Stage Two

Stage Two Communications is looking to add a new member to its team to help manage award-winning clients

J-Ro — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:20:02 +0000

There are some exciting new happenings here at Stage Two: three of our clients have won three of the most prestigious awards at CES 2012. While we’re busy earning massive amounts of coverage and winning awards for our clients, we continue to add new clients and grow the firm. As a result, we are looking to add new team members to help us keep up with the agency growth.

We are looking for a PR Account Manager with four to six years of media-relations experience to join our hip, fun, experienced and dedicated team of tech marketing and PR professionals. The best candidate will be someone who knows both tech bloggers and tech lifestyle journalists who cover the consumer electronics and consumer web space. A knowledge of apps and the mobile tech space is also a big plus!

Who we are:

Stage Two is a cutting-edge consumer electronics PR and marketing firm. It’s our job to make consumer products popular. From gadgets, to apps, to connected TV, we represent some of the best products and startups in tech. We have fun, but are hard working above all else. Meanwhile, our office is just… well… cooler than yours. When we find some time away from our keyboards, we’re enjoying some drinks, some X-Box, free movies and occasionally Pepper, our official canine Stage Two mascot.

Job description:

As an Account Manager you will be serving several accounts, liaising with clients, launching products, creating and implementing press strategies on behalf of the clients and working closely with journalists from leading publications to niche tech blogs.

What we are looking for in a candidate:

Were are a dynamic start-up environment, you need to be able to keep up
You are a fast learner and a self-starter with impeccable organizational skills
You are also very reliable and a team player
You are able to manage and prioritize the needs of multiple client relationships simultaneously
You have extremely strong communications skills, especially written. We expect “Pulitzer-worthy” writing samples. (Ok, Ok, that was a bit too much, but you MUST have solid writing skills.)
You have good understanding of consumer technology (video, mobile, etc) with a genuine interest in new trends in tech, media, and culture
You bring to the table decent grasp of new media, including some contacts with bloggers and social network influencers
You must be good at distilling complex tech talk into compelling stories
In addition, the right candidate must be confident, articulate and brilliantly creative

Responsibilities:

See above, and…
Coordination of media lists and event logistics
Monitoring of client and industry press
Development, implementation and evaluation of the influencer-marketing strategies for clients
Media relations: building and nurturing relationships with key bloggers, industry influencers, press/media, analysts
New media outreach and traditional PR for new stories, company launches, product launches, etc.
Strategic counsel: understand and explain consumer behaviors to clients. Suggest best marketing, web and pr strategies to enable clients achieve their ambitious business objectives
Research and evaluate event participation opportunities (speaking, booths, panels, etc.) for clients
Attend local industry networking events

We are located in the Financial District. There are many restaurants, bars and “cool spots” in the neighborhood.

If you’re interested in this job opportunity, please send the following to jobs(at)stagetwo(dot)com:

A resume (preferably a hard copy and a link to an online one)
A short bio
Your salary requirements
Why you think this agency is a perfect fit for you
Which of our clients excite you the most, and why

Any emails without all 5 of the above will be ignored, and probably marked as spam. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions. Otherwise, we look forward to hearing from you!

Meet Swivl: The mobile video tool to track your every move

Meghan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:22:50 +0000

Just over eight months ago, Satarii kicked off a successful campaign on IndieGoGo focused on building a new video tool concept that holds your mobile video camera or device, and captures your moves as it follows you in every direction. Today they introduced an updated industrial design, new name and opened reservations to the community. We’re pleased to introduce you to Swivl!

Before you dig into details, check out this video. It is so cool! We can’t wait to get one in the office:

Swivl by Satarii from Satarii on Vimeo.

We’re happy to welcome Swivl to the Stage Two family and honored to support them in their online debut. It’s always exciting to work with companies from their public debut through launch and we expect Swivl to be nothing short of a thrilling ride!

Swivl caught some publicity this morning, take a look and check back for more later today:

Engadget
Gizmodo
PetaPixel
SlashGear
SmartPlanet
TechCrunch
The Next Web
The Verge
TUAW
UberGizmo
Uncrate
Wired

Sphero Rolls Open Official Pre-Orders to the Community

Meghan — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:00:11 +0000

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, Sphero opened up the official Pre-Orders to consumers, confirming they will begin shipping this December. Not only can you buy directly from GoSphero.com, you will be able to purchase through Amazon later this week too! While you’re visiting GoSphero.com, check out the shiny new digs with their completely overhauled site: new images, new videos, new look and all the latest games.

A New Way To Play from GoSphero on Vimeo.

We’ve been lucky enough to work with Sphero since their very first debut at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, which in the agency world is a rare treat to work with a product from start to finish. Now we’re in the home stretch with the Sphero team preparing for the big launch before the end of the year.

Make sure to follow them on Twitter @GoSphero and on Facebook for all the latest updates.

We made a little bit of noise in the blogoSphero (couldn’t help myself!) read articles below:
Android Community
AndroidSPIN
Boulder County Business Report
Denver Post
GizmoFusion
SlashGear
Tech Rockies
TUAW
The Next Web
Touch Arcade

Red Karaoke upgrades iPhone, iPad and Android devices into a portable karaoke machine!

TeamS2 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:06:43 +0000

Singers of the world unite! Today, our client, Red Karaoke, launched their awesome new mobile application for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, further cementing them as the international, online, karaoke kings that they are. The app turns your device into a karaoke machine with a library of over 45,000 songs. Queued music and scrolling lyrics show you what’s next while the camera allows you to easily record and share your karaoke performances. It’s pretty sweet!

Last week, we had some special guests over to the (still) new office for a sneak preview of the app with Red Karaoke’s CEO and founder, Miguel A. Diez Ferreira.

Fact- The word “karaoke” or “empty orchestra” comes from the Japanese word for “empty” (kara) plus the first part of the word “orchestra.” But, hooked up to the stereo via HDMI or even mirrored via AppleTV, the Red Karaoke app makes it seem like the orchestra is anything but empty.

Most everyone took a turn at singing their favorite karaoke classics including “Hotel California”, “Piano Man,” and more… Of course, the whole gang chimed in on “Piano Man.” La-di-da-di-di-da…

So if you like karaoke, go try out Red Karaoke for yourself. You won’t regret it!

The announcement was made via PR Web and the Red Karaoke Blog.

Hot off the presses-
The Next Web
Gizmodo

Client News: Automatic Video Editing Service Magisto Launches to the Public

jsteele — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:51:38 +0000

Today, our client Magisto launched their automatic video editing to the public. Magisto’s free, web-based video editing service that automatically turns any unedited video footage into short, fun movies to share with friends and family. They also announced a $5.5 million Series B round led by Li Ka-shing’s private investment arm, Horizons Ventures that also includes original investor Magma Venture Partners, so that’s awesome!

The announced the news on their blog and via the wire this morning. You can check it out here. A bunch of press have already picked up on the news, we’ll continue to update this list throughout the day.

They were also featured on Techmeme!

Stage Two Is Adding An Account Manager To The Team!

TeamS2 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:11:44 +0000

We are looking for a PR Account Manager with four to six years of media-relations experience to join our hip, fun team of tech marketing and PR professionals. The best candidate will be someone who knows both tech bloggers and tech lifestyle journalists who cover the consumer electronics and consumer web space. Bonus points if you know apps, mobile tech and smart TV. You will be managing accounts, liaising with clients, launching products, creating press strategies, and schmoozing with journalists. Sounds like fun? It is.

Stage Two is a small group of industry-insiders, wizened tech masters and pop-culture junkies who know how to maintain a proper work/life balance. Whether it’s ending the day early to catch the hottest blockbuster, or drinking scotch with a client at one of our many local watering holes, we play as hard as we work and do great things for all of our clients.

Qualifications:

Able to work within dynamic start-up environment
Fast learner and self-starting with impeccable organizational skills
Can manage and prioritize the needs of multiple client relationships simultaneously
Extremely strong communications skills, especially written
Good understanding of consumer technology (video, mobile, etc) with a genuine interest in new trends in tech, media, and culture
Decent grasp of new media, including some contacts with bloggers and social network influencers
Confident and articulate
Brilliantly creative

Responsibilities:

See above, and…
Coordinating media lists and event logistics
Monitoring client and industry press
Conceive, develop, and implement influencer-marketing strategies for clients
Build and nurture relationships with key bloggers, industry influencers, press/media, analysts, and potential marketing partners
New media outreach and traditional PR for new stories, company launches, product launches, etc.
Take a consumer product from 80 or 90% to 100% readiness for launch
Understand and explain consumer behaviors to clients
Find and evaluate event participation opportunities (speaking, booths, panels, etc.) for clients
Attend local industry networking events

Our new office is really sweet and is in the Financial District. There are many restaurants, bars and “cool spots” in the neighborhood. We don’t have cubicles or time sheets here. Just work, play and PR!

If you’re interested, please send the following to jobs at stagetwo dot com:

a resume (preferably a hard copy and a link to an online one)
a short bio
your salary requirements
why you think this is a perfect fit for you
which of our clients excites you the most, and why

Any emails without all 5 of the above will be ignored, and probably marked as spam. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions. Otherwise, we look forward to hearing from you. Ready to be our newest rock star? We’re waiting…

PS – Our loyal readers will note that we recycled a lot of this content from the last time we posted – there’s a good reason for that.

Come and knock on our door – Stage Two has a new home!

TeamS2 — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:17:08 +0000

It seems like only yesterday that the Stage Two team packed up our computers and moved into a new SOMA office complex. We loved working South of Market (we were literally right across the street from the ball park) and made a number of new friends during our time on Townsend Street.

But like all things, our time visiting HRD and Brickhouse for working lunches has come to an end. Stage Two has set up a more permanent shingle on Kearny and Sutter . . .

. . . right above Murphy’s Pub.

The view from Stage Two

It took some elbow grease, some heavy lifting and some IKEA furniture assembling, but we have pretty much settled in to our new digs. The office itself is amazing, with a full kitchen and exposed brick walls.

That's a wine fridge and a gas range in the back, friends.

We’re not saying that our office is better than your office, but we’re not not saying that, either.

We don't really believe in cubicles.

Jim's office is pretty great.

We're still trying to find a home for the Rock Band gear.

So if you are in the neighborhood and a friend of the company, come and knock on our door and see our new pad! We can’t wait to meet out neighbors, make new friends and do some serious tech marketing consulting and PR in our new home.

Client News: Evoz Launches Public Beta for their Unlimited Range Baby Monitor

jsteele — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:34:28 +0000

Today, our client Evoz, is opening the public beta for their unlimited range baby monitor. With Evoz, parents can monitor their baby from anywhere they have a cell phone connection. If you’re too busy to listen in, Evoz will proactively send texts, emails or phone calls when your baby is crying because it understands the difference between a cry and background noise. Evoz also collects information that lets parents better understand the health and wellbeing of their children.

To join the beta, download the app to two iOS devices (one to be the monitor in the baby’s room and one to your phone to use as the receiver). As a beta participant, you’ll receive two weeks of the premium service free. To check it out, visit www.myevoz.com.

They announced the news on their blog this morning, which you can read here. Some members of the press have already picked up on the news, we’ll continue to update the list as more news comes in throughout the day.

Waze Helps Drivers Band Together To Fight Carmageddon

TeamS2 — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:32:37 +0000

If you have ever lived in or even visited smoggy Los Angeles, you know how terrible the unpredictable 405 freeway can be. The intersection of the 405 and the 10 has been called the worst traffic jam in North America – and with good reason. Driving there is awful. And as if this six lane parking lot couldn’t get any worse, they are actually shutting down the entire freaking freeway. For a whole weekend. Welcome to Carmageddon.

Never fear, though. Stage Two client Waze has a solution, and a website – beatcarmageddon.com Waze is a community of drivers banding together with a single purpose: eliminating traffic. The traffic and navigation application uses real time data from drivers on the road to help people fight, avoid and extinguish traffic. The company recently announced a partnership with ABC News in Los Angeles to help local drivers fight the impending Auto-pocalypse. That is the kind of innovation we can all applaud.

When the 405 shuts down later this month, traffic in Los Angeles will be a nightmare. With Waze, Angelinos can have a fighting chance of getting through it together.

Waze recently doubled the number of drivers using the app and has been written up in a number of media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. Other press picking up the Waze news include:

Client News: MediaMall Brings the DVR to Online Video with the PlayLater Beta

jsteele — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:20:10 +0000

Today, one of our clients, Media Mall Technologies, the creator of wireless streaming service PlayOn, announced the closed beta for PlayLater, the DVR for online video. PlayLater let’s you record and watch almost any video content available online, even when you’re offline.

PlayLater is great for people who travel, commuters, or anyone who’s not connected to the Internet all the time. It brings all the functionality of a standard DVR to online video—tell PlayLater what shows to record and PlayLater will record them so you can watch when it’s convenient for you.

They announced via their blog this morning, which you can read here. Press are already picking up on how game changing PlayLater is, we’ll keep the list going as more coverage comes in throughout the day.

And they’re on Techmeme too!