AMERICAN AIRLINES, NOTICE TWO

Last Friday two beauties from D Beauty were headed to NYC for the Bridal Market. Like me, they booked their tickets on American Airlines. I will never blame any airline for not taking off because of bad weather. But American loaded the D Beauty beauties and hordes of others on a plane despite severe weather warnings. They pushed back from the gate and sat on the runway for—take a deep breathe–five and a half hours. No snacks. No water. No nothing. As tornado warning sirens went off all over Dallas and the skies were filled with lightning and thunder, the D Beauty beauties and their fellow passengers just sat there in fear.

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AMERICAN AIRLINES, YOU’RE ON NOTICE

I have flown 1,263,780 miles on American Airlines. For the most part, I’ve been happy to be loyal to our “home town” airline. Given the number of times I’ve flown, I’ve had very few rotten experiences. Sure there was the time a kid sitting next to me puked in my lap and the flight attendant refused to answer the call button and then there was the two-hour wait for a pilot who overslept, but, until yesterday, nothing really horrid to complain about. Long story short: three of us boarded a two-hour American Eagle flight from Leon, Mexico to DFW. We arrived at baggage claim in terminal D. There was not another person in sight. The luggage buzzer went off and bags started rolling around the belt. Then it stopped. (more…)

JOEY CRAWFORD TO WATCH PLAYOFF GAMES IN HD

My only comment on the NBA suspending referee Joey Crawford for tossing Tim Duncan (in his game against the Mavs) is this: If that had been Dirk, is there ANY chance Crawford would have been riding the pine? Of course not. Not that I’m a typically whiny, bitter, and defensive Mavs fan.

UPDATE: My new favorite blogger says Dirk should win MVP.

DOWN DOG AT THE CROW COLLECTION

Yesterday I was lucky enough to have lunch with Mike Agis, a fellow SMU alum who now does marketing and PR for The Crow Collection of Asian Art. Along with great storytelling ability and nice hair, Mike knows a lot about the Crow. After touring the gorgeous museum, my message to the Nation is: Go there. It’s beautiful, and it’s also free, which means there’s no reason not to pop in the next time you’re in the ‘hood.

Changing Identity is gorgeous, Female Buddhas is interesting, the Lotus Shop is cool (hello, Mother’s Day is right around the corner). But did you know they offer yoga classes every week at the Crow? Tranquil Tuesdays combines yoga presented by BKS Iyengar Yoga Studio with the serene and calming atmosphere of the Crow Collection. It’s only $15 for non-members, and you buy tickets here. Sounds a little better than a sweaty, Zen-stifling gym to me.

RE: DALLAS-AREA PR-AD FIRMS-AGENCIES SEEK EXTRA-CREDIT WORK

Look, to all you folks filling my inbox, yes, I know the grades were for ad agency work. My initial headline was inaccurate. Sorry. BUT, these are full-service firms that pitch themselves as able to do everything for a client — advertising, PR, etc. — and such perceptions affect the entire company. It’s why I call them PR companies, because that’s how I know them. I would argue it’s how most people outside the business know them. I point you to the way they identify themselves on their web sites:

–Temerlin McClain (TM) is a full-service communications agency with complete advertising, direct marketing, and public relations capabilities.

–The Richards Group–WHAT WE DO: advertising, corporate identity, interactive media, public relations … [etc.]

Now, you wanna argue some more? Bring it.

DALLAS-AREA PR-AD FIRMS-AGENCIES SEEK EXTRA-CREDIT WORK

Various PR folks are telling me I’m confusing PR with advertising work. Hey, it’s all the same right? No? Hello? Beuller?

I’m a little confused by your use of the term “p.r.” for this. The Adweek agency report card is given annually with respect to advertising work. In large measure, the grade is based on how well the agency is doing relative to itself; i.e., business lost and gained, significant awards and hires, that sort of thing. Public relations is a related but separate discipline with separate and almost never related staffs and budgets. So, for example, even though The Richards Group increased its billings by 9 per cent overall last year, they lost Hyundai, their biggest single account, toward the end of the year. Their work remains, in my opinion, the best in North Texas, equal to the best in the state and in the top tier nationally.

MY TWO CENTS FOR THE DAY

I just wanted to say this weather stinks. I know it’s April and it rains, but why today? I had a fashion shoot scheduled to take place outdoors at the Belmont Hotel this afternoon. So much for that.

RE: DALLAS-AREA PR FIRMS SEEK EXTRA-CREDIT WORK

A quick-typing FBvian suggests I seek insight from others:

Rather than hearing from the industry, you should ask all the clients who feel they spent tens of thousands of dollars with the Big Boys and got absolutely nothing for their money. We hear from them all the time. My favorite tactic of the Big Boys is what we call “Bait & Switch.” They pitch small- to medium-sized accounts with their heavy hitters and dazzle the prospect with their clips and reels. Then, once they land the business, they put a 25-year-old AE on the account. After six months, the client is completely frustrated and convinced that PR doesn’t work. So they switch all their money over to the Sales & Marketing budget. Or they hire the 25-year-old away from the agency to head up their internal PR Dept.