toot. toot.

I've made a living being the guy behind the guy.

For years, as a television news producer, it was my responsibility to make the anchors & reporters look and sound smart. Yes, I'm looking at you Stephen Clark.

Now as a public relations specialist, I'm responsible for making our clients look and sound smart, and to make their company or product standout from everyone else.

These jobs are similar as if it's done right, the finished product comes out looking polished and it gets the attention it deserves.

If I do my job right, the client and/or anchors get all the accolades and praise, and everyone goes home happy. I may get a pat on the back, and that's nice.

However, if I don't my job, guess who takes the blame. Two thumbs pointing right here at this guy. Seems a little unfair sometimes but you know what? I love making other people look good so it's worth the risk.

And sometimes, I get more than a pat on the back. Today, there was a little spotlight on me and my team.

Today, PRWeek did a story about Brammo's PR efforts which I was lucky enough to work on with some great people at Brammo and here at Weber Shandwick.

Here's the full story:

PR campaign drives sales for Brammo's inaugural electric motorcycle

Tanya Lewis

February 05 2010

Client: Brammo (Ashland, Oregon)

Agency: Weber Shandwick (Seattle, WA)

Campaign: Brammo Enertia electric motorcycle launch

Duration: May – November 2009

Budget: $45,000

Brammo, an Oregon-based electric vehicle manufacturer, launched its first product last year: the Enertia electric motorcycle. Brammo director of marketing John Farris explains that PR was crucial to the launch because the company didn't have a paid media budget. It hired Weber Shandwick (WS) as AOR to raise awareness and create demand for the motorcycles, which went into production in July and are sold through Best Buy for less than $8,000.

Strategy

Media relations and social media outreach were expected to raise visibility and drive awareness.

“Traditional media was a priority, but Brammo… leadership has really embraced social media,” adds Farris. “It's highly efficient.”

Chris Elliott, group manager at WS, explains that the team also planned to emphasize the partnership with Best Buy.

“The conversation about electric vehicles is hot,” Elliott says. “The problem is no one can buy one. We have an exciting vehicle that can be purchased now. People may be intimidated to buy a motorcycle at a Harley dealership. Going through Best Buy was unique.”

Tactics

The team targeted hi-tech, green tech, motorcycle enthusiast, and general consumer outlets. About 25 reporters got to ride the Enertia at a New York City event in May held at the home garage of a Brammo investor.

“The setting brought to life the idea of having a motorcycle in your garage,” Elliott notes. Farris adds that driving “erased” any product apprehensions and positive reaction from people on the streets “seeded how interesting the story and product are.”

CEO Craig Bramscher was at the event, and he and Brammo lead designer Brian Wismann were available to media throughout the campaign. Both used their personal Twitter accounts to communicate. Separate company Twitter and Facebook pages were also created to give audiences a broader range of information.

Results

The campaign exceeded expectations. Farris says Enertia sales have topped $1 million since late 2009. Visits to Brammo.com increased from about 100 to 200 per day prior to June 1 to an average of nearly 1,700 per day from July through November. Farris adds that an NBC Nightly News feature on November 19 generated 10,000 new visitors to the site over the following week.

Elliott reports audience reach of nearly 360 million (June 1 to November 11) in outlets including Good Morning America, Fox Business News, Fast Company, The New York Times, and Popular Mechanics.

More than 2,800 were reached in total via Twitter and Facebook. Company Twitter followers are 564 and Brammo's Facebook page has 383 fans.

Future

Farris says Brammo is “entering a new stage as a company” and would like to continue to work with WS. Plans include wider distribution of the Enertia through Best Buy, and launches in Asia, the UK, and Canada.

top 10 albums of 2009

Here we go.

The 10 best albums of 2009 according to a guy who can't play a music instrument, write a song or carry a tune if it hit me in the head.

I was in a band though that could have changed the face of music forever IF we would have stayed together. However, members of "Elliott and the Burgers" had to move on but we know that we changed a lot of lives while up at Central Michigan University. Few people will ever forget the "Elliott Song" but that's a different story for a different time.

Here's the list.

10. Novel Sounds from the Noveau South - Ha Ha Tonka

This was the biggest find for me this year. Not only do they have one of the best band names in the business, but they have all the elements to make it big. The disc kicks off with one of the more powerful songs, Hold My Feet to the Fire and just rocks you from there. When people ask me who do they sound like, I first refer to Kings of Leon minus the glitz and glamor. You could never imagine these guys are from the heartland as they sound like southern rockers. Great jams, powerful guitars and Brian Roberts has one of the earnest voices in music. These guys also rock in concert. I got to see them at a super small venue in Seattle and they were awesome. I also accosted them after the show as I was a bit tipsy. Sorry guys. If you haven't heard HHT before, you must check them out. If you're not tapping your foot to this disc, check your pulse as you're likely dead.

9. Adult Nights - Wild Light

I believe my homie Robert Forehand turned me on to these guys. One of the members of this band is affiliated with Arcade Fire so immediately, I liked these guys. Again, very foot stomping worthy. All I can say is "Fuck today, Fuck San Francisco, Fuck California."

8. I and Love and You - Avett Brothers

I originally had these guys at number 10 but honestly, I can't get enough of their smooth sounds. I was once again late to learning about these guys. A very mellow disc with outstanding lyrics and voices that can be taken at full blast or turned down if you're just chilling out. "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" is one song I find myself waking up singing.

7. No One's First, and You're Next - Modest Mouse

Maybe it's because I finally saw these guys in concert but I can't get enough of the Mouse. This is really a half of disc but totally worth being #7. I have so much respect for Isaac Brock as he pours everything he has into his voice and leaves it all on stage. This disc is all about powerful riffs to me as illustrated by "The Whale Song." While the song starts of slow almost like you're in the fog, but out of the blurry haze erupts a guitar which is later joined by Isaac's powerful voice. Can't wait for their next full album.

6. Backspacer - Pearl Jam

My favorite band of all time came out strong in 2009 with this disc that has a little everything. The Seattle grunge band still proves it can rock but they also borrowed some of Eddie's slower songs and together, it created one awesome disc. Some people might be pissed that I put them at 6, but once you get here, every disc is just that good.

5. Live at Reading - Nirvana

Another one of Seattle's finest. Not sure where they found this live disc lying around or why it took so long to put out but it rocks from start to finish. Many ole times did I find myself rocking out to this disc in my car doing my best Kurt impression. His voice is powerful throughout while Dave beats the shit out of the drums. While it's hard to pick a favorite track here, "Aneurysm" is pretty f-ing awesome.

4. Hazards of Love - The Decemberists

Another band that it helped seeing them live. This concept album is defiantly a surprise favorite of mine as I remember saying that everything these guys do sound the same. However, this disc opened up my mind and now, I truly appreciate these Portland rockers. (BTW, that's three NW bands in a row.) My favorite song here is also the most disturbing. You see for a while, I didn't know the words to "The Rake's Song" but then Brooke Shepard told me about them. And honestly, I was so repulsed I stopped listening to the song. However, as I understood the album more, I got why the words were there and was able to move on. Brooke never was and I don't think he's listened to it again.

3. It's Blitz! - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Writing this one, I realized 2009 was really the year of catching up and finally discovering music that was right in front of my face. YYY is again one of those. And yes, I did also see them in concert. This is a powerful disc that surely will get your blood going and your body a moving. From "Zero" to "Heads Will Roll" to "Dull Life", this is a rocking mix of a sexy, strong voice mixed with one of the best drummers I've heard on a disc in a long time. Plus, as bonus, there's acoustic versions of some of the song avail which is a nice surprise.

2. Wolfgang Amadeus - Phoenix

Jai told me about these guys too. I had a really hard time putting these Frenchies at #2 and not #1 as I love this disc so much. It's catching and sounds different while being full of surprises. "Lasso" leads the pack of this disc that's made for summertime. I wish I had a convertible to listen to this disc. I'm really hoping they're at Sasquatch this year.

1.

And now, the number 1 album of 2009. The honor falls to Jack White and his newest band, "The Dead Weather" who released "Horehound."

Whether you're a Jack fan or not, this disc has the ability to knock your socks off. This disc is full of "nevers" and "new." Like, "I've never heard that sound before," or "that's a new sound." I love Jack because he's never content with what he's done. He's always pushing the boundaries and reinventing himself. I think we may look back at him and his bands (White Stripes, The Raconteurs and now the Dead Weather) as being the most innovative, inspiring and influences on music. From Jack's powerful drums on "Hang You From the Heavens" to the chilling guitar in "Treat Me Like Your Mother" to the hypnotic "Rocking Horse" to everything coming together in "New Pony", this is the top disc of 2009. I can't wait to see what Jack is going to do next.

What do you think of the top 20? Let me know.

the top 20 albums of 2009 (20 to 11)

First things first: I love music.

I love finding new music, hearing new sounds, discovering bands early in their careers and finding those hidden gems that may have been in front of me for years.

I love seeing how bands evolve their sounds over time from album to album, change themselves in mid-career or bring in new blood to freshen up their impact on my ears.

I love when musicians pour their blood, sweat and tears into their music and make you feel something while listening to the album or in concert. There are songs that make me nearly cry (Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees"), imagine myself on a beach (Jimmy Buffett's "Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season), induce memories of my youth (Four Non Blondes "What's Up?"envokes memories of college when me and my roommates would run up the stairwell to the 7th floor screaming "What's going on?" at the of our lungs) or inspire me to challenge the man and seek to destroy anything around me (anything by Trent Reznor or Tool).

I love live music.

I hate pop, top 40 shitty music. It sickens me that we'll look back at this year and people will remember it for Lady Gaga instead of the year Phoenix introduced us to Wolfgang Amadeus. Remember the year of Milli Vanilli? Yeah, instead of remembering the great music of that year, those douchebags are ingrained in our heads.

I can't stand pretentious, fake musicians and phonies. Lip sync once and you're might as well be dead to me.

It pisses me off when musicians or groups don't write their own lyrics. How can you feel intense about the song and really impact me when the words aren't yours?

I'm NOT a music snob.

I don't know every band on KEMP nor do I pretend to.

I don't own vinyl and honestly, don't like the raspy sound of records.

I buy and download digital music as its easy, green and I can take it with me anywhere.

I love Zune Pass as I can download all I want for about 14 bucks a month. However, once Apple comes out with the same model, I'll probably vacate Zune. If it's not on Zune, I used Amazon to download as it comes in the form of an MP3 and can play anywhere.

I wish I could play a musical instrument. Just a little bit. A few notes. Anything. But I can't. I'm not even good at Rock Band.

Bottom line: I just love music.

Now here's my list.

20. Live at the Olympia - R.E.M.

One of my favorite bands in the world that I've been lucky enough to see live in concert twice, released this album with 29 tracks this year spanning their entire career. Michael Stipes voice is as strong as ever on this live disc and proves they're still one of the best live rock bands out there.

19. 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day

I put this one here with mixed emotions. On one hand, this is a hell of a rock rock album, perfect for those long drives (to Sasquatch for example) where you can rock out with your.... well, you know what out. On the other hand, I think these guys are starting to move away from the rebel, anti-establishment aurora that made them who they are. They're making a Broadway musical of their last disc for crying out loud. Still, the album's got a roaring guitar and powerful drums and Billy Jo still makes you feel his emotions on the harder songs.

18. Wilco (The Album) - Wilco

This is one of those bands that I for some reason didn't like from the get-go but now I'm madly in love with their sound. Trust me, I'm making up for lost time with them.

17. Swoon - Silversun Pickups

I was also late to these guys but not anymore. I love their hypnotic sound that blends swaying guitars with a haunting voice. I also saw them in concert for the first time this year and that definitely raised their stock in book.

16. Tonight - Franz Ferdinand

Sweet beats. Solid bass. Clever lyrics. I'm a huge Franz fan and can't wait to see these guys live one day. Immediately, "Ulysses" get's you high and the album just carries you from there. Plus, any band that names a song "Backwards on My Face" deserves a spot on my top list.

15. No Line On The Horizon - U2

I was thinking the other day, this band seems like they've been with me my whole life. Bono and the boys just continue to flood my ears with potent sounds and challenge me as a listener. They brought in components from all around the world for this one and made it theirs. I've never seen U2 in concert and I'm hoping to change that soon.

14. Keep it Hid - Dan Auerbach

God damn do I love the blues and the way artists can take their voice and/or guitar to make me feel emotions. While I was late to the Black Keys phase (yes, I'm late to a lot of things), I downloaded this album the day it came out and it's been part of my rotation ever since. Please BK's, come to Sasquatch!

13. Shaka Rock - Jet

I almost didn't download this one. And boy, was I glad I ignored the urge not to. I really liked their debut disc years ago but did think they were trying too hard to be The Beatles. Their second disc was a huge disappointment for me and that brings me to this one. I really didn't want to give it a chance. Maybe it was the fact that it was Summer and I was looking for something new to blast in my ears but I immediately liked this one on first listen. I specifically remember watering the plants one night with the Zune up to 19, and air guitaring to "Seventeen".

12. Hombre Lobo - The Eels

Another great blues-ish band that captivates me as soon as I hit play. Not much more to say but if you haven't listened to the Eels, give them a spin today.

11. Kingdom of Rust - Doves

I remember my friend Jai Ferguson telling me about these guys prior to Sasquatch. Their sound is unlike anyone else out there and uniqueness scores huge points on my list. See #1 for proof of that. From the intensive buildup in "Jetstream" to the soothing sound in "Winter Hill", this is a perfect album for when there's not shit going on in your house and you just want good music to rock your world.

So there's 20 through 11. The top 10 is next.