Recently, I came upon an job posting looking for a publicist for high-end art events. I have approximately zero experience being a publicist and have attended approximately seven and half art events in my life. For this reason, I pulled out all the stops on the application. The Jujube Speech made an appearance. To my surprise, I actually landed an interview.
This is what I sent. It may or may not be as inspiring as my Lululemon application, but since the interview didn't make me cry, I feel like the whole endeavour was quite a success.
About Erica Schmidt:
Twitter Handle: @mypelvicfloor
Blog: exuberantbodhisattva.blogspot.ca
About Exuberant Bodhisattva: Likely, you already know what exuberant means. Bodhisattva means “an enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others.” I am only a moderately serious bodhisattva. My policy is to try and do the best I can with what I have at the present moment.
University Degree: Yes. 2007-2010. B.A. from Concordia, with all the happy artsy people in Montreal. Did a double major in Translation and Creative Writing.
Excellent Spelling: Yes. When I was in grade one, Mrs. Vanden Bosch gave me a jujube every time I got a perfect spelling test. My mother made me store them in a plastic bag because she didn't want me to eat jujubes every day. By the end of the year, I had 47 jujubes. Mrs. Vanden Bosch said that in total, I only made eight errors. I ate all the jujubes during the year-end movie party. We watched Rescuers Down Under, Duck Tales, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. All I can remember is the slow accumulation of jujube acid on the inside of my cheeks. Then my tongue went numb. Mrs. Vanden Bosch skipped me into grade three. Now I have Gifted Child Syndrome, and I never ever make spelling mistakes.
Day Job: In January, I returned from a three-month trip to India. Since then, I have been earning my living doing freelance translation contracts (French-English). Just this week, I relocated to Montreal. In addition to translation, I will happily mop, babysit, teach yoga, write and/or BE A PUBLICIST upon request. Before India, I worked at a Montessori School from January 2013 until August 2014. There, I told pre-school children to push in their chairs and put the blocks away in French. Going back to pre-school was fun, but I definitely missed semi-colons. My former bosses rave about my mopping, composting and toileting skills. To quote them, “Erica's toilet conversation with toddlers and bum-wiping skills are ‘without parallel.’” Everyone is good at something.
Please note that although I am partial to irreverence, I can also be deep, meaningful, and sincere. And though I love to talk and write a great deal, upon your request, I can be impeccably succinct.
I LET GO (attached) - a quirky and digital self-help book that provides unconventional yet life-changing suggestions on how to let go. It used to be on sale for $2.00 but I raised the price to $2.99 when the price of coriander in India went up 300%. In an act of spontaneous generosity, I have sent you a free pdf copy. The illustrations were done by my good friend and fellow yogi Sara E. Enquist.
It would be wonderful to meet you in the near future. I would love it.
I am grateful for
your time. Thank you, Name of Job Poster.
Sincerely,
Erica Schmidt
In her reply, the job poster said, "I agree. Everyone is good at something." She wasn't sure that I would be good at being a publicist, but kindly helped me to arrange an interview anyways. At the interview, the first thing the company director said was, "It doesn't look like you have ever done anything like this." I agreed with him but did my best to compensate with charm and good looks. We had a rather nice chat. He seemed moderately enthusiastic, although I have yet to hear from him. I guess we'll see. In the meantime, I will happily translate, write, mop, potty train, compost, walk dogs, walk people, teach yoga, lead butt exercises and/or be a publicist upon request. Feel free to hit me up.
The End
This is what I sent. It may or may not be as inspiring as my Lululemon application, but since the interview didn't make me cry, I feel like the whole endeavour was quite a success.
About Erica Schmidt:
Twitter Handle: @mypelvicfloor
Blog: exuberantbodhisattva.blogspot.ca
About Exuberant Bodhisattva: Likely, you already know what exuberant means. Bodhisattva means “an enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others.” I am only a moderately serious bodhisattva. My policy is to try and do the best I can with what I have at the present moment.
University Degree: Yes. 2007-2010. B.A. from Concordia, with all the happy artsy people in Montreal. Did a double major in Translation and Creative Writing.
Excellent Spelling: Yes. When I was in grade one, Mrs. Vanden Bosch gave me a jujube every time I got a perfect spelling test. My mother made me store them in a plastic bag because she didn't want me to eat jujubes every day. By the end of the year, I had 47 jujubes. Mrs. Vanden Bosch said that in total, I only made eight errors. I ate all the jujubes during the year-end movie party. We watched Rescuers Down Under, Duck Tales, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. All I can remember is the slow accumulation of jujube acid on the inside of my cheeks. Then my tongue went numb. Mrs. Vanden Bosch skipped me into grade three. Now I have Gifted Child Syndrome, and I never ever make spelling mistakes.
Day Job: In January, I returned from a three-month trip to India. Since then, I have been earning my living doing freelance translation contracts (French-English). Just this week, I relocated to Montreal. In addition to translation, I will happily mop, babysit, teach yoga, write and/or BE A PUBLICIST upon request. Before India, I worked at a Montessori School from January 2013 until August 2014. There, I told pre-school children to push in their chairs and put the blocks away in French. Going back to pre-school was fun, but I definitely missed semi-colons. My former bosses rave about my mopping, composting and toileting skills. To quote them, “Erica's toilet conversation with toddlers and bum-wiping skills are ‘without parallel.’” Everyone is good at something.
Other Selling
Points: Bilingual, Interesting Hair, Flexible Spine
Portfolio of
Creativity
(Please see links
and attached files. I have also attached a regular old C.V.)
WASHROOMS (attached)
- copy for the bathroom walls of a Montreal restaurant. I did this
as a favour for my friend Fern, former Art Director at Cossette. Now Fern is
in Delhi working for Wieden+Kennedy. Life is very exciting.
I
read “Choose Yourself” by James Altucher and my oxytocin levels increased
immediately – An enthusiastic article promoting business guru James
Altucher’s empowering book, “Choose Yourself.”
Excellent Dieting
Advice: Are you strong or are
you skinny? Please note that although I am partial to irreverence, I can also be deep, meaningful, and sincere. And though I love to talk and write a great deal, upon your request, I can be impeccably succinct.
I LET GO (attached) - a quirky and digital self-help book that provides unconventional yet life-changing suggestions on how to let go. It used to be on sale for $2.00 but I raised the price to $2.99 when the price of coriander in India went up 300%. In an act of spontaneous generosity, I have sent you a free pdf copy. The illustrations were done by my good friend and fellow yogi Sara E. Enquist.
It would be wonderful to meet you in the near future. I would love it.
 |
| I LET GO, by Erica J. Schmidt, Illustrated by Sara E. Enquist $2.99 on Amazon |
Sincerely,
Erica Schmidt
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf you publish a book, I'll buy a copy for myself and one for all my friends. So that's, like 10 copies you're guaranteed to sell at LEAST.
ReplyDeleteThat's kind. There is a book for sale. It is $2.99. I think that my illustrator and I get $1.05 per copy, split between the two of us!
ReplyDelete