Holiday Giveaway!

Graphic provided by Yolanda Beatty.

It's that time of year, a time to look back and give thanks.  So, I am giving thanks to all of you this year. Thank you for coming back time and time again to experience my adventures with me.  I decided to do a giveaway just for you.  I cleaned out my prize closet and I came up with an awesome pack of gifts as a way to say "thanks for a great 2011!"  Let's give you the lowdown on the gifts:

-Silk Culture Scarf in Silver
-One Set of Piggy Pillows (insoles for your flip-flops!), One Size fits most.
-Animal Planet Envirosax reusable grocery bag with a bird motif.
-A Hot Iron Mat.  (Protects your counter from the hot curling iron or flat iron.)
-Papaya Art Parisian Luggage Tag.
-e.l.f. cosmetics nail kit:  nail file, toe separators, and nail art.
-Toyota aluminum water bottle in red.
-Purely Pro lip kit:   lipstick in Vixen, lip gloss in Crystal Clear.
-Escents Lavender Scent Bag.
-Axe Hold + Touch Spiking Glue
-Santa Barbara Design Studio Soy Candle (Unscented).
-Proton Energy Systems Lip Balm with SPF 15
-Floral Picture Holder.

Phew!  Quite a list, right?  Well, I am not going to make you work hard for this at all.  Just fill out the form below.  Here are the rules:

1.  US residents only.

2.  18 Years or Older.

3.  Please enter by 11:59 PM PST on Sunday, December 18th, 2011.  Winner will be announced on Monday, December 19th and name will be drawn via Random.org.

- Disclosure: All items were given to me complimentary by the respective companies. Axe was given to me via Klout Perks.

3 Tips For Producing a Red Carpet Event

I have been on the red carpet quite a bit this year and I've seen it all from the grandest red carpet to one of the most laid back red carpets.  Even if you are having a small press event, it is important to have a well run red carpet that not only pleases the talent, but also pleases the media. I've given my helpful hints on how talent can shine on the red carpet here and here, but I haven't offered up a few suggestions for producers of red carpet events. Here are my Top 3 tips for running a top notch red carpet.

Press Release:  Ringling Bros PR was great at updating their press release several times before the event.

1.  Press Releases:  This is one of the most important aspects of your event, so make sure to write a compelling press release that will get the media excited about coverage.  It should include the pertinent information about when the event is, expected celebrities, and types of media opportunities. (red carpet, VIP party, Meet and Greet, awards show press room access, interviews with producers, etc.)  Get your press release out about 2-3 weeks in advance.  This gives media outlets time to plan their coverage and line up reporters for the event.  If you put the press release out 3 days before the red carpet happens, you run the risk of having a low media turnout.  This is especially important if your red carpet is happening during summer movie premiere season or during Oscar season, it's hectic...plan accordingly.  Check the Hollywood Calendar or the trades for important awards show and movie premiere dates, you don't want to schedule your big night the same night that the Academy Awards occur.  Finally, if you are announcing nominees for an awards show, have the press release ready to go BEFORE the announcement. (Honestly, this is PR 101.)  Once the announcement is completed, email it out to your media contacts,  place the nominees list on your website, and tweet it out.  If you want the media to cover your event, be prepared, otherwise we grumble (Trust me, we are good at grumbling.) about the lack of preparation and it is noted for next year.

Tip sheet from my Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus red carpet. 

2.  Tip Sheets:  These are imperative to any photographer or reporter's job on the red carpet.  They include a picture of the confirmed celebrity and their latest/most notable credit.  For me, I see so many faces and talk to so many people in any given month.  I may recognize a face, but I forget what show I've watched them on.  Having that tip sheet in hand lets me do quick research on my iPhone as I see them walk down the red carpet.  For up and coming talent, it is great if a publicist is escorting the actor down the carpet with a sheet of paper that includes the correct spelling of the actor's name and their upcoming movie or TV show.  If they are making their debut in the Twilight series or in a new Disney Channel show, chances are I will jump at the chance to interview them.  It's fun to break a new actor to the public before they are wildly famous.

3.  Placement:  A typical red carpet places photographers first, then video crews, and then writers/bloggers at the tail end of the line This is done for a reason.  The photographers grab their shots and then send the talent down the line to be interviewed.  After the video crews grab the interview, the writers will ask more in depth and longer questions so it is okay if the back end of the red carpet crowds up a bit.  Each media outlet is assigned a spot where the bigger the outlet, the better the placement.  You can expect to see E! News, ET, and Access Hollywood up front and the online media outlets closer to the back.  Honestly, it's a fair way to do it and I never hear anyone complaining about this system.  What can be a problem is the amount of space given to each outlet.  A piece of 8x10 paper is placed at your feet to indicate your spot.  The problem is that the next piece of paper is laid down side by side for other media outlets.  Uh....I don't know about you, but my body is not built in 8x10 dimensions.  It can be so frustrating for all of us to jostle for space, keep out of other network's shots, and interview at the same time.  Now, I don't expect a plot of land, but placing each piece of paper even three inches apart would make a huge difference.

I hope these tips help if you are producing your next red carpet event.  Feel free to leave me comments or questions on an area I might have missed.  I am always happy to do a follow-up to this article.

Don't forget to enter to win my Red Carpet Gift Bag.  Enter before July 31st for a chance to win!

It's Giveaway Time!

It's been awhile since I have done a giveaway here at Red Carpet Closet. I think we should liven up the dog days of summer and do a gift bag giveaway.  It's no secret that I attend a lot of red carpets and gifting suites.  I receive a lot of incredible items, but I cannot use them all.  So, I gathered some great items and put them in a gift bag just for you.  Here is what I am giving away:

1 Fresh & Easy Canvas Bottle Bag
1 NWPP Reusable Shopping Bag
1 Glimmer Body Art Glitter Tattoo Kit
1 Bottle of One A Day Multivitamin with Healthy Skin Support (80 Tablets)
2 SweatyBands.com Fitness Headbands
1 DVD of Fitness Personality Jennifer Galardi's Sweating Sexy
1 Sampler CD from the Broadway show, Million Dollar Quartet
1 Sampler CD from musician Mike Burke
1 Sampler CD from rapper Z.A.N.E
1 Set of Silly Bandz from the Broadway show, The Addams Family
1 Button from the Broadway show, The Scottsboro Boys
1 Button from the Broadway show, The Book of Mormon
1 Carmex Sheer Pink Tint Lip Balm
2 Lip Balms from Waialua and DidHeLikeIt.com
1 Guitar Keychain/Bottle Opener from 100.3FM
1 10% off coupon from Lyn Lux Jewelry

Enter your information in the form below. Enter by Sunday, July 31st 11:59PM PT.  18 or over to enter. US residents only.  Good luck!
Check out more fun blog giveaways at Blog Giveaway Directory. Disclosure: All items were given to me complimentary at various gifting suites and red carpet events in 2011. No one asked for promotional consideration. This giveaway is done on my own accord. Thanks!

We Have A Winner!

I have been soaking up all of the magic of New Orleans the past few days, so I decided to take a short break from blogging.  It was exactly what a girl needed.  I will post all of my photos tomorrow.  In the meantime, we have the winner of our Summer Jasmines giveaway.  Thanks to Random.org, entry number 12 was the big winner!  Congratulations, Leah!  You are going home with a sparkly silver pair of Summer Jasmines, a black satin carrying case, and petite Summer Jasmines key chain all with a retail value of $98.  If you would like your own pair of Summer Jasmines, visit their site here.

Thank you all for entering as it has been a pleasure meeting so many new friends here at Red Carpet Closet.  I will do another giveaway soon, but I look forward to chatting with all of you.  Tomorrow's post features a taste of New Orleans culture.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's been awhile since I have done a giveaway, so let's dust off the gifting closet and find something fun.  This month's giveaway is a pair of sparkly silver Summer Jasmines, "the comfortable, compactable evening and pedicure shoes that fit in your purse!"  Consider these shoes the multi-purpose sandal to throw in your big, slouchy bag when you are walking all over the city, grab a pedicure, and then need a reprieve at the end of the night when your Louboutins (or a fabulous pair of knock-offs) are dragging you down.

So, I am going to do a spectacular giveaway with these shoes and by the way, they retail for $98. Shazam! That's a good giveaway. They are Silver, they are Size 7 (They run big, so I would say it is closer to a Size 8), they come complete with sparkles, and it includes a black satin carrying case PLUS a cute red Summer Jasmine key chain.  Does this sound like a good deal or what?

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Bloglovin'.

2.  Leave me a comment letting me know where you follow me and be sure to leave your contact information.

Rules:   18+ to enter, US residents only, Enter by 11:59 PM on Friday, March 18th.

Winner will be selected by Random.org and announced on Monday, March 21st.

Good luck, everyone!

This giveaway is featured on Blog Giveaway Directory.  Be sure to visit them for the most comprehensive list of blog contests and giveaways happening each week.

March 21, 2011:  The winner is announced!

We Have A Winner!

Well, we didn't have a huge interest in the holiday makeup giveaway, I will attribute that to holiday madness.  So, the three of you that entered had a 33% chance of winning--not bad odds at all.  Random.org picked the winner....drum roll, please........the winner is entrant #3, Mira!!  Thanks to all who entered and don't worry, I will have more giveaways coming in 2011.  Enjoy your smoky eye palette, pro tools, and luscious Vixen lipstick!

Holiday Giveaway

"It is always better to give than to receive" is how the old saying goes.  So it is time for me to give back to you, my amazing readers here at Red Carpet Closet.  I figured a little makeup, a few new brushes, and a makeup case should do the trick.  You will be rocking a smoky eye and a gorgeous red lip throughout 2011.  (Just remember, not at the same time.  Chose a heavy eye or a heavy lip, but together...yikes!)

Here is what this fantastic giveaway includes:
* A Purely Pro Smoky Eye Palette
* A Purely Pro Lipstick in Vixen
* 8 Pro Tools
* Makeup Case with Portable Mirror

To enter:
1.  You must be a US resident.
2.  Make sure you are following Red Carpet Closet on one of the following:  Facebook, Twitter, or Blog Lovin'.
3.  Tell me your favorite post on Red Carpet Closet from 2010 in the comments section below.  Make      sure I have a way to contact you.
4.  Enter before 11:59 PM PST on Monday, December 20th.

Winner will be selected randomly by Random.org.

Good luck!