REICH COMMUNICATIONS

What We Do: Super Pet Expo

We arranged for CBS 2 NY weatherman John Elliott to be at Super Pet Expo Sunday, where he did several live remote spots.

Here's what they looked like throughout the morning...

Remember: On Jan. 6, president incited insurrection at Capitol

Despite his treasonous actions, the convicted felon got re-elected. 

Let's be careful.    

What We Do: Super Pet Expo

We got some great hits to promote Super Pet Expo, including this live spot on PIX 11's New York Living Friday...

Lots of advance newspaper and online coverage, and CBS 2's weatherman John Elliott did several live remotes from the Super Pet Expo Sunday morning.

Watch it here...

 

 

 

Ten Years

Even after 10 years, I still miss Loki...

his sweetness, his playfulness, his snuggles, his puppy kisses.

Happy and Peaceful New Year

from NY City...

 

A Good Man

Peace

As we begin the holidays, here's a wish for peace --

Peace in the world and peace of mind.

Back to the News, sort of

Finally started watching network news again, but selectively.

We watch CBS Evening News via DVR, with one finger on the fast-forward button in case any story or photo or sound bite with convicted former president comes on. 

Still just can't do it.

A Road Not Taken...Luckily

While I was in college, I got involved with the college FM radio station.  I got a 2-hour slot one evening a week for a show called "Caravan," which played easy listening/MOR (middle of the road) music.  I enjoyed blending mixes, although I was terrified every time I put the mic on to speak.  I also read newscasts that aired on 2 stations that played in the dorms at my school and at SUNY Potsdam, the other college in town.

But I had my eye on the jazz show that aired weekly.  When the guy who did that show graduated at the end of my freshman year, I grabbed the show and renamed it "The Jazz Scene."  I loved jazz, although I really didn't know much about it. So I bought myself "The Encyclopedia of Jazz" by Leonard Feather, whose name I knew from countless liner notes he'd written for jazz albums.  And I'd go the school library to read the latest copy of Village Voice, to be up on new jazz albums and club dates.

On school breaks, I'd head down to the Village to hear live jazz, bringing the station's portable tape recorder so I could get quick interviews with the likes of Herbie Mann, Carmen McCrae, Billy Taylor and others.  For one semester, I shared the mic with one of the school's Humanities professors -- Wes Craven, who later left for Hollywood to become the horror film icon.

In my senior year, I became station manager, so I got involved in station programming and promotion.  I had so much fun, and I also learned a lot about managing various personalities -- especially tricky since everyone at the station was an unpaid volunteer.

I would have tried for a career in broadcasting, except I always had that fear when the mic would be on.  And I was never a glib, fast-talking DJ, which was the style at the time.

So when I graduated, I didn't pursue radio, but instead got my MBA in Public Relations.  And I've had a great career in that field...enjoying the work, learning a lot and rarely having a dull day.

I still follow radio, and when I see the Facebook groups and broadcasting newsletters about industry happenings, I realize how lucky I am that I chose the PR path over radio.

Oldtimers constantly complain about missing the "good ole days," when they could pick what songs they'd play.  And as the big radio conglomorates gobble up station after station, things like local newscasts, local public affairs programming and jobs themselves have disappeared.  One radio newsletter lists long-timers who've been cut by corporate bean-counters and are now, at advanced ages, on the street and job-hunting.

I consider myself lucky that I had some time in radio but, in hindsight, I'm so glad I followed the career path I did.

 

 

 

Giving Thanks