Spunky PR / Spunky Scribbles

To my past and current clients:

I want to thank ALL of you for your support over the years. Some of you may know if you’ve been following me; after years of doing marketing, public relations and business development for artists and nonprofits, I realized, through my volunteerism at MaxFund, that I was ready for a change. Therefore, I have left the rat race of promoting awesome people and projects and have been working at a dog daycare for the last few months. I recently began a training program through Animal Behavior College to become a certified dog trainer; in spring, I will also be doing their veterinary assistant program.

The domain for Spunky PR will be active until it expires in spring but I am no longer taking on any new projects or clients so I am letting everyone know ASAP about this change. You can contact me at my email, lauramc719@gmail.com, and through my blog at http://spunkylife.wordpress.com/. My phone will remain the same, 303-550-5652. In 2012, I will be officially launching my new business, Delightful Doggies, offering pet sitting and dog walking services, and ultimately dog training services.

I do still plan to promote my husband’s work; I am also committed to helping market the film on which I have worked in other capacities, “Walk-ins Welcome.” But other than these commitments, my new business and my work as a volunteer with MaxFund, I do not plan to take on any new clients or projects in the foreseeable future under the Spunky PR banner.

If you have marketing/PR needs down the road, I am happy to try and find resources for you. I really value the relationship we have had and your support of my talent and abilities. I have really been fortunate to work with people and projects in which I really have a lot of passion and love, and all of you are very talented and wonderful people! I wish you all the best moving forward. Don’t hesitate to contact me for any help, regardless of the status of my former business!

All best and much love to all of you,
Laura, your Spunky One

All my life I have loved animals. One of the best things about my childhood is that I grew up in a place where I could connect with so many. One of my uncles in particular always had different animals on his farm and I always had a cat or dog, or a combination thereof. When I was a child I aspired to be a veterinarian.

As I grew older, my life took other directions. I have been blessed to be able to have done a lot of things I always wanted to do–travel, promote great art, music and causes, and work on projects that create community impact. Since last fall I have volunteered time with MaxFund No-Kill Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. I admit I was a bit timid to do this but I felt it was the right thing to do. I am sensitive about animals and it is sometimes challenging to be at a shelter, to wish for a better life for these homeless and “unwanted” souls among us, but it has been far more enriching than saddening, and it has really inspired a new path for me.

Therefore, Spunky PR is on hold…in a sense. I am no longer accepting new clients and I have taken a job at–of all places–a dog daycare facility! It’s a huge change of pace for me and it’s another step to developing a career working with animals to hopefully make an impact on their welfare and educate people for a more humane world.

FOUR MILLION cats and dogs–about one every eight seconds–are euthanized EVERY YEAR in shelters across the U.S. That’s a terrible statistic. We buy and sell animals as commodities and then toss them aside. This is wrong and while I know I won’t solve the problem overnight, I do want to try to be part of the solution. A dog daycare doesn’t directly equate to solving pet overpopulation but it does give me some experience dealing with dogs and learning more about their behavior. It is my goal to enter a training program this fall or winter to obtain certification as a dog trainer and veterinary assistant so that I can work with people who would otherwise relinquish pets to shelters to solve behavioral issues, as well as have a strong foundational knowledge to help with physical problems. Besides working with animals and their people, I would use these added skills to help area shelters and rescues.

This is my dream–and we all need to try and pursue our dreams. While I am not completely opposed to helping artists and nonprofits under the Spunky PR banner as I have for several years now, it has definitely taken a back seat to these pursuits. It’s been a pleasure working with so many to promote such great music, art and causes. Thank you and keep in touch–I’m not completely gone, just gone to the dogs!

All best,
Laura “Spunky” McGaughey
Spunky PR / Spunky Scribbles

Spunky and Jasper, Bear Valley Park, Memorial Day 2011

From time to time, I hear from recent college graduates or more seasoned professionals who are looking for something new and different, asking about my experience and possible opportunities with Spunky PR.

Today I received such an email inquiry. I also read a post online after reading this inquiry. It was about finding marketing opportunities to consumers based on their New Year resolutions: spinning items to them that may align with their resolutions, before February gets underway and resolutions wane.

Reading all of this jogged my mind a bit, about the types of work I’ve done, and how I should reply to the inquiry, and it inspired me to write this blog so I could tell all of you what you should do to find career opportunities.

Adopt a musician!

Adopt a nonprofit!

Give of your talent. It may open other doors. It certainly has for me.

When I’ve had down times, been unemployed and unsure of myself and my career direction, it hasn’t been easy. We can all relate to these struggles of purpose, work and identity. I really like keeping busy and being around creative, mind-expanding people. I was fortunate enough to channel that busy spirit to build my skills, make connections, and strengthen my self-resolve by giving my time, talent, and pure determination.

Working with indie musicians and nonprofits has been meaningful for me. It’s also provided me with an edge of sorts, having to work within myriad constraints, with tiny budgets, little time and far few resources. I’ve always dreamed of working for a larger agency with deep-pocket clients, project managers and IT staff. Growing up, we’re all taught about how important “making it” is, climbing that career ladder, making a better life for yourself and your family: more money, more toys, more luxuries. But maybe, really, it’s all just too much pampering. If you aren’t challenged in great ways, there is no potential for great growth.

Musicians, artists, nonprofits–they are always in need of support. The New Year is here. If you’re dedicated to finding something more this 2010 and beyond, my best piece of advice is to go up to that extremely talented songwriter in the coffee shop and offer to help them book and promote some shows. Be a benefactor to that starving artist who is ingeniously combining multimedia into something fresh and exciting, and help them host an art opening that is the event of the century! Volunteer to teach the illiterate to read, feed the hungry, do some data entry for the overworked and underpaid in understaffed organizations. Build social networks for a cause you love that may not have the tech savvy in-house. It may just lead you to career fulfillment. At the very least, you’ll feel good about giving back.