Firstly, let me say thanks for the positive feedback and comments. It's kind of scary to think that y'all read this because I'm a pretty boring person. So boring in fact that I have to share a personal secret that not many in the racing community know. Most of you know my racing experience, that I was in NASCAR doing the ultimate fluff game, worked in publishing, that kind of stuff. Few know the secret that just prior to moving to North Carolina I was in graduate school for Balkan history and library science. LOL That's right - you got it, library school!!! Now how do you feel that you are reading this? Hm...
Let's cover some odds and ends that came up from various thoughts, messages and questions while waiting for the verdict on weather.
The "fluff & hurl" term. Yes, that seriously is what casually dub a lot of my work. People really underestimate that amount of research and work that it takes to produce quality PR or marketing pieces. I started calling it that a few years ago when one of my bosses (who will remain nameless) needed me to just "fluff" some stuff up. Basically, take the jist and just make it sound pretty. If it was just that easy - yeah let me go fire up my fluff machine. Sometimes you have to even write about stuff that's not so great or you may not care for (hence, hurl). I finally snipped back one day and asked if he wanted poly fill or down for that "fluff" and just had a puzzled look. I spend a lot of time on my "fluff & hurl" and try to write things that people would enjoy reading and not feel like people are throwing some sort of commie propaganda in your face and trying to spoonfeed it to you. It may not work but I really do try...
I will admit that I am very OCD about grammar and punctuation in releases and 'real' writing projects. I am also a total control freak and perfectionist so I can be downright annoying. Hell, even Squirrel just keeps saying "yes" when I ask him for the 328th time if he did something because I'm worried about him forgetting something. I would have probably used racing tape to tape my mouth shut by now but he just goes with the flow.
And then the question about what I really do. Well, whatever it takes to feed that Starbucks habit. I moved back from NC because the purchase of U.M.P., Xtreme, other projects with some of my younger racers and to be closer to the family business. I kept a limited roster of PR clients and keep things open with some affiliations that always need an extra hand with imaging, marketing, publicity or sponsorship gigs. With a lot of my younger racers it was more a job of driver management which is a glossed up term we say for babysitting. It is just making sure everything that should be handled, planned on, etc. is set, they are where they need to be, PR is ready, prep for interviews and media tours and the like. You are there to kick them in the butt when they need it and give pep talks and pats on the back too. I really scaled back on side projects because it got to be a lot of work and I need to feel as though everything is progressing towards a goal and my work is a valued part of that. I never wanted to be the one-stop shop of motorsports with one on every corner like Walgreens. I'd rather pick a few clients or projects and focus attention on them to really see short-term and long-term goals achieved. I've been very blessed and lucky so far in that department. A lot of racers that I view as my own kids are growing into their own so it's good to see how far they have come. The same is true of projects like the "Tri-Track Challenge" which just finished a successful 4th installment. Things like that make it rewarding even if you are ready to blow a gasket some times because of the frustration and stress. I help at the business when needed but mainly deal with our racing programs (just like this hospitality planning for our clients to enjoy when the NHRA comes in town), work on various projects that Sarge and Schrader have come up - they usually tend to be the fun ones, keep up as needed with 'my boys' and now work on a few new pet projects.
Rayburn was able to talk me into a marketing/sponsorship segment at his seminar as only he could get away with because I hate formal public speaking. Of course it was only 5 weeks after I was gimped up but I survived and it was actually a great experience. I have so many racers from a variety of motorsports, regions, backgrounds, etc. contact me wanting to try to do things right for their image, sponsors and team. I don't have the time to help everyone and still pay my bills and few have the budgets to hire someone that will really make an impact. I've tried to critique as many portfolios and give suggestions but it's sad because there are a lot of teams out there who want to do things right but just don't know how. I'd hate to see them waste money to do something half-@$$ when if they only had a little guidance so they can do it themselves and be successful in doing so. I've wanted to write a "how-to" manual that isn't some cheesy generic marketing doorstop but just the specific things that I do, have seen work, know are flubs or things dyno-tested in the trade from the media or sponsor standpoint. Basically, telling my trade secrets. Now of course, it's no substitute for experience but I think it could make a difference to a lot of teams. Problem is time... I started things again this off-season but fell behind after a rough spring. That's what I would love to do next - offer seminars or workshops on this stuff where it's not "talking at" people but discussions with small groups on actual real life situations and learning/using these tools.
On the Summernationals. I hate this time of year - everyone kind of runs around, spinning their wheels and gets tempermental. But, I grew up with this tour so it's just the way summer is supposed to be. I did a write up on the origins of the tour and how it's grown for Dirt Late Model magazine and realized I still find it kind of odd that Bob Memmer isn't here. This was his baby. It grew from 6 races in 1988 to 27 days and look at the states represented! In this sport, so much comes and goes that little is consistent. Ole Bob did something write because here we are chasing this thing for the 19th time. It is very tough on a team. These drivers and crews go through so much. Think about it, it's not just highly competitive racing on different tracks so no two are the same but it's also having someone run over your stuff one night and then having to pack up, go find somewhere to work on it, drive to the next stop and start all over again... and again... and again. Many nights it is finish racing at 12:45, get paid, take a shower, roll out to find a Steak n' Shake or something (worthy of another post --- favorite post-race food haunts), get on the road and drive (you got it, DRIVE not ride) 260 miles or so before pulling the plug. Wake up after a few hours, try to find somewhere to unload to beat the body back on or something and maybe wash it, finish driving to the next track, get parked, unload, do maintenance and start all over again. Also need to find some laundromats, Wal-Marts and grocery stores in between there. This year's tour does have more openings than usual so hopefully it gives a bit of downtime but the travel seems either light or full-tilt.
Thanks again for the kind notes and popping by.
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You better lay off the coffee with that last piece!! LOL Randy Wantta foot race????
Two cripples in a foot race, that would be a shootout! I do think I need to alternate in some decaf... :)