“That is a good one. There are some beauties in the Southern Highlands.”
“I’m going to have to check that area out now. Might need to be my new nighttime wind-down phone scrolling activity. Properties to do up! What will you do in the off-season?”
“As previously mentioned. Catching up with family, off-season training.” I send over a wicked smile.
“Creature of habit.”
7
Mabel
March – Official Start of the Season – Philip Island, VIC
It’s a completely different day today. Where I have been preparing, planning, and able to take my time with socials, marketing commitments, and photoshoots for Javi and the team, today it will be busy keeping him on schedule through a gauntlet of media interviews. Different broadcasters, media types, social media, and paddock photographer photo opportunities, media debriefs and press conferences. It’ll be a solid day for Javi; Rayna and myself overseeing.
“How are we tracking, Mabel?” Rayna asks after a social media interview.
“Great! Only a few more to go, and then Javi can call it. But you don’t have any other press to meet with,” I reply, ticking off a list item on my phone.
“Excellent! I’ll be in my office catching up on calls. Thanks, Mabel!” Rayna sings out and heads off with a wave.
Javi approaches and whispers, “I need to run to the bathroom. If they arrive soon, hold them off for me! Won’t be long.” He runs off without waiting for my answer.
“Oooookaaay,” I say as an interviewer approaches.
“Where’s Javi?” he says, gruffly, his black, hair shaggy and disheveled t-shirt askew, stuck up higher on one side of his body with sweat and the strap of his bag.
Off to a good start.
“Sorry, Javi had to run off…” I check my list for his name, “Alfie.”
“I’m not Alfie. Geez, you are worse than the last one. Can’t even organise a media day.” He rolls his eyes.
“Sorry, I had Alfie down for 1:00 p.m. Which media outlet are you from?” Panicking, I scan up and down my agenda, wondering how I got it wrong. I confirmed everything via email.
He sighs. “Geoff from Yellow Goat Media. Only over a million subscribers.”
I look and see ‘Yellow Goat Media’ on my list.
“Ah, yes, I see you here. Unfortunately, I have you down for 10:00—”
He interrupts me, “Well, my email said 1:00 p.m. Not my fault you don’t read your emails correctly.”
“One moment. I’ll pull it up now.” As I open my mail app, I see he sent an email this morning at 9:00 a.m, well and truly after everything had been confirmed and locked in.
“Yeah, everything was confirmed by 3:00 p.m. yesterday. I didn’t see this email sentat9:00 a.m. this morning, and I didn’t confirm the time change,” I continue.
“Well, I couldn’t be here until 1:00 p.m., and your 1:00 p.m. isn’t here.”
“I understand, and once Javi gets here, we can do your interview. But when the 1:00 p.m. interviewer arrives, you will need to cut your interview short.” I stand my ground.
“Go get him then,” he demands, setting up way too many things for a time-limited meeting. I know what he is going to do. He’snotgoing to stop and leave when the 1:00 p.m. interviewer arrives.
I find my resolve, and in my most professional PR voice, I say, “Ok, that’s enough. You’re not setting up.”
“What?! Where’s Rayna? I want to talk to her.” He stops what he’s doing and tries puffing up his chest.
“You want to talk to Rayna, you can send her a late email as well.”
