I was honoured to be invited at the press - guest cocktail on 27th, 28th and 31st of March 2017 in Marbella. It was quite remarkable. Twenty Michelin chefs gathered from 27th to 31st March in Marbella at the Fourth Edition of A Cuatro Manos by Dani García.

Press Releases and Press Presentation were superb, all the necessary information and guidelines were there, the hardest part was to find out how many Michelin stars every chef has and the fact that all was in conducted in Spanish, nothing in English. The message this sends is that they don't focus on the international market. The event was invited only. They know exactly who came and what Media each and everyone represented. This prevents them from telling the Media were there didn't target the event as planned.

Journalist, reporter,  interviewers, camera operators, photographers are all doing very hard work. Even if this doesn't seem so because at events all of them just look very glamorous and unreachable to ordinary people.  

I am writing this since I believe my voice is heard and I don't complain, I get good treatment in almost all of the cases and if somebody treat me very bad I just don't go there anymore or stop publishing about them, but I can see how some other Media people are treated in Marbella. I have the power and right to just stand out and explain to press conference organisers what is behind all this. And I do advice to read some general protocol about how to treat Media to get the best results. Otherwise, they just don't do their job and get paid for nothing.

Three days photo call presentation, where you can take pictures, sometimes selected press to do the interviews for tv, online magazine, newspaper, etc. THE POINT OF THIS IS THAT YOU GET 3-day free publicity to the event and free long hard and working days for the press. 

 *Photocall is a time arranged for photographers, esp press photographers, to take pictures of a celebrity, the cast of a play, etc., usually for publicity purposes

This event was only promotion purpose.

I will describe and explain behind the seen work what press does step by step in this A Cuatro Manos by Dani García 2017 event example on i-marbella.com and i-marbella.es 

A 4 Manos 1st day Dani Garcia ** and Jonnie Boer *** in March 2017 VIDEO, GALLERY

1^st DAY 27.03.2017

For example in the Fourth Edition of A Cuatro Manos by Dani García. On Monday 27 was the opening day where were Dani García cooked with the Dutch Jonnie Boer. It was an excellent cocktail for clients. I didn't see what they offered some tapas or not; I saw wine, cava, water.

A 4 Manos 1st day Dani Garcia ** and Jonnie Boer *** in March 2017 VIDEO, GALLERY

http://i-marbella.com/News/news/Restaurant/marbella/a-4-manos-1st-day-dani-garcia-and-jonnie-boer-in-march-2017-video-gallery

*First press release is supposed to cover backgrounds and details of the research of people in the presentation. A 4 Manos was an event about 20 celebrity chefs, a press kit was done well with all info but still, it was too long to read and focus on the most important. You never know who could reach for an interview, this depends on many different circumstances. It could take up to an 1 or 2h.

*Press usually comes earlier to get a better place in front of photocall, sometimes waiting hours and hours, like in Global Gift Gala, Antonio Banderas Gala or Paris Hilton in Olivia Valere sometimes 3-5 hours only waiting in same spot. In this, A 4 Manos event 30 minutes earlier is okay. They don't leave from there to take snacks or drinks or enjoy cocktail itself, they have in the head this press last details only, like lighting, zoom, checking all instruments have battery all memory. What to ask from a celebrity is to enable the press to arrive with maybe in 30 min time to prepare, they talk with each other; some info has changed, you find out that someone doesn't speak Spanish, and you need to find the person in this short time of 10 minutes who can do it. These are all most important reasons why press needs to work and stick together. 

Organiser invites quest, press for cocktail or tapas or something else depends on the event. When guests have a good time talking over cocktails.  Then press look and take place in front of photocall. The press doesn't relax before the job is done. In A 4 Manos 2017, clients went into restaurant and press was left to feel like unnecessary and better if they leave quickly.  Of course, all drinks and tapas were finished. I managed trough a connection I had from prior to get water.

Dani García and Dutch Jonnie Boer dinner cost for Clients 450 euro, this is not a charity event, real business and publicity event.

I am not talking that press should go to this Michelin star dinner, NO media will be happy with some drinks and tapas after hard work to just relax 15 minutes and feel that they are appreciated, keep this in mind. This also spreads the good feelings.

But yes it would be nice that every year someone from the press to be invited to dinner too, this can also be every year different 1-2 media people. And Company can choose who are the best for them. The press has no idea even what they eat for 450 euro food.

For example, i-Marbella has approached four years to Dani Garcia marketing department. About advertising or collaboration with food or anything. No answer come; Not even, Thank you but no thank you note. I haven't invited to Bibo or Dani Garcia dinner. 

This event took about three hours of press time.

*After event Journalist, reporter,  interviewers, camera operators, photographers go home or back to the office. First, they will look what material they have; you never know what you get. A journalist needs to decide what is worth to publish and how good he/she make it.

*Then they start doing the most time-consuming part of their job what nobody sees. Choosing and cleaning pictures, looking over raw material,  Montez videos, writing articles, gathering information several sources, then the editor will look it over, you need to choose photos, resize, meta tags, loading up many, many things. 

*I did this article I put the text together from several sources translating Spanish press release. I got photos from a photographer like same night then I resize, adding correct meta tags, descriptions, fail names, etc., looking what picture use for cover, you need to know who is who. Loading up images to server this take a while. Journalist-editor chooses who will be on the front cover and what will be the headline. It is the most important decision, in this whole work.  And articles quality depend for so many small detail things to be useful for this organisation. (adding company details, active links etc, who is mention in the headline and meta tags etc). And journalist decides it how he/she feel about this event, client, person, what emotion he/she got. How they were treated etc.

I was ready at 3.30 AM.  Meantime editor has corrected text in English add some more appropriate sentences; the editor has to check all contacts website social media, active links in the text. Small important details for SEO or rest of the IT. An online magazine like i-marbella can help so much to get company better position in google.

Then it went to waiting list for translation to Spanish for next day.

*I got Video from boommarbella.tv next day 28.03.2017 in the morning 8.30 AM; this means video editor was working whole night for this. It is time-consuming work. They put into this event and video making totally 24 h.

*Then I load up this into youtube and provide all the necessary information for SEO and professional details. It takes time depending on the video size; then I was editing, choosing the headline, first picture. Then I watch it over to make for the reader to catch quickly notes:

It took from me 3-4 h.

Vidoe you can see here

A 4 Manos 1st day Dani Garcia ** and Jonnie Boer *** on 27th of March 2017
1:48 Dani Garcia** Spanish
5:57 Jonnie Boer*** interview in English
9.04 Jose Bernal Alcalde de Marbella

Presented by Las Tardes con Helena
http://www.boommarbellatv.es/

Also, I was looking what I can find on the internet something else to add, so I submitted to FB Dani Garcia presentation video and also added this into an article.

To make this article A 4 Manos 1st day Dani Garcia ** and Jonnie Boer *** in March 2017 VIDEO, GALLERY  Still is only in English. Now it goes to Spanish editor. And she had all pictures and videos ready but have to changes all the SEO details to Spanish. You need to check and add all the active links in the text, contacts, info about the place this takes 2 h.

Totally this article took 18h+24h=42 hour and six people working 

A 4 Manos 1st day Dani Garcia ** and Jonnie Boer *** in March 2017 VIDEO, GALLERY

2^nd DAY 28.03.2017

The Fourth Edition of A Cuatro Manos cocktail in Marbella 2017 GALLERY, VIDEO

http://i-marbella.com/News/news/Restaurant/marbella/the-fourth-edition-of-a-cuatro-manos-cocktail-in-marbella-2017-gallery-video

The second-day article took more time, because:

 *There were more people, 20 Michelin chefs. To make sure who is who writing Spanish articles, who writes in English, pictures took four times more since the event was bigger - Brushing 2-3 hours by the cameraman, I got the pictures after midnight.

• Elena Olaya made interviews for hours; this is press working hours, they are two people because of the cameraman. These all took 30 hours of our time.

 * I got pictures edited, resized, uploaded, choose cover photo, added all meta tags and rest of the necessary tools which took over 3,5 h

• the video took twice the long to edit all and add names for camera operator it was an all night's work.
• I got this video next day in the morning.  First, I  loaded it up to i-marbella youtube channel, edited, then I've chosen cover shot (i cut it out specially and add extra) add all necessary tools what have to add to have a better location on the internet, etc. So it took me 4 hours
• Then I was looking over all video and making notes for watchers; maybe they just like to see only in an interview, another 1,5 h, I did it in English and Spanish directly and added to youtube and into articles.

Then it goes to Spanish translation for a waiting list, also check all details SEO and active links, contacts, etc.  Finally, the article published 30.03.2017. The editing took 2,5 h. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bewb2Oq30mE&spfreload=10

Video times- looking all video and add info by time

1:59 PACO MORALES

4:18 PACO RONCERO

6:29 ALBERT ADRIA

9:10 DANI GARCIA

11:05 Mr.Jorge Manzur Director General Hotel Puente Romano

12:53 Rocio Pimentel Empresaria

14:46 Photocall with twenty the best chefs in the world.'

16:48 Photocall ''alone NOBU MATSUHISA

17:34 Eladio Rueda Serrano Propietario de Frutas Eladio

18:15 Simon Padilla Chef Colaborador Hotel Puente Romano

Presented by Las Tardes con Helena

http://www.boommarbellatv.es/

Totally this article took 26h+30h=56 hours and six people working 

PressPinvitation on 30.03.2017 got at 14:07 PM a note to assist at Press cocktail at 20.30h I checked with other Media if they are going. The reason we just didn't go is the fact that all the Media members were complaining and feeling disappointed. This was such a short notice and I had other plans. This invitation came 6,5 h prior to a cocktail. But usually, journalist update information before they arrive at the event. Also, there is a need to coordinate with a photographer if his available. 

3 Days in road publicity purpose event - you have to treat press people has your dear guests.

Dani Garcia is very kind and friendly, he always makes pictures and says hello, etc.  He is star people favourite nobody don't say anything, I like him also very much, and he is an average person in everyday life, he likes like in Instagram just the things he likes not just useful for him. Like many other businesses and he put up also his mum's food photos and simple life, whiches great.

I have heard many many times from so many press conference organiser, company owners, and marketing people and so on the following: 

This press is local, not necessary, if they ask small favours, always answer no, but if the organiser wants something they smile trying to be nice but behind the back, they think you are nobody.

RESPECT press work no matter how small they are or just don't invite them. 

Here in Marbella press conferences are popular everybody does it on any occasion. 

Press is like the team, group that always sticks together

In this,  A 4 Mano 2017 event Press organiser didn't let make pictures with chefs after all extended interviews, etc.

And of course media was working without the time to eat or drink, and after photo call, clients and chefs went 500 euro dinner. Press got nothing, the cocktail was over. And organiser was happy that Media was leaving.

The global gift Gala always treated press most kindly, and after long photocall, they have the separate corner with a buffet. 

All Marbella press look forward to assisting any Gomez y Molina presentation, they always treat media very well, giving cute goody bags with enough valuable things not advertising fliers.

Saeko Hamada is professional in every aspect of her work. 5000 people are opening event organiser or Charity event. She knows all the protocol entirely, organising any event and there so much to learn from her. 

Also often these who are nice to press and when retweeting they always say out loud thank you for support. 

At the end of the day, most of the Media in Marbella is doing it for free!!!!

Media is free in Marbella TV, Radio, online magazine, paper magazines

Cost are very high for printing, server rent for an online magazine for the whole history every month, people hours work journalist, editors, translators, designers, photographers, camera operators.

The only way to get money is to sell is tough advertising.

But your business image depends on them!

Same with big Media channels.