Sometimes you just need to get away from it all…

By Joy A. Kennelly

I’m writing from Miami, FL where I’ve been enjoying the sun, beach and pool every day. Never knew how much I needed this brief respite until today when I actually feel 100% after a long stint of bronchitis. It’s been real nice to not think about clients or anything else but myself for once.

Not that I don’t love my clients and my work, but sometimes you just need to recharge and rejuvenate away from the day to day stuff to regain your creative juices. I’m just now, after three days here, starting to feel like I can get back to work and think about the future.

I woke up with some fun ideas I want to implement for the South Bay Professional Connection when I return which is all because I’m here in Miami. They really market this area well. I’m definitely taking notes because the South Bay can use some new marketing.

I’ve also enjoyed soaking up some of the local art deco buildings and art on display. I’ll upload images later. Did you know that Jewish settlers were the first to come to Miami? Also, the reason Mt. Sinai was created out here was because back in the day there was a lot of segregation which forced them to create this separate hospital for all the Jewish people who lived here.

It’s always fascinating to me to learn of other groups of people who experience racism and prejudice because it’s not something I normally think about not having to face it myself except for maybe my gender every so often.

There’s a Jewish synagogue museum called aptly enough, The Jewish Museum of Florida. I loved the director’s quote which I’m paraphrasing here, Even if you’re not Jewish you’ll feel a sense of family. Isn’t that sweet?

On another note, it always shocks me when people want to say the Holocaust never happened. That’s why I took the time to visit the amazing Holocaust Memorial here in the heart of South Beach that is hauntingly beautiful.

I bet you didn’t even know this existed since the nightlife so often overshadows the art that’s available here. Apparently now however, the Miami Convention & Visitor Bureau has decided to begin creating a more sophisticated image for their city and focusing more on their arts and culture than sexy nightlife.

Especially in light of the success of their popular Art Basel Miami Beach which “is the most important art show in the United States, a cultural and social highlight for the Americas. As the sister event of Switzerland’s Art Basel, the most prestigious art show worldwide for the past 38 years, Art Basel Miami Beach combines an international selection of top galleries with an exciting program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design.

Exhibition sites are located in the city’s beautiful Art Deco District, within walking distance of the beach and many hotels.” (according to the official Art Basel Miami Beach site.)

I have loved seeing all the art deco buildings, including Versace’s mansion, and am eager to visit the Lowe Art Museum tomorrow. I know. How boring. Only me! I bet I’m one of the few singles all excited over an art museum, but I can’t help myself. It’s the way I was raised.

We would always hit all the museums in town, stay at the most inexpensive places, and then visit all the high-end resorts for a nice meal. Guess old habits are hard to break! You do see a lot more of the country when you don’t allow your finances to dictate how you enjoy yourself right? LOL

I also plan to hit the Miami Design area because I’m curious what art galleries are out here. I feel that a city’s art reflects the mood of the people which I look forward to seeing up close and personal.

Okay, that’s all for now. Just wanted to check in because I finally feel like I can breathe. I know once I get home I’ll have to hit the ground running again. But for now, am going to hit my Miami friend’s GoChi Juice tasting party and then experience a little of the nightlife with him afterwards. Should be fun and just what the doctor ordered.

Hope you have a great evening! Mark your calendars for my South Bay Professional Connection event on May 29th! You’re not going to want to miss this one!

THE SOUTH BAY PROFESSIONAL CONNECTION ANNOUNCES THE GRAND OPENING OF CA ASSOCIATES & VERCH INSURANCE SERVICES’ NEW EL SEGUNDO OFFICES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information: Joy A. Kennelly

310.714.2077

thejoywriterpublicity@gmail.com

THE SOUTH BAY PROFESSIONAL CONNECTION ANNOUNCES THE GRAND OPENING OF CA ASSOCIATES & VERCH INSURANCE SERVICES’ NEW EL SEGUNDO OFFICES

With a Networking Celebration on Thursday, May 29, 2008 5:30pm – 7:00pm

South Bay, CA… The South Bay Professional Connection announces the Grand Opening of CA Associates Employment Specialists’ and Verch Insurance Services’ new El Segundo offices with a night of Networking and Celebration on Thursday, May 29, 2008 from 5:30pm – 7:00pm.

As part of the Grand Opening Celebration, California Associates‘ Career Coach, Sonja McColgan, will offer resume critiques, information on industry trends and interview techniques while Verch Insurance Specialists will offer complete insurance analysis. Appetizers will be provided by Shark’s Cove Hermosa Beach, CA. A portion of the proceeds from GoChi Juice shots poured will benefit the Brent Verch Memorial Fund. The new El Segundo offices are located at 425 Main Street, El Segundo, CA 90245. RSVP to CA Associates: 310.416.8797.

“We chose to move to Downtown El Segundo because it has been voted the ‘Most Business Friendly,’” says Verch Insurance Services Founder/Owner, Darold P. Verch. Verch Insurance Services is a multi-line, family owned agency with 40 years experience specializing in all types of insurance. For more information, please review: www.verchinsurance.com or call 310 322-1626.

California Associates Employment Specialists focus on placing candidates in Media, Technology, Accounting, Engineering, Human Resources, Fitness, Sales & Marketing, Administration and Entertainment. For more information, refer to: www.caworkingforyou.com or call 310.416.8797.

The Brent Verch Memorial Fund was created to honor Brent Verch and his life’s desire to support his three young niece’s college education. For more information, please refer to: www.brentverch.com

The South Bay Professional Connection’s (TSBPC) mission is to promote the interest of the South Bay as a whole to the media, the public, businesses, and residents. For more information, please contact Joy A. Kennelly via 310 714-2077 or tsbpc2008@gmail.com.

#END#

Artist Beverly Bigwood in 11th Annual Avenues of Art & Design

AWARD-WINNING ARTIST BEVERLY BIGWOOD’S ART ON EXHIBIT DURING 11^TH ANNUAL AVENUES OF ART & DESIGN STROLL SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2008 4PM -8PM

www.bigwoodart.com Website Launched In Conjunction with Art Exhibit

Hollywood, CA Select mixed media, oil paintings and sculptures of Award-Winning Artist Bevelry Bigwood will be exhibited during the 11th Annual Avenues of Art and Design Stroll in West Hollywood on Saturday, May 31, 2008 4pm -8pm at Carlisle Design Center Open House on Robertson Blvd. This event also launches Beverly’s new website, www.bigwoodart.com.

A prolific artist, Beverly’s artwork has hung in over 100 solo and group gallery exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe including Guidonia – Montecelio, Rome, Italy; Von Grabill Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ; Seidman Gallery in Santa Monica, CA, Patton Duval Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, Discovery Galleries in Culver City, CA and the Devorzan Gallery in the Los Angeles Pacific Design Center, among others.

Beverly’s list of international and domestic collectors include such notable art collectors as President of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun; former New York Metropolitan Museum of Art Curator and Commissioner of Cultural Affairs under Mayor Koch, Henry Geldzahler; Restaurateur/Chef, Wolfgang Puck; Film Directors, Richard Donner, Jon Peters, and Garry Marshall; Actors Bill Cosby, Linda Gray, and Judd Hirsch; Granddaughter of Dr. Armand Hammer, Casey Hammer; and The Honorable Senator Henry Waxman.

A private reception was held for her latest “Relationship” artwork in Beverly’s Palos Verdes Estate home on May 4, 2008. Attending were Exhibition Director of Barnsdall Municipal Art Gallery and Palos Verdes Art Center, Scott Canty; Chairperson of the Palos Verdes Art Center Advisory Committee, Betty Wing; American Representative of Hotel D’Orsay in Long Beach, Alain Zarfatti; Dr. & Mrs. Steven Dinsmore, Interior Designer Edith Andrews, and others.

Chinese Medicine Specialist, Yehua Zhu-Levine & Artist Beverly Bigwood discuss her art poolside in her Palos Verdes Estate home.

Oil painting "Banished" with ivory tusk decoration on display during Artist Beverly Bigwood's recent private art reception.

Debbie Dinsmore, Interior Designer, Edith Andrew and Artist Beverly Bigwood during recent private art reception in artist's home.

Randy J. Morris, Architect, Morris Design Partners, and husband of Artist Beverly Bigwood, poses near her latest oil paintings on display during Beverly's private reception.

Exhibition Director at Barnsdall Municipal Art Gallery and Palos Verdes Art Center, Scott & Cheryl Canty

Artist Beverly Bigwood and Chairperson of the Palos Verdes Art Center Advisory Committee, Betty Wing enjoying Beverly's recent private art reception.

Artist Beverly Bigwood's oil painting and stone sculpture on display during recent private art reception in artist's home.

Guests enjoying Beverly's recent private art reception.

Artist Beverly Bigwood's artist portraits and sculptures on display during recent private art reception in artist's home.

-more-

Carlisle Design Center Open House is located at 405 N. Robertson, West Hollywood, CA 90048. For more information on Artist Beverly Bigwood and/or her involvement in the Carlisle Design Center Open House, please review: www.bigwoodart.com or contact Publicist, Joy A. Kennelly at 310 714-2077 or thejoywriterpublicity@gmail.com.

-END-

UNIQUE TRAVEL PATENTS AVAILABLE! Contact me now!

UNIQUE TRAVEL PATENTS AVAILABLE! According to the Travel Industry Association, Travel and Tourism is a $1.3 trillion dollar industry in the United States. According to TIA’s annual forecast, travel spending by domestic and international visitors in 2008 is forecast to increase more than 5 percent to $778.2 billion.

Do you want a piece of the $1.3 TRILLION dollar travel industry? Then consider our two patented innovative travel items designed to ease both an adult and a child’s travel experience – the Stufstop® and Travel & Play Travel Tray®. We hold both the U.S. patent rights and licensing rights which we are offering you now.

Based on the above travel statistics, we believe that with the right company representing/licensing each item, millions will sell. Both items were designed and road-tested by a mom who earned more than 100,000 Frequent Flyer miles in one year and they work. You may review these items on our website: www.travelplayco.com.

Our adult travel item, StufStop®, is a patented parcel restraint system that wraps around the front passenger seat, secures a wide variety of items, and is AAA approved as a safety enhancement. Easily adjustable to fit most bucket seats, Stufstop® is made from a seamless neoprene-like material which, when not in use, makes sitting against it undetectable and an excellent branding opportunity for your company’s logo.

Our children’s travel item, Travel & Play Travel Tray®, is a sturdy “lap table” created to keep toys and food off automobile/plane seats and floors. Collapsible, easy-to-store, and also easy to brand with your company’s logo, Travel & Play Travel Tray® has an adjustable belt that wraps around a child’s waist and is held in place by hook and loop. Travel & Play Travel Tray® is currently in use in the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ art program.

I look forward to speaking with you regarding these unique travel items and your interest in either their patents or licensing opportunities. For immediate attention, you can contact me at 310-714-2077 .

Best regards,

Joy A. Kennelly

Announcing Photographer & Award-Winning Filmmaker Arlene Bogna

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information: Joy A. Kennelly
310.714.2077

PHOTOGRAPHER & AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER, ARLENE BOGNA‘S SAFARI AMERICANA: SCENES OF DELIGHT PHOTOGRAPHS FIRST SOLO EXHIBIT AT GALLERY 825 IN WEST HOLLYWOOD ON SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2008 6PM – 9PM

Hollywood, CA Photographer & Award-winning Filmmaker, Arlene Bogna’s Safari Americana: Scenes of Delight first solo photographic exhibit to be held at Gallery 825 on Saturday, June 21, 2008 from 6pm – 9pm featuring large, special edition color photographs. Bogna’s raw analog photographic exhibit explores our relationship with animals and our need for them in a whimsical, yet thoughtful fashion.

“Part social commentary about [the] role of animals in contemporary culture and part multi-media burlesque - Arlene Bogna’s Safari Americana: Scenes of Delight delights its audience with a myriad of narratives and constructs, all in service of a provocative yet successful formalism,” says Executive Director Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA) / Gallery 825, Peter Mays.

“In Safari Americana: Scenes of Delight, I wanted to explore this instinct of ours, a strange impulse to connect with, or show dominion over, our fictitious animal friends,” says Photographer, Arlene Bogna. “I created these photographs using toy cameras with experimental techniques, including cross-processing, light leaks, pushed colors, expired film, and custom printing to capture my memories with a sense of play and discovery.”

An award-winning Writer/Director and Photographer, Bogna has received two KidsFirst! Awards for her screenplay, Earth Kids, and a Telly, Platinum Best of Show Aurora, Davey, and Remi, for her narrative PSA, Canvas, she created for the art non-profit, A Window Between Worlds. Bogna’s art and film background includes fine art classes in color, composition, painting and drawing at The Art Center and Otis Parsons, film and media at the Universita di Bologna, Italy, culminating in a Film and Italian Literature degree from UCLA. She continues to expand upon her art education. For more information, go to www.arlenebognafineart.com.

Gallery 825 is located at 825 La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069. Free to the public, Safari Americana: Scenes of Delight exhibition runs June 21 – July 18, 2008. Valet parking is available. Gallery Hours: Tues - Sat, 10 am - 5 pm. For a private tour, or for more information, please call: (310) 204-4665.

arlene bogna fine art
http://www.arlenebognafineart.com
http://arlenebogna.blogspot.com

Life just keeps getting busier and better!

By Joy A. Kennelly

My non-stop day yesterday started at 7:30am with the MB Chamber Young Professionals planning meeting and ended at 9:30pm with the South Bay Internet Entrepreneur’s meeting on Guerrilla Tactics to Flood Your Website. I haven’t been out all day like that in a long time! Very fun, but also very busy.

Finally met Sonja McColgan of California Associates who I have been talking to over the phone for almost a year and we hit it off so well she has agreed to host our next South Bay Professional Connection event! We’re still formulating all the details, but save Tuesday, May 27, 2008 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm on your calendar.

Sonja McColgan is a career coach expert, and her father, Darold Verch, is an insurance expert. Put the two together and you have a great mix of industries, people and networking. What I’m very happy we’re doing as part of our upcoming event is honoring her brother, Brent Verch, who recently passed away. We will be supporting his charity, The Brent Verch Memorial Foundation.

I didn’t know Brent, but tears came to my eyes when I learned he was only 41 when he passed away only two months ago. He must have been a great guy. Isn’t this beautiful?

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free

I’m following the path God laid for me,

I took His hand when I heard him call

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you the sunshine to tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much.

Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all to brief;

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now, he set me free.

More details on our 5/27 event will be forthcoming, but just know, this event will be a celebration of Brent’s life AND the grand launch of CA Associates and Verch Insurance Service’s beautiful new location in El Segundo, CA. We’re still putting all the finishing details on this which I will be sharing more soon.

On another note, I visited the Grand Opening of YogaWorks last night on the invitation of a friend. Plaza El Segundo, where YogaWorks is located, has lots of other great new stores and restaurants - check it out! I’m not into Yoga because of a shoulder injury which prevents me from doing a lot of the movements, but if I was, this is where I would go!

They have a huge selection of classes, the membership fee is great because you can take as many classes as you want in the month (unlike other places that sell package deals that are just as expensive, but perhaps not as expansive), and it’s a beautiful setting.

Whoever is behind this company does things right. There were guided tours explaining all the attributes. You were greeted with champagne and fruit flavored water. I chose the champagne, but soon regretted it because I had a splitting headache almost immediately after. Beginning to think I’m allergic to alcohol! Bummer!

The catering company provided very healthy appetizers and luscious desserts in a separate tent setting with attentive wait staff. There were many, many women there I’d never seen before with a few guys thrown in for color. I enjoyed my time and met some new people before dashing off to hit Bob’s Happy Hour at Club 705 again briefly since I had promised I’d come back.

Enjoyed my time there chatting with some of the guys (despite them having very dirty little minds), then dashed off to my evening internet meeting. Was pleasantly surprised to see MB WIB Woman of the Year, Mary A. Vassilakis, there who’d I’d just seen at the MB WIB conference, but didn’t have time to chat since I left early due to my headache almost blinding me. Should have packed aspirin!

Fortunately, they’re continuing the seminar next month which will allow me to go back and catch up on what I missed leaving a little early. The brain power in that room was a little overwhelming. These are very smart people and I’m going to love being part of this group.

Check out the founder Stephen’s site: http://www.detoxion.com/ A man after my own heart! Someone else who believes in the power of Chinese medicine. Go Stephen!

Today, received a call from an emerging artist I will begin working with next week. She’s delightful and I’m excited to share her work with you. More on her opening soon.

Hitting the free Blues Traveler’s concert tonight at Hollywood Park. Check out their summer long concert series. Very good line-up. Should be interesting as I’ve never been there before and am curious who all attends. Should be fun! We’re VIP’s, front row center - Yeah!

Otherwise, busy promoting my next GoChi Happy Hour at Sharkeez MB. Here’s the invite in case you’ve missed it. See ya there!

Busy, busy, busy…

By Joy A. Kennelly

I know you’re all waiting with baited breath to hear what I’m going to write next, so why keep you waiting any longer? LOL

Despite a cable outage in my building that lasted four days, I’ve been keeping busy promoting Artist, Beverly Bigwood’s private art reception and promoting GoChi Juice events and ops too. Also, networking on behalf of Travel Tray and StufStop.

Never thought I’d get back into the event business so quickly, or so much, but am having a ball organizing all the various promotions and receptions. It helps when you like the art/product you’re promoting and believe in the artist/company.

So far, over 300 invites have been either hand-delivered, or mailed regarding Beverly’s event with many more emailed and personally invited by phone. We are hoping for 1/3 of those invited to attend which is considered a good attendance for that many invitations. We shall see!

I’m still working on a possible cross-promotion which would make it real fun if everything falls into place. I’ll keep you posted if you’re interested. We have a little under two weeks before the big day!

We’re also very close to announcing Beverly’s new website which I’m especially excited to share with you since this is something that’s been created from the ground up. I love helping artists brand themselves online.

Especially Beverly because she’s such a fun, sweet spirit who totally understands that regardless how much effort you put into producing an event, a lot or a few people might show up which is a very realistic attitude to have.

I’ll be attending an event tomorrow night on “Guerrilla Tactics that will Flood your Website with Traffic” which should prove interesting and beneficial on many levels. I love learning online marketing techniques and meeting like-minded people. The more I know, the more I help my clients and myself!

Bumped into my friend Q at the recent Manhattan Beach Women in Business Conference I participated in this past Friday. She gave me some great suggestions on places to market the Travel Tray and StufStop product which I’m following up on. Also, met a lot of great local business women which is always fun. Networking is the best way to build product recognition in my mind because of the personal touch.

Planned a new GoChi mixer at Sharkeez MB next Thursday, May 1 from 7pm - 9pm which should be a lot of fun. Everyone loves Sharkeez! It’s our local icon bar if you’re not from around here. They’re building a brand new one in Hermosa Beach which should be a great draw for the surrounding community once it’s built.

Speaking of great restaurants, have you heard about Brix1601 yet? It’s a brand new wine bar, retail clothing and wine store, art gallery and more which recently opened in Hermosa Beach, CA that is just stunning! Very high end, very classy with great wine selections and food, plus stylish, hip clothing and a vast wine store. Highly, highly, highly recommend checking it out. Click on the link for all the details.

Let’s see, what else? Oh yeah, had an amazing lunch meeting yesterday with some new potential creative partners in crime for The South Bay Professional Connection and Beverly too. It was great the way we all totally clicked on so many fun ideas and event possibilities. Can’t wait to implement them and share them with you here. When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be and everything just seems to flow. God is good!

Wrapped up some old business over the weekend, got some new business percolating and hope to have some announcements on more soon! Off to a big FreeLife International company-wide event on GoChi Juice tonight on Breaking through Fear and Success taught by a Canadian hockey player who drinks and sells GoChi Juice too. I love learning new sales techniques because it applies to all areas of my life.

The biggest plus about Free Life International to me is the health benefits I’ve personally gained from drinking GoChi Juice, and being part of a bigger Fortune 500 company while still maintaining my autonomy. I feel supported by my team and like having the best of both worlds. Really having fun with this venture!

Thanks for stopping by. Appreciate you reading! If you’re in need of publicity or event services, please shoot me an email. Would love to work with you.

Back to work with some good news!

By Joy A. Kennelly

I’ve been gone in Phoenix for the past couple of days attending the FreeLife International Convention for GoChi Juice. I recently started independently distributing it because it helped my health issue so much it was a natural for me to share it with people I thought would also benefit.

Here’s a link to a couple of sites in case you’re interested in learning more and joining me in this endeavor:

19 Health Benefits of drinking GoChi Juice

Scientific Research on GoChi Juice

Media on GoChi

FreeLife International

Goji Health & Abundance Group

My Personal GoChi Website where you can buy product

Upcoming Events

We’re actually holding an informational meeting this Thursday, April 17, at Club 705 at 12noon and 7pm. Join us!

On another note, my former client, Author Charles Zigman, who I wrote a press release for announcing the launch of his new two-volume set on WORLD’S COOLEST MOVIE STAR: THE 95 FILMS (AND LEGEND) OF JEAN GABIN, VOLUME ONE and VOLUME TWO on Jean Gabin , recently informed me that both books are now listed as the number one movie books on Turner Classics website!

Click here for the article.

Too cool Chuck! Keep us posted on your other successes. I love celebrating former client’s successes with them because it makes me feel good. We shall see what transpires with everyone else!

I’m also very excited about the progress we’ve been making with my current Artist client, Beverly Bigwood’s new website, but there’s still a few tweaks to be made before we go live. In the meantime, please enjoy some of her new artwork - both oil paintings and sculpture here on Artslant and further along in this blog.

We’re in the process of coordinating her private reception and that’s moving along smoothly. Invitations are going out soon. Here’s the front image just to entice you to look at more. It’s actually more symmetrical on the postcard, but when I try to fit the postcard front in this blog it goes whacky. At least you can see some of her artwork right? The first sculpture is called Dragon Lamp (2007) and the oil painting is called Banished (2008).

Select media, art collectors, and other special guests have been invited to the private reception since it is her private home. Here’s her bio in case you’re curious about Artist Beverly Bigwood and her collectors and background:

Artist, Beverly Bigwood aka Bigwood Art©

Award-winning Artist, Beverly Bigwood aka Bigwood Art received the highest compliment an artist can receive in their career; Beverly’s artwork was stolen from a Westwood Gallery along with a Miro, a Dali and a Lichtenstein, who Beverly considers as one of her inspirations.

A prolific artist, Beverly’s artwork has hung in over 100 solo and group gallery exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe including Guidonia – Montecelio, Rome, Italy; Von Grabill Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ; Seidman Gallery in Santa Monica, CA, Patton Duval Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, Discovery Galleries in Culver City, CA and the DeVorzon Gallery in the Los Angeles Pacific Design Center, among many others.

Her artwork has also adorned the walls of Universal Studios, Spago’s, Fred Hayman & Giorigo’s, Oracle Corporation, Borders, Books & Music, Palm Springs Art Museum, and Fred Segal’s, to name a few.

Her creative designs were commissioned by DuPar’s Restaurant for an award-winning menu design, El Cholo Restaurant’s 60^th Anniversary, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and 38 illustrations commissioned for a “Coffee en Vogue” specialty food publication in Munich, Germany and numerous other print publications seen worldwide.

Beverly began her career as an artiste du papier creating whimsical folk-art pieces in archival Canson paper to a huge success commercially, as well as, privately. Loving art in all mediums, she also creates in oil, acrylics, stone, wood, metal and clay.

Her list of international and domestic collectors include such notable art collectors as President of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun; former New York Metropolitan Museum of Art Curator and Commissioner of Cultural Affairs under Mayor Koch, Henry Geldzahler; Restaurateur/Chef, Wolfgang Puck; Film Directors, Richard Donner, Jon Peters, and Garry Marshall; Actors Bill Cosby, Linda Gray, and Judd Hirsch; Granddaughter of Dr. Armand Hammer, Casey Hammer; The Honorable Senator Henry Waxman; and Prinzenessin Irene Zu Schleswig-Holstein, among numerous others.

A strong believer in giving back to the community, Beverly has donated her time and artwork to numerous charities over the course of her career. Philanthropic art donations include the LA Free Clinic, LA Magic Johnson Foundation, and the 12^th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival where her artwork has graced brochures, tote bags, posters, banners, programs, t-shirts and other items. She also designed 125 drawings for a children’s coloring book and three gift cards used internationally for Starlight Foundation.

An Angel logo she created for Capital Drug’s new Alternative & Traditional Healthcare Division’s was displayed on a billboard over Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood for one year.

More recently, Beverly was hired by the City of Burbank to create, design and execute over 55 animal motifs for 275 feet of fence and nine corresponding metal gates for “Urban Meadows,” a Public Art Project located on Kling Street.

She then branched into mosaic tile work for another City of Burbank Public Arts Commission for an Olive Street entryway entitled, “Mii Amo.” This 123 square foot passageway was designed and executed with exquisite custom ceramic tiles which include a mosaic waterfall that cascades down the face of the risers.

Developing a love of sculpture and ceramics as a result of these experiences, Beverly began creating more personal three dimensional pieces which currently grace her home in Palos Verdes Estates, CA. (This is her latest sculpture called Faux - 2008. Isn’t it adorable?)

As a result of her expertise, she was accepted into the 3D Group, an organization of mixed media artists living and working in the South Bay. Beverly’s formal art education began in Massachusetts at the prestigious School of the Worcester Art Museum. She has never stopped learning and expanding her knowledge of art.

As a member of the Palos Verdes Art Center, she was involved as the Chairperson for the Exhibition Committee, a Board of Director Member and an Advisory Committee Member for the past two years. Although an ongoing member, she has relinquished her corporate duties to re-enter the art world as an artist.

After almost five years creating in a three-dimensional universe, Beverly has returned to her first love, the sensuality of oil paint on canvas. Her past work has had a strong stylistic emphasis reminiscent of Indian, African and Caribbean influences which she attributes to her extensive international traveling experiences.

She is creating a new style with her current oil painting series on human relationships. (Below is: B Mine 2008, Nubia 2008 and Bussies 2008 )

So, as you can see, its no wonder it’s taken so long to bring her artwork public since she’s so prolific and has had such an amazing career even before we started working together right? Fortunately for her, now that we’ve been kicking butt getting everything ready, she can now relax on her sailboat vacation with her husband in the Caribbean.

Hope you’re having fun Beverly! Miss you! Be safe and have a great trip. We’ll all be waiting to see what new creativity you bring forth after being away for two weeks.

That’s all folks. Thanks for popping by. Oh, I’ll leave you with this. One of the guest speakers from the convention was Author Will Bowen who spoke on his book, A Complaint Free World. Now that I’ve heard him speak and am wearing his bracelet, I’m attempting to achieve this goal of not complaining for 21 days.

Here’s a little blurb from the book to help explain:

Transform your Life

Your thoughts create your world and your words indicate your thoughts. When you eliminate complaining from your life you will enjoy happier relationships, better health and greater prosperity.

Now that’s really all. Isn’t that nice to leave you with?

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Cooper’s Cure

By Joy A. Kennelly

For those of you searching for the coverage of the recent Cooper’s Cure event, I’m sorry, but it has been removed. For more information on the charity, please go directly to the web site located at www.cooperscure.org.

Thank you.

Advertising vs. P.R. and client’s outrageous expectations

By Joy A. Kennelly

Seeing as people always complain about publicists, I thought turn-about was fair play and that you might enjoy hearing some of the things that make us publicists laugh out loud when we hear the sheer stupidity of client’s clueless responses.

(All names have been removed to protect the innocent.)

I have a group of about 8-10 publicists I regularly speak to and consult with on various projects. We all support and provide feedback to each other to help us achieve the best results possible for our clients.

As a result, when we have a client that causes problems, we share our horror stories too to help put things in perspective.

Here’s a list my colleague whipped out in less than 10 minutes of experiences she’s had recently with clueless clients when I was sharing about one of mine:

1. A client called me today perplexed that she wasn’t in Life & Style magazine yet. It had been a whole one week since she started her PR contract. LOL!!!
   
2. The clients who don’t know their markets or demographics—chances are Vogue isn’t going to cover a $99 necklace.
3. “Have you heard of DailyCandy?” Yes, I have. Over and over. I can’t MAKE an editor feature your product, they either like or they don’t! It doesn’t mean I’m not doing my job, people! TOTALLY! GIVE ME A BREAK!
4. “Oh, I can’t afford a monthly retainer”—funny, these are from the same people who will shell about tens of thousands for an advertisement in a magazine or some D-listers gift lounge. I guess they don’t realize they could pay a publicist a fraction of that cost and get more respected editorial results.
5. My favorite is the client who asks for tons of services to be done asap, even though they are late in paying for that month…again. Think again, buddy!
6. How about the potential client who wanted six months of services for $1000 total, half up front and half at the end? Hey, big spender! LOL

I don’t know why my profession is so disrespected, but I’ve decided to share the other side in hopes that the people who don’t get it, may. I’m tired of having to manage unrealistic expectations and may need to start teaching a course on what to expect when you hire a publicist. What they can and will do, and how to manage your expectations to help the process along.

If you have huge expectations, then go somewhere else and pay $5,000 - $10,000 for the type results you’re demanding. I’m happy to provide a list of PR firms that will gladly take your fees and have someone with less experience work on your account. Otherwise, allow the process to work and stop complaining.

Another publicist friend called me to commensurate and informed me that although he had got his client’s jewelry on one of the top A-listers in the industry which was seen in all the top magazines, his client wasn’t happy because the actresses fingers were fat since she was pregnant.

Is that ridiculous or what? That’s what we’re talking about. If you want publicity results and we give them to you, understand they have a value regardless of how you feel about it. If you had to pay to have your ad placed in the same publications that we as publicists get you into “for free” then you might reconsider the way you treat us. And the time it takes to have the placement.

I, for one, am fed up with people who sign up for a three month contract and then because they really can’t afford my services get mad when everything we discussed isn’t accomplished within the first month of working together. In what other industry are months of work crammed into one with successful results?

Makes me want to extend my minimum requirement to six months just to have some breathing room and for the client to understand P.R. takes time. If you want immediate results, buy advertising.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Only advertising allows you to dictate where you will be seen in a magazine and when. That’s why you pay a premium for that service. However, it’s been proven that editorial coverage is nine times more effective than advertising hands down.

You are at the whim of the editors who must decide whether or not they have room to cover you, or if you fit within their editorial focus for that month, but you will gain much more credibility in the long run than advertising.

Oh, here’s the other funny thing someone demanded I do recently, which I refused. Understand, there are publicists who lie regularly, but I’m not one of them. As a result, when it was suggested that I lie and say Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom were planning to drop by an event just to get media there when they knew it wasn’t true, or that their guest list didn’t include any A-listers, I refused.

That demand was a red flag immediately that this person has no scruples, no integrity and really isn’t someone I want to continue doing business with. The final nail in the coffin was the total disrespect and disregard for what I had accomplished and provided that of course followed.

I don’t work with people like that. If you’re not happy, then let’s stop working together. Why prolong the agony? Just don’t expect favors or other benefits when we do stop working together. Once it’s over, it’s over. Good luck and good bye.

The only thing I have is my integrity and my reputation. Fortunately for me, even when a client gets upset and feels like I didn’t do right by them, no matter what, months later they’re always interested in working together again or keeping a relationship with me. Never fails.

Maybe it takes that long for them to realize that maybe what I had to say meant something and I was telling the truth. I don’t know. All I do know is that life is too short to waste any more. Plus, when I release the bad, I always make room for something bigger and better.

Just to have to trust that things have happened for a reason and move forward. It’s just nice to know I’m not alone in this regard. My fellow publicists and I always share a good laugh over some of the lunacy this business brings which helps.

I wish you all much success in whatever you’re looking to accomplish. Just don’t waste my time or yours by complaining when you don’t see results in magazines in one month’s time. It’s just not going to happen. There’s a three month lead time on magazines alone!

So, for all you who want immediate results, save all us publicists time and energy and just buy advertising. That’s what you understand, that’s what you’re comfortable with, and that’s where you belong. Stick with what you know. You’ll be much happier.

Trust me. I am.