It always pays to be polite.

One of the earlier on-site events I got to work on was the grand debut of a luxury shopping precinct, which took place in the month of March. Unlike the standard programming of a mall’s launch, this particular one kicked off with a series of in-store happenings from 12 – 6pm, catered specially for the media, on top of an opening party in the evening. 24 participating tenants of this “media excursion” welcomed the attendees with activities ranging from collection previews, orientation tours, food tastings and demonstrations.

Undoubtedly with this many options, it would mean that the onus was on us to prepare a concise media itinerary and appendix, entailing details of store introductions and what attendees can expect. From the outset, it was one thing having to ensure that all tenants involved promptly send in the required information, and another having to organise the contents in a timely fashion for print. This experience reemphasised that one must always be prepared to make revisions, and expect changes at the last minute because nothing is ever set in stone unless it is hot off the press. It also proves that this is not only applicable in the academic environment, but also in the working sphere, not just limited to public relations (PR).

An interesting aspect of the “media excursion” was the flexibility it provided media representatives in scheduling their arrival for the activities, since no specified timing was given for them to be present; this informal setting allowed us to play host to these representatives and gave us time to get more acquainted. It was also an excellent opportunity for me to finally place a face to a name from the media list which I have been staring at for the past 2930403024 days!

As evening approached, the luxury retail mall was all prepped up for the exuberant celebration with canapés, cocktails and champagnes, while complementary performances spanning three levels awaited the invited guests. Some of the highlights included a high-octane crystal ball manipulation presentation, as well as showcases of this season’s vogue with stylish models decked out in Michael Kors, Pierre Balmain, Leonard Paris and Kiton before a packed house.

Aside from the expected evening’s party revellers, we were not shy of party crashers. On a few instances, we had certain individuals who attempted to finagle their way into the party. Nonetheless, what should one say or react when the other is utterly persistent on getting in even whilst he/she is not on the guest list? Well, the saying that goes “it always pays to be polite” is fairly apt here. What I found interesting (and works) during these situations to get a point across is simply a confident self, and a nice smile never hurts. At the end of the day, regardless of however pleasant or uncomfortable the situation is, all we need is to add a dash of courtesy, and it will leave a far more lasting mark on the individuals we interact with.

With that note, I shall end this post. For those who are in the midst of their reports, I hope it is going brilliantly!

Cheers,

Jac

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"An array of delectable canapés served."

"High-octane crystal ball manipulation performance."

"Models strutting out showcasing this season's latest vogue."