Mike Perham - all we need to know

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islandsailor

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I have posted on Mike a couple of times - I admire his spirit but have been concerned about the choice of boat, preparation etc this article here has enlightened me to the ultimate aim of this project. There are lots of great marine PR companies who could have promoted and represented this project, so why would you choose someone described as "Mr Publicity" is this voyage about the voyage or about the PR and profile?
 
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the ultimate aim of this project.

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Maybe he's doing it for charity? "Mike is hoping to raise £24,000 (£1 for each mile travelled) for charities with his trip through fundraising. The money will be donated to two charities close to Mike’s heart: Save the Children, and the Tall Ships Youth Trust, which gives deprived children in cities a chance to experience sailing."

Maybe it's to spread the word of sailing:
http://www.sailmike.com/meetmike.aspx

But looking at his video blog:
http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/?page_id=50

and his photo gallery:
http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/?page_id=36

...and his own words:
http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/
"Wow what a day I've had on board Totallymoney.com! It's definitely been a pure grin from ear-to-ear-day… the wind picked up early this morning and I've been turbo-surfing ever since."

I'd say he's doing it because he ****ing loves it!

Go for it Mike! Succeed or fail you're better than your armchair critics!

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re-read my post and then go here why go here when you could have worked with the many marine PR companies

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Ok, if I missed your point first time around I still seem to be missing it. You seemed (to me) to be saying Mike's going round the world for the publicity.

What are you actually saying? That he's got a poor publicity officer? So what? 99.99 per cent of sailiors haven't even got a publicity officer!

Can you spell out your point?
 
My point is that rather than employ a PR company that is experienced in communicating a sailing project ie:Pitch PR, Into the Blue, Saltwater they have employed a man who's own website describes him as

"Kizzi Nkwocha is considered the UK's Mr Publicity. A former national newspaper journalist, Kizzi became one of the UK's leading public relations consultants with a string of Who's Who clients and headline making stories."

Have a look at his website would you employ him to communicate a sailing story or someone like this

that choice reflects the aim of this project.
 
HA ha.....

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"Kizzi Nkwocha is considered the UK's Mr Publicity. A former national newspaper journalist, Kizzi became one of the UK's leading public relations consultants with a string of Who's Who clients and headline making stories."


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I have worked with Kizzi, he used to work at the News of the Screws... he's kindof a poor mans Max Clifford.... very C list unless he has lifted his clientelle recently...

But point well made, why would Perham use Kizzi, who normally deal's with Page 3 Stunna's and has probably never even set foot on a yacht??
 
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But point well made, why would Perham use Kizzi, who normally deal's with Page 3 Stunna's and has probably never even set foot on a yacht??

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'Cos he's a broke 16yo lad who can't afford a first class publicity man???

Christ, if the worst thing he can be accused of is hiring a 3rd rate publicity guy he aint doing too badly!
 
it is not about who he has employed and how much they cost, but the motivation behind who is representing the project.

But if that is the point, there is no doubt that Mr Nkwocha is far more expensive, than any of the established Marine PR companies - maybe this is where totalymoney.com sponsorship has gone?
 
I dunno, I havnt really been paying that much attention, other than the casual observations that A) things dont seem to be going according to plan... B) the point of the original mission is now out the window...and C) He has been getting zero PR.......

So really my feeling on the kizzi thing is less about motivation and more about competence......

I doubt it Kizzi is as expensive as a proper PR agency... he will be making his cash on a sort of commision basis based upon tying up the exculsive access afterwards and movie/book rights....I doubt he is taking any cash on retainer... Its not the way Clifford and Kizzi work...

I think that the first and biggest stumbling block that Mike has faced is the name of the boat..."TotallyMoney"..... in this day and age that really says... "TotallyCrass" and I would have thought that for that reason alone no national is gonna touch him.....

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PR-wise: at least Ellen nicknamed her boat (Moby IIRC) and referred to her boat by that name, and not as B&Q - Castorama.

Compare that to a 16 year old constantly talking about Totallymoney.com.

FWIW, I think the boy should quit while he's ahead - put into Cape Town and continue next year. If he does push on, I wish him well and sincerely hope he comes to no harm.
 
I work in the yachting media, and Kizzi is a complete disaster for Mike. No press releases, and when I call him, I get rude comments and no joy. I don't blame Mike or his family, but it is a great shame for the project that it is represented by such an awful PR disaster.
 
The problem is that Kizzi will make his money by selling the story after it is over.... he doesnt really want too much PR during the attempt , because it has the potential of devalueing the end product... ie the exclusive in the MOS....

So, the story needs to be out enough to keep people aware and interested, but not so much as to blow the exclusive...

Kizzi's job isnt to help you tell the story,,, its to prevent you from telling the story.

Kizzi's problem is that the story is a dead duck wiht the problems that are taking place, and the timing economically.

I doubt if the story is worth more than around 3k now, but I am not sure who would actually by it... NOW are out, Sunday Mirror out, mirror out, Daily mail maybe, or Mail on Sunday..... Sun is out as well...

The book may make some money, but without the OBE and the big media record breaking thing its vanity publishing....

I think Kizzi couldnt give a dump, but cant bail because he will have promised PR support (or Managment) in the contract... so the last thing he wants to be doing now is answering calls on something he aint gonna make any cash on....
 
This is the strangest thread ever. Who gives a **** about the PR effort? It's a sailing adventure - the PR is just a means to an end!

Mike appears to be having the time of his life out sailing. Isn't that the important thing rather than the hoops he's had to jump through to get to that point?

There's no evidence his sponsor and publicity man were selected from a huge number of possible candidates - I assume he gratefully accepted whatever funding and publicity effort was on offer - he can't really be blamed for that, he did the best he could.

Knox Johnston's been sponsored by Saga Insurance and 'New Zealand Apples' in his time - are they less appropriate than totally money?

Anyway, why is stuff about his publicity officer "all we need to know". Personally I'm more interested in what's happening on the water. His publicity officer tells us next to nothing.

I just had a read of his web site. Potential next challenge: "I’ve been thinking about the Matterhorn in Switzerland… ". People are getting wound up about the 'danger' of sailing for MP. If he takes up mountaineering it's going to drive them insane with rage. Is it 1 in 8 die over a certain altitude???...
 
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Is it 1 in 8 die over a certain altitude???...

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Quite possibly, but the Matterhorn isn't anywhere near that altitude.

It was on my "wish list" before the arthritis took over, great climb and well within Mike's abilities (he's young, fit and keen..... ) with a bit of experience on the hills.

Go for it Mike!
 
Big step up from the Atlantic crossing in the prepped, conservative Co32.

So long as he is enjoying himself and pushing the envelope as safely and adventurously as he is ok doing, then I wish him a brilliant trip, some amazing surfing and f2ck the sleazoid 'Spin' bizness !
He can write his own book. And 'Money4us' or whatever sponsor can write theirs.
 
Unlike the Contessa Atlantic crossing, that had more of a Corinthian flavour, this trip is for bigger stakes and in these times demands proper and professional organisation and back up. I don't know this Kizzi guy, but I'll bet he knows little to nowt about sailing, which is a big disadvantage in this situation. Like it or not, effective PR is a vital part of getting the best from an effort like this, not just for young Mike, but for the people he has promised to help. I have to say that if I was in Mike's Dubarry's, a Max Clifford clone would not be my choice.
 
Correct me if I am wrong but was not the conressa 32 father and son transat an entirely different family?. Did not the perhams do it it in some trailer sailer?
 
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