Tom Reynolds

Prior to the start of the 2010 motor racing season, ThomasrDotOrg is offering a media training workshop for interested riders, drivers, team members and principals.

This event presents all attendees with training in the following areas:

• Television presenting. How to professionally present your team, sport, sponsors and self. What to avoid (did someone say “wearing sunglasses?”)
• Radio interviews. Whether in studio or in person, you’ll learn how to hit your key points and make it appear you think on your feet like a seasoned pro.
• Press conferences. Pre or post race, it doesn’t matter. You’ll learn how to get your message across, how to prepare and how to react in this pressure filled environment. If you can get a reaction (preferably a laugh) out of a room of tired, jaded journos, you’ll soon be a star.
• Social media. Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and beyond. How a professional racer can make the most of this exciting, but occasionally problematic environment. Watch out for the YouTube Video Of Embarassment For Life.

All attendees will also have the opportunity to have professional portrait photos taken of them in their team uniforms included in the price.

Team/vehicle photos by prior arrangement at additional cost.

Our media trainers are being announced as we get closer to the event (see bottom). All are currently working at the highest level in their chosen media stream, or at least in a field that they’ve found themselves stuck in.

Total cost $135 includes digital copies of your portrait shoot plus a short HD video interview with **you**.

Bookings essential and numbers will be limited email: training@thomasr.org to secure your spot!

Presenters (more to be announced in due course):

Tom Reynolds is the principal of ThomasrDotOrg Media Services and will lead the media workshop training day. Tom has worked in marketing, PR, advertising, web technology and the media for over ten years. He has worked for (or continues to ply his trade with): Australian Superbike Championship, Australian Rally Championship, Radio 3AW , Radio SEN, Holden Race Team, Grand Prix Corporation as well as hosting many events and media calls.

Jay Mueller. Radio MMM Melbourne Breakfast Senior Producer.
Long time producer of top rating breakfast show on 3AW, last year Jay made the jump to MMM to take the senior producer role on Eddie McGuire’s new brekky show “The Hot Breakfast“.
Jay will be going through what he finds works on radio. He will explain how to prepare for your interview with people who know nothing about you or your sport.
He will also address how to get yourself on radio and what producers (the gate keepers!) are looking for when they decide to put someone to air.

Today I’m announcing that I am joining the renowned and revitalised Australian Rally Championship (ARC) as their PR/media manager.

I’ll be responsible for the key areas of ARC media relations and PR. I will be writing press releases across many aspects of ARC activity- from pre thru post event as well as stories on the teams, characters and places the ARC visits.

As well as the written word, I will also be hosting press conferences across all event weekends and interviewing drivers for web and TV. Some of these will be available live on the ARC website. Between rounds I will be writing press releases for teams and drivers and augmenting the written word with HD video interviews, podcasts and photos.

I’m genuinely excited to be involved with the peak rally series in Australia. I’ve already had some involvement in the past with Neal Bates, Coral Taylor, Simon & Sue Evans as well as Scott Pedder. So far all have been very welcoming and it’s clear this is a tight knit and professional paddock. It’s my job to ensure the public get to see and feel just how exciting rallying is.

My first event with the ARC will be round one in Tasmania from the 26th – 28th February.

Many thanks to Paul Mullan from Black Magic and ARC Director Scott Pedder for helping make this possible.

You’ll hear from me soon! In the meantime check out http://www.rally.com.au/

—ENDS–

For more information, contact: Tom Reynolds. ph 0409 964 549 email: thomasr@thomasr.org twitter: thomasrdotorg

It’s the end/start of the year and that can only mean mashup season. I’ve been listening to the following almost exclusivley and I honestly cannot think of a better “mash of mashups” (if that’s the collective noun?)

• The Kleptones: Uptime/Downtime.
  Here I was thinking that “24 Hours” would be known as The Kleptones high water mark! At the time of the release,  24 Hours was unique- a concept mashup album. While I’ve only had one full listen to Uptime Downtime, I can honestly say I have never enjoyed a mashup album this much. While jogging with headphones on, I found myself yelling “Oh shit yeah!”at some of the mixes. “Eric Kleptone” is an absolute master of the mashup.
• Best of Bootie 2009.
  At any other time, this would be the highlight of my summer- but it’s been shaded slghtly by The Kleptones (who appear on this anyway!).  If you don’t like Lady Gaga, I suggest you steer clear. (Though the whole nature of a mashp is to turn two so-so songs into a new diamond)
• Team 9 vs Stereogum- Mysplice 4.
  “Australia’s own”, Team 9 from Perth was responsible in part for the classic “American Edit” remixing Green Day’s “American Idiot” (Google it!). This fourth in the Mysplice era continues a fine tradition of excellent mashup work.
• Culture Bully Presents: 2009 Mashed.
  Though he’s just announced a hiatus, Chris De Line’s Culture Bully site has still taken time out to release a 2009 retrospective of the best mashups. Go check it!

So there you go- some hours of mashup delights await you.

YouTube Doubler allows you to play two YouTube videos together to make…erm… magic.

Here’s one I made. DJ Thomasr presents Guy v Goat:. Go to Youtube Doubler to hear it as it should be

The age old problem for my (and every) Xbox 360 is heat- or the abundance of heat and how that invariably helps bring about the three red rings of death.

I’ve pondered this issue as my Xbox has not only gone RRoD twice, but lives in a slightly cramped TV cabinet.

So, I went the hack. Initially I got a USB plug, cut it and ran the 5v to a 150mm PC fan.My theory was that the 12v fan running at 5v would run slow and quiet, yet deliver what was required- heat exhaust fan.

But the Xbox 360 sprung a little suprise. When it’s off, the rear USB plug is still live- all 5volts! So the fan would not go on and off when the Xbox was on/off.

Change of plan. I rummaged through my geek drawers and ound an old 12v transormer and wired that to the fan. Found some left over heat shrink and got it done- no solder coz I’m lazy.

Next, I pulled out an unusedspecial power board. It has a mastersocket that, when drawing current, activates four other sockets. When it drops in current draw (ie is turned off), the four other sockets are switched off. IT’s designed for PCs with peripherals like a printer, speakers, external hard drive and monitor.

Here it is:

The red circled power socket controls the four to the left of it. When it is drawing current, they are on. When the master stops drawing current, the slaves are turned off.The red circled power socket controls the four to the left of it. When it is drawing current, they are on. When the master stops drawing current, the slaves are turned off.

With the fan done, I then cut a hole in the back of the TV unit. This is a bit tricky as is is shy of the edges and getting the jigsaw into the edges is rather tricky. So I used a hole saw to get it as high as practical (heat rises!) and used the jigsaw and a round file to tidy it up. I was not too fussed about a perfect circle as the fan is not in view. Some folks might be anal, just not me.

Used the hole saw to get it well started.

As I am both lazy and ill equiped, I get a black texta to edge the fan hole so that it’s not visible from he TV side.

Hide the raw wood with a black texta!

Ok that done, I drill the holes and bolt the fan in situ. I do not like self tappers in this circumstance as they will not only poke through the thinwood, but also not have enough bite and bolts are “nicer”.

The fan bolted up and ready to go

Note the existing semi circle hole for the cables is now covered with a flap of gaffa tape. This is to reduce the air going in though the cable hole only to be sucked out though the fan. I want the air from the room to be sucked past the Xbox and peripherals to cool them.

And here it is done:

The Xbox on small risers with the fan ready to go.

Now when the Xbox 360 is turned on, the 12volt transformer also turns on and sucks warm air out of the cabinet.

Xbox and Netgear Stora with a modem/router behind the Stora. The fan will come on when the Xbox is switched on. The temperature actually drops when the Xbox is on.

WIN!

More pic here.

A selection:

www.flickr.com thomasrdotorg’s Christmas 2009 photoset

I do so love my gadgets- and finally I’ve found one that works brilliantly with the home network, the Xbox 360, any iPhones connected to the network and to any browser connected to the net. It’s the Netgear Stora. It handles all media, documents and backs up any PCs on the network.

I bought it via Shopbot and got it bloody cheap…

Where possible, I try to be as professional as possible as often as possible.

But like many before me, I occasionally let myself down.

I had one such moment at the recent final round of the Australian Superbike Championship when I was interviewing the riders for the last time this year. Being the last time, I adopted a slightly looser and more affectionate tone. That was not unprofessional- if anything it’s de rigeur for such occasions.

My screw up was simple and stupid: I was chewing gum. Yup, chewing GUM! I had some there at my desk and for reasons unknown I took a fresh piece and then interviewed the riders. What’s worse is that I really chewed the shit out of it.

I have no memory of it being in my mouth and was horrified when I saw the replay.

So, in the spirit of learning. I present this monumental screw up:

Never. Again.

It’s not a well known secret that I am participating in Dieter Kahsnitz’s wonderful new panel style show “The C-Word Naked” along with Lincoln Burns. We’re not actually naked (well one of us is), but we are free from restrictions.  Perhaps that’s why it’s naked. Who knows?

Ep 3 is online now! Go to Cword.tv/naked

As the PR/Media rep for Woodstock Honda Thor Racing, I had the opposrtunity to not only send out press releases on behalf of the team, but I get to interview the riders after the races.

At the Sydney SuperX held at Parramatta Stadium,it was my pleasure to interview “The King” of SuperX, 37 yr old “semi retired” Jeremy McGrath. Not only a legend of the sport, but an affable, funny and utterly likeable bloke. Today’s vodcast features my interview with Jeremy in teh Woodstock truck after his brilliant (and clever) second place.

AS a fellow 37 yr old, I say this: Jeremy, keep on keepin’ on!

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