Tom Reynolds

Tom + Rachel, originally uploaded by thomasrdotorg.

It’s out third wedding anniversary!

The trouble with wedding anniversaries is there is no goal per se. I want to say “3 down, 47 to go”…

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.

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!

To subscribe, cut and paste this address into iTunes: http://thomasr.org/blog/?feed=podcast or click This link to subscribe via iTunes- automatically!

Complaint sent to Triple J today:

I am very disapponted that Triple J decided not to delay the news by a minute and have the traditional Remembrance Day minute silence. Commercial radio (in Melbourne) DID observe the minute.

I understand the news is on relay/whatever, but you clearly have the technology to get around this.

In an era when the last WW1 diggers are gone and the WW2 diggers diminish, Triple J could stand as a station that, like other ABC stations, ensures “Lest We Forget” actually stands for something.

Launching into the news at 11am was poor show.

Tom

Here’s a number of interviews I recorded – ostensibly for my press releases, but I thought they may be of interest to podcast listeners..

To subscribe, cut and paste this address into iTunes: http://thomasr.org/blog/?feed=podcast or click This link to subscribe via iTunes- automatically!

The big news of the Brownlow medal night was not so much Gary Ablett jnr putting some of his Father’s ghosts to rest by winning the top playing award but rather Carlton forward and wayward star, Brendan Fevola.

Brendan was four sheets to the wind from early on the first quarter and as the event wore on failed to pace himself. By the time the siren went it was 3:30am

Every time Carlton player received vote the camera cut to the main Carlton table only to find clearly “clench fist” Big Fev play acting and generally coming across as the complete tool he is.

I’m not going to sink the slipper into Fev for a few reasons. Firstly, there are plenty of the usual outraged pundits and commentators who can trot out their standard rhetoric while secretly being booze hounds themselves. Secondly, not so long ago I got so mindlessly drunk that I totally lost it- much worse than Brendan did. Lastly, why kick clown when he falls over? That Brendan is an idiot (on an ongoing basis) is not in dispute. Why have a debate when he does something idiotic?

No, I’m reserving my criticism for others:

Australian Drug Foundation CEO John Rogerson said Fevola’s behaviour did not set a great example, but needed to be kept in perspective. “There was a similar problem with Brendan last year. It sounds like there’s some issues around Brendan and his use of alcohol and he needs some support,” Mr Rogerson said.

..and there it is. When the issue of alcohol sponsorship being banned in sport was recently raised, the AFL sought to ensure this did happen because they maintained that the best way to ensure safe alcohol use in the community is to include the AFL in the education process.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said:

“Let’s talk about how we can raise awareness and educate them on what’s right and wrong about responsible drinking. Banning things doesn’t solve these problems.”

This may or may not be truthy. It is true that AFL players have been promoting safe drinking and non drink driving. But press releases, TVCs and radio talkback are not the real world.

The real world was on TV on Monday night with Brendan getting smashed and making very public dick of himself while his mates looked on and did nothing. His captain Chris Judd laughed it up each time the camera was on them. The other players on the table similarly enjoyed the donkey show that was the Fev.

• Real mates would have tried to stop him early on.
• Once he was too far gone, real mates would have called a club official during an ad break and got them to come to Crown Casino ready to collect him.
• Real mates would have surrounded Brendan and spirited him into car/cab, and if he’d resisted pointed out his career depended on leaving. Even in an alcohol haze,words like “career…over” hit home.

But it seems the real mates Brendan needed weren’t there. This inaction lays bare the empty and still damaging nature of football culture. On the one hand they talk up responsible drinking, but when one falls off wagon so publicly they laugh and encourage the sad clown. They participate in overblown bullshit team bonding like Kokoda track walks and Mount Kilimanjaro climbs, but when a mate is really in need- and he’s not on the field- they laugh it off and throw him to the baying dogs of the media and the social commentators.

Suffering badly after a horrible binge on spirits.

Earlier I mentioned how I got completely wrecked about two years ago. My best man and best mate Peter was there and when he first noticed that was in strife (I was drinking, unbeknownst to me, neat 60 proof Cachaça), he did the following:

• Called Rachel to come and get me- it was 3am. He was not worried about waking/angering/informing her, he just knew I needed help.
• Made sure I was safe and with bucket.
• Packed up all my stuff.
• Cleaned up all of my horrendous vomit in the bathroom (this was work function!)with little more than paper towels and sheer will power.
• Locked up the venue I was responsible for.
• Got me down in the lift unconcious, into the car and then home.

Frankly he saved my night, my relationship, my job and just possibly, my life.

If only Brendan had one mate as good as Peter he might not have ended up in the situation he now finds himself in. Brendan Fevola did not fail so much as was failed by his so called “mates”.

he says go the poms, i say screw them

Harry at 11 months., originally uploaded by thomasrdotorg.

Another month passes. In the last moth he’s started furniture walking and blogging about his love for Igglepiggle.

Good times.