Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Puget.
Marissa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m from a pre-Kardashian Calabasas. Not to imply it was the land of covered wagons before they descended upon the 91302, but growing up there it was very undeveloped and rural. Neighborhood kids racing bikes along the brush-covered hillsides, only heading home when the streetlights came on kind of vibe. Since then, I’ve lived in various neighborhoods across LA, from East Hollywood to Playa, but remarkably, I’ve never moved outside of a 35-mile radius. As a kid, I was a voracious reader and would get in trouble for having my nose in a book at the dinner table and hiding stacks of them underneath my pillows along with a flashlight. Taking six-year-old me to see the majesty of the Grand Canyon? Expect but two (2) courtesy glances away from Roald Dahl. After meandering through a college preparatory high school, I took a circuitous route through college (read: wafting through Santa Monica College, repeatedly dropping most of my classes mid-semester). Eventually, the apocalyptic parking situation at SMC browbeat me into applying myself and I transferred and graduated from Mt. St. Mary’s College with a B.A. in English Literature.
By that time, I was excelling in my studies and wanted to continue being a professional student by pursuing my MFA in Poetry. But the workforce had other plans! My dad works in post-production as a colorist. Throughout college, I worked at editorial and color houses doing reception and client service. When my dad opened his own shop in 2008, I moved there and overtime began organically melding my two backgrounds – writing and post – into an in-house marketing/media manager role – creating reels, overseeing sponsorships, writing press releases, that sort of thing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ever since I started writing for a living, doing it creatively has been a challenge. I used to write short stories and poetry for pleasure and loved the process of workshopping my creative pieces in college. Now, as a business owner whose currency is words, it is extremely rare for me to draft anything outside of the work realm. At the end of the day, I must impose a safe, socially distant length of six feet between Microsoft Word and me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the co-owner of Raconteur, a pr & marketing consultancy based in LA. We work across various industries, but our core client base is mainly production companies, post-production companies, music production houses, and advertising agencies. Creative folk who make commercials, music videos, short films, and the like. My business partner Olia and I have worked alongside each other at Raconteur since 2012 (we were hired the same week!) and purchased the company from our former boss exactly three years ago. Taking the mantle of ownership was not a decision we took lightly, and it has been a continuous lesson in adapting, pivoting, and evolving.
I deal in all things written, copy or content-related. Press releases, announcements, bios, words! words! words! Olia is my more client-facing, strategic-minded counterpart. She figures out the medley of what will work for the client’s particular needs and goals and facilitates the flow of information between all parties. Together we help to create, refine, articulate and expand the story of our clients and then usher their creativity out into the world. (Apologies for the repetition ahead – the synonyms for ‘story’ are offensively limited!) This emphasis on story(!) is what sets Raconteur apart from others. It’s the cornerstone of the reputation we’ve established within our industry, and it’s one I’m extremely proud of. What I’ve learned from my years in telling stories is that there is always something special. The challenge is in figuring out the angle, the kick, the secret sauce – that draws the world in. Raconteur takes the time to figure out what makes your narrative intriguing and essential.
What tale do we want to tell that separates you from the pack; that makes your company, your talent, your project, really and truly unique? We always make sure that our clients are always putting out the most authentic and best-executed message. The best part of my job is the variety, the range of projects I work on differs wildly from day to day. From throwing a company launch party at a Lautner estate, to attending Sundance to connect journalists to a cutting-edge VR artist, to the everyday prompt to wax lyrical about a killer new music video or campaign – it’s an energizing space to work in.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
My morning ritual is really, really silly. At the top of the workday, as my husband/hypeman Jade and I are making coffee, he will grab my shoulders and deliver me a pep talk with the closing orders to SMANG IT (smash it + bang it). This rallying cry has become a superstition for my own productivity. Only once I’ve received my infusion of SMANG IT energy am I ready to open the laptop and tackle the day with gusto.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.raconteur.la
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/raconteurla; www.instagram.com/hooksforhands
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/raconteurLA
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/raconteurLA; www.twitter.com/hooksforhands
Image Credits:
Victoria Smith (photo) – b&w photo
