So long, farewell!

I will preface this post with an apology. If for some reason there are typos, misspelled words or incorrect grammer, I am truly sorry. I still have not fully recovered from the AMAZING event last night at Irvin Mayfield's I Club. Not only was the club filled with talented musicians, media and good friends of Irvin's, but also a few famous actors stopped by! Not too shabby for the opening night. Needless to say, everyone in the office is moving at half speed today.


I can not believe that my two months have come and gone so quickly here at Keating Magee. The experience is one that opened my eyes to the fulfilling, but sometimes complicated, world of communications. Interning for a company can go one of many ways. And guess what? You (the intern) are in control!


If you don't know- ASK!
Do not feel embarrassed or shy about asking for help. You are an intern, therefore you do not know everything and they don't expect you to. It is better to ask than to do a project completely wrong.


Put yourself out there!
Volunteer for any and every job! Oh the kitchen needs cleaning? Sure! There is an event to work tonight? Sounds great! The more jobs you are given the more you are trusted. It pays off in the end. I always felt like a nuisance asking, but I realized that after awhile I did not have to ask. Tasks were being given to me because I earned that responsibility.


Have fun!
Your experience will be so much worthwhile if you are adding fun elements to the work environment. Obviously, some days it will be all business and no play, but there are ways to still make those days enjoyable. Ask to sit it on a client conference call, go to lunch with the other interns, participate in a brainstorming sessions. By doing those things, your days will be more fulfilling.


I could not have asked for a better intern experience than the one I had with Keating Magee. I am sad to go, but I know that I have been instilled with the knowledge and capability to make it in the PR world one day thanks to the people at Keating.
Geaux tigers and of course, who dat!

Irvin Mayfield's I Club

Keating Magee, or as I like to refer to it, Grand Central Station, has been busy busy busy! Between openings, events and new clients, I am not sure when these people sleep. One of the more recent and publicized events happening for Keating is the opening of Irvin Mayfield's I Club. The club venue itself is something to boast about, but by adding in funky tunes of a well-known musician, delicious cocktails and outstanding hospitality, the club truly becomes one of a kind.

Thursday I worked the door at the soft opening that hosted guests from the art and fashion world. What a unique group! I was able to meet different designers and artists that have made a name for themselves not only in this city, but around the country and world. I felt so inspired as I listened to Irvin tell stories about what some of these guests have done for the city of New Orleans. It is always refreshing to learn how people take their own success and utilize it for the well being of others. Tomorrow night marks the event I have been looking forward to all summer; the grand opening of the I Club. Technically, I will be working but I foresee it being a thrilling work environment.

Did you happen to catch Fox 8 News this morning? If not, you missed the legendary Irvin Mayfield playing a beautiful song on his trumpet- talk about a nice way to wake up! The morning started out smoothly, as we all arrived on time and, with the help of coffee, wide awake. About ten minutes before it was go time, we realized Irvin had makeup stains on the front of his shirt from a lady hugging him. Girls, we have to watch out for this beauty no-no! I felt like a fashion intern as I ran to my car to retrieve the always helpful Tide To-Go pen and attempted to scrub the stains out of the shirt. I find comfort in knowing that my tasks at Keating Magee are fulfilling and do not include me doing the mundane "intern" work. All in all, this morning will go down in the books as one of my favorite experiences of the summer.

Oh and one more thing...

WHO DAT!

A Culinary Treat

This morning I was invited to attend a photography session at the Windsor Court for Culinary Concierge. The magazine is featuring a dish from The Grill Room in their upcoming issue. The theme of the issue is red, white and blue so naturally, the dish was a Foie Gras dressed with blueberries.


It was so interesting to watch the food stylist pick apart the way the setup was put together. It made me realize how much thought goes into just one picture. I also got a few lessons from the photographer on how to eliminate glares and make a colorful picture really stand out. It's safe to say I don't have a future in photography, but the lesson may come in handy one day!


After the shoot, the chef, Drew asked if I would like to taste the dish. Of course, I did not hesitate. All I can is YUM! I definitely recommend it if you ever visit The Grill Room. Visiting Windsor Court was such a pleasant way to start off my day!

Field Trips Galore

Field trips seem to be a reoccurring event for the interns at Keating Magee this summer. As much as I like being in the office, it is also such a privilege to be asked to visit a client or attend a seminar as a representative for the company. The past week I have felt like I'm back in third grade, when I would wake up with butterflies in my stomach due to the excitement that I felt about the upcoming field trip.

Speaking of butterflies...

There are some things that I personally believe you can never get too old to enjoy. Attending the Butterfly Tea at Le Salon is one of them. The Windsor Court Hotel and Audubon Nature Institute teamed up for the second year in a row to a host a tea catering to children and adults alike. Special guests included live butterflies in special terrariums at every table. Seeing the children's faces light up as they realized they had actual butterflies at the table was something that I'll remember most from the day. As I watched them press their little faces against the temporary homes and listened to them try to talk to the colorful insects, I knew that this was an event that they would treasure.

The staff members from Audubon Nature Institute were beyond friendly when it came to answering the children's questions and explaining the displays of butterflies they had featured around Le Salon. The Windsor Court Hotel was more than accommodating to the guests and spoke to the children in a such an exciting tone that I am sure the kids felt they were the most important people in the hotel. It's not everyday that you see a luxury hotel open up its doors to large amounts of babies, toddlers and young kids. Just another example of New Orleans hospitality.

And speaking of hospitality...

This morning Behn, Lindsay and I attended The Hospitality and Tourism Industry: Future Planning with a Panel of National Experts. It was so interesting to hear how New Orleans ranks in comparison to national tourism rates. Needless to say, NOLA is the place to be!

Until next time,

Caroline