As for the marketing aspect – it really *wasn’t* a media marketing event, that’s my point. There were very few media folks there. It was mostly self-proclaimed fans of the PC line of products who were being used to spread the word to their own social circle through viral marketing. That and a few freelance stylists who appear on daytime talk shows who would also be useful in spreading the (positive) word.

Dana – Agreed. Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a symbiotic relationship re: media events, and I recognize that. I need content, they need coverage. And having worked on the other end of that when I ran a record label, I handed out freebies in the hopes of positive coverage on a regular basis – it’s the nature of the industry and why I get a little weirded out when bloggers make such a big deal of pointing out that they got a book **for free** when they review it. of course you did, that’s how the business works. But using non-media folks who might not be hip to that game reeks of manipulation to me.

I go to very few press events because of the types of points you make above. Really, if I can’t figure out by tasting a food on my own that it is good enough to write about then I shouldn’t put myself out there as an authority on good food.