Wow! This past season was so incredible. I am so thankful for the opportunity this year to video blog in partnership with Ford. My favorite part was getting to know RIP City fans through communication on the Web site. Please check out some of the behind-the-scenes footage from the year!
NBA Madness Finale: Day 4
Another early morning, and after a big yummy breakfast, we headed out for a tour of a beautiful temple called the Lung Shan of Manka. Our tour guide taught us many different things about all the different Gods, offerings, and reasons why many people in Taiwan visit the temple. Since it was so HOT we were then taken to enjoy a local treat that many people eat to cool off on a hot day. It consisted of sweetened shaved ice that was topped with beans, mochi, baby peanuts, potato roots, taro, lentils, and green peas. As they set the bowls down in front of us we all tasted it despite its strange appearance.
NBA madness was our next adventure, our first stop was the restroom which is always fun because we enjoy being escorted by the many, many security men. After dancing on the hottest day here so far, we enjoyed some authentic McDonald’s fried chicken and 60 chicken nuggets, each! Just kidding. But seriously that’s how much food they provided for us, we are very well taken care of.
After a short break at the hotel we headed back to NBA Madness for the closing ceremony. This had to be the largest group of fans yet! We helped out with some fan giveaways including tickets to the upcoming sold out NBA game, Nuggets vs Pacers, in October. The fans were ecstatic as we handed out event posters and other NBA gear. The NBA Madness Taiwan closed with a bang and we are thrilled to have had an opportunity to be a part of it.
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NBA Madness Taiwan: Day 3
SURPRISE! In the middle of the night Caitlin’s bag finally arrived. Thinking we would be fast asleep all night we were very surprised to wake up at the 5 o’clock hour. Excited to get back down to the breakfast buffet, we headed down early to fill our bellies.
Our first destination was the Grand Hyatt where we found out that we were supposed to be staying but plans changed due to the fact that the hotel is “haunted.” We had fun taking pictures next to the two photos that are there to protect all of the guests who dared to stay there. After performing in the nice air-conditioned venue and taking photos with fans at the DHL VIP Party we were served an amazing meal with all kinds of delicious food. Full to the
max we headed back to the hotel for some afternoon rest.
Since we were done for the day we got ready to head out on the town for the night. Our tour guide, Howard of NBA China, had a wonderful plan laid out for us. Our first destination was back to Taipei 101 to experience the building from the top! We made our way to the roof on the elevator that only takes 37 seconds, we felt a bit sick to say the least. What an amazing view and special feeling to be looking at Taipei from the tallest building in the world.
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Taiwan Day 2
Our first day in Taiwan was wonderful. We woke up early and headed straight to breakfast. Talk about a lot of food!!! Dim sum, a chocolate fountain, many tropical fruits, an assortment of pastries, fresh juice, congee, a very large assortment of authentic Asian cuisine, and much, much more!!! As we made our way out of the hotel for the day, we met up with Jordan Farmer of the LA Lakers, as he would be venturing around Taipei and the NBA Madness with us.
We packed up all of our things for the day and headed out to “Spark,” the club we would be performing at later that night which is at the bottom of Taipei 101, the largest building in THE WORLD (including 91 floors)!! We took a look at the venue and set our two routines, “damaged” and “walk this way.”
Our next destination was the Shin-Kong Mitsuikoshi Shopping center where The 2009 NBA Madness Taiwan event is being held. We were greeted by lots of happy faces. We were very excited to find that we had our very own “VIP” room including air-conditioning and lots of yummy snacks. We took a look around and were stoked to find a larger than life size poster of our faces and BlazerDancers written in Taiwanese! We did a few high kicks to show our enthusiasm =)
We were given a quick lesson on common Taiwanese phrases and proper etiquette to best interact with local media and all of the fans. Next we headed out to the stage to perform for the first time!! We had a great time dancing, answering questions for the media, and signing things for the fans. The weather was way hot so it took a lot of energy! We were part of a quick tour of the activities at the event where we spent a few minutes in each tent. Mari played some bball and nearly clinched the win over Jordan Farmer, phhhhhh Lakers! We were part of a photo including the NBA championship trophy where we took measurements so we could find a place for ours in the Rose Garden this season! Hoping to arrive back at the hotel to find Caitlin’s suitcase, we were very sad to find that it hadn’t arrived yet.
After some rest back at the Shangri-La hotel we all headed out to Spark in our only uniform to perform and mingle. We had a lot of fun walking the red carpet and dancing in the famous night club, in the Taipei 101. Next we headed back to our hotel for some much needed rest.
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BlazerDancers in Taiwan
Our once in a lifetime journey started at 8:00 am at PDX. We began our trip to NBA Madness 2009 in Taipei, Taiwan and Hong Kong!
So much excitement in the air as none of us have ever been to China. This is the first International trip for all of the ladies as BlazerDancers. Our journey took us through San Francisco, directly to Tokyo and finally about 20 hours later to Taipei, Taiwan! Of course through customs and the challenge of finding our way to correct baggage claim area. Luckily we have Eri who understands some of the language and was able to guide us through the airport. Or first challenge – Caitlin’s luggage with all of her uniforms, shoes, accessories is missing! Our first event is in the morning and Caitlin has nothing to wear! Luckily each dancer packed one uniform and shoes in their carryon just in case of emergency! Thank goodness for that last minute idea. Always be prepared!
We were greeted at the exit by our fabulous escorts Doris and Zeno who will be with us for our stay here in Taiepei. The nicest two people we could be lucky to work with. The second we exit the airport we’re overwhelmed by the heat and humidity! It must have been 90 degrees but it felt like 110. Our Rockstar Energy Drink sweats were perfectly comfortable for the long journey here but it was time for a quick little adjustment to survive the temperature. As we traveled for an hour by bus to the fabulous Shangri-La hotel in Taipei, we were able.to see the city by night. It never sleeps. It’s like New York City. What stood out most…..the Vespas1 They’re everywhere. We were later told there are 22 million people here…..and……22 million Vespas! One of our hosts says he has three of his own. Just imagine New ork City cab drivers on Vespas, weaving in and out of traffic and serious speed. Everyone rides them, adults, kids and familes, yes we saw three people on one Vespa! We’re hoping to rent some for a tour of the city while we’re here.
Once checked in at the Shangri-La we had a late dinner at one of the many bar/restaraunts here at the hotel on the 38 floor. We were able to see the beautiful city of Taipei by night and for the first time, the tallest buidling in the world, Taipei 101. Amazing! Can’t wait to see it up close.
Time to nestle in and try to get some sleep. NBA Madness 2009 begins tomorrow!
Wan an – good night!
Caitlin, Taren, Cristi, Eri, Mari, and Mary Ellen
Credit: Michelle Woodard
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The Biggest Loser’s Winning PR
The Biggest Loser has taken the reality genre to a new level. The title stands out on an infinite list of reality shows, because it sticks in our heads. It stimulates viewers’ curiosity. Who would want to be the biggest loser? It’s something different and unexpected. The Biggest Loser takes a creative approach to reach its target audience by encouraging obese contestants to make healthy lifestyle changes. The weight loss success of contestants, who lose sometimes half of their body weight in a few months, encourages us viewers of all sizes to maintain great health. What better place to motivate people to acquire active lifestyles than right from the couch? 
The Bigger Loser‘s expert trainers educate viewers with sticky and simple pre-commercial exercise and food tips. They reveal their sincerity by directly encouraging viewers to participate at home and by developing tight-knit relationships with cast members. The emotional and physical issues that surround the series are real, and in an overweight nation, they relate with the majority of viewers. The show’s general messages apply to everyone and are easy to remember. Most importantly, they keep us publics thinking about the show – even when it’s over.
Viewer share how The Biggest Loser has changed their lifestyles:
Photo Credit: http://nbc.com
Filed under exercise, health, PR, The Biggest Loser
It’s All About “The Donald”
A salad of celebrities has stirred a sassy new season of The Apprentice. The season’s tasks have showcased the business talents of stars, such as country music singer Trace Adkins, actress Marilu Henner and U.S. Gold Medalist Jennie Finch. The Celebrity Apprentice isn’t the first time we have seen celebs take advantage of personal networks yank in dough for charities, and its certainly not the first time a Baldwin Brother has gained publicity on a reality show. The Celebrity Apprentice contestant Stephen Baldwin leaped into the reality genre on two seasons of Celebrity Mole and Celebrity Blackjack with his brother, Billy. His other brother, Daniel has also made appearances on Celebrity Fit Club and Celebrity Rehab. Not all of the contestants are as predictable as Omarosa’s persona. The unexpected addition of Tiffany Fallon, a Playboy Playmate of the Year, showed that some beauties are pretty darn intelligent.
While the celebrity contestants brainstorm business tactics, Trump and his crew share their wisdom in “The Trump Blog: Ideas and Opinions from Donald Trump and TrumpU Faculty.” I was surprised to see that the billionaire entrepreneur even takes time to visit the blogosphere. “The Donald” is a business world guru, and he surely recognizes the importance of memorable PR.
Photo Credit: http://time-blog.com
Idol is Going Social
In my PR writing class, we have been talking about ways that social media have transformed the PR landscape. I’ve been an avid “Facebooker” throughout my four years of college, but our classroom conversations have steered my attention to ways that the entertainment industry engages publics through social networking sites.
As I sifted through the American Idol Web site yesterday, I noticed the brand’s load of interactivity. I’m not surprised that the show has taken advantage of opportunies to captivate fans online, and I would love to share some of the reality show’s tactics:
In case we don’t have enough personal profiles on MySpace and Facebook, American Idol has come to the rescue. The MyIDOL Community allows users to create profiles, find friends and send messages to other users. We can even upload pictures to our MyIDOL photo galleries.
Now, we can “befriend” the judges. You heard me. Simon, Paula and Randy have personal bios that allow us fans to learn about our new pals. Some of the contestants have even tapped into MyIDOL to reach out to their fans.
It looks like the brains behind Idol have gained a lesson in social PR. They have launched a MyIDOL blog that allows us fans to post about the show. With a name like MyIDOL, we can all feel like our opinions are important.
Photo Credit: http://americanidol.com
Filed under American Idol, MyIdol, Paula Abdul, PR, Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell
Scoop Me Some Idol!
Simon, Paula and Randy are back with another season of American Idol, and the competition is just starting to heat up. The trio has given us a glimpse of America’s next pop star along with 23 other hopefuls. I can hardly wait for the newest Idol’s tracks to accompany Carrie Underwood’s latest album in my car and Kelly Clarkson’s first one on my iPod.
Though a few of the winners fell out of fame faster than they sang their way to stardom, the media often seems like an Idol Nation. With Kellie Pickler hits that replay on CMT, Chris Daughtry tunes that overwhelm XM radio and Justin Guarini commentary that swarms the TV Guide channel, I’d say Idol has covered its bases. 
On a recent trip to the grocery store’s ice cream aisle, I noticed the rows full of American Idol treats. I had never considered that aspiring pop stars might be in the frozen favorites business, but the marketing idea makes loads of sense. The Slow Churned Idol line is a smooth move for Dreyer’s. I’m convinced that if I were a 14-year-old Sanjaya fanatic, I’d be all over that half gallon of Choc ‘N Roll Caramel or one of the other show-themed flavors. Idol has also announced the April 9th return of its Emmy-winning special Idol Gives Back. Last year, the music celebration pulled $76 million for charities around the world. This year, past contestants, the Manning brothers, Bono, Brad Pitt, Snoop, Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus will appear on the special. The program will place positive light on the diverse group of celebrities and on the show itself. The football stars, famous performers and young stars will appeal to a broad audience. In the meantime, I think I’ll eat my Soulful Sundae Cone ice cream and watch the week’s top 16 contestants battle their solos.Photo Credit: http://www.sacbee.com
Oprah’s Big Give Gives Big PR
She has given away free cars, household must-haves and now, millions of dollars. If there’s one thing we know about Oprah, it’s that she seems to thrive on giving, giving and more giving. On Sunday, her new show Oprah’s Big Give will premiere on ABC. The show encourages people to “pay it forward” by handing large chunks of cash to average people. The catch is, those people have to compete for the most creative way to make other people’s dreams come true. Oprah’s clever idea is an effort to make the world a happier place.
Oprah will surely make her money back, but the show’s charitable basis will also boost her public image. The show is noticeably original and reminds me of one of my favorite movies, Pay It Forward. In the past few weeks, I have seen Oprah grace magazines covers and Web pages. The show has upgraded her status from superstar to superhero.
From her annual Christmas giveaway to aiding children in Africa, Oprah has mastered the art of public relations. I do love how Oprah has used her money, fame and resources to help people around the world. Something in her soul has given her incentive to launch the philathrophic reality show. Looks like even big names feel the need to remind us that they care.
Photo Credit: http://abcmedianet.com
Filed under Big Give, Oprah, pay it forward
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