The First of Many

Last week, my PR classmates and I conducted the first pitch of our PR careers. We were told to come up with a theme, logo, invitation, table centerpiece, and menu for the Baldwin County Relay for Life kickoff banquet to be held at Northside Baptist Church on November 4...and the real catch, we were given a budget of $0. Our class split up into five groups of three and competed against each other. In the end, ideas were taken from all of the pitches, and my classmates and I walked away with numerous lessons learned. Here are a few that really stuck with me:

1) Attention to detail is essential. With our menus, we were expected to include EVERY single item we wished to have, who would be donating it, the types and colors of dinnerware we would use, and even how our buffet line would be displayed. Also, we had to explain in detail why we chose the theme we chose, how our centerpieces would look, and what the photo area would encompass. Simple things like creating and sticking to a select color scheme, make a big difference in adding to the overall feel of the event.

2)In order to succeed, everyone must be on board. In the beginning, my team was unsure about the direction we wanted to go in. We were debating on doing a fiesta theme, or sticking to our original slogan "Every day is a gift. Celebrate the Present." Even as things were getting down to the wire, a few times we looked back and thought, oh no, maybe we should have done the other thing after all. This really showed me that team support is crucial. Diverse ideas are good, but after one thing is agreed upon, the support of all team members is key.

3) Confidence is everything. Since this was our first pitch, many of my classmates were nervous about what to expect. My teammates and I actually even practiced our pitch in front of my roommate so that we would be more comfortable when presenting the real thing. I have always thought that if you are nervous, people will know. Then, they are focused on the fact that you are nervous and therefore are not getting the most out of what you are saying. A confident speaking voice and a smile can go a long way.