Does anyone here have a publicist and why?

I do. She books my gigs like magazine articles and TV appearances. Last fall, She got me "trending" on Yahoo when my book came out. She's even handled other parts of my business with athletes but now her young associates mainly handle me. I hardly talk to her. I guess I am not one of her "A" listers.... yet.

As far as pay, I can't personally address that but if you email me I'll tell you more.

As far as location, I'm in Dallas and she's in LA.

Hey, just wondering... do some of the pro runners have a publicist? Maybe someone like Kara Goucher? Or Shalane? Rupp? Mo? Meb?

I don't know if they would need one, but I wonder about Goucher since she's a bit of a mainstream celeb, like being on the cover of Runner's World and such? How do they arrange that?

Med does. Nick Symmonds does. SFH does. Lolo does. If you are big enough to matter or want to matter, you need one.

Moe's Tavern wrote:

I do. She books my gigs like magazine articles and TV appearances....

Moe, isn't this usually the job of an agent, promoting an athlete (or you)? I'm surprised with you having been an agent you wouldn't know how to promote yourself.

Yes it is but too many agents are too lazy to think outside the box and do it. I was just speaking with Toni Reavis about this last week and he brought it up, too. Getting in races is one thing but marketing is another and probably best handled by a professional.Now regarding promoting myself, I do that thru a Facebook page that my publicist handles. It's a little awkward for me to call the same people up when I promoted athletes/muscians and now ask them "can I be on your show?" Having a PR team takes that away from me. It was my idea to go only by one name and the results have been good.Sorry for the long winded but I learned everything from this sport how NOT to represent.

curious inquiry wrote:

Moe's Tavern wrote:

I do. She books my gigs like magazine articles and TV appearances....

Moe, isn't this usually the job of an agent, promoting an athlete (or you)? I'm surprised with you having been an agent you wouldn't know how to promote yourself.

This is you, right? You got fat.

I meant this one. http://www.ktxdtv.com/story/27763970/author-troy-the-money-island

I briefly had a publicist to market my craft. But after a year of our affiliation I did not see much return so I ended the relationship. I guess as a mid-level government employee hiring a publicist was not a very intelligent move.

[quote]Moe's Tavern wrote:

It's a little awkward for me to call the same people up when I promoted athletes/muscians and now ask them "can I be on your show?" Having a PR team takes that away from me...[quote]

I did a bit of publicity/marketing work and I concur with MT on this. It's a lot of work and takes time away from your craft, whatever it is.

I also dealt with publicists on a regular basis. I received/responded to information from them in a very different way than I did with the performers they were working for. In an oversimplified version: I expected attitude (and appreciated it from the more skilled) publicists and deplored it when I received from the performers.

I just saw American Idol and saw sprinter Ryan Bailey featured. How did FOX know who he was or were they tipped off.