It's back to football again, but this time it incorporated something I like - cars! Asked by Marketing Birmingham to provide a red mini, white mini and blue mini for a re-creation of the Italian Job, around the streets of Birmingham I jumped at the chance to well, have a play!
Liveried up to promote the pre-season friendly between Inter Milan and Aston Villa the three cars - and drivers (thanks Ant from the WL studio, Andy soon to be of the WL PR team and Dave from Mini Sutton) provided some low-level stunts for the video shoot around Birmingham's Brindleyplace. The rain was torrential, I'm sure the video man ruined his camera. I thought there was a danger at one point of the Sea Life Centre bursting its banks, but luckily it held!
Then we were on to Villa Park, where it wasn't high speed pursuit, it was more very slow and tight manoeuvring, to get the cars on the narrow strip at the side of the pitch without touching the grass!
On the way back with the cars we were diverted by the flooding which lead to the headline "Flooding Fails to Foil Italian Job". We like a bit of alliteration.
I never knew football could be so much fun.
It's on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJGbzFA-il4
Monday, 23 July 2007
Band on the road
Our newley formed band (aka "Mid life crisis" or "sore accident" havent decided on the name yet) had their first practice last Friday evening once everyone had left for the evening. That is everyone except two of our PR guys, who steadfastly refused to move. So we went on regardless. Anchored by Steady Eddie on bass, we couldnt go wrong - especially when we had an axeman like Will "Shredder" Rowson. As for young Nick from the studio (young as in not as old as the rest of us) and myself - the not so talented but slightly more eccentric guitar playing members of the group - we managed to keep up and even lead from the front on vocals for a couple of tracks. We even managed to get Andy, one of the PR bods up to sing a couple of numbers.
All in all it was a great success and more importantly great fun. We have 5 months until our debut gig at xmas and we nailed two tracks from our prospective playlist (Louie Louie by Motorhead and I wanna be your dog by Iggy Pop - notice a pattern emerging concerning difficulty levels!) and I am sure we can accomodate the rest between three guitars, a bass, shared vocal duties and NO drummer!!! Drummers who would like to apply for a position within MLC please contact us care of Ward Lovett.
All in all it was a great success and more importantly great fun. We have 5 months until our debut gig at xmas and we nailed two tracks from our prospective playlist (Louie Louie by Motorhead and I wanna be your dog by Iggy Pop - notice a pattern emerging concerning difficulty levels!) and I am sure we can accomodate the rest between three guitars, a bass, shared vocal duties and NO drummer!!! Drummers who would like to apply for a position within MLC please contact us care of Ward Lovett.
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Uttoxeter Race Day - mixed fortunes
Although the evening itself was a great success, personally I lost the shirt off my back. Guests were treated to 4 course meal and champagne and the weather held out for our sponsored race. Most people I spoke to seemed to have won something, I won the title of "Biggest single loss"
Friday, 6 July 2007
PR Bloke in the House
I'm not particularly political - but I had the chance this week to be in the House of Commons, in the press gallery for Gordon Brown's first PMQ's (Prime Minister's Questions). I loved it - even though I got shoved on one of the un-upholstered benches right at the back. There was an exciting atmosphere and it was fascinating to see an historical event.
The piece we did with the Head of Aston Business School for ITV News following that was good too - exploring the body language and performance of the big leaders!
Thanks to Prof. Mike West for being an excellent and knowledgeable expert and to Sally Mules from ITV for getting me into the House.
If you get the chance to go, I thoroughly reccommend it. And if you have chance to have a go at Houses of Parliament white wine, give that a go too. But that's a different story.
The piece we did with the Head of Aston Business School for ITV News following that was good too - exploring the body language and performance of the big leaders!
Thanks to Prof. Mike West for being an excellent and knowledgeable expert and to Sally Mules from ITV for getting me into the House.
If you get the chance to go, I thoroughly reccommend it. And if you have chance to have a go at Houses of Parliament white wine, give that a go too. But that's a different story.
Monday, 25 June 2007
Ciggie Ban Hypnotises City
It's nice having a variety of clients, it keeps things interesting. One of our more unusual is Matt Caulfield, he's a Neuro Lingustic Programmer (NLP), a bit like Derren Brown, only not as showy!
Matt was interviewed by the award winning Tom Ross on Capital Gold the other morning, talking about how NLP can help people to get over cravings and phobias, particularly smoking - or perhaps the fear of spiders or flying. (I know spiders is arachnophobia, I must look up the flying one...) Anyway, such is the power of radio, that before he'd come off air, Matt had a list of people enquiring about his services. But was it the power of radio? Or was it the power of suggestion? I must ask him.
By the way, this is the same person that told me to achieve weight loss, I should eat less and move about more.
Now, put that fag out!
Matt was interviewed by the award winning Tom Ross on Capital Gold the other morning, talking about how NLP can help people to get over cravings and phobias, particularly smoking - or perhaps the fear of spiders or flying. (I know spiders is arachnophobia, I must look up the flying one...) Anyway, such is the power of radio, that before he'd come off air, Matt had a list of people enquiring about his services. But was it the power of radio? Or was it the power of suggestion? I must ask him.
By the way, this is the same person that told me to achieve weight loss, I should eat less and move about more.
Now, put that fag out!
Friday, 8 June 2007
We've been institutionalised!
In our business, getting accreditation from the IPA - the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising - is quite an accolade. It's not like just filling in a form and sending a cheque, our whole business is examined for financial stability, procedures and professionalism. And then we're inspected! This morning we've had confirmation from the IPA that we've been 'elected' to membership.
In real terms, it means we'll have access to some more sophisticated planning tools, and someone gets to go to the 'new members' reception in London, along the other 5 ad agencies who've been admitted this quarter!
We've done well for quality this year; we got ISO 9001 and now this!
You soon won't be able to talk to us without an appointment!
In real terms, it means we'll have access to some more sophisticated planning tools, and someone gets to go to the 'new members' reception in London, along the other 5 ad agencies who've been admitted this quarter!
We've done well for quality this year; we got ISO 9001 and now this!
You soon won't be able to talk to us without an appointment!
Getting on TV
When we get clients on radio or TV, we're usually right beside them, metaphorically at least - just out of shot or mike range. Yesterday was different; I was asked by the BBC if I would like to join them, with a couple of friends for a 'party' in a 8ft housing pod, where their presenter Rajesh Mirchandani was going to be staying over night.
It was a fun evening, with people cramped into a small space, getting to know each other and talking to Rajesh about the accommodation.
I took the precaution of wearing my loudest stripey shirt, so that I'd stand out on screen and minimise the risk of ending up on the cutting room floor (something my friend experienced, in his tasteful but calm shirt - he doesn't want to talk about it...).
At 6.30 this morning I was sitting eagerly in front of the TV, waiting for my BBC debut. And I was on! Handing my glass to Rajesh on my way out of the pod. Will I be up for a BAFTA do you think? or a London Press Club Achievement Award?
I've even worn the same shirt today, just on the off-chance that I'll be recognised in town!
My mother called at 8am, obviously she'd been told that her little lad would be on TV. I was expecting congratulations. What she actually said was "I think it's a disgrace that you're on TV at this time in the morning with a wine glass in your hand."
It was a fun evening, with people cramped into a small space, getting to know each other and talking to Rajesh about the accommodation.
I took the precaution of wearing my loudest stripey shirt, so that I'd stand out on screen and minimise the risk of ending up on the cutting room floor (something my friend experienced, in his tasteful but calm shirt - he doesn't want to talk about it...).
At 6.30 this morning I was sitting eagerly in front of the TV, waiting for my BBC debut. And I was on! Handing my glass to Rajesh on my way out of the pod. Will I be up for a BAFTA do you think? or a London Press Club Achievement Award?
I've even worn the same shirt today, just on the off-chance that I'll be recognised in town!
My mother called at 8am, obviously she'd been told that her little lad would be on TV. I was expecting congratulations. What she actually said was "I think it's a disgrace that you're on TV at this time in the morning with a wine glass in your hand."
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