By Irina

Miami, South Florida: Personal PR today. What I do and what you can do.

Live your opinion in the comments or call Irina at 786-301-2456.

Here is my illustrious background. Many years ago I was a fashion model, then I spent years working in PR and now I am a full time event entertainer. I perform as a balloon artist, twisting balloon art at upscale events, mostly in Miami, South Florida.

The other day, someone asked me how to get a great job in fashion. My short answer is use personal PR.

Today, personal PR is easier than ever. Start a blog if you don't have one. If fashion is your life, so I am sure you ARE an Expert and have a lot to offer, as far as fresh opinion on what is going on in fashion. If you want to get a job at a specific fashion house, start writing about that specific house on your blog. I know cases when people where "discovered" through their blogs and offered jobs.  

As an example, I get very exciting event bookings because of my blog, so personal PR works!   But once you have a few pages of your blog that clear shows who you are and want you are looking for, don't just wait to be discovered.

Pitch, pitch yourself to the prospective employers and the media always with the link to your blog.   Use this LinkedIn, FaceBook and Twitter to find people who work for those companies you want to work for, make personal connection, pitch yourself. 

You can even write a diary of sorts on what you are going through while you are looking for your dream fashion job... Job seeking adventures in itself are often subject of stories in the NY Times and Wall Street Journal. I am sure WWD.com (You read this fashion trade pub, don't you?)  writes about fashion jobs too.  And you can be a part of those stories if you tell them about yourself.

All you have to do is read those publications, understand the issues that are being discussed and contact the reporters with your opinion always with the link to your blog.  

Also, never underestimate the power of charity events. Fashion executives are big players in philanthropy. Find what charities they support. Volunteer for those charity events.  

But remember, once you have some face time with the right fashion executive, you need to make a 2 min commercial for yourself and your blog can be a great commercial. So, establish your blog first, than go all the way out!   There are so much more you can do in personal PR, but this could be a good start.

Live your opinion in the comments or call Irina at 786-301-2456.

Bling H2O: I don't understand why there are so many angry people?

I don't understand why there are so many clearly angry posts about Bling H20, a new bottled water for the super-luxury market which retails for $50-90 a bottle. It is reportedly super purified and comes in a bottle encrusted with Swarovski Crystals   If nothing else, I think it is a clever study in marketing and an un-filled needs. Who knew that the market can absorb another bottled water and at THAT price?  Now we know...

Fresh Corporate Entertainment Ideas in Miami

Looking for some new corporate entertainment acts that not only entertain by also communicate positive corporate messages? Just give me a call at 786-301-2456.

Event Solutions, a magazine for corporate event planners, did a glowing two page review of my corporate entertainment work.

I also work with the best corporate event entertainers in Miami and South Florida. Call me at 786-301-2456 or e-mail me at any time.

 

Borat.. Bor-Art Balloon Art.. or .. My Cultural Learnings of America as I was Born and Raised in Soviet Russia

Here is my take on the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

I was brought up in Soviet Russia. I can attest that the movie is a great invention of a Western mind. There is nothing like that going on in Kazakhstan. But, look, there were a lot of things that we were taught about America. Most of them didn't turn out to be true, as I discovered when I came to this country 14 years ago.



As for Sasha Baron Cohen's movie, it will accomplish at least the following:

• A whole lot of people will learn that there is such a place on the Earth as Kazakhstan!
• Speaking with an Eastern European accent will become fashionable. We'll see more commercials with heavy accented dudes. Love them!
• I will go down in history as the first and maybe only artist who commemorated comrade Borat Sagdiyev in latex.

It took me 28 minutes and 31 Qualatex balloons, if you know what I mean.

Please forward this message to Sasha Baron Cohen with my compliments. LOL Thanks.

We miss you, Archie's Pizza in Coral Gables!

Archie's Pizza is gone now from Coral Gables. It used to be so much fun! I have been twisting balloon art there on weekeds for, I think, for almost four years! I still get calls from my clients who knew me from Archie's. We miss you, Archie's Pizza!

Archie's featured delicious food and not only pizza, but salads, pasta, soups and desserts. I have been coming to Archie's for four or so years as a weekend entertainer. Regulars knew me well and I had quite a following there...

I used to be there from 1-4 pm on any given Saturday or Sunday. One day, I was told, a girl went hysterical when she came to see me and I wasn't there... Sorry...

If your family is having a pizza dinner and want to add some pizazz to it, give me a call at 786-301-2456 and I'll show up at any pizza place in central Miami, Coral Gables, or Coconut Grove!

Questions? Comments? Contact me at [email protected]

Balloon Art in Miami: We win our clients one heart at a time

Yes, I do want you to call me at 786-301-2456. Here, we always have time to talk to you.

I had numerous bookings from people who read feature stories about me in The Miami Herald and the Reader’s Digest.  The stories were just that, stories. They didn't have a menu to buy from.

The Reader’s Digest story didn't even have my contact info, but people found me anyway. I just want to you to know that I welcome your calls. We win our clients the old fashion way, one heart at a time.

 

Balloon Art .. and Effective Event Marketing

Link: Four case studies showing effective event marketing.

According to the EventView 2006 study from George P. Johnson Co. and MPI, 81 percent of businesses are turning to event marketing to make a meaningful impact on consumers, and a quarter of respondents say event marketing provides the greatest ROI.

I can see why. One thing I wish that marketers would grasp better is the potential of balloon art for marketing. Balloon art is so versatile. It can be so easily customized to the theme of the event. See here my post about the Target event.

I spent my Halloween night, October 31, twisting balloon art at Sona Spa in Coral Gables.  It was a feeding frenzy. The kids and adults lined up for my balloon art, clearly attracted to it more than to candies.

Despite the fact that the whole street was buzzing with activities that night, our corner was positively the busiest and the most colorful.

Balloons are designed to generate excitement and that excitement is contagious. It also creates an amazing photo opportunity that the media is always looking for.

If you've never seen a balloon artist at work, you just have to see it, to believe it. Contact me and I’ll arrange it for you. Do you hear me, Mr. Big Marketer?

Questions? Comments? Contact me at [email protected]

MAKE: Blog: said that I Might Be the Best Balloon Artist Around

I just discovered that Make magazine said: "Irina might just be one the best balloon artists around!"  Link: MAKE: Blog: Irina - The Russian Queen of Balloons.

Oh, Thanks. Does that qualify me for a free subscription? Just kidding...

I already get too many magazines. And, I hardly have time to read them, including my favorite: The Hollywood Reporter

Question? Comments? Please, e-mail me at [email protected]

 

Balloon Art .. It is Not Only for Kids

I noticed something that might not be so obvious. Some grown-ups enjoy balloon art more than kids. They see balloon art from an art perspective, not from a toy perspective.

Creative types, artists and architects, are particularly amused by intricate balloon art.

I enjoy doing events for grown-ups. I have a few grown-up events for the upcoming Halloween week and looking forward to it.

Question? Comments? Please, e-mail me at [email protected]

 

Balloon Art Marketing: How Original Balloon Art can Boost Your Trade Show Results

Flexible and colorful, latex balloons can be blown big and twisted into anything. Humorous approach works best.

Here is what one of my clients, a pharmaceutical executive, did during an important medical sales event.

She was selling a hemorrhoid cream. And, she asked me to twist two huge baboons with huge pink "swollen" behinds. She then strategically placed the baboons in her trade show booth.

Reportedly, those baboons stole the show, attracting her prospects like no other promotion ever did. People still talk to her about those baboons when she does her sales calls.

All it took was a little sense of humor, about 100 latex balloons and one Balloon Artist. Contact me to talk about your next promotion. I guarantee we can blow it up BIG.