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Just An Online Minute... Evading Capture At Marquee With Stardoll.com, Heidi Klum, and Jordache
by Kelly Samardak, Thursday, September 11, 2008, 3:15 PM

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I'm trying to be fair today. As I wrote this, rage burned the back of my eyes all over again. What you're about to read may be confusing. Which is fine, considering how flabbergasted I was when it all went down. I want to make a few things clear right now, before you read on. And that is that Morris + King (they've repped Stardoll.com for two years now) and a ton of other PR agencies are fantastic. They're good people. I call a handful of PR people my friends.

However, the way I was bullied, word-slapped, and yodeled at by a rep from Full Picture PR (who reps Heidi Klum and Jordache) not only clarified to me how other press/writers/journalists can abhor the PR function, but also makes me think that Heidi Klum, who was polite, sweet, and hotter than a twice-baked potato, would not appreciate someone attached to her/their brand acting like such a prime jackass. And that's not an offensive word; it's just another name for donkey.

Everyone there to party rocked. I couldn't even force someone to be rude to me -- they were obviously there to celebrate Stardoll.com's growing popularity and the beautiful and entrepreneur-minded Heidi Klum's virtual Jordache line with a smile. I saw a familiar face from JetVegas and shuffled along with dancing fiend Tom Clifton, Founder and Creative Director, Animoto. Animoto has been going through some changes, so check it out!

A very-bearded, v-necked-T-shirt-wearing fellow was hanging out with Sam Talbot, pretty boy from season 2 of "Top Chef. They might be in a band together; I couldn't tell if they were joshing. Bearded guy supposedly had a show at Mercury. Superior reporting skills, Kelly. Ring Pops littered the tables and the open bar kept everyone happy. Except for one person.

I met the bully outside of Marquee, where I regarded the paparazzi line and tried to find the list gal so I could just go in and start mingling. Bully drilled me about my level of photo access. Something about onsite... or in-site? I didn't understand her phrasing, especially since I wasn't given options, just an invitation -- from three separate people.

I'm sure the reps at Full Picture are detail-oriented in that when they invite press to cover their events, they're aware of, good golly, what sort of column they write. No? It's obvious to you all that this column includes photos, right? Ok, good, as long as we're on the same page - Just An Online Minute is about the glittery side of this industry, the people, the food, the convos, the guts of the actual party. In order for me to cover this stuff, you have to let me in. I know, it's darn near rocket science.

"You can NOT have that out," bully barked at me inside Marquee. I had already taken multiple laps, shooting away at the willing party-goers flashing their pearlies. I used my camera, not my mind, to take the photos - just to alleviate any confusion. 

The clipboard comes out, and she's holding it in the way that the clipboard instructor outside taught the other brain surgeons out at Clipboard 101. She couldn't find me on the list, probably because of the loud music, which would mean she's have to use multiple skills together: reading, listening, and standing upright. I not only RSVP'd once, but also requested and received confirmation. Bully gal barked at me again in no uncertain terms that I was not welcome.

I don't care if anyone knows "who I am," I'm really not that cool. Look at someone cool, take away 80%, and that's my coolness factor. However, if I've been invited to your party and received confirmation, I don't expect to be verbally berated and then uninvited in front of other guests. That's a valid desire in this life, isn't it?

"But your people invited me!" I probably whined. To which she responded...

Wait for it....

"Can you name my people?"

"I think it was Justin or Jesse." Turns out, it was both. But Justin isn't her people. He's good people.

"You can't even name my people, but you say you were invited to this party."

"You sent a blanket invitation to my entire company. Can you name all of the writers you invited?"

The painful back and forth continued until she announced she was not fighting with me anymore. And then she uttered my favorite phrase in the history of my job so far: "Then I'm getting security!"

She tucked that clipboard under her arm and stalked off in a haze of power-hungry PR anger. I turned to the fella next to me and said, "Listen, if she comes back with security to drag me out, you have to get a picture." Because he and everyone else inside had cameras. You know, to take photos.

Other than that, great party!

Invite me and my camera to cover your event!

The photo set has tons of pics of fashionable party people!

See if I stay out of trouble this month: I'll Twitter from jail .

 

 

6 comments on "Just An Online Minute... Evading Capture At Marquee With Stardoll.com, Heidi Klum, and Jordache"

  1. Katrina Limbaugh from zig
    commented on: September 12, 2008 at 6:13 PM
    Really? You felt like a brat for outing the agency? Kelly, you are a better woman than I! It never fails to amaze me that so many people in this business seem to accomplish the very opposite of what we're here to do...obviously, given the number of articles, blogs and - lets be honest - the general consensus amongst most journalists, there are a LOT of bad PR practitioners out there. At least I can take comfort in the fact that PoweR Girls is off the air!

  2. Kelly Samardak from MediaPost Communications
    commented on: September 11, 2008 at 4:41 PM
    Colin, you make me laugh my face off. I'll come to any Canaccord function, you always have the best food.

    Thanks too, Richard :-) If you fly me out to FL, Ill sketch pics if i have to.

    Jack and Lindsay, I didn't get her name - and honestly I felt like a big enough brat putting their agency name up - so even if I had it, I couldn't do that to someone. Though I do wish I had a picture.

  3. Lindsay Rose from imc2
    commented on: September 11, 2008 at 4:27 PM
    Kudos to you Kelly, for taking the high road and opting to allow that power tripping you-know-what to remain nameless. I'll admit, I would have been tempted to out her. Keep your readers posted if Full Picture PR comes crawling back begging forgiveness...

  4. Jack Feuer from UCLA
    commented on: September 11, 2008 at 3:53 PM
    Did you get her name, Kel? If so, you should out the beast.

    And send a link of your column to the CEO at Full Frontal PR or whatever their lame-ass name is.

  5. Richard Paris from RMiami Consulting Company
    commented on: September 11, 2008 at 3:46 PM
    Kelly your column is the best. I always try to save it for mid-afternoon reading when I'm really getting sluggish. Your lite take on media and PR always make me smile and allow me to get through the rest of my day.

    This particualr column was a high point. That you were able to do your reporting, make your point about those clipboard nazi's and the fabled "I'm calling security" bluff, and still laugh it off highlight how entertaining and knowledgeable you really are.

    I only wish we were having a party down here in Florida to which we could invite you. We'd probably even let you bring your camera.

  6. Colin Gillis from Canaccord
    commented on: September 11, 2008 at 3:43 PM
    Makes Boston seem like cake ? If you cover our Holiday Clicks Dec4th in NY I will get you a dedicated "camera's only" table ! We won't even allow people to sit down unless they can articulate 5 reasons cameras are great. Without the photos how would we understand all those remarkably witty captions ? --Colin

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KELLY SAMARDAK
  • Kelly Samardak is a pesky photojournalist currently chasing you around at media, marketing, and advertising parties, and secretly driving the social media train.



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