Monte Carlo

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When You Wish Upon a Jabbawockee

November 9, 2011 in Client news | No comments

If you could wish for anything in the world what would it be? A shiny new Lamborghini? A million dollars? Or what about your very own island with a luxurious mansion and Common whipping up dinner for you in the kitchen (too much haha)? It seems opportunities like this only arise in your dreams or whenever you randomly stumble upon a magic lamp, but for two young people, their wildest dreams became a reality when they wished to meet the world-famous dance crew, Jabbawockeez.

Jayden, 11, and Tamara, 16, are both wish kids with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization serving children with life threatening medical conditions. As part of their mission, the organization aims to inspire and give hope to children during tough times by making their greatest wishes come true, no matter how big or small. For Jayden and Tamara who both have a background in dance and aspire to have a future in entertainment, there was no hesitation when they wished to meet the Jabbawockeez.

Because I interned with Make-A-Wish in college, I have a deep appreciation for their cause and the admirable work that they do. I was pleased to discover in my very first week at Kirvin Doak that I would be able to merge my history with the nonprofit with my new client, Jabbawockeez. I couldn’t wait to meet the men behind the masks who can pop and shake in ways I never could, but on Sunday my excitement was put to shame when I met die-hard fans, Jayden and Tamara.

Walking up to the theater I could see the kids with their families waiting anxiously outside of the door. “Dressed to impress,” the two racked their brains about what they would say to the group that had inspired them most. After a backstage tour through the dressing room and rehearsal space, the two were finally given their opportunities. Jayden and Tamara lit up the room with excitement as they opened the double doors to find the Jabbawockeez on the other side. After introducing themselves, the two showed off their personal moves with enthusiasm and raw talent that even wowed the pros. With priceless expressions that could never be duplicated, the two were overcome with emotion as they were presented with their very own autographed Jabbawockeez masks.

The connection the Jabbawockeez made with these children was so heartwarming it nearly brought me to tears. It was moving to witness how a small and caring gesture could make such a lasting impact on someone else’s life. I know Jayden and Tamara will never forget the day their biggest wish came true, and neither will I because it was the day my wish came true too– My wish to work with an amazing client on an amazing team for an equally amazing firm. Big dreams do come true.

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Why It’s Important to Know Your Client.

July 26, 2011 in Client news | No comments

Do you know where the last coin-operated slot machine is on the Strip? I bet you don’t, and a month ago, neither did I. (It’s the Blazing 7’s at Circus Circus)

When I first came to Las Vegas and joined KDC’s MGM Resorts team, I spent as much time as I could going over document after document, trying to familiarize myself with the ten casino/hotel properties that I now represent. And let’s be realistic here. It’s hard to memorize 50+ room products, another 50+ spa products, plus another 30+ attractions all in one week before I jumped on the pitching machine.

Fast forward. It’s been four months now, and I’m glad to say I know the hotels well enough that I can visualize different story angles. But, I still don’t know everything.

That became glaringly obvious to me when I was invited on guided tours at each of the properties. I was blown away at how much I didn’t know. MGM’s PR veterans compared room rates, showcased top amenities and shared their secrets of best places for journalists to experience Las Vegas, all without batting an eyelash.

Clearly, reading doesn’t mean knowing.

And now, after hours of hiking through hallways and restaurants, learning insider tips and riding on two roller coasters, I’m slowly grasping the whole picture of each property.  Best of all, I’m pitching from my own first-hand experience in addition to the memorized facts.

It’s important to get to know your clients. Take an afternoon and go visit them, listen for insider tips, and see a different side of the product through their eyes. And it’s even better when one of them has a dolphin habitat.

Here are a few things that I learnt from these adventures:

1. The Roller Coaster at New York-New York is scary. Really scary.
2. The next time I want to go to a Mandalay Bay Beach concert, you’ll find me grabbing a bite at the outdoor terrace of Border Grill. Talk about sitting right on top of the stage!
3. Mandalay Bay suites have interesting mini-bar items such as the travel box (razor, slaving cream, comb etc.) and the…er… love box. I’ll let you figure that out yourself.
4. There are beer pong tables in Excalibur. ‘Nuff said.
5. And my favorite hidden gem: Circus Circus has gorgeous rooms and unbeatable room rates that are rarely advertised. Not to mention their resort passport includes two free drinks and two free rides at Adventuredome.
 

*MGM Resorts International properties in Las Vegas include CityCenter, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Luxor, Excalibur and Circus Circus.

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Monday Fun-Day at Monte Carlo with a “Pub”lic Relations Foodie

June 29, 2011 in Client news | No comments

There is no better cure for a “case of the Mondays” than a craft beer festival to re-launch the fabulous menu of pub grub at The Pub at Monte Carlo. Last Monday, I immersed myself in just that. Not only was I lucky enough to sample the brews of Pyramid, Blue Moon, Sin City Brewing Co., Sierra Nevada, Leinenkugel, Woodchuck, Stella, Leffe, Hoegaarden and more, but I got my hands on a coveted Locals Card. This card gets me automatic all-day happy hour Monday-Friday and 50% off beer on Sundays upon every return visit – now that’s refreshing.

Aside from mingling with some of my favorite local journalists and clients, The Pub’s new menu had to be the highlight of the event for me. All of the food is delicious, but there are three dishes that you cannot miss:

1. The Pub Crunchy Potato is pure heaven – a deep fried ball of mashed potatoes sprinkled with bacon and accompanied by spicy ketchup dipping sauce.
2. While such a decadent hors d’oeuvre is impossible to beat, second place undoubtedly went to their famed sliders in Ground Beef with melted cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce, sliced tomato, red onion and The Pub secret sauce and Pulled Pork varieties.
3. Another new dish to take note of is The Pub’s Wood-Fired Flat Breads. I’m partial to the BBQ Chicken with red onion and cilantro but also heard rave reviews of the Grilled Vegetable and Braised Short Rib.

On top of the phenomenal fare, The Pub unveiled its new Beer Lockers – a unique amenity which guests can earn by enjoying all 136 beers on tap or by spending $5,000 on beer within one year. While a feat like that may be out of my league, I can’t wait to feel like a VIP when I return with my Locals Card! 

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JABBAWOCKEEZ Remind Us Why They Were They Were the Original America’s Best Dance Crew Champs!

June 7, 2011 in Client news | No comments

I was recently offered the opportunity to work on the public relations efforts for world-renowned dance crew and Monte Carlo headliner, Jabbawockeez.  Being a huge fan of the show and having great respect for their craft coming from a dance background myself, I jumped at the opportunity.  One of my very first projects was to go to Los Angeles with them last Thursday to facilitate interview requests while filming the season six finale of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. I’ve had some great “moments” happen to me while working here the last five years, but this experience might just be my favorite 24 hours at Kirvin Doak. 

As I arrived at the Warner Brothers lot, on one of those perfect 80 degree California days, I was quickly whisked into Stage 21 to watch dress rehearsals.  There, I had the chance to see the two finalists, IaMmE and ICONic Boyz, as well as all five past season champions take the stage.  I was eager to see the Jabbawockeez routine as I knew they had been working hard on a performance that included 30 extra Jabbawockeez to complete their vision. I was blown away.

After rehearsals were done, we all got a short break for dinner and ran through a series of TV interviews. Before we knew it, it was show time!
The hustle and bustle backstage was exciting! Costumes were flying, sets were being moved and the crowd was warming up. Soon enough, the Jabbawockeez were ushered out of their dressing room and all 37 of them flooded the stage for a performance that gave the audience a glimpse into their critically acclaimed show at Monte Carlo.  The surprises for the fans didn’t stop there. Just when you thought it was over, they pulled out their secret weapon, the “baby-wockee,” out of a massive stereo prop and she (yes, a 6 year-old girl!) stole the entire show.

When the crowd gave multiple standing ovations and started chanting “Jabba! Jabba! Jabba!” it almost brought tears to my eyes.  I haven’t worked on them very long, but knowing their passion for what they do and how hard they’ve worked to get to this far in five short years, I am very proud of them.  As we all packed up and drove off the studio lot, I found myself feeling very thankful that they brought me in to see their world first-hand for this special day.

To see their performance on the season finale of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, click here.

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