Past my bedtime

I received an invitation yesterday to a cocktail bar opening at a fancy hotel. The start time said 8.30pm.

I replied thanking the marketing person for the kind invitation and asked if the start time was a misprint.

8.30pm?

Far out! That’s putting-on-my-pyjamas time, not my walking into a bar opening time.

I am kind of regretting that cheeky email now. I should have just said I couldn’t make it.

Cocktail bar openings have been provoking a bit of controversy in my Facebook feed this week.

An old friend Kelly posted this image …

And wrote: “Quick lesson in how NOT to PR … Do not invite me to your event and then, after I RSVP, let me know I will no longer be needed as clearly you made the numbers up with more important guests. Not only rude but stupid. Oh and please don’t keep me posted re: further ‘exciting’ events.”

I forgot to RSVP to the event in question, so I was spared the ignominy of being uninvited.

Kelly has been flooded with comments from shocked friends (most of whom are in the media).

The comments ranged from “Jesus!! What the actual!!! PR 101 to NOT do…like ever!!!” to “Don’t they know who you are?!”

Obviously not, as Kelly is an industry veteran who is waaaaaay further up the media food chain than me.

“Very poorly handled, with long-term impact. And it didn’t even include your name,” wrote PR company founder Phoebe Netto.

“Translation: we need space on our guest list for someone more important/our friends/random influencer so you don’t get to come anymore,” said another media friend.

The faux pas has even made national newspapers, with News Corp covering the rude PR move.

I suspect Kelly’s Facebook friend was right and the invite list got crammed with influencers. I do not understand the world’s obsession with influencers.

I also find it entertaining that influencers are scared the US and Australian governments might ban Tik Tok

There are lovely influencers out there that I love catching up with at events. But I am tired of the ones that are rude and just attending for the Insta or Tik Tok moment. They often don’t have the slightest interest in the stories behind the products and it drives me mad when they talk to each other the whole way through presentations.

But apparently they are here to stay because consumers love them.

“In a world in where consumer attention is fragmented and fleeting, influencers are emerging as a beacon of authenticity and relatability, offering a human touch that conventional corporate communications often lack,” says Karen Freberg, a professor of strategic communication at the University of Louisville, US.

“Consumers, accustomed to the predictability of corporate messaging, are increasingly seeking genuine interactions and connections. When they see an ad or receive an email, it’s like, ‘OK, I’ve seen this before’, and their attention has shifted.” 

Genuine?? She can’t be serious!

On the subject of can’t be serious I am also very entertained by news reports about a bloke from NSW called Jason Lau, who is suing MONA for discrimination.

He was denied entry to the ladies-only lounge at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart and has complained the artwork is discriminatory.

You may recall how much fun I had posing in the lounge last year …

Anyhoo the court case is quite hilarious.

A large group of women dressed in navy blue and pearls attended in support of MONA m.

At times during the court proceedings and in unison the group would lean forward and peer over the tops of their glasses.

The women also danced out of the hearing rooms to the tune of the Robert Palmer song “Simply Irresistible”. Bwahaha.

Artist Kirsha Kaechele, whose husband is MONA owner David Walsh said: “I think the rejection of men is a very important part of the artwork.”

I think a sense of humour is too.

Jason, Jason, Jason, what were you thinking? And if it is so important to you why didn’t you turn up in person instead of appearing via video link?

Kaechele described the tribunal hearing as an extension of the artwork.

“The hearing really felt like the art coming to life, it was a living part of the work,” she said.

And she’s going to keep on fighting if the court decides in Jason’s favour.

I can’t wait to see how this one plays out. Pass the popcorn …

Song of the day: Harry Styles “Late night talking”