Read a recent career book about public relations and its author will state in its introduction that the gift of gab is a characteristic of the profession. Ketia Fequiere realized she definitely possessed this gift. In doing some self-exploration, she knew she also enjoyed attending events and connecting people together. She had always loved music and the arts, and so in 2010, she established KPR Solutions, her entertainment publicity firm.
Fequiere has a vision-oriented approach in working with her clients. One of the most recent campaigns the PR strategist worked on was for a fashion show for trendy fashion store Mimi’s BoutiQ. Fequiere killed it; she created buzz for the show that resulted in a full-house. Her efforts yielded plenty of post-event buzz on social media for her client.
Kreyolicious: One of your favorite quotes, is this quote that has been attributed to Bill Gates: “If I had one dollar left, I’d spent it on PR”. Why, however, do you think that, for some acts, that’s the last thing on their mind?
It’s hard to say, but I think it’s because some acts do not know what public relations can do for your career. My job as a publicist is to expand awareness to clients and build their brand. An artist can have talent, but no one knows it because [a public relations program] is not available to him or her and [therefore] do not know who they are.
Kreyolicious: What would you say is the most stressful aspect of your profession?
There are many stressful aspects of public relations. Some of them are: keeping clients content, executing a seamless event, unanswered pitches, just to name a few. The most stressful aspect to me is that public relation is poorly understood. Not many people understand what my job as a publicist is. Some people think I’m a manager, a booking agent, an assistant, you name it, I’ve heard it all before. One of the first questions I ask at my initial meeting with a potential client is: “What is your definition of public relations?”
Kreyolicious: And once they give you their definition, you—
Once I am given a definition, I would then explain what is really public relations. Most of the time their response is completely wrong. After I explain it to them we move on to what their realistic goals are for public relations and marketing services.
Kreyolicious: Did internships play a role early in your career?
Yes, I did intern for an entertainment publicist in the beginning of my career. I believe having hands on experience is always great to have, especially in public relations.
Kreyolicious: I’ve heard of graduates working up to a year as unpaid interns at PR and digital agencies in this economy. What other advice would you give to new graduates besides doing internships?
Some advice I would give to graduates and individuals wanting to be in public relations are to read tons of books, join public relation groups on social media, and practice your writing. I am constantly reading and researching ideas. I am a member of a public relations group named Women in Public Relations. They hold many webinars, workshops and tons of important things that you need to know when you are a publicist. Writing is very vital in public relations. Maybe start a blog or be a contributor on a blog site or for a magazine.
Kreyolicious: What’s the most memorable campaign you’ve ever worked on?
One of the most memorable campaigns I worked on was a sponsorship package for a clothing line by the name of Zoe Beautee. I started out as a fan and purchased a few items from them. Later on, I introduced myself as a publicist and the owner Carline Smothers told me about a benefit fashion show she wanted to put together to donate to a non-profit organization named “Help us Save Us”, which provides a safe and steady source of clean water for their facilities in Sant. Raphael in Haiti. It was memorable to me because I was able to help with a great cause. My main goal in life and in business is to be able to give back and with assisting Zoe Beautee with their sponsorship package, I was able to do so.
Kreyolicious: What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in the field?
I don’t even know where to begin. I have learned so many lessons even with the short time I’ve been in this field. I will make a list. Lessons that I have learned in public relations: Believe in yourself. Just go for it. Believe in your craft. Never give up on your dreams. Mistakes happen, learn from it and move on. Don’t be afraid to fail! Don’t work harder—work wiser.
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