Monmouth University Shadow PR Firm and Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Chapter hosted guest speaker, Johnny Donovan, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, as a part of their Speaker Series.
Donovan, an American reality TV booking agent and casting director, was the third guest speaker for PRSSA this semester, and the first professional from the entertainment industry to speak at the university.
Over 50 students attended Donovan’s speech about his work in reality television. Donovon has worked with Logo, Oxygen, MTV and VH1 networks.
Donovan began his presentation by providing an overview of his career path. Donovan explained that he went from waiting tables at a restaurant in Times Square, NY to owning his own company, JDonovan Productions, a media events and talent productions company. He said that while working at the restaurant in NYC, he mingled with many of the customers, which landed him an opportunity to audition for a reality television show.
He auditioned for MTV’s “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila,” but did not make the final cut. Donovan saw this as a chance to keep networking and seek additional opportunities. The experience led him to become a casting director, he explained.
Donovan has casted several reality televison stars, including Angelina Pivarnick for MTV’s “The Jersey Shore.”
After casting for “The Jersey Shore,” Donovan worked for the “Mob Wives” as a publicist.
To add to his credentials, Donovan called Angela, “Big Ang” Raiola from Mob Wives during his presentation. When “Big Ang” answered the call, Donovan put her on speaker phone to speak to the audience.
Donovan has also worked with clients such as “The Real Housewives'” Melissa Gorga, Teresa Giudice and Jacqueline Laurita.
Donovon currently represents Farrah Abraham, the 22 year-old from MTV’s “16 & Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.” His job responsibilities include escorting Abraham to events and making sure that the press takes pictures of her.
Donovan went on to stress the importance of contacting the media for every event a public relations representative will host. “Wired Images, Buzz Photo, Getty Images, Amp Images, and Film Magic. If they show up at your media event, you are getting proper press photographers,” Donovan said.
Some advice Donovan offered to the students included, “be prepared for long hours, be patient, realize that the client is not a friend, and in order to get far in the industry, be willing to do what it takes.”
Donovan later continued to give the students general media tips, “Do not act like a super fan and always present yourself as a professional.”
Tara Ackaway, a senior communication major, said Donovan confirmed the notion that public relations is more than a typical nine to five job. “When working at celebrity events, there is never a really set time your night will end. It could be 10 pm or it could be 5 am. It just depends,” Ackaway said.
Jessica Rinaldi, senior public relations major and Shadow PR Firm account executive, hopes to have Donovan come to the University and offer a seminar on Celebrity PR as a follow up to this event. “Several of us, even in [PRSSA], had never seen anything like some of the work he does to pitch to media clients, to set up an event and just odds and ends that go beyond your basics like a press release and campaign that we learn in many of our classes here,” Rinaldi said.
Co-President of the University’s Shadow PR Firm and PRSSA Chapter, Kristi Silver agreed with Rinaldi’s statement and plans on inviting Donovan to come back to the University next semester. “There is so much we can learn from him and I think it’s so important for us to reach out to people like this who work in a field that we do not necessarily get to learn about in the classroom,” Silver said.
Monmouth University Shadow PR Firm and Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Chapter hosted guest speaker, Johnny Donovan, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, as a part of their Speaker Series.
Donovan, an American reality TV booking agent and casting director, was the third guest speaker for PRSSA this semester, and the first professional from the entertainment industry to speak at the university.
Over 50 students attended Donovan’s speech about his work in reality television. Donovon has worked with Logo, Oxygen, MTV and VH1 networks.
Donovan began his presentation by providing an overview of his career path. Donovan explained that he went from waiting tables at a restaurant in Times Square, NY to owning his own company, JDonovan Productions, a media events and talent productions company. He said that while working at the restaurant in NYC, he mingled with many of the customers, which landed him an opportunity to audition for a reality television show.
He auditioned for MTV’s “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila,” but did not make the final cut. Donovan saw this as a chance to keep networking and seek additional opportunities. The experience led him to become a casting director, he explained.
Donovan has casted several reality televison stars, including Angelina Pivarnick for MTV’s “The Jersey Shore.”
After casting for “The Jersey Shore,” Donovan worked for the “Mob Wives” as a publicist.
To add to his credentials, Donovan called Angela, “Big Ang” Raiola from Mob Wives during his presentation. When “Big Ang” answered the call, Donovan put her on speaker phone to speak to the audience.
Donovan has also worked with clients such as “The Real Housewives'” Melissa Gorga, Teresa Giudice and Jacqueline Laurita.
Donovon currently represents Farrah Abraham, the 22 year-old from MTV’s “16 & Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.” His job responsibilities include escorting Abraham to events and making sure that the press takes pictures of her.
Donovan went on to stress the importance of contacting the media for every event a public relations representative will host. “Wired Images, Buzz Photo, Getty Images, Amp Images, and Film Magic. If they show up at your media event, you are getting proper press photographers,” Donovan said.
Some advice Donovan offered to the students included, “be prepared for long hours, be patient, realize that the client is not a friend, and in order to get far in the industry, be willing to do what it takes.”
Donovan later continued to give the students general media tips, “Do not act like a super fan and always present yourself as a professional.”
Tara Ackaway, a senior communication major, said Donovan confirmed the notion that public relations is more than a typical nine to five job. “When working at celebrity events, there is never a really set time your night will end. It could be 10 pm or it could be 5 am. It just depends,” Ackaway said.
Jessica Rinaldi, senior public relations major and Shadow PR Firm account executive, hopes to have Donovan come to the University and offer a seminar on Celebrity PR as a follow up to this event. “Several of us, even in [PRSSA], had never seen anything like some of the work he does to pitch to media clients, to set up an event and just odds and ends that go beyond your basics like a press release and campaign that we learn in many of our classes here,” Rinaldi said.
Co-President of the University’s Shadow PR Firm and PRSSA Chapter, Kristi Silver agreed with Rinaldi’s statement and plans on inviting Donovan to come back to the University next semester. “There is so much we can learn from him and I think it’s so important for us to reach out to people like this who work in a field that we do not necessarily get to learn about in the classroom,” Silver said.
PHOTO TAKEN by Dallas Lewis-Bryant
