In the weeks leading up to my internship I got the chance to work with an Indian based real estate company, Four Seasons and a local Toronto PR firm on a launch party for a new development project. The theme of the night was Celebrities, Culture and Charity to coincide with the Indian International Film Awards (IIFA) in town and to raise funds for an inspiring charity Jaipur Foot.
My first exposure to PR life was nothing short of an experience. In my first few days in the role I couldn’t help but be blinded by the celebrities, parties and who’s who world of PR in Toronto. As soon as I met the agency I was offered passes to an exclusive NXNE party to hang with all the band members, meet producers and of course access to an open bar all night (remember I am a university student) to later be asked to have dinner with some of Bollywood’s big names. PR life sure sounded great and an instant new potential career path in my mind. As the weeks continued, Yorkville soon became my “new spot”, $100 meals weren’t even a question and my name could be added to nearly any guest list in the city in a matter of a phone call. The realities of PR soon followed with the stresses of a lost venue, self centered and high strung celebrities and actuality of going $50, 000 over budget. One of the qualities I felt I always processed was the ability to work under pressure- but this experience was one that surely tested that and made me question if that was entirely true. I can’t completely dismiss PR as a potential career path but one thing I can conclude is it is definitely not as glamorous as it looks. It is an industry driven by around the clock work (literally it never ends), the need to have connections and work continuously battling against uncertainty. Though this was one minimal experience that had its ups and definite downs, but one I’m glad to say I experienced.
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