If you're still wondering what's happening with CTV

The piece finally aired tonight. Although I didn't have a chance to watch it, I will try to catch it online and will set my VCR to tape it, so the footage can be uploaded to the In Action section of the website. I've been on Facebook with the owner and chair dance instructor and both are very happy with the piece. They have both been having friends write great comments all over their walls. I will post a link to the piece online, as soon as I can get one. Now, one day away from Christmas, I am going to bed. I want to dream of all the wonderful food I'll be eating and the great memories I'll be living this Christmas season.

If you're wondering what happened with CTV...

...your answer is as good as mine. I have been anxiously awaiting the end result of my santa baby piece. After a few days of not seeing it on the news, I called to follow up. What I found was that the piece apparently needed more to be complete and make the news. I thought it was weird that at the end of filming there was no instructor or participant interview. I thought perhaps becuase the focus was less on fitness and more on Christmas fun, that perhaps interviews weren't needed. I feel very disappointed at myself right now. I should have asked more questions and clarified with the assignment editor, so something like this wouldn't have happened.

I also had no reply from the reporter from the Waterloo Wellington record that I pitched this story to. We had touched base but as soon as I mentioned that CTV was also involved, she stopped returning my emails. I did try to assure her that I would try to make it work so no one was scooped and every form of media had a side of the story to tell. Now I try and pull off miracles in a few days to try and salvage what's left of the story and try to get excited about the new opportunities it will bring!

If you're wondering why I'm grinning like a chesire cat

CTV came in last nite and filmed the Santa Baby chair dance piece. I will post the link to the story as soon as I have it. I tried to get The Waterloo Region Record involved but the reporter I was talking with doesn't answer her phone or return my emails. I know she has small children and it's possible that they may be sick. She may have taken time off to stay home with them and I hope we can connect in the next few days.

Although this is a visual story, there is also a subtext, which can be best expressed with words. I feel like the studio doesn't have the same kind of relationship with The Waterloo Region Record that it does with CTV and I'd like to change that. Stay tuned as I figure out just how to do that!

If you're wondering if blogging is addictive...

...it is. I say this as I have just received an email about my application for the student life blogger position at Conestoga College. I won't keep you in suspense, I have been accepted. My new blog begins January and will chronicle my student life. I'd like to think of as a college version of Are You There God, It's Me Margaret. This opportunity is great because I have always wanted to get involved with Conestoga College life but haven't had the schedule for it. Now, I have the opportunity to share my experiences with others through my new blog about student life.

If you're wondering if I'm feeling any better...

...I am. Although I am pushing the idea of straight promotions for the studio out of my mind, it is because I am focusing on my newest CTV pitch. Last year I did speak with the assginment editor at CTV about a story on how local residents are getting into the Christmas spirit. Particularly those at Impact Movement, as they start learning the traditional "Santa Baby" chair dance. I tried to get this story to work last year but the "Christmas card killer" struck and all the coverage was focused on the trial. I did however manage to get coverage of breakdancing in January, so it was not a total loss. The coverage is available on the studio's new media pages http://www.impactmovement.ca/inaction.php and http://www.impactmovement.ca/media.php. The In Action page covers all CTV coverage (we still have to upload footage from the clothing swap) and some homemade videos of some of the classes. The Media page covers written media. I, unfortunately, was only able to work on the Most magazine article. Hopefully I will be able to gather some written media interest in the studio by contacting the local papers at local colleges and universities.

If you're wondering what Murphy's law looks like

It's arranging a great promotion at a busy bar, on a major bar night. Then the host not saying much because he suffered severe loss of blood (see above pic). Then he had to go to the hospital for stitches. He's ok and in the end I cared more about the man than the promo but I'm still sad that things didn't go as smoothly as I'd dreamed. So now a little bit discouraged I return to the drawing board.

If you're wondering what ever happened since my last blog

My genius mind has come up with an excellent solution to help promote the studio. Right now is Halloween and most bars are having contests for best costume and sexiest costume. Impact Movement Studios is an adult dance and fitness studio, so natuarally a gift certificate from us would be a great prize to give out on Halloween night, especially for sexiest costume. It also occurs to me that my friends Scotty and Allan, of Scallan Events and Marketing (http://www.scallan.ca/) are hosting the Halloween party at Philthy McNasty's. It also dawned on me that Philthy's is one of the busiest and biggest bars open that night. After some excellent persuasion the guys were very excited to have another prize to hand out and more importantly to help promote the studio. Once again, you must stay tuned for more...

If you're wondering why I've got my game face on

It's time to get busy. A rival adult dance and fitness studio has decided to move a block and half away from our studio. I believe that customers will confuse the studios in our favour but I can't ignore the potential for problems. The other studio has already accused us of stealing customers because customers mixed the two of us up a few weekends ago. The studio owner thought initially that it was all her fault and had a mix up with bookings. She just tried to do whatever she could to try to make her customers happy. Later she discovered that they had booked the rival. At that point, the bride had finally calmed down and everyone was able to talk about the situation. Now,to help the business keep current/gain new customers we will now be doing lots of promoting. Stay tuned for the next post where you can get a sneak peek at what's in the works.

If you're wondering why everyone talks about networking

Last week, I was challenged by the idea of creating a business card. I tried, but my attempts seemed in vain. I felt that I couldn't create a business card that really reflected me. I had an idea of what I wanted on the card but couldn't find a template or suitable graphic. As it turns out one of the girls I have recently become friends with is a graphic designer. After speaking with her, she volunteered to do my business cards for FREE! She said that she gets bored at work and has access to free printing. I can only sum this up with one word...awesome!

If you're wondering why I'm smiling

Lena, one of the studio's teachers and web designers is now back in the country and able to help update the studio's web page. There will now be a page specifically for media clips, including the latest Indian fusion clip currently available at http://www.swo.ctv.ca/healthlifestyle.php?id=2776 (the coverage starts at 1:08 in). Hopefully we can also provide info about other forms of media that the studio has appeared in as well. This will help the studio develop more professionalism and will allow customers to better understand what they can expect when taking one of our classes. Yay!

If you're wondering why I've been so quiet.

It's been a very busy summer and I have't been able to blog as much as I would like. After school was done the studio decided to do a clothing swap. This left me little time to help sell summer memberships. Luckily summer memberships sold on their own. I, of course, handled the media/promotions aspect. You can see Rosie from CTV setting up her camera in the picture right before the interview. We got the clip and are now working on uploading it onto the studio's website. I also helped the studio with renovations. It might look like a hot mess in the pictures but now that it's completed, it's beautiful! I tried for Rogers Daytime but couldn't find someone to actually do the interview. I also couldn't make an article for the studio work with Grand Magazine's editorial calendar. I know that they will be releasing a new editorial calendar soon, so I will check it out and try to make it work.

If you're wondering why a blog

When Alan Chumley of Hill and Knowlton(http://www.hillandknowlton.ca/index.php/about_us.html)
spoke with my Principles of Research class, one of the things he mentioned was that as a PR firm, one thing Hill and Knowlton looks for in a candidate is their ability to blog. The cornerstone of Public Relations is good writing and what a great way to get a lot of practice. Businesses use blogs as another way to continue to connect with their audience and prove that they are leading edge.

If you're wondering what I'll do next

Over the summer there will be many challenges I'll have to face. The studio owner has requested a spot on the Daytime show on Rogers television. This means sitting down to write a great pitch, calls to follow up and staff preparation for any interviews that may take place. Thankfully I have a great idea as one the teachers has an amazing 260 crunches combo that tones all the different areas of your abs in five minutes! Following that, I would like to help push sales of the summer memberships available and of course start thinking about the ways to celebrate the studios three year anniversary. I would love for Grand Magazine (http://www.grandmagazine.ca/grandmagazine/index.html) to write an article, so I'm going to have to do my homework. It's going to be one great summer.

If you're wondering what I do

Impact Movement Studios is an adult fitness and dance studio (yes, we offer pole dancing) located in the Kitchener downtown core. In my new role as Public Relations coordinator my job is to help increase the studio's exposure to new customers as well as help build a solid relationship with its current customers. The first task undertaken was to get coverage on CTV. Thankfully we had just recieved our first ever break dance teacher and we are the first and only place in the region to offer break dancing classes. I pitched the idea to CTV and they loved it! They came in, filmed the class and we all watched the clip excitedly the next evening. Following the CTV coverage, I created customer satisfaction survey and compiled the results. The suprising results have caused the owner/operator to consider franchising as well as given her a new direction on how to build clients. The next task to be completed is to have a more in-depth profile done on the business. I have also sent a pitch to the producer of the Rogers Television show Grand River Living (http://www.rogerstv.com/option.asp?lid=12&rid=54&sid=2384) and spoken with him directly. He is in the middle of training a new crew for the show and is unsure that a story about pole dancing is the best option but will keep it in the background for later. I couldn't ask for more!

If you're wondering who I am

My name is Melissa Armster and I am a second year Public Relations student. I found Public Relations after helping a friend of mine do some promotions work for a dance studio she had just opened. Now I have a bigger role there as Public Relations Coordinator. Also, I am a little bit of a sci-fi geek and when Jericho was removed from the CBS lineup, I was one of those "nuts" who helped give Jericho a second season (http://www.nutsonline.com/jericho). Today I still continue the fight to save Jericho, nuts to CBS! (http://www.jerichorallypoint.com/home/). Although the hope of CBS re-renewing the show has died, there is a new hope. The general idea is for Comcast or others would pay for part of Jericho's production expenses and then offer episodes in high definition, similar to the Friday Night Lights deal.