Several years ago, I swore that I would never return to retail.
After it was re-confirmed that I was soon to be let go from the Chicago Match Race Center, I applied to over 100 firms, agencies, corporations and small businesses. In one day, I received 56 rejections.
Rock bottom came to mind.
By chance, I found an undisclosed yacht yard seeking a retail associate. The ad boasted that it is the "largest yacht yard in Chicago." Dead giveaway. The ad was 6 days old; chances were the yard had already found their store associate. I applied anyway and received a call a few days later.
My interviewers spoke of this position like it was the most-desired thing ever. It was all a sham. They were pleased with my interview and one showed me around the place. I was grateful that it was still nice out, but regretted my choice of Ferragamo kitten heels on the rough pavement.
A familiar face -of sorts- produced a genuine smile from me for the first time that day. There sat Momentum on a cradle surrounded by a hundred boats. I don't even know how I picked out Skipper's old boat amongst the others. It's not like she was special or stood out. Just an old girl with fading paint and antique lines.
I interpreted Momentum as some sort of sign and took the job. I now work retail at Chicago's largest yacht yard. Not exactly PR.
Most days I'm disappointed with my situation. I've even been reminded of my failure by a select few individuals. Remember the skipper from Richardson who was upset about his coverage? Yeah, that asshole. "This isn't exactly a step up from CMRC is it?" No, shut your trap. "You're no longer doing PR?" he asked with a twisted smile.
Things look up, though, I'm moving to Lincoln Park with Ipo next month. The 2hour commute to-and-from the yard has been doing me in quickly.
The yard has also had me working on some PR and marketing projects that I'm pretty excited about. Top secret of course ;)
Skipper's friends from back when help me get through the really hard days. An old gent who I had spoken to briefly about the weather stopped mid-sentence, "I know who you are." Okay, sure old man, who am I? "You're Gene Kinney's granddaughter." I choked on my own tongue. "How did you know?" - "I just knew," he said as he walked out. Eerie, right?
Apparently, Devon and I haven't been flying low enough below the radar with Maneater either. I was speaking with a man who I thought was talking about T-10 racing. I confessed that I was only out for one event last season and needed to find a new ride. "Oh, did you sell your boat?" - "I don't have a T-10, I just sailed on one," I explained. "No no. The big red one. You still have it don't you?" I'm still trying to place who this guy is. Was I really that drunk on Mac Island? Don't answer that.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
CHEERS TO THE SEASON'S BEST AND ALL THE REST
Well hello there strangers!
For those of you who are unawares, I finished up a highly successful season as Press Officer for the Chicago Match Race Center in mid-October. I learned a lot and loved the position along with all its up's and down's.
Here's a glance at some of the projects we worked on there that you haven't seen:
GRADE 2 INVITATIONAL
August
CHICAGO MATCH CUP GRADE 1 INVITATIONAL
September
The Grade 1 Chicago Match Cup was by far my most notable event in regards to media relations. The event gained more coverage than any other event in CMRC history.
For reasons most likely related to my writer's block and giving seniority to another professional, I was not to be authoring releases for the event. Instead, I spear-headed the mainstream media efforts, video coverage and social media. I was pretty bummed over losing my release-writing duties, so I put everything into ensuring the best coverage we've ever had.
Along with hiring Matt Knighton - a highly desired Chicago videographer and editor - we brought in my sister, Devon, to run a live camera. Devon gained new insight to my daily likes and gripes! But what is PR if not an emotional rollercoaster! So long as you're pleased after the project is over or at least learned something, I think it's the right place.
Who cares about sailing in the US? How do we get the general public to give a damn about match racing? We face the same problems again and again.
The crazy fall weather made my job significantly easier, though. Dogs off chains being the appropriate phrase throughout the weekend. Broaches, men overboard, tight finishes all appealing to the eyes of the non-sailing community. It didn't hurt that the first big break was because ABC's original 5 o'clock feature didn't turn out to be that intriguing.
Mr. Frank Mathie, a 79-year-old veteran anchor, came dressed to impress and was drenched from head-to-toe before I was even able to gather his interviewees on Day 1. You see, it was pouring rain and fairly chilly that morning. Phil Robertson, Alvaro Marinho and Mary Anne Ward were the lucky candidates for air-time. It was a good combination of foreign flair, handsome men/beautiful woman, experience, and humor. Okay, the humor may have come from the bit where Frank couldn't get over that these sailors try to screw each other over to get ahead - not very "gentlemanly" at all:
The next couple days were absolutely off-the-wall with the houseboat having to be relocated, boats all over the place and all just more crazy, fall noreasters. This led to further coverage by Fox News, NBC and WGN on the days of the 26 foot waves. Originally WGN wanted to interview me, but being more of a behind-the-scenes person, I opted to introduce my boss as he walked towards me.
By the ends of these days, I was just done for; Devon was as well. It was the best event put on and exhausting to the very end where I slept for 3 days straight.
AUTUMN OPEN A+B
September
Needless to say, this event took me by surprise. I didn't ever anticipate that I would be match racing; especially not with British Olympians Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush, Kate Macgregor and, their coach, Maurice Paardenkooper.
I was confused and immediately reluctant to actually sail with these girls. I mean really, me? Sail with a team of that caliber? Not to mention me match race in general? Please!
Especially since I despise screamers and d-fleeters and I had no idea what I was in for with these people. After enough flack from the rest of the staff and the pleading of the team, I decided to actually do it. I totally caved. At least they needed my weight, so there was no starving myself as I shook in anxiety on the scale.
The weirdest part of the whole event is I don't remember it very well. I was overwhelmed so everything is in bits and pieces.
I became dizzy in a couple of the pre-starts, specifically in those against Brad Funk and Don Wilson. It wasn't that I was sea sick or motion sick, but it was like when you keep spinning and spinning around in a room and then you fall down and the room still spins. It all happened so fast and I was thrown right into it.
It took a few races for me to realize that I could not understand a word these girls were saying to me unless they spoke really slowly and loud. They all had thick accents and used words that I've rarely heard on the boat. "Can you understand a word we're saying?" Annie asked after the first race. Well, no and my hearing hasn't been the best out of my right ear either.
Not only was it difficult understanding what they were saying, but ruling out the screamers from other boats just did me over. I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on.
What happened at that bottom mark? Goodness! I was being told to put the spinnie up, pull it down, up, down. Finally, woof, round the damn mark. I must have had the look of an exasperated dog chasing my tail because Maurice looked at me, laughed, and said, "You're doing great," with a pat on the back.
I knew we made it to the Finals against Funk, but I was so tired, I just went through the motions. The wind had picked up in puffs and my muscles were screaming. Too many times while hiking, I had to remind myself not to let go. I so wanted to just fall in the water.
We passed through the finish line with a puff. The team was congratulating each other and I saw Isao on the photo boat broadside. I thought it was a little early to take a team picture. Maurice had to inform me that we won the event.
Exhausted would be an understatement.
The ladies were a treat to sail with. I'll be forever grateful to them for bringing me aboard and teaching this bum a thing or two.
RICHARDSON CUP
October
The Richardson Cup, a 73-year-old Great Lakes Match Racing Championship, was extremely relaxing with the gorgeous October weather and good company. It was solely a social media, photos and release package for the YRUGL.
The only rough bit was when I had written that one boat crashed into another on Day 1 (which did happen) and the assaulting skipper was upset that I had noted it and wanted a retraction. Seriously, dude? Don't crash into other boats if you don't want it to be written about. Not-to-mention that I had noted that he led the day in points and was sailing well otherwise.
Other than that sole incident, it was the perfect end to the season.
**********************************************************************************
Since the Richardson, my services as Press Officer were "no longer needed."
Do I miss it? Yes
Would I do it again? Bet your ass, I would
For those of you who are unawares, I finished up a highly successful season as Press Officer for the Chicago Match Race Center in mid-October. I learned a lot and loved the position along with all its up's and down's.
Here's a glance at some of the projects we worked on there that you haven't seen:
GRADE 2 INVITATIONAL
August
Chicago Grade 2 Invitational Promo
Grade 2 Wrap-Up
September
Chicago Match Cup Promo
For reasons most likely related to my writer's block and giving seniority to another professional, I was not to be authoring releases for the event. Instead, I spear-headed the mainstream media efforts, video coverage and social media. I was pretty bummed over losing my release-writing duties, so I put everything into ensuring the best coverage we've ever had.
Along with hiring Matt Knighton - a highly desired Chicago videographer and editor - we brought in my sister, Devon, to run a live camera. Devon gained new insight to my daily likes and gripes! But what is PR if not an emotional rollercoaster! So long as you're pleased after the project is over or at least learned something, I think it's the right place.
Who cares about sailing in the US? How do we get the general public to give a damn about match racing? We face the same problems again and again.
The crazy fall weather made my job significantly easier, though. Dogs off chains being the appropriate phrase throughout the weekend. Broaches, men overboard, tight finishes all appealing to the eyes of the non-sailing community. It didn't hurt that the first big break was because ABC's original 5 o'clock feature didn't turn out to be that intriguing.
Mr. Frank Mathie, a 79-year-old veteran anchor, came dressed to impress and was drenched from head-to-toe before I was even able to gather his interviewees on Day 1. You see, it was pouring rain and fairly chilly that morning. Phil Robertson, Alvaro Marinho and Mary Anne Ward were the lucky candidates for air-time. It was a good combination of foreign flair, handsome men/beautiful woman, experience, and humor. Okay, the humor may have come from the bit where Frank couldn't get over that these sailors try to screw each other over to get ahead - not very "gentlemanly" at all:
The next couple days were absolutely off-the-wall with the houseboat having to be relocated, boats all over the place and all just more crazy, fall noreasters. This led to further coverage by Fox News, NBC and WGN on the days of the 26 foot waves. Originally WGN wanted to interview me, but being more of a behind-the-scenes person, I opted to introduce my boss as he walked towards me.
By the ends of these days, I was just done for; Devon was as well. It was the best event put on and exhausting to the very end where I slept for 3 days straight.
Chicago Match Cup Wrap-Up
AUTUMN OPEN A+B
September
Needless to say, this event took me by surprise. I didn't ever anticipate that I would be match racing; especially not with British Olympians Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush, Kate Macgregor and, their coach, Maurice Paardenkooper.
I was confused and immediately reluctant to actually sail with these girls. I mean really, me? Sail with a team of that caliber? Not to mention me match race in general? Please!
Especially since I despise screamers and d-fleeters and I had no idea what I was in for with these people. After enough flack from the rest of the staff and the pleading of the team, I decided to actually do it. I totally caved. At least they needed my weight, so there was no starving myself as I shook in anxiety on the scale.
The weirdest part of the whole event is I don't remember it very well. I was overwhelmed so everything is in bits and pieces.
It took a few races for me to realize that I could not understand a word these girls were saying to me unless they spoke really slowly and loud. They all had thick accents and used words that I've rarely heard on the boat. "Can you understand a word we're saying?" Annie asked after the first race. Well, no and my hearing hasn't been the best out of my right ear either.
Not only was it difficult understanding what they were saying, but ruling out the screamers from other boats just did me over. I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on.
What happened at that bottom mark? Goodness! I was being told to put the spinnie up, pull it down, up, down. Finally, woof, round the damn mark. I must have had the look of an exasperated dog chasing my tail because Maurice looked at me, laughed, and said, "You're doing great," with a pat on the back.I knew we made it to the Finals against Funk, but I was so tired, I just went through the motions. The wind had picked up in puffs and my muscles were screaming. Too many times while hiking, I had to remind myself not to let go. I so wanted to just fall in the water.
We passed through the finish line with a puff. The team was congratulating each other and I saw Isao on the photo boat broadside. I thought it was a little early to take a team picture. Maurice had to inform me that we won the event.
Exhausted would be an understatement.
The ladies were a treat to sail with. I'll be forever grateful to them for bringing me aboard and teaching this bum a thing or two.
RICHARDSON CUP
October
The Richardson Cup, a 73-year-old Great Lakes Match Racing Championship, was extremely relaxing with the gorgeous October weather and good company. It was solely a social media, photos and release package for the YRUGL.
The only rough bit was when I had written that one boat crashed into another on Day 1 (which did happen) and the assaulting skipper was upset that I had noted it and wanted a retraction. Seriously, dude? Don't crash into other boats if you don't want it to be written about. Not-to-mention that I had noted that he led the day in points and was sailing well otherwise.
Other than that sole incident, it was the perfect end to the season.
**********************************************************************************
Since the Richardson, my services as Press Officer were "no longer needed."
Do I miss it? Yes
Would I do it again? Bet your ass, I would
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)