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Why "No Photographs" is Hurting Your Business (and Reputation)

 I've gone to many an exhibition in London. 

Most of the the exhibitions I have gone to as press, as in I was invited by the organizers to cover their event for BitchBuzz or any other website/publication I was writing for at the time. 

Something strange has started happening at these exhibitions over the last two years, and I fear it is only going to get worse...

I first saw it at London Fashion Week (SS 2010) when I went to go take a photo of a pair of Vivienne Westwood shoes. I had my press credentials displayed, but for some reason the woman in charge of the booth didn't believe I was press. Or something.

"Yes, but who are you from? Where are you from? Why are you taking a photo?"

I explained that I was press and that I run a website for women.

"They're letting anyone and everyone in here. I've had Chinese businessmen coming in and out of here all day. They steal your designs!"

"Er...I'm press. Not a Chinese businessman out to steal Vivienne Westwood's shoe designs...

Same Old Story: Excusing Away the Truth

It's always curious to me when people are called out on their bullshit, and they attack with excuses and outlandish claims, rather than just taking responsibility for their actions. Or just simply being honest.

Benedict Carey of the The New York Times notes that the "burn of embarrassment" causes most people to dish out excuses. That they're protecting their self image with something called "self handicapping". 

"The urge goes well beyond a mere lowering of expectations, and it has more to do with protecting self-image than with psychological conflicts rooted in early development, in the Freudian sense."

People who are constantly making excuses also are believed to "wait until after choking to practice their craft" and have an inherent fear of success. They self sabotage and are happier with knowing that they really coulda been something if they have really tried, than, as Dr. Hirt of Indiana University, says, "knowing that they did their very best and failed."

I've found that this is the case for some people that constantly make excuses. "Oh, I was sick and had to go home," as in, "Oh, I just couldn't be bothered to take a risk, so I'm just going to bow out."

Some are genuinely afraid of trying their best because, lo and behold, they may fail. No one likes to fail.

However, sometimes people are just thoughtless, useless, and fucking lazy. Self-handicapping and "protecting the self image" aside, there are plenty of people out there who just have no sense of responsibility to others, or even to themselves. 

These people don't need Freud, they need a good kick up the ass. And sometimes a slap in the face.*

BitchBuzz is Very Glam

And that is why we are now part of Glam Media. 

And this is also why our site looks different today. Look. Look how gorgeous it is. LOOK AT IT.

 

The Relationship Between PR and Bloggers

This week I am featured in PRWeek's Video Podcast, talking about the relationship between bloggers and PR. 

I really think it's so important and vital to so many industries, whether it be Tech or Fashion, that bloggers and PR communicate effectively and sort out their issues. 

There really isn't an excuse for PR agencies to not "get" blogging anymore, as the number of blogs and online publications is only going to grow, and become more and more intense. 

The best thing we can do now, is communicate, and help each other out. I've been invited to speak to PR agencies about how to best approach and communicate with bloggers, and I've found some of the key issues are that PR agencies don't understand that there are different tiers of bloggers, and different types of blogs and websites. 

PR and the online/blogging community need each other. So, instead of ranting at each other online, let's talk, eh? 

HELP ME HELP YOU HELP YOUR CLIENT.