Difference between amateur and professional artistes is clear - Cynthia Tabe

Q: Our readers would like to know the person behind MMPR. Please tell us who Cynthia Tabe is.

A: A strict simple perfectionist with a mind that is always ticking and a head that is always spinning ideas…

Q: How and why did you choose the PR career?

A: To be honest I did not really choose this as I did not really intend to do PR, this just sort of fell into place from me doing one thing after the other. It became evident that all I was doing fell under public and press relations and I realised that my forte lies in embellishing and packaging others so they can excel.

Q: What is a typical day in your work life like?

A: There is no real typical day in PR as everyday can be different depending on which account/client I am working on or what comes through my inbox. My day usually consists of checking and managing all our social media/online sites, either editing interviews or content or photos, answering email inquiries, pitching to a media for a feature, creating visuals, managing my MMPR staff, adding more knowledge by reading articles or researching an idea or creating more content for our online site. If we are working through a release, you will also find me writing and/or editing press releases and brainstorming promo strategies.

Q: What are the most and the least rewarding aspects of your job?

A: The most rewarding is seeing that my ideas can bring success and the least rewarding is the fact that it takes over one’s life! Well if you are a perfectionist like me!

Q: What are the working conditions like “pace, stress, environment, time?”

A: It totally depends on the individual and the size of the agency. ModeMaison PR is very small and we are working in an environment which is yet to understand the concept of PR so for now the pace and environment is very laid back and we mostly work on office hours. Only when there is a release or launch that it can get a bit hectic but nothing that we cannot manage.

Q: Would you still choose this job if you had another chance to choose again?

A: For sure I would as it is something I am very passionate about.

Q: I know you have a son. Does this career provide the time for you to balance work and family?

A: Sure it does. This job has taught me great multitasking skills and I am very strict with my time and what I need to get done, so far I have been able to balance it well.

Q: Do you have any criteria for working with a particular artiste?

A: Sure we do! Time wasting is worse than losing money so the artist must show that he/she is focused and results driven.

Q: Who are the artists you work with and how is your work relationship with them?

A: At the moment we work with Ciana and Stanley Enow and they are both like an extension of my family. I look after their best interest.

Q: What would you tell Cameroonian artistes that will help push their careers?

A: So much has been said already but not many are hearing it or want to hear it, I would advise them to become professional. There is a clear difference between an amateur and a professional.

Q: We all witnessed what happened to Urban Music in Cameroon last year. Do you have any expectations this year?

A: I am expecting it to continue to grow however what I would like to see is a few new names entering the international scene…

Q: Any words to anyone who wishes to start a PR career?

A: It is no walk in the park…so come ready.

Q: Thanks very much for talking to us.

A: Thanks to you for the opportunity.