Jennifer Perry of Atlanta, Georgia writes:
“My client, Pam Weeks, wrote and produced the Pam & Buffy television shows for children for years. The show is now distributed nationally by NIMCO, an education products company. Buffy is a 6-foot sheepdog costumed character and performed a live interactive show with Pam for 15 years at the American Adventures, a family entertainment park.
“Pam is in negotiations to create a new season of shows at a station in Tennessee and does special live shows around Atlanta at schools and churches. They do a lot of charity work, such as getting emergency dental work for children of very poor families.
“I can’t seem to get Pam & Buffy in any of the local media in Atlanta. They aren’t edgy and hip but just too wholesome. Sometimes I think if Buffy smoked crack and Pam made rude body sounds, I could get them the cover of anynewspaper or magazine in Atlanta. But shows that teach responsibility, courtesy and kindness are, to use a movie term, box office poison. I’ve tried the local papers, magazines, even Atlanta Parent—zip, zero, zilch, nada!
“Can your Hounds help a fellow Hound in need?”
Joan-
I’ve got to believe that one of the Atlanta TV stations would be interested in having Pam & Buffy on in the morning news. They’re always looking for “positives” to highlight. Mon-Fri on FOX affiliate may be best opportunity–they have more time to fill.
FYI- It’s not that difficult. I recently had one of my clients on the FOX6 Wake-Up-News here in Milwaukee with Gus Gnorski. They did two 3 to 4 minute live cut-ins at my clients place of business. In addition, the station did live promo’s the entire news cast. This exposure was priceless. Customers talked about it for a month afterwards (sales also shot up).
If you saw the “press-release” I sent them you’d fall off of your chair. I was in a rush one day and merely forwarded what my client had emailed me regarding what we wanted people to know. It was two pages of all caps with my hand written revisions on it! I guess content won over presentation.
Hope this helps.
-Brian
I am producing television and continue to write in South Korea. The children and country are a joy to work with. Their desire to learn is all inspiriting.
Thank you all for your support of my work!
Blessings,
Pamela Weeks, 1990
Creator of the Pam and Buffy Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHY-Q_LSKsA
If you’re trying for press coverage to get bookings, I agree that Pam and Buffy are pretty mild, judging from the website, and you no doubt have a lot of competition for that media space. However, there’s nothing wrong with “wholesome” for kids, and maybe the approach could focus on the problems of finding wholesome entertainment for kids today – a more sociological or cultural look at what’s out there. Interview some parents and/or teachers and even kids. Come in the side door to talk about how wholesome entertainment fits in today’s world. And then tell them where they can find it!
How about a tie in to the local humane society or a local sheepdog rescue – in New England, it is New England Old English Sheepdog Rescue, http://www.neoesr.org, and the Placement Director can be reached at grannie.annie@neoesr.org…sure they can put you in touch with someone in GA. (I need to put a plug in for the fabulous Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue here – ygrr.com – which is where I got this info)Also, having kids read to dogs in libraries and schools is popular, as children who need confidence in building their reading skills love having an appreciative dog audience. Having Buffy read to could bring a national audience. Good luck!
Firstly, what kind of messages do they send out? I do shows everywhere for kids of all ages, and have had lots & lots of media coverage due to my stand on bullying, celebrating our different backgrounds, and appreciating who we are.
I have original raps/songs that are interactive, stories that hit home with kids, and have CD’s & books that sell quickly on the subjects. Messages are important! Cheers, Granny Roz
Hi Joan!
Media loves pets and kids so my suggestion for Pam & Buffy are to hold a Buffy look-a-like contest and combine it with a brief walk that benefits its charity, U-R Special. It would be a great way to communicate the show and its message of giving to help others. In addition to attracting media, it should serve to enforce to kids and adults that when you’re generous with your time, you will feel good about yourself and can have fun at the same time.
Gail
October is National Dental Health Month. How about focusing on the dentist(s) that do emergency dental work on kids? That might be a timely angle with good visuals at the dentist’s office that you could pitch.
Woof! The new magazine Atlanta Dog Life (editor Kitty Roberts) kroberts@atlantadoglife.com might want to link up with you somehow, especially if you offer activities gratis for the underprivileged. You might want to include the birthday party angle too.
I recently worked for a Michigan based production company on a show which is aired on local PBS. Like Pam & Buffy, it was aimed at little kids. We were new at the time, which helped a lot, but something else that worked was pitching the CEO’s story about how the show and the company got started. Maybe Pam’s team members have some unique tie-ins or recent accomplishments that would draw some attention. Also, if you haven’t tried it, contact both freelance writers and photographers who work at the harder to crack publications rather than primary editors.
Best of luck!
Cheryl
Why not team up with a local chain of petshops/petfood suppliers to sponsor a charity ‘fun’ dog-show. Classes could include ‘Dog with the waggiest tail’ and ‘Dog which looks most like its owner’. 🙂 Surely the press/local radio would fall over themselves to cover the event. Buffy would open the event of course.
I think you need to look at the root cause or causes for the lack of interest in this show at this time. Does it seem out of date, repeating itself, lacking in originality, stale? This is information best obtained from station managers, sydicators, reviewers, others in the industry and viewers. Do some surveying by phone, mail, email. You may be quite surprised at the comments, suggestions and actual help you may get.
Jim Nugent
Thank you all for your suggestions. Jennifer you are great! Buffy and I are are getting ready for Red Ribbon Week October 23-31. Buffy is a drug free dog! Have you seen dogs exposed to meth?
I am getting the web site updated. Last year porn was attached to it. There are many good teahing resourses available to families. It is sad that we are exposed to hackers.
My goal is to have an interactive site to educate and entertain. I took five years off to go to school, now I am back full time. I have 40 TV shows produced and sold by Nimco, Inc. I have many fun songs that bring hope and joy to children. I am looking for a community that could use our work as I create the New Pam and Buffy TV.
The latest and greatest, up and coming is YouTube. There is a ton of traffic there. Just upload and pass the word that it’s on there – (easy way to promo shows). Also, is there a Pam and Buffy MySpace page? There are lots of young kids (more than there should be)on myspace and I bet they would love to join P&B ‘friends list’. It’s a way to personalize their experience with Pam and Buffy – in other words Buffy could ‘speak’ to them in real words through blogging.