Internet 101

Yeah, well, I get emails with grave warnings about viruses and sick children and new laws that will destroy the Bill of Rights. I always let the senders know that the emails are hoaxes and should not be forwarded. But that doesn't help, so, if your post here results in a measurable change in behavior, let us know.

One difference between our two situations -- I'm dealing with a small community in which I know some of the players, and they know me. And they've paid attention to me before. I don't expect to reform the world, but some people, at least, might learn from what I'm saying.

Having never sent or received a press release, but now finding myself in the possible position of doing so soon--or at least being closely involved, I appreciate your comments.

Thanks, Jeane. Here's a thought. Try to find a critic who'll forward his or her e-mail press releases for a week or so. You'll quickly see which ones are effective.

It's really great when a publicist lets me know about a conference I might like to intend, in a city hundreds or even thousands of miles away....one or two days before it starts.

Even better is when one of them calls me on the phone with this exciting opportunity -- as I'm trying to meet a deadline.

Or when a publicist calls me, asking me if I'm going to review a new CD of standard repertoire by an artist I've never heard of -- and doesn't give me even one reason why I should care about the CD.

Thanks for adding to my list! I wish publicists could be in our shoes for a week or so. I think they'd learn a lot.

But one important point! Some of them do fabulous work, and some of them are my friends. So I'm certainly not condemning publicists wholesale.