Following the timely and, apparently, ‘cheeky’ posting by Luke Pollard on Despatch Blog, I thought i’d send out a call to arms from our little blog too.

There is a mythical reputation surrounding the PR profession that it is all boozy parties, pretty people, and very little work. I’m sad to say that none of these are (entirely) true. Admittedly, I have found myself riding to work on the bus, floating on a cloud of my own insobriety, couched in the knowledge that the hangover will eventually disappear; and I didn’t exactly hit every branch on the way down the ugly tree (just a few twigs here and there); and I do sometimes leave at 17:00, but, in reality the PR profession bears little resemblance to its mythical doppelganger.

Notwithstanding this crushing blow to some people’s dreams and aspirations (did I mention, Santa Claus isn’t real, the Tooth Fairy is your Mum or Dad and the Easter Bunny at your local shopping centre is a 40-something, overweight, unshaven, sweaty man with a penchant for Marloboro Reds and Super Tennants?), there are some opportunities to indulge in the finer things in life. One of these is the creation of Alain Desmier and Alex Pearmain from the agency that must not be named.

In February a group of PRs met up at Polska bar on Holborn for a few tinnies, or rather, Bisongrass vodka over ice, to chat, do their best to avoid ‘talking shop’ and generally mingling and getting to know each other a little. I’m straining at the bit to call this a networking event but in reality, it didn’t really feel like this which, I hasten to add, is a good thing! There is only one thing worse than talking to someone you don’t want to, and that is talking to someone you don’t want to knowing that etiquette dictates you must give them your card at the culmination of your little tete-a-tete which may lead to more of these moments…

It was mightily successful with a healthy turnout and so, Messrs Desmier and Pearmain have got together and organised another of these cordial conclaves on the 7th of March at the Ship and Shovell, Charing Cross from 18:30. If you’re in PR, thinking about getting into it or just need somewhere to go for your nightly bottle of Bells where it won’t look like you’re drinking alone, come on down!

As a side-note to this, anyone who is on the life-sucking, social network succubus that is Facebook, the PR and Communications Network Group is well worth having a butchers at.

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