Upon arrival, wanting to escape the tourist madness, we splurged on a private boat tour with Relax Boats, where the two of us (and one guide) set sail like something out of The Odyssey…

The setting was so spectacular, I was certain we were on a movie set…perhaps “The Talented Mr. Ripley”…even Tu Vuò Fà L’Americano could be heard everywhere from the time we arrived in Naples. So, I pretended to be Gwyneth Paltrow on a boat with my Jude Law (minus the whole sick Matt Damon character).

There’s no better way to experience the incredible cliffs and luminous blue water than from a boat.

We floated in secluded inlets…

We explored caves…

We sailed through arches, specifically Lovers Arch, where you kiss to ensure eternal love…

And we sailed on…past the entrance of the Blue Grotto and decided against waiting thirty minutes and spending an additional 25€ to take a tiny boat inside. We were already experiencing magical blue water inside the caves, so for us, that was enough and way less touristy.

When our boat tour came to an end, our guide recommended we fill our starving tummies with Neapolitan pizza at Risotroante L’Approdo Via Fortino. We were slightly skeptical since it was located right at the Marina in the most touristy part of town, but it was maybe the best pizza I have ever eaten in my life. And my husband and I argued over whose was better…luckily we each loved our own.

After lunch, I turned my data roaming on long enough to look up Giada De Laurentiis’ picks for Capri and of course the best gelato was located at the very top. So, we started to hike. Up. Up. Up.

Her recommendation was closed (sad face), but we found a place that wasn’t. It was just the reward I needed for a steep trek that never seemed to end. So, I had chocolate and the hubby had a beer (as it should be). And then we realized there is a trolly that takes you to the top. And it won’t take you down unless you took it up. *Le Sigh.

So down we walked. But filled with dessert and surrounded by breathtaking views, we didn’t mind at all.

Later back at the hotel, tired and broke, we ate leftover cold pizza in bed while catching up on world news (the only channel in English). It was even better the second time.

A little video from the boat!

Capri Relax Boats. Via Cristoforo Colombo, 34. Marina Grande – Capri (Na) – Italy. +39 331 6084109

Hotel Bellevue Syrene is a paradox of intimate grandeur.The sweeping views are why you come here. The impeccable service and attention to every detail are why you’ll want to come back. With only 48 rooms, this is luxury, boutique hotel living at its best.

The entrance, draped in shades of blue, mimicked the Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius in the background.

Sorrento makes the perfect home base for visiting the Amalfi Coast. Ferries run every hour to Capri, while Naples, Positano and Pompeii are easy day trips.

French by design, even in its opulence, the hotel evoked a coziness…as if you were hanging out at a friend’s chateau (what…don’t all your friends have French chateaus? ).

Nothing like a little whimsy to balance rich sophistication.

One of the very special “extras” was the complimentary wine, champagne and canapes served from 10am-8pm every day in the Club Lounge. Italians believe in a long lunch. They don’t believe in late afternoon snacks, so finding an open restaurant that served wine/beer and a little something to tide us over until dinner proved to be a challenge each place we went. Having this at the hotel not only solved that very first world problem, but saved us a lot of moolah (good LORD the exchange rate…).

Most late afternoons you could find me here. With an empty coffee cup. What IS it about the coffee in Italy that makes it so much better? And the coffee was readily available and complimentary round the  clock. (As were the buffet breakfast and WiFi by the way.)

Ciao, bello

The last time I visited Sorrento, I was fourteen and on a school trip. And I’m pretty sure our hotel (er, motel?) was located somewhere between the 7th and 8th circle of Hell. There were gunshots, it was hot, loud and definitely haunted. Or at least that’s how my young, homesick and impressionable mind remembers it (I’d give anything to find that travel journal). I swore I would never return to this God-forsaken city until I could rest my hard to please head at a place of my choosing.

 I’d say history has been more than redeemed.

Hotel Bellevue Syrene. P.zza della Vittoria 5, 80067. Sorrento, Italy. +39 081 8781024

Ok, I know you are a Talent Executive, but for those not in the biz, can you explain what that means?

I pursue and book on-air talent for the network…celebrities and experts that are promoting something (movie, TV show, book, etc).  The difference in what I do and the casting department is that the guests I book are non-paid…it’s strictly for their promotion. Whether it’s a celebrity for an E! special, E! News or for our Countown to Oscar show, I have my hands in pretty much everything here.

So, what’s the difference between a Talent Executive (also sometimes called a Talent Booker) and a Producer? As a publicist, we pitch them both, so I’d love to hear the ‘official’ difference.

A producer’s main job is to coordinate their entire show, so their focus is more broad than a talent booker. Their role is to coordinate the guest booking from start to finish. AT E!, I am always thinking bigger picture because I work on numerous shows. A booker will take suggestions and ideas related to talent to producers, but the producer is the ultimate decision-maker.

So who has the final say in who gets booked? Does one person make that decision?

No, many people have to sign off on every booking and often talent is approved by a head executive.

So say I am an actor and want to get booked on E! News…can you give me any advice for bettering my chances?

We are obviously really about pop culture–so say for example you are on a TV show that may not exactly be our demo, if you have an upcoming project that is, that could be a way to get a booking (in other words, having mutliple projects). Or, if you’re dating Justin Bieber, haha. Also, we would rarely book anyone that didn’t have tape…meaning a past on-camera interview we can review.

What about for experts?

Having celebrity clients is first and foremost. And obviously credibility. We take great care in the experts that we use are really and truly experts in their field. We would also want to tape…it is very rare that we would book anyone without any on camera experience.

What is your advice for anyone looking to do what you do? And speaking of…how did you get your start?

I got really lucky…though I do work really hard. In college, I majored in broadcasting and started booking guests for our school’s late night comedy show. I had no idea at the time that it would be the start of my career! I moved to LA and gave myself a month to find a job and that job was a Talent Coodinator at E!. But…we were also in very differernt economic times. As for advice…relationships, especially with publicists are the most important thing in this business. Since I’m not working on a daily show, about 25% of talent bookings come from being pitched. The rest is from my seeking them out through publicists.

And now a few unrelated questions…since you know I love restaurants and hotels…

Favorite place for work drinks in LA?

The Roof on Wilshire

Favorite LA restaurant 

Pink Taco 

Favorite hotel?

The Montage Laguna Beach

And since you do work in television…Favorite TV show?

Parks & Recreation and Happy Endings

Sassafras Saloon.  1233 Vine St.  Los Angeles, CA 90038.  323- 467-2800

My sister-in-law Rebecca is a semi-finalist in the Scion contest for young entrepreneurs, so they flew her out to LA and put her up at Shutters for the week. (Not a bad gig if you can get it.) I lived in Santa Monica my first three years in LA and Shutters on the Beach was a place that I frequented (even if that meant laying on the beach in front of it wishing I could afford a room!). It is my absolute favorite hotel in LA, not only for the location, but for the way it feels like your very own personal beach house. It oozes romance— especially at sunset, and Wednesday night we made it just in time to capture the last glimpses of light before we met Rebecca for a drink. Pretty spectacular.

This is the living room, which overlooks the beach. We happened to be there for Wednesday Boîte, where DJ Harmony rocks the house and a special mixologist creates exotic cocktails with fresh ingredients.

So many cocktails, so little time.

My “Blueberry Collins”

This is Rebecca. She is a fashion designer in New York and so talented. She designs gorgeous custom bridal gowns and is becoming quite sought after! Check out Schone Bridal here. Best of luck, Bec! But really…is there any contest??

Shutters on the Beach.  One Pico Blvd.  Santa Monica, CA 90405. 310-458-0030

Photo by Tiffany Rose

Photo by Tiffany Rose

First, if you are looking for one of the most iconic luxury hotels in LA, look no further. It’s managed by Four Seasons and yes…it’s the hotel from “Pretty Woman.” It’s had a major face lift since then and Wolfgang Puck opened Cut, one of his best and most extravagant steak houses in town.

Photo by Tiffany Rose

I always judge an event by how quickly I have a glass of champagne in hand . I think this was a record 1.5 seconds, so you know I was happy.

Jen and I mingled with Carrie Mitchell (far left), the PR director for the hotel and Christine Chiu (who happens to be married to one of the best plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills…Dr. Gabriel Chiu (in case you are looking!).

Photo by Tiffany Rose

Ok, listen up. I cannot explain to you enough my obsession with Natura Bissé, a Barcelona based skincare line.  I have very sensitive skin and it’s worth every penny. Though…I haven’t quite worked my way up to the Diamond line (their most luxurious). My daily routine includes their NB Ceutical Tolerance Cleanser, the Sensitive Complex and the Essential Shock Cream.  When I found out the Beverly Wilshire Spa uses their products, I literally ran (I’m a dork) to the little tent set up and proceeded to gush in hopes I’d go home with some samples (I did).

I also got a Diamond scrub on my arm (they offer this as a facial treatment in the spa). And I swear, my arm looks years younger and a lot more sparkly!

Photo by Tiffany Rose

I think I may be the only girl in LA who never passes up the food at events…the passed hor d’oeuvres were by Wolfgang Puck.

Photo by Tiffany Rose

Though I did pass up the candy bar, but wasn’t it pretty!

On the way out the door, I made a new BFF, Robby, who sat me down for a 10 minute hair fluff. In addition to hair at the hotel, he also does the spray tanning…so I plan to go back next time I need a very fancy tan (and so should you). He was tons of fun.

Beverly Wilshire Hotel. 9500 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90212. 310-275-5200

We met up last night for dinner and drinks in the Bar & Lounge. There’s a full menu by Wolfgang Puck and it’s full service, so it’s a (relatively) affordable, relaxed place to hang with friends on any given Sunday night…

Jamie and I love a well mixed cocktail at a well designed bar. Call us high maintenance.

This little tea pot caught my eye as soon as we walked in, which I was told was full of spiced rum.

Past the bar is the lounge, where a pianist sets the mood.

My favorite detail was the Limited Edition black and white Norman Seeff celebrity portraits that demanded your attention upon entry, giving the modern decor a timeless backdrop.

The menu is more casual than the main dining room—burgers (my choice), pizzas as well as a nightly special…

Which tonight was fried chicken and biscuits with sausage gravy. Jason ordered this, but of course I had to sample it…I am, after all, Southern. And, I approved.

After dinner, we decided to have a little nightcap on the patio outside (because today was a holiday…so why not?).

Our waitress was awesome—entertaining us with stories about working in Vegas (then we all decided we were in the wrong profession).

And for those who actually live in the neighborhood, an exclusive Bel-Air card is delivered to your door that gets you 15% off everything and free valet (normally a staggering $18). It’s good to have friends in high places.

Hotel Bel-Air.  701 Stone Canyon Rd.  Los Angeles, CA 90077.  310-472-1211

I am what the industry refers to as a “personal publicist.” That means I handle people. Usually they are actors, but I also represent a handful of experts like interior designers, event planners, lifestyle experts, celebrity trainers, etc. Understanding a little bit about how publicity works can really help maximize results and hopefully save you some money. Check out the below and if you think you are ready, have your people call my people…

1. Competition is Fierce, So Timing is Everything- While it’s true that some people just get lucky, your project is really the biggest determining factor of whether or not you are currently press worthy. It helps to already have a platform such as a book coming out, a television show or film premiering, a product line, a huge blog following, celebrity clients etc.  With so many shows, networks and experts these days, the competition for magazine features and talk shows is tougher than ever. If you pay attention, each season you will notice that there are a handful of new television shows that get ALL the attention. This is because editors screen all the pilots in advance, so they decide long before the show premieres which ones to champion. A publicist can get you access to the “big leagues,” but you want to be confident in your project. For experts, having celebrity clientele really helps, but at the end of the day, everyone wants to be wowed. So go out and wow them! One of the greatest misconceptions is that publicists can make water into wine…that is get publicity for someone who has nothing going on. There are always exceptions to the rule, but that is usually not the case.

2. Do Your Research-I really think it can be detrimental to your self-esteem to compare yourself to other people, but when it comes to publicity, it’s my one exception. Before you hire a publicist, it would be a good idea to come up with a list of 3-5 people who you think are similar to you. Then google them to see what kind of publicity they have gotten. That can at least help you gauge what kind of publicity you are likely to garner and if now is the time to take things to the next level. And remember to really be honest! Don’t google “Kate Winslet” if you haven’t won an Oscar (yet!).

3. Lead Time- Publicists need at LEAST one month, preferably longer before whatever you are promoting comes out in order to pitch and secure press. If this gives you any indication, I am already pitching a client this month for a film coming out at the end of June. I’m pitching a book now that is coming out in May.  Don’t wait until the last minute to start taking meetings.

4. Money, Money, MONEY! -Having a publicist is a big investment. But, one that can really pay off. A publicist works on a monthly retainer, so you definitely want to be financially prepared. If you are struggling to pay your rent or mortgage, as Suze Orman would tell you, you can’t afford it. Which brings me to…

5. Be Patient-it takes more than one month to see results. I usually tell my clients that you should really give your publicist a solid three to six months before deciding if the investment is paying off. So, when you begin with a publicist you really want to have your ducks in a row. Have your website up and running, have images of yourself in both high and low res either on a disc or in something like Dropbox that is easy to share.

6. They Like Me! They Really Like Me!-This may be the biggest key to life in general. If people like you, they will want to date you, be your friend, help you, work with you. If editors, producers, directors, television bookers, etc. like you, they will want to work with you again and again (provided you meet the criteria in number 1). And a little insider secret, if your publicist likes you, she will work extra hard for you because it makes her happy to see you succeed!

7. It’s All About the Bottom Line-There is a reason Kim Kardashian continues to grace the cover of almost every single magazine. She sells them. Plain and simple. Same goes with talk shows. It is the job of the producers and bookers to raise the ratings of their show. Therefore, they want to book guests that are fun and connect with the audience. Have you ever watched a show like the Tonight Show and thought to yourself, man that guest seems like a jerk! Or, man she is sooo boring, what else is on? It rarely happens because bookers and producers work really hard to invite guests that are going to be entertaining. If a guest is boring, chances are they won’t get asked back.

Leave your questions and comments and I’ll make sure to answer!

]]> http://www.thisyuppielife.com/2013/01/31/how-to-know-when-its-time-to-hire-a-publicist/feed/ 4 http://www.thisyuppielife.com/2013/01/15/this-is-30/ http://www.thisyuppielife.com/2013/01/15/this-is-30/#comments Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:54:35 +0000 Molly http://www.thisyuppielife.com/?p=7088 Last week, I was honored to be included in a fancy schmancy dinner party for my friend Rachel’s 30th birthday at Osteria Mozza. Twenty six of her closest friends and colleagues were joined in a private room at one of LA’s finest, where the wine flowed and the courses were a continual parade of comforting bites. So very grown up. And so my kind of party…

But, the fine attention to detail did not take away from the real reason we were all there. To mark a milestone. Turning 30. And, by the way, when did 30 start to seem so young? For me, perhaps it was the moment I realized at 35, my 23 year old assistant thinks I”m ancient, proclaiming how much she loves “Girls,” the HBO sensation, which apparently perfectly captures the zeitgeist of today’s youth, something I couldn’t possibly understand since I’m still glued to the tube reveling in reruns of “Sex and the City” (way more MY generation).  Or maybe it was when my celebrity dermatologist schooled me on the fact that I would need $400 worth of botox to fix the wrinkle in my ever aging forehead (ah, Hollywood).  All I know is that 40 is breathing down my neck like a disgusting blind date I can’t escape and truly I never thought I’d be that girl who cares about getting older. But, so it seems…here I sit at 30something, wondering where the years have gone, afraid that I can’t possibly fit in everything I want to do before I’m a decrepit old woman.

As we all gorged our faces that night, Rachel’s husband delighted us with a birthday video filled with messages from friends and family, offering best wishes and things they loved about our guest of honor. The common theme was that Rachel preaches that anything is possible and no dream is too big, an attitude I happen to share. I just needed a reminder that no matter your age, or where you are now,  it’s never too late to follow your passion. Cheers to 30 and beyond…may we always be inspired and young at heart.

Me and the birthday girl

The decor was impossibly stunning and so very chic.

A beautiful apple marked our places. Clever, but, I’m no fool… I’ve read the fairytale. And, I’m still vying to be the fairest of them all.

Mr. Schoneveld

My biz partner Jenn

Rachel and her husband Dave

Orecchiette with sausage & Swiss chard

Ricotta & Egg Raviolo

Grilled Whole Orata

Butterscotch Budino

 Osteria Mozza. 6602 Melrose Avenue  Hollywood, CA 90038. 323-297-0100

Ray’s & Stark Bar is known for their handcrafted cocktails, which celebrate Mr. Stark’s (the late film producer and former LACMA Trustee) films including “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Steel Magnolias” (my favorite for so many reasons). The restaurant is owned by the Patina Group, so expect an exquisite dining experience as well, especially since it’s located smack dab in the middle of one of LA’s best museums. Location, location, location.

After a catch up session reminiscent of a scene straight from “Sex and the City,” we did what every Angeleno must do at least once…stage a photo session at the Urban Light installation. And it was pure comedy. Five publicists taking photos of themselves is something nobody should have to endure. Unless it’s on E!…now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a show to write.

Ray’s and Stark Bar. LACMA. 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 323-857-6180

A chateau in Paris? What could be better? The Saint James on sale Jetsetter on 12/12.

Well, a “townhouse” in London of course. The Royal Park winter promotion is £189/night for a double room including breakfast.

Or I could live out my fantasy of a holiday in the English countryside. The Cotswolds House Hotel & Spa at 20% off thru Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Or perhaps hole up in an Irish castle. Lough Eske Castle offering 3 night for the price of 2.

Or delight in a tale of two cities…magical Verona and Firenze, Italy. Though maybe not the best “deal” out there, this offer from the Salviatino Collection certainly looks delightful.