the team who worked approx 20 hours to make this happen! http://tinyurl.com/26a4vpz. Before lunch Gary and Matt came up for a team brainstorm which always generates fantastic ideas.

During the afternoon, the team had a deskside to talk about Mally with Allure Magazine, Ingrid did a shoot with TLC, Cat had an interview for her Working Mother cover story and I met with a producer up at NBC to talk about booking clients on Morning Joe.

FRIDAY
Ahhh the end of the week, but we didn’t slow down one bit. Gary had a CNBC shoot at Vaynermedia, the girls had a lunch with a Self Beauty Editor, Jeff did an interview with GQ, Ricky had one with Soap Central and more…and my perfect ending to a fantastic week….sushi with friends!

Do you have what it takes to be booked and then asked back?

Rebecca Brooks — Thu, 1 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

Now that you know how much time goes into pitching and executing a television segment, do you have what it takes to be booked and then asked back?

Just about everyone who hires us wants to be on television, but not everyone has what it takes to make a great guest.

In the office we discuss a few key elements about a client before pitching:

Do they have the confidence?
Do they have the energy to keep viewers interested?
What is their experience on TV?
Do they know their content?
Do they have a good attitude?

CONFIDENCE:
This is key to success in any business, but on television if you are not confident, it shows. How do you gain confidence? Practice practice practice…do it alone, in front of a friend and most importantly, tape yourself. Then you can see what you truly look and sound like. You also have to really want it! You have to want to be there and know your content…as our client Gary Vaynerchuk says “content is king!”

ENERGY:
There is nothing worse than a guest with low energy. Think about what will pump you up and do what works for you. For example, I’ve seen a popular Food Network host do push ups on set before he tapes a show.

EXPERIENCE:
Everyone’s got to start somewhere. It’s rare that a major morning or talk show will book you without demonstrated success on another show. Start small – there are fantastic shows on the web, as well as local morning shows…compile a reel that demonstrates you can do a great job in a range of formats (live, taped, demo, sit down) then use it to secure bigger programs.

CONTENT:
Like I said – content is king…to make a great guest you have to know what you are talking about and be ready for any question that comes your way.

GOOD ATTITUDE:
There are SO many guests vying for your spot…many of which will also do a great job. When you go to a show, it’s important to have a good attitude and be nice to everyone from the car driver to makeup artist to the EP. If you aren’t you may not be invited back.

We’ve booked our clients on just about every show on show from Oprah, Leno, Fallon, Ellen, Regis and The View to Today Show, Extra and MSNBC Your Business. In fact, in the last week we worked with Today Show, GMA, Regis & Kelly, Price is Right, Morning Joe, ABC News, Bonnie Hunt, KTLA and others.

How do we do it? In addition to keeping up with a range of news outlets, trends and studying each program, relationships are key! Producers know we will never waste their time.

After reading this blog - do you have what it takes…and does your publicist have the connections to make it happen?

Ever wonder what goes into a 4-6 minute segment on television?

Rebecca Brooks — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

Ever wonder what goes into a 4-6 minute segment on television? Each week we pitch our clients to national and regional programs and execute a variety of segments from cooking, fashion, home and travel to beauty. Today, I’d like to take you through a cooking segment.

What you see in a few minutes takes 18+ hours to make happen behind the scenes….let’s break it down into steps:

The PR person needs to pitch targeted ideas to the television show – let’s use a morning show as an example. Consider the viewers – are they female, moms, male, etc… Then come up with ideas that would appeal to that audience. To generate successful ideas, keep several things in mind:
- What’s happening in the news?
- What time of year is it? Back to school, holiday, spring
- Is it hot outside – will people grill…
- What is your client really good at doing on tv?
- What does your client WANT to do on the show? Is that realistic (if not, better tell him/her)?
- And so much more…
Okay, the ideas are generated and off they go in an email to the producer…but more to consider…
- Does the producer know you? If the answer is no, then find a way to prove you are worth knowing.
- Does the producer know your client? If not, better also messenger a great looking press kit (make sure there are up to date placements and no long boring materials inside) and also include a 3 minute sizzle tape or reel when you send that email to demo your client can kick ass on television.
- Will the producer READ your email (if it’s from us, they will!)?
- Do you have a good track record with that producer/show – meaning have you delivered what you promised and were you good to work with in the past.
- Again, soooo many factors.
Producer got the ideas, responds to you 3 (or more) days later, but the answer is NO. Then it’s time to ask questions such as:
- Would you like more ideas? Are you interested in my client? How far ahead are you booking?
You offer more ideas, then follow up…back and forth a few MORE days, and the answer is YES, let’s book it. (See below for what to do when the answer is NO)
Then a few more days could go by while there is back and forth about days the show can have the client on…but those days aren’t good for the client, etc…till finally a day is found.
Hmm, my client is from out of town so the PR person asks - Will you fly my client into NYC? NO, okay, if the client fly’s in, will you pay for hotel? (let’s say YES)…and so the back and forth begins until all of those details are settled.
One more big question…if it’s a food segment, will the network pay for the food stylist? (most do not have in-house food stylists)… If’s a fashion segment, who will pay for the models? If not budget for models, then we have to go find friends, and so on...
Once that’s settled, then we move to the recipes…producer asks PR person for ideas, PR person asks – how long is segment? How many recipes will the client demo? Will they want beauty shots (just for sitting on set and looking good)?
That back and forth goes on for at the least 2 days till recipes are approved (by producer and client).
Then it’s time for the client to speak with PR person and food stylist to discuss the recipes and all the details for the recipes. What does a food stylist do? This person shops ingredients, preps all the ingredients (puts in bowls, measures everything just perfectly for cooking), many times this person also prepares the décor (from plates to flowers), prepares 1-2 complete meals the morning of so they are on set, and more…so this is an important job and also important for client and stylist to be on the same page…or the client will not be happy.
Once that’s all settled, it’s the PR persons job to do even more:
- Prep a comprehensive run down of the segment so client knows exactly what to expect…including talking points (key things that are important to say) and more.
- Make sure client is set for hair and makeup.
- Talk about what to wear – sometimes clients will email pics of a few outfits and then we discuss…hell, sometimes we just go shopping together to make sure they are dressed just right (have done this MANY times…which is fun). We’ve even had to lend clients our own clothes and jewelry…literally off our own bodies.
- Make sure producer has clients credit info for the cyron (tv host, author, have book on set, etc..)
- Run through all flight info, hotel, car, etc…with either client or client’s assistant.
On the day of the segment, we meet the client at the studio or their hotel…we bring with us their books, copies of the run down, extra makeup (just in case). When we are sitting in the greenroom, we do mock interviews, and run through the news of the day… in case there’s news the client should know.
Are you EXHAUSTED yet? We usually are, but it’s also a great feeling of accomplishment…and tons of fun!
Still think a segment is easy???? I’m guessing no!

If the answer to having the client on is a NO, what you do next is very important….

Thank for the producer for getting back to you.
Ask the producer if he/she can give any hint as to why the answer is a no. Accept that sometimes they will not tell you – bottom line is that their boss said no and you can bet that the producer is not going to spend time bugging their boss to get more feedback.
Then ask if you can go back and pitch ideas in a few weeks.
If you do not take NO gracefully and keep pushing it’s the kiss of death – I can guarantee that you blew it…not only will that client not get on that show for a very long time, but the producer is less likely to pay attention to your other pitches.

Now that you know what goes into making a segment, take a look at some behind the scences photos below. All the hard work does pay off!

Guy Fieri in the dressing room backstage at Letterman.

Guy Fieri in the dressing room right before his cooking segment on Wendy Williams.

Guy Fieri right after he cooked for the amazing crew at Elvis Duran and the Morning Show in their Z100 NYC studio.

Cat Cora on set with Bonnie Hunt

Cat Cora doing a run through at Wendy Williams before the segment

Guy Fieri right after he cooked up a mean Halloween meal on Regis & Kelly

Ingrid Hoffmann on the plaza right before her cooking segment on Today Show

Chef Michael Schlow right before his segment on Good Morning America

Behind the Scenes at South Beach Food & Wine Festival

Rebecca Brooks — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

It’s hard to believe that this was my fifth year at the festival. The first year I was working with Rachael Ray, and then as we brought on additional Food Network clients, including Ingrid Hoffmann, Cat Cora and Guy Fieri, I needed more staff to manage both the press and to support the clients.

This year Guy Fieri, Gary Vaynerchuk and Ingrid Hoffmann were part of the festival. Each had several events so 2 amazing women (Brookette’s) from the office came down, but on our way we hit a major roadblock…SNOW. After repeatedly cancelled flights and a ton of stress we arrived…but two days late.

We missed some of my favorite events, like Burger Bash and Bubble Q, as well as Gary Vaynerchuk’s phenomenal wine and food pairing event, but we arranged all the media beforehand and everything ran smoothly. It is times like this when you realize how amazing clients can be. When Ingrid heard we were snowed in, she actually offered to send her assistant to go and help our OTHER clients in any way. What a great feeling!

We arrived in Miami just in time for dinner, and boy was I hungry. I saved a million calories from missing a few events so was ready to catch up. We were personally invited by an uber famous Miami chef and restaurateur, Jonathan Eismann to go to his newest restaurant Q (as in BBQ), which is one of his four restaurants in the Design District. I went with Ingrid and a small group and when we walked in the door we found shots of tequila waiting for us on the bar.

We ate the most tender, tangy ribs, brisket, pulled pork, salmon, sliders, and more. It was incredible.

Then we headed over to Rachael Ray’s fabulous party with Guy – he and his wife Lori walked the red carpet.

Next we headed to the beach where we met Guy, Gary, and a group of media and friends from talent agencies all over the country. It was a blast!

From there we rolled to a private after party for the talent only, and before I knew it, it was almost 4am.

Have I mentioned the cold? It was the coldest month in Miami’s history, so as you can imagine, most girls packed their little dresses and are probably home now with pneumonia.
After four hours of sleep, Erika and I jumped (well maybe I should say crawled) out of bed for a breakfast meeting with a fabulous talent agent from California. We talked about a few exciting projects, then headed to our second meeting with two journalists, then off to try Jonathan Eismann’s new pizza place, Pizza Volante. After that our day kicked into high gear – went to the beautiful new W Hotel where Gary had his second event - a wine seminar. It was sold out and everyone was so pumped to be there. It’s amazing to watch Gary in action – I never get tired of it. He captivates the audience with humor, great stories and incredible knowledge of the biz – he’s an amazing teacher.

Then we headed over to the Grand Tasting Tent to ensure Ingrid did her interviews after her HSN demo and book signing. Did I mention she is also shooting a pilot? So she had a crew shooting her exciting life all day. After the signing, we went to the VIP media tent to meet Guy, execute a few television interviews and then sat backstage with him as he prepped for his on stage demo. While waiting, we sat and talked with Morimoto, Duff, Robert Irvine, Rocco, Anne Burrell, Lee Schrager (the guru behind the festival), and many other exciting and gracious Food Network stars.

For an hour leading up to Guys event, the crowd started building - hundreds of very excited fans were anxiously awaiting his arrival . When his demo started, I was on the side of the stage along with his team watching the crowd who went absolutely wild…no bra throwing this time, but incredible energy. Guy brought his LA DJ so the music was off the hook. A few min into his demo of Hong Kong noodles (which I’ve made with him – they are amazing), his buddy Stretch threw on his cape, grabbed the 5-foot tall margarita machine, and wheeled it out on stage as ACDC blasted. Guy and his crew made margaritas for everyone and his friends including Ingrid, Morimoto and Anne came on stage and started dancing…words can barely describe it!

After the event, Ingrid and our teams jumped on a golf cart and raced back to the hotel to get ready for Guy’s closing party which was at the Gansevoort Hotel in the back on the beach. Guy made some of his favorite foods for the party and his DJ was there spinning,

while Guy posed for endless pictures and signed autographs.

One of my friends from People Mag was there who I’ve worked with for years and while she has interviewed Guy and featured him before, it was at this party with the screaming fans and flashing cameras that she saw first hand the hysteria that surrounds him.

It was a fantastic festival and at the end of the day all the clients were happy – their events were successful, they did some great interviews and even had some fun along the way.

Till next year…

Rebecca Brooks Introduces The Brooks Group

Rebecca Brooks — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:01 EST

Behind the Purple Door is a behind-the-scenes look at the PR industry, hosted by Rebecca Brooks, President of The Brooks Group Public Relations firm.

In this episode, Rebecca talks about getting started in public relations and growing her company to represent a variety of talent like Guy Fieri, Gary Vaynerchuk, Cat Cora, Samantha Brown, Mally Roncal and many more.