Post by admin on Sept 5, 2007 6:57:00 GMT -5
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070905/BUSINESS/709050477/1003
Area gay-oriented publicity firm sees opportunity in acceptance
2 friends join forces, focus on entertainment, civic service
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/5/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
Public relations is all about relationships, and PR professionals Steve Le Vine and Stephen Lucin want to introduce a niche market to what they see as an increasingly accepting mass audience.
The two friends, who are both 25, have formed grapeVine Public Relations, a firm that provides publicity for entertainers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or friendly to those groups and that also tries to educate the public about issues such as homeless young people who have been thrown out of their homes because of their sexual orientation.
"It hasn't really been done before. It's very rare," said Le Vine about the firm.
Le Vine, who grew up in Freehold and graduated from Freehold High School, and Lucin, who is originally from Bergen County, both graduated from William Patterson University in Wayne.
Le Vine has worked in public relations at various firms in New Jersey and then went into business for himself, forming grapeVine Public Relations, focusing mostly on music and entertainment publicity.
Since graduating, Lucin has worked in journalism and public relations, most recently working in PR in Los Angeles. He previously managed SJL Public Relations in Bergen County and focused more on civic service and organizational PR.
The clients at both their respective firms were gay or gay-friendly, so they decided to merge into one firm under the grapeVine name, focusing on both entertainment and civic service in the LGBT community.
"We're both openly gay, so it was like a natural thing because we both understand the market," Le Vine said.
Their business is in the early stages, and they will have a kick-off party Sept. 28 at Splash Bar in Manhattan. Some of their clients will perform and will do a meet-and-greet, said Le Vine, who added that the LGBT support center in the city will be on hand to address the issue of homeless youth in the community.
GrapeVine had five clients at last count, and the two have been in negotiations to acquire more, Le Vine said. The credits of their current clients include TV shows like "Law & Order" and "Guiding Light, movies like "A Tale of Two Pizzas" with Vincent Pastore and Frank Vincent of "The Sopranos," off-Broadway productions like "Jewtopia," and appearances on Comedy Central and Caroline's Comedy Club.
The two represent Freehold mystery author Gil Burgess, who wrote "Dead of Winter," and Outivities, a new gay social activities organization that is expected to be launched soon.
The two don't have a permanent office just yet; their business is still in the early stages, Le Vine said. But downtown Freehold is one of the locations they are considering, he said.
"We just want to make sure that in our lifetime that sexuality doesn't matter," and what is important is a person's accomplishments, not his or her personal life, Lucin said.
The firm can be reached at (732) 610-5545.
Nick Petruncio: (732) 308-7752 or npetruncio@app.com
Area gay-oriented publicity firm sees opportunity in acceptance
2 friends join forces, focus on entertainment, civic service
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/5/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
Public relations is all about relationships, and PR professionals Steve Le Vine and Stephen Lucin want to introduce a niche market to what they see as an increasingly accepting mass audience.
The two friends, who are both 25, have formed grapeVine Public Relations, a firm that provides publicity for entertainers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or friendly to those groups and that also tries to educate the public about issues such as homeless young people who have been thrown out of their homes because of their sexual orientation.
"It hasn't really been done before. It's very rare," said Le Vine about the firm.
Le Vine, who grew up in Freehold and graduated from Freehold High School, and Lucin, who is originally from Bergen County, both graduated from William Patterson University in Wayne.
Le Vine has worked in public relations at various firms in New Jersey and then went into business for himself, forming grapeVine Public Relations, focusing mostly on music and entertainment publicity.
Since graduating, Lucin has worked in journalism and public relations, most recently working in PR in Los Angeles. He previously managed SJL Public Relations in Bergen County and focused more on civic service and organizational PR.
The clients at both their respective firms were gay or gay-friendly, so they decided to merge into one firm under the grapeVine name, focusing on both entertainment and civic service in the LGBT community.
"We're both openly gay, so it was like a natural thing because we both understand the market," Le Vine said.
Their business is in the early stages, and they will have a kick-off party Sept. 28 at Splash Bar in Manhattan. Some of their clients will perform and will do a meet-and-greet, said Le Vine, who added that the LGBT support center in the city will be on hand to address the issue of homeless youth in the community.
GrapeVine had five clients at last count, and the two have been in negotiations to acquire more, Le Vine said. The credits of their current clients include TV shows like "Law & Order" and "Guiding Light, movies like "A Tale of Two Pizzas" with Vincent Pastore and Frank Vincent of "The Sopranos," off-Broadway productions like "Jewtopia," and appearances on Comedy Central and Caroline's Comedy Club.
The two represent Freehold mystery author Gil Burgess, who wrote "Dead of Winter," and Outivities, a new gay social activities organization that is expected to be launched soon.
The two don't have a permanent office just yet; their business is still in the early stages, Le Vine said. But downtown Freehold is one of the locations they are considering, he said.
"We just want to make sure that in our lifetime that sexuality doesn't matter," and what is important is a person's accomplishments, not his or her personal life, Lucin said.
The firm can be reached at (732) 610-5545.
Nick Petruncio: (732) 308-7752 or npetruncio@app.com
