True to its name, FLUXX nightclub’s mood and motif will be kept in a constant state of change, intriguing guests with regular shifts in theme and style designed to create a unique experience and new discovery with every visit. FLUXX’s modern, organic design oozes sex appeal without taking itself too seriously. Playfulness is the order of business and FLUXX delivers with an arsenal of cool elements purposefully chosen to tap into the big kid in us all.

Managed by industry veterans, RMD Group and designed by award-winning hospitality and nightlife designer, Davis Krumins of Davis Ink, FLUXX’s lights are on and it’s clear what all the fuss has been about.

“Seeing FLUXX come to life is incredible and we are so excited at the response we have received from the public and industry,” said RMD Group Partner and FLUXX General Manager Dave Renzella. “Nightlife is about having fun and being indulgent. We wanted to create a venue that was unique and stylish, yet one that catches people off guard. We feel we’ve achieved that with FLUXX.”
Sight

Tunnel vision? That’s exactly what FLUXX had in mind as you enter the club through a 13-foot tunnel that delivers you into a world unlike any other. Bright colors abound and enliven the space with artistic imagery that engages and shifts along with the themes of the club. Set center stage in FLUXX is its large circular dance floor, positioned to attract attention and draw people in. A little mood lighting goes a long way and the custom, large-scale theatrical lighting system designed by SJ Lighting Inc. takes the dance floor on a visual journey, rivaling clubs all over the world. There isn’t a bad seat in the house and as a stunning 15-foot custom rope chandelier dangles above and the DJ and dancers perform on raised, recessed mini-stages, the enormous dance area is flanked by surrounding tables and bar areas on all sides so not a moment of the action is missed.

Touch

FLUXX reinforces the power of touch throughout the venue, utilizing organic elements and textural placement to intrigue guests and get the party started. Extreme innovation and artistry can be seen throughout, from the moss covered ceiling and circular recessed cut outs in the floor that feature modern rock gardens, to the backlit acrylic marble and miniature wood logs interspersed amongst the whimsical art installations. The rush of icy air revitalizes dancing guests with a powerful blast delivered via a massive, integrated liquid nitrogen system, creating a momentary rush that chills from head to toe. FLUXX even goes so far as to introduce nostalgic objects from the past with an exaggerated approach, including a large-scale tree house designed to house one of the VIP tables – a true Bird’s Eye View.  The mix of textures and unexpected materials at every turn invokes curiosity and entices guests to get all touchy-feely.

Hear

Housing the most advanced sounds system of its kind FLUXX delivers an audio experience unlike anything you’ve ever heard in a San Diego nightclub. FLUXX tapped top audio technology gurus, Sound Investment Audio to create a custom sound system of such a high quality that they provide a transcendent listening experience. The system, comprised of fourteen 21″ subwoofers and over 50,000 watts of high fidelity power, combined with careful tuning yields a system that is unmatched in quality and performance. The pulsating energy delivered by the system and enhanced by the bass and vibrations it generates on the club’s distinctive all-wood dance floor, has already started to draw some of the most talented DJ’s in the country, leaving FLUXX guests with an indelible impression.

Taste

Like all things FLUXX, the cocktails feature an array of spirits to fit every mood and satisfy every impulse. The signature “FLUXX Me” cocktail is a staple that replenishes thirsty guests, and will reinvent itself along with the changing themes of the club. As we step in to spring, Chopin vodka is combined with fresh lime, ginger juice, simple syrup, fresh raspberries and strawberries – the perfect concoction to toast the sweet smell of success.

Smell

The smell of success is in the air and buzz is in full effect as San Diego can’t get enough of FLUXX. The multi-million dollar, 11,000 square-foot venue demonstrates nightlife, re-imagined. For more information, visit www.fluxxsd.com or www.twitter.com/fluxxsd .  FLUXX is located at 500 4^th Avenue in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.

I’m sure that my PR comrades agree that our industry has changed drastically in the past year. As the publishing world shifts and our beloved print publications move online, we can no longer rely solely on traditional media relations for our clients.

The Public Relations industry has rapidly evolved, and we, as PR specialists, are evolving with it. In my opinion, creating impactful buzz and word-of-mouth communication by targeting influencers, is just as, if not more, important to a successful campaign.

And Social Media, namely Twitter, is the foremost way to do it.

I recall not even a year and a half ago boldly (and proudly) proclaiming, “I’m not joining Twitter.” Boy, did that proclamation go out the window or what?

A year-and-a-half later, Twitter has become part of my everyday life. Through Twitter, I access breaking news, I connect with like-minded industry folks, I follow my favorite brands, I book travel, etc. etc. etc. The list of ways I, and the nearly 25 million people who logged on last month, use Twitter goes on and on. I love Twitter. There, I said it.

Everyone at J Public Relations is using it and we’re encouraging our clients to jump on the bandwagon as well. If not, they’re going to be left in the dust. Big time.

So, now that we know brands have to become involved, that poses the convoluted question if PR agencies should “tweet” for their clients or not?

The general consensus from the Twittersphere is “No.” Twitter is so incredibly valuable because it offers the opportunity for authentic, raw communication and conversation. Followers want to connect directly with the source, and feel duped if they’re communicating with anyone who’s not on the “inside,” so to speak.

However, we’re working with many current and potential clients who have little to no experience with Twitter, and they look to us to help them join the conversation.

While it’s not rocket science, there are several things we can do to help our clients become involved:

• Create a Twitter Strategy outlining the “Who, What, When, Where, Why and How’s” of Twitter.

• Encourage a leader within the organization to take the reigns. Leaders such as Simon F. Cooper, President of The Ritz-Carlton Company, and Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com are able to engage and interact with current and potential consumers that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise.

• If a President or CEO isn’t available to “tweet,” enlist a dedicated person who’s on the ground and has access to all that’s happening within the business or organization. In the hospitality business, followers love to read “tweets” from staff such as the Hotel Concierge or Executive Chef.

• Offer an “Intro to Twitter” session to your clients, where you sit down with the designated “Tweeter” to show them the nuts and bolts of the site.

• Constantly reinforce that the message should be meaningful and thoughtful to keep our audience interested, captivated and engaged (i.e. don’t only “tweet” organization news and events as your audience will quickly fall asleep and/or stop following).

And lastly, in my opinion, keep in mind that there’s a fine line between helping our clients join the conversation and talking for them. The bottom line is be transparent, open and honest with your audience and enjoy connecting with them on a whole new level.

Happy Tweeting and Think Pink!

Sarah

OK so lets be real – launching a restaurant is really the easy part of our job. I mean, everyone wants to hear about what’s new and what’s hot. We plan creative and fun grand opening extravaganzas while getting all the “right” people in town to attend, we seed invites to all of the influencers who will talk, talk, talk and coordinate with food writers who are all ready to review the latest and greatest.

The work behind a truly successful PR campaign really begins once the buzz dies down and we need to find creative ways to keep our clients in the news well past the grand opening hoopla. This is where we have to pay close attention to what reporters are interested in, what the trends are, and determine how we can loop our clients into them – or demonstrate that they are setting them. We subscribe to and review countless food trade publications on a monthly basis, combing the pages looking for new food trends that will keep our pitches current and intrigue editors to write about our clients. So what are those trends or “nuggets” that are on media’s mind these days? Read on my friends….

2009 brought more table talk about the struggling economy, dining out on the cheap and happy hours where people were practically giving drinks away.

Consumers throughout 2009 drowned their economic sorrows with penny martinis, fattening comfort food and the ever-so-popular prix fixe meals – all for under thirty bucks.

Oh how we rejoiced when the National Restaurant Association (NRA) released their 2010 trends. There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel, my fellow foodies! Instead of the dreary budget concerns of 2009, things are looking healthier all around and not just from an economic standpoint. The NRA is predicting that consumers, as well as editors, will be making decisions primarily based on health and environment.

Here are some of the top trends to keep in mind when pitching restaurant and food related stories this year that will keep your clients scoring that coveted ink:

1. Locally grown produce, locally produced wine and beer and locally sourced meats and seafood
2. Bite-size/mini desserts
3. Half-portions and a choice of smaller portions for a smaller price
4. Nutritional and creative children’s menus
5. Gluten-free/food allergy conscious
6. Cocktails containing superfruits including acai, goji, berry, mangosteen
7. Culinary inspired cocktails
8. Micro-distilled/artisan liquors
9. Non Traditional Fish including Artic char, Branzino, Barramundi
10. Newly Fabricated cuts of meats including Denver steak, pork flatiron, petite tender

What trends are you seeing in the industry?
Happy pitching (and happy eating) to all our fellow foodies!
Jamie ]]> http://www.jpublicrelations.com/2010/03/table-talk-top-trends-to-score-ink-in-2010/feed/ 0 http://www.jpublicrelations.com/2010/03/wwkcd-what-would-kelly-cutrone-do/ http://www.jpublicrelations.com/2010/03/wwkcd-what-would-kelly-cutrone-do/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:59:56 +0000 kim http://www.jpublicrelations.com/?p=1152

Mary Ellen Mark/Bravo

I have a confession to make and I don’t think I am alone. In fact, I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that there are many people – specifically women who either a) are in PR or b) own their own businesses – who are suffering from the same affliction as I.

Hi. My name is Kim. And I am a Kelly Cutrone-a-holic.

I am not saying I am proud as I frantically program my DVR in both the living room and bedroom so as not to miss KELL ON EARTH every Monday night. Hey, you gotta have a back up plan, right?

What I am saying is that I, along with many others it seems, am intrigued. I mean, who is this woman, this publicist who dominates a largely male-ego-glamour driven fashion industry looking like she literally rolled out of bed?

Clad in signature black from head to toe, barking orders and dropping f-bombs in the office like it’s her job and making no apologies for it? Cracking me up as she announces to the camera that she’s had it – if people want to come learn from her years of experience, you know what? They are going to have to pay her.

All the while demonstrating a fierce passion for what she does and belief in her clients – until they try to skip out on paying her to which I say, AMEN sista.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s “reality” TV and I know that out of hundreds of hours of tape shot, our friends at Bravo pick the most drama-filled footage to air, orchestrating meltdowns of junior staffers and catching the tears as they roll down their stressed-to-the-max cheeks.

But, call me crazy, I think that we are seeing more reality out of Kelly Cutrone than perhaps any other reality TV star to date.

I think her love for fashion and her role in it is undeniable and while working in her offices looks like an exercise in torture, I think her no nonsense “go outside if you need to cry” attitude conceals a deep commitment to her team and desire to want to see them become their best. And not just for the success of her company, but for themselves.

While her rough around the edges approach can be jarring at times, the counterbalance of her home life and loving dedication to her young daughter – her softer side – is refreshing. Kick ass by day, cuddle up at night.

I admire her ability to separate the two decidedly different aspects of her life and as a working mom myself, I know this is no easy task. Although I wouldn’t particularly want to be on the receiving end of one of her rants, I do, to a certain degree, appreciate the openness with which she seemingly conducts her business.

There’s something to be said for raw honesty that lets you tell it like it is and then move on – not dwelling on an incident or wading through a pool of passive-aggressive nonsense. Taking peer humiliation to new heights is certainly not fitting for most company cultures, but admit it –  who hasn’t wanted to call out a co-worker for not doing their job every now and then? In. Front. Of. Everyone.

As Sarah and I were IM-ing yesterday about our new found love of the show, we laughed at how it has, in this office at least, spawned several new catchphrases to indicate impending wrath such as “I’m about to go Kelly Cutrone!” and my personal favorite for giving sage advice or assessing a problem, “What would Kelly Cutrone do (aka WWKCD)?”

It was a sad night last night without my fix of Kelly Cutrone (WTF Bravo?) but I’m already looking forward to next week’s episode. Is that so wrong?

Think Pink! Kim

Lately (and fortunately!) we have been spending a lot of time writing proposals and responding to RFPs. Our team always enjoys the process of brainstorming, researching and talking about potential new pieces of business and how we might be able to help them attain that next level of visibility and consumer awareness through media presence. Once we have a general game plan in place, it’s time to put pen to paper so to speak, and get our thoughts and ideas arranged in a proposal designed to showcase our  creative thinking in such a way that it screams, how can you NOT hire us?

But sometimes, despite our best efforts or how much we think we’d be the perfect fit for a piece of business, the prospective client chooses to go a different direction. This has recently gotten me thinking about how much is too much or too little information to include in proposals. How do you strike the elusive balance that gives the reader/decision maker enough insight into who you are, your experience, your track record and perhaps most importantly, your creative approach to their specific circumstances without giving away the farm?

It’s an ongoing challenge in an increasingly competitive landscape, so below we’ve outlined a few key things to keep in mind  to help find a happy medium between over and under sharing:

• Pay Attention to Detail – whether responding to an RFP issued by a company or meeting with a potential new client prior to delivering a proposal for consideration, pay close attention to the details they call out as most important to them in their selection criteria. Do they want to be able to speak to each and every media contact you have available as a reference? Ok, be sure to put in the contact information for those people.  Or is their primary concern knowing the specific backgrounds of each person who will be a part of their team? Well then, detailed team member bios are a must. Listen to them, read the RFP closely and include the information they want to know.

• Knowing is Half the Battle - when in doubt, ask the question. If you are not clear on something and have the ability to contact a representative of the business you are pitching to clarify a specific point, then DO SO. Taking an extra 5 minutes to craft an email or pick up the phone can save you and your team significant time and headache wondering if you “woulda-coulda-shoulda” included or omitted content and demonstrates to the potential client that you are thorough.

• Go with Your Gut – a proposal by nature is designed to give someone insight about your team’s ability to get the job done. With that comes the need to provide examples of past successes and display creative thinking in relation to their specific needs/sets of challenges. It’s not about outlining an entire PR plan and strategy for them (at least it shouldn’t be at the proposal stage). Assess the need for in depth “intellectual property” on a case by case basis and provide as you feel is appropriate.

• Be Succinct – regardless of how much or how little information you deem important to include, each of the points, paragraphs, sections, etc. should be presented in an easy to read, succinct fashion. Let’s face it, as interesting as I’m sure you and your company are, very few people take the time to comb through a 30-page document these days and including a lot of “filler” information can easily dilute the most important points in your proposal.

• Two Sets of Eyes - always have another person read your proposal before sending it out to the potential client. It’s just a good rule of life. Often, when you’ve been staring cross-eyed at a computer screen for hours on end trying to find that perfect balance of information, being “so close” to the document inevitably means you’ve missed a spelling error or inadvertently left out an important point that is imperative to include. Do yourself a favor and have someone you trust edit the document for you.

• Communicate – lastly, if the potential client does decide to “go another direction,” and you feel that the rapport you initially established with your contact is solid, ask for feedback on why they made the decision they did. In polite conversation or in a follow up “thank you for considering us” email, asking them for brief insight into what may have been missing can be an excellent tool to help improve your proposal game with future opportunities.

The new business “dance” is always exciting, frustrating and gratifying at the same time. Fine tuning your proposal writing skills is a crucial step towards setting yourself apart from the pack by delivering insightful, creative and thoughtful suggestions that represent your team’s experience, passion and personality.

Think Pink! - Kim

Ahhh the glamorous life of a PR person (insert sarcasm)…

It’s true, sometimes doing our job means attending amazing parties, dining at fabulous restaurants and occasionally even rubbing shoulders with celebrities.

Often times, our JPR team has been responsible for planning these high profile events, not only working closely with our clients to make sure everything is seamless, but with the talent as well to negotiate typical PR-ish logistics including photos, interviews, etc. Because of the types of clients we serve, our team has become quite adept at dealing with the various challenges associated with Hollywood-types. Not much surprises us anymore, however, as many times as we do celebrity-driven events, seeing the fruits of our labor result in fantastic media placements for our clients is ALWAYS a thrill.

But truly, nothing could have had prepared us for this.

Perhaps you’ve heard of a little MTV show that has become quite popular these days called Jersey Shore?

Or maybe you’re even guilty of a FIST PUMP! or two while dancing at a club or using Bumpits! to get that poof picture perfect? Come on. You KNOW it’s your guilty pleasure.

I digress.

Last weekend, Mike “The Situation” from the wildly popular show paid a visit to our client Stingaree. And WOW. Just WOW.

Jessica and Lauren took one for the team and took Mr. Situation and his manager to dinner at Ra and then on to Stingaree where he danced in the go-go cage, drank and seemed to have a good time. He dutifully posed for pictures. And, strangely enough, was approached by more guys than girls – throwing “high fives” and FIST PUMPS! aplenty. It was a good night and fun was had by all.

Seasoned as we are in dealing with “15 Minutes of Fame-types,” even we were shocked at the fascination the press has with this kid. And vice versa. It honestly blew our minds. Don’t get me wrong. He was a decent guy. Affected? Yes. Punch-drunk with the taste of fame? Absolutely. But nice enough. And most importantly to us, he honored his appearance contract with minimal gripe, unlike past celeb visitors we have encountered (cough* cough* Jamie Foxx). Don’t even get Jessica started – we have photo evidence.

And as the post-party hits kept rolling in on Monday morning – People Magazine, Us Magazine, Star Magazine – we all sat in the office, looked at each other and giggled.

We knew we had done a great job for our client, but had to laugh at the absurdity that is the job we love sometimes.

“As JPR continues to expand nationally, it’s essential to have a core team of talented PR professionals with an in depth understanding of the hospitality and lifestyle arenas,” said Founding Partner Kim Julin Guyader.  “Both Katherine and Lauren possess the leadership skills necessary to implement buzz-worthy local, regional and national public relations campaigns that will ultimately effect our client’s bottom line by securing the top tier media placements that most important to their growth.”

As PR Manager, Randall brings more than eight years of agency, in-house, and start-up experience in strategic positioning and branding for companies across the lifestyle industry spectrum. At JPR, she will work with each team member to manage day-to-day account activities, oversee publicity campaigns on all accounts and collaborate with the founding and managing partners to support the growth of JPR. Randall will also direct campaigns for a variety of clients, including Davis Ink, 5^th and Market Restaurant Project, celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey, Stingaree, Hold it Contemporary Home, Evofem Inc, formerly Instead Inc., and Cosmoderm Technologies.

Newly appointed as Account Supervisor, Clifford’s role within the agency will expand to include enhanced strategic leadership and management functions, including mentorship for JPR’s publicist. In her day-to-day client work, her focus remains on JPR’s nightlife clients such as Fluxx, Side Bar, W Hotel San Diego, Voyeur, and Eclipse at Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort. Clifford has been with JPR for nearly three years.

This year, Jamie and I really wanted to do something as a company to help make some else’s holidays special. We decided to adopt a family and give them the wonderful Christmas they may otherwise not be able to enjoy.

We worked with a lovely woman named Syliva at Dress For Success here in San Diego and were assigned a family of six. Single mother, 5 kids. But this family had an especially heartbreaking story. Earlier in the year, the mother and her youngest child, a sweet one year old little boy, underwent an extremely risky surgery wherein the mother donated a portion of her liver to her little baby in order to save him from a rare, life-threatening condition he was born with.

Fortunately, the surgery was successful, but for this loving mother of 5, the intensive recovery period kept her from working for months and although they were able to keep a roof over their heads and she has been able to recently go back to work, they remain in dire financial circumstances.

On Saturday morning, we had the profound privilege of being able to deliver our family’s Christmas to them in person at their home. To say it was a humbling experience is an understatement.

So sweet, loving, grateful and honest they were. As we brought in bag after bag of gifts and household necessities, the mother told us about their year, showing us the matching scars stretching across the abdomens of her and her little boy that will forever remind them of the challenges they faced and survived together. The older kids, ages 18, 12, 5 and 4 playing nearby – so sweet and well behaved. So…happy.

Not just happy because of what they were getting. They were happy with what they already had before we ever showed up. Each other and love. Love you could feel the minute you walked into the tiny apartment they all share.

And boy, did that put things into perspective.

From our JPR family to yours, we wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with moments and experiences to treasure with your loved ones. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year. xoxo

This web site has been a labor of love/hate – a long time in the making fueled by many (so many) discussions about where JPR is going and how we want to look on our way there.

Just like so many PR, marketing and advertising firms do, we have been so busy doing great work promoting our clients that we let ourselves go a bit. We were in desperate need of a facelift, a little “me” time if you will and decided that we had waited long enough.

So now, as summer begins to transition into fall, we are starting off the season refreshed and re-energized from the inside out. Our amazing web team at Digitaria took all of our needs, wants and wishes and combined them into a site that we think looks good on us.

We hope you do too and that you’ll check back regularly for blog postings, client news and JPR updates.

And remember: don’t let the pink fool you…