Page 13 of Wylder & the Rising Rockstar
“They’re always saying my parents are back together, or Mom’s having a secret baby with the pool boy. It’s nuts. When I was little, it was upsetting. Now I don’t pay any attention to the things they say.” She shrugged, glancing back at Logan. “They’ll move on to something new soon, and everyone will forget all the crap they’ve said about you and Luke. Just hang in there.”
“Thanks, Jess, that means a lot.” Logan nodded, and Wylder felt bad about not taking the time to get to know her classmates.
“So, how do we handle the negative media attention?” Mrs. Shepherd asked. Logan leaned forward, a hopeful look on his face, like maybe their teacher had the magic fix he and his family needed so badly. Wylder reached under the table and grasped his hand.
“Lay low and keep your head down,” one student suggested. “It’s all you can really do, or they’ll tear you apart.”
“That is exactly what you shouldappearto do,” Mrs. Shepherd said. “In Logan’s case, the media will be on him and his family the moment either of them, or even their older brother, Mr. Cook, steps out into the real world.”
“I’ve been there,” the guy in the front row said—the one who got to sing Logan and Wylder’s epic tractor song they’d written for their last big assignment. “My dad’s a senator, and when the press gangs up on us when we’re out, it’s scary. They make you feel trapped, like they might literally tear you apart if you don’t answer their questions. The lights, the yelling, it’s no joke, man. The best thing to do when they’re on you like that is to stay home.”
“But that’s not all you should do.” Mrs. Shepherd slid off her desk to pace the front of the room. “A musician will have a label behind them. A management team, public relations advisors, and lawyers. In most cases, it is best to let the professionals handle the media while you wait for it to blow over. Let the media believe you’re hiding out while your team does the hard work.
“That leads us to rule number two; do not engage. Unless you have a prepared statement, never speak to the press when you’re under fire. And never, ever let them see you sweat. If they manage to corner you, the only thing you say is ‘no comment’ and get out of there as fast as you can.”
“So what do you do if the label isn’t helping and your management team, PR advisors, and lawyers are the source of the problem in the first place?” Logan seemed surprised he’d spoken out loud.
“Excellent question, Mr. Cook.” Mrs. Shepherd gave him a sincere smile. “That leads us to the point of today’s lesson. When the system fails you, you rebuild the system. Take a step away from the label and the executives controlling the narrative of your story, and you look for new representation. A new PR team that will bring a fresh perspective and help you gain control over the narrative of your story. They will either get the truth out there or do damage control if the truth is not on your side. Sometimes there’s no coming back from a media storm. And sometimes it takes a while, but eventually people will forget and careers can be rebuilt. It doesn’t have to be the end of your dream.”
Mrs. Shepherd checked her watch for the time. “One last thing before we talk about new assignments. I have some bad news, guys. In light of recent events, the school is cracking down on public events. I’m sad to tell you the Winter Review has been canceled for this year.”
“What?”
“No.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Wait, is hockey canceled too?” Wylder asked, but she could bet on the answer to that question.
“As of now, only the Winter Review has been canceled. In light of the enormous talent this school has to offer, the board feels it is their responsibility to protect that talent.”
“That sounds like a big load of bull—”
“Wylder,” Mrs. Shepherd admonished.
“I was going to say crap. Because it is bull crap.”
“It’s for your protection, now let’s move on.” Mrs. Shepherd moved to hand out a new assignment before the bell rang.
Wylder was out of her seat before anyone else.
“Let’s go, we have somewhere to be.” She snatched up her bag and grabbed Logan’s arm, hauling him out the door before the others.
“And where are we going in such a hurry?” Logan matched his stride to hers.
“There.” She pointed to the admin building across the quad.
“It’s freezing, Wylds. Put your gloves on at least if you’re not going to zip your coat.” He walked beside her. “You know we have a history class to get to next, right?” But Wylder stormed through the glass doors and into the headmistress’s office, dragging Logan behind her.
“She’s in a meeting, Miss Anderson,” the school secretary said in a weary tone. “I suggest you go to your next class and make an appointment if you’d like to see the headmistress. You can’t always come barging in here, expecting to get a moment of her time whenever you feel like it.”
“Where is her meeting? Maybe I could catch her on the way out?”
The secretary just peered at her over her reading glasses like she was a lunatic.
“Would it help any if I said she really likes me?”
“No, Miss Anderson. And ‘like’ is a very strong word.”
