The Rub PR Team
Whether you’re a new performer or an established one, PR is very important to your career. Hiring the right publicist isn’t always easy and there’s a lot to consider. Here are a few things to think about:
Are You Looking for a Career or Just a Lot of Money Fast
Some girls enter the industry in the hopes of making a pile of cash and making a quick exit. Other girls want to be the next Jenna Jameson. If you want to be Jenna, you’re going to need marketing/PR team, along with a stellar agent and/or manager and a lawyer. A true publicist knows about and has experience in social media, marketing and publicity—you need a specialized individual like this to skyrocket your career, in addition to being cast in great movies and having an amazing onscreen performances.
You need to know what you want. I always meet with potential clients and ask them what they want to achieve. If they don’t know, I ask them to think about it and get back with me. I can make suggestions, but you have to know what you want. What are you immediate and long-term goals? You need to have a goal in sight and get the right team behind you.
How Much Can You Afford
PR can get expensive—it will generally start at $500 and can go up to $2000 or more, per month. Most companies require a one or two month deposit, before they will start working for you. You will want to make sure you have enough money for at least three months of service—less than that won’t do you much good, because it’s basically just getting started. But, in a few months time, you’ll know if your PR firm is doing a good job—in fact, it might only take a month. Also, keep in mind that forking out a lot of money doesn’t always guarantee you’ll get the best publicist. And on the flipside, paying less than $500 a month will get you what you paid for, which usually isn’t much.
What’s Their Rep or Street Cred
Most of my business comes from current or past clients—they are satisfied and let people know they’re happy with the work I’ve done for them. When I get someone inquiring about PR, I ask them how they found me and it’s usually from a referral. Ask around to other talent and/or companies who have publicists and find out if they’re happy with the level of service they’re receiving and the amount of stuff they’re getting (interviews, paying gigs, etc.). Do they treat all their clients the same or do they just focus on one or two? Some new clients contact me from all the stuff they see me talking about on Twitter, Facebook and my website.
You might also ask your potential publicist to give you a rundown of things they have scored for their clients. Do they have AVN or XBIZ nominations and awards? What magazines have they got their clients in? Are they doing more than just writing a press release or two a month and then collecting your fees?
Spend Some Time on Their Website
Does your potential publicist have a website? If not, you might want to rethink hiring them. And what does their site say about them? It is a bunch of flashy pictures or does it really tell you something about them and their services?
Look at their past and present clients? Do they only take established names or do they take girls new to the biz? Do all their girls look alike? If so, it might be harder for them to get you interviews, etc. because you’ll be competing with the other girls on their roster. Does the publicist focus on one girl more than the others? All these things are important things to consider.
How Do You Mesh
Sit down and really talk to your potential publicist. Do you guys get along and are you on the same wavelength? It needs to be more than you think they can just do the work. You need to be able to have stellar communication with them.
When I meet with a potential client, I’m interviewing them, too. By getting to know them, I can decide if I want to take them on. I have a policy—I never take clients I don’t like, don’t think I can work with and/or help. For me to go the extra mile (like I always do), I have to like the person. And unlike most publicists, I really do care about not only my clients’ success, but also their well being and happiness.
Check Out Their Press Releases
Can your potential PR actually write a good press release? Is it professional done and edited/proofread? These things are important and will be a reflection on you. Not all publicists are great writers—the smart ones learn to write or hire someone to do the writing for them. Also, you might want to see if their stuff ends up on the major websites and if people in the industry take their work and press releases seriously.
How Long Have They Been in the Biz
You want a publicist who’s been around the block and knows the adult industry, has amazing contacts and has been doing PR for at least a few years, whether it’s their company and/or working for someone else. You want to hire someone who not only knows what they’re doing, but has the crucial experience behind them.
Know What You’re Getting
Some publicists offer services that others don’t—don’t assume we all do the same thing. Some will get you mainstream and/or adult work, but others won’t. One publicist might get you paid to sign at a convention and another will assume it’s your agent’s responsibility. You might want to ask for a proposal to make sure you’re getting what you want (service wise). If they don’t provide a particular service, you can ask them if they will do it for you, but they might charge you more or say no. I give my clients a big bang for their buck (no pun intended)—I do a lot and offer them a ton of services.