After so many years of attending countless media events, I am still not used to the unpunctuality of it all. An event doesn’t start late because guests tend to arrive late, it’s also due to factors unknown to me. If the invitation states that media and guests are to arrive at 3pm, then one would give an allowance of half an hour for the event to commence proper but often, the event won’t start till almost 4pm which was the case with a product launch I attended recently.
Actually I arrived before 3pm, sometimes I am really early because traffic happens to be clear. The programme stated that the event would commence at 330pm, we were ushered into the room at 330pm which meant fat hopes of it starting on time. I was seated on the front row with some (presumably) famous Social Media Influencers (how I hate that phrase!). The PR came along, shook the hands of those on my row, glanced at me and decided not to shake my hand which I thought was a bit discourteous, if not downright rude. Le Snub! Ouch!
The event didn’t start till 350pm and at 4pm I had to leave for another appointment. So I told another PR that I was leaving early and could I please have the media kit, i.e. goody bag and he said it wasn’t ready and would be sent to me. Days later, I received the press release and photos via email from the person who snubbed me. I emailed the PR who said the media kit would be sent to me. He didn’t reply my first email which I thought was a bit strange because this person is very prompt at replying to previous emails. I emailed again and still no reply. I emailed another one of his colleagues and was informed that they had run out of goody bags and therefore I would not be receiving one!
I don’t get paid for attending events, I don’t get paid for blogging about the events or reviewing products. The very least I can expect is to get the product which was launched and even that is denied me. I just wish that events are organised better and can they please stick to the schedule as per programme printed for the benefit of guests/media? Looks like no one sticks to any schedule nowadays.
