The good publicist's role is that of a kind helper, never a pain in the ass. Unfortunately, this fact was apparently left off the glossy professional brochure that people like Gene must've received when they started out in this business. Gene handles publicity for the very cool Drag City Records. On more than one occasion over the years, I've contacted Gene about getting a review copy of a Drag City release or tickets for a live show review. Rather than assist me with my task of covering his bands, Gene reviews such requests as an opportunity to grill the requestee about what they've done for him lately. More than once I have had to plead with him, only to have him utter something like, "Well, what have you written about Drag City bands lately?" or "Well, why didn't you write anything about ____ ?" I no longer write about any Drag City bands as a result of this. Then there are the cases where the publicist or band themselves feel it's a great honor to be bestowed with their product. I had a good laugh when a band sent notice that if I would just RSVP and attend their record release show, I would get their new CD and a band t shirt FREE OF CHARGE! Wow, I really must be a VIP to receive such an amazing and very special offer!

Publicists are just part of this gig – often useful, but by no means indispensable. Tony Hughes of the lounge band Jesus Presley always likes to remind me that if there were no musicians, there would be no music journalists. I always remind him that if there were no music journalists, there would be no music press. One thing we can both agree on: if there we no publicists, we would still have both.

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