Frequently Asked Questions
Q - When do I need a publicist?
A - When you have a project that you feel needs to be brought to the public's attention. The project should either already be completed or will be within sixty days.
Q - What's the difference between Entertainment, Literary and Corporate PR?
A - Quite a bit, but basically it's exactly what's listed above. Entertainment Publicity is for actors, comedians, studios, movies, television and music. Literary is for authors and their publications. Corporate is for companies that don't fit within the Entertainment or Literary Industries. Each has their own special methods for garnering publicity within its target market.
Q - Can you get me into movies or television?
A - Unless the appearance is directly related to the promotion of a project, the answer is no. It is illegal for a publicist to act as an agent or manager in several states, and because JM Media Group has clients all over the world, the company will not act as an agent or management firm. We will, however, recommend firms and reading material if you're in the market to jumpstart your career. Those recommendations are listed on the Links page.
Q - I've had a part in a movie or television show. Can you get me into Hollywood parties and award shows?
A - This is one of the most frequently asked questions a publicist gets and here's the bottom line truth: Unless the part you had in a movie was immediately opposite Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, or another major player in the industry, you'll need to have more than a few minutes in one production to be invited to the parties or walk the red carpet at one of the award shows. The William Morris Agency can't even get some of their talent invited to these functions. The time may come eventually, but you won't be on the list right out of the gate. Don't feel too bad though, there are people who have been acting for upwards of 50 years and have had top-rated television shows that aren't invited either.
Q - I have a book that I want to publish. Will you find a publisher or an agent for me?
A - JM Media Group does not handle finding agents or submitting works to agents and/or publishers. The ONLY exceptions to that rule is for existing clients who have been with JM Media Group for a minimum of two years.
Q - I've got a book on the market that isn't selling even with the aid of a publicist. Why hasn't anyone taken notice of the book that I know is a best-seller?
A - While we'd like nothing more than to see each book turn into a New York Times Bestseller, there's only so much a publicist can do to help people and their projects. We can send multiple releases, hundreds of e-mails and submit review copies, but the ultimate decision on whether to run an article or conduct an interview rests with the media outlet the material has been submitted to. A rather sad yet true statistic is that according to a Jenkins Group survey, 70% of books published in the U.S. do not make a profit and in fact, over 76% of all titles produced sold fewer than 100 copies. Although it was offered during the tenure of having the Signing Stars division, JM Media Group no longer handles the day-to-day details of book distribution. The publishing company that put out your book is responsible for ensuring that your book is properly distributed. If you've self-published or used a small vanity press, I would recommend contacting Baker & Taylor or Ingram Book Distributors to pursue having your book placed in their catalog. With titles being published at a rate of over 300,000 per year, inclusion in Baker & Taylor's and Ingram's catalog doesn't guarantee results. I also strongly recommend having a website for your book that allows people to order copies directly from you or your publisher. You could have written the greatest thing since Gone With The Wind but no one will know that if they can't get a copy.
Q - Is there a time limit on how long to run a campaign?
A - A campaign can literally run indefinitely depending on the success of the project. In terms of setting up an entertainment-based campaign, JM Media Group requires a minimum of a six month commitment. The first month is for setting up the campaign. The second is for implementation. The third and fourth are for follow-through and the fifth and sixth are for follow-up. For literary works, the minimum is nine months. The first three are for the planning stage prior to the book's release and the other six are for executing the campaign following the release.
Q - What kind of fees are involved?
A - Unlike an agent or manager, who gets paid after an actor has filmed an appearance, publicists require payment for most items at the time of service, with the exceptions being article placement. Article placement is billed upon the acceptance and confirmation from a publication agreeing to run an article or interview. If done on a per-project basis, costs for assorted items can run anywhere from $500 to $10,000, depending on the project. Instead of having to count how many hours are spent on projects, we prefer to be able to not waste the time of figuring it out and simply doing it. For that purpose, the standard retainer is set between $500 to $1,500 per month, again depending on the project. Be absolutely sure that you can afford to be able to pay the entire six months of a campaign before signing on the dotted line. There's nothing worse than having to pull the plug on a campaign in the middle of the run.