 |
 RARE AUSTIN POWERS CAST SIGNED 6 FOOT DIE CUT THEATER LOBBY POSTER $75.00 Time Remaining: 18d 6h 9m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
 MASTER CLASS Cast Signed Lobby Card Framed Zoe Caldwell Terrence McNally + $34.95 Time Remaining: 3d 8h 10m Buy It Now for only: $50.00 |
 SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $899.00 Time Remaining: 28d 7h 10m Buy It Now for only: $899.00 |
 TO CATCH A THIEF MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $279.00 Time Remaining: 28d 7h 16m Buy It Now for only: $279.00 |
 COURT JESTER MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $1,999.00 Time Remaining: 6d 12h 28m Buy It Now for only: $1,999.00 |
 THE MAN FROM UNCLE TV CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $2,500.00 Time Remaining: 11h 14m Buy It Now for only: $2,500.00 |
 THE WOMAN ON PIER 13 MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $999.00 Time Remaining: 9d 10h 45m Buy It Now for only: $999.00 |
 LONE RANGER TV CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $10,000.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 51m Buy It Now for only: $10,000.00 |
 Perfect Age Rock Roll Cast 5 Signed Auto Autograph Lobby Card Jason Ritter $75.00 Time Remaining: 10d 12h 14m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
 THE SHINING MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $3,500.00 Time Remaining: 28d 7h 15m Buy It Now for only: $3,500.00 |
 AMERICAN GRAFFITI MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $3,500.00 Time Remaining: 11d 11h 52m Buy It Now for only: $3,500.00 |
 BATMAN TV CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $3,999.00 Time Remaining: 25d 13h 13m Buy It Now for only: $3,999.00 |
 SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT 2 MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $999.00 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 12m Buy It Now for only: $999.00 |
 CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $99.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 8m Buy It Now for only: $99.00 |
 Perfect Age Rock Roll Cast 5 Signed Auto Autograph Lobby Card Taryn Manning $75.00 Time Remaining: 10d 12h 17m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
 Perfect Age Rock Roll Cast 5 Signed Auto Autograph Lobby Card Ritter PROOF $75.00 Time Remaining: 10d 12h 18m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
 THE UNDERCOVER MAN MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $1,999.00 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 41m Buy It Now for only: $1,999.00 |
 MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $150.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 52m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 |
 SIGNED BONNIE CLYDE LOBBY CARD CAST AUTOGRAPHS w COA PROVENANCE $199.99 Time Remaining: 22d 7h 39m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
 FIGHTING MAD MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $2,999.00 Time Remaining: 5d 11h 14m Buy It Now for only: $2,999.00 |
 THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $1,500.00 Time Remaining: 9d 10h 44m Buy It Now for only: $1,500.00 |
 ALEX AND THE GYPSY MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $2,500.00 Time Remaining: 11d 11h 58m Buy It Now for only: $2,500.00 |
 REAR WINDOW MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED USA 1954 $999.00 Time Remaining: 28d 7h 4m Buy It Now for only: $999.00 |
 HELL ON FRISCO BAY MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $89.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 27m Buy It Now for only: $89.00 |
 NORTH BY NORTWEST MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $229.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 59m Buy It Now for only: $229.00 |
 MIDNIGHT COWBOY MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $2,499.00 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 50m Buy It Now for only: $2,499.00 |
 MOUSE THAT ROARED MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $119.00 Time Remaining: 2d 12h 42m Buy It Now for only: $119.00 |
 THE BUDDY SYSTEM MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $2,500.00 Time Remaining: 11d 11h 55m Buy It Now for only: $2,500.00 |
 HONEYSUCKLE ROSE MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $1,999.00 Time Remaining: 16d 11h 8m Buy It Now for only: $1,999.00 |
 BOWERY BUCKAROOS MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $2,999.00 Time Remaining: 28d 5h 6m Buy It Now for only: $2,999.00 |
 CASH McCALL MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $1,899.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 8m Buy It Now for only: $1,899.00 |
 CHAIN LIGHTNING MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $299.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 8m Buy It Now for only: $299.00 |
 KING KONG MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED USA $499.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 32m Buy It Now for only: $499.00 |
 SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLO MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $199.00 Time Remaining: 28d 7h 14m Buy It Now for only: $199.00 |
 SUSPICION MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED USA 1953 $450.00 Time Remaining: 28d 7h 22m Buy It Now for only: $450.00 |
 THE RETURN OF OCTOBER MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $1,799.00 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 41m Buy It Now for only: $1,799.00 |
 PRIDE OF THE PLAINS MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $1,999.00 Time Remaining: 8d 8h 37m Buy It Now for only: $1,999.00 |
 QUICK ON THE TRIGGER MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD SIGNED $2,999.00 Time Remaining: 8d 10h 43m Buy It Now for only: $2,999.00 |
 BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED $179.00 Time Remaining: 28d 5h 7m Buy It Now for only: $179.00 |
 JOAN OF ARC MOVIE CAST LOBBY CARD UNSIGNED USA 1948 $150.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 31m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 |
 ATTACK MOVIE CAST INSCRIBED LOBBY CARD SIGNED $2,499.00 Time Remaining: 28d 5h 2m Buy It Now for only: $2,499.00 |
 THE CHASE MOVIE CAST INSCRIBED LOBBY CARD SIGNED $2,500.00 Time Remaining: 28d 7h 15m Buy It Now for only: $2,500.00 |
A Day in the life of a Lobbyist
Whether lobbyists work for a large organization, a private individual, or the general public, their goals and strategies are the same. First and foremost, lobbyists must be adept at the art of persuasion, which is the mainstay of their job. They must figure out how to sway politicians to vote on legislation in a way that favors the interest they represent. This means tailoring appeals to specific individuals as well as to group voting blocs, such as Southerners or pro-choicers. Lobbyists also occasionally lobby one another. When normally opposing groups find a common area of interest and can present a united front they are extremely effective. Lobbying can be direct or indirect. Direct lobbying means actually meeting with congressmen and providing them with information pertinent to a bill being voted on. The lobbyist imparts her information with the help of graphs, charts, polls, and reports that she has hunted up or created. Needless to say, this is usually information that the politician might not otherwise have access to, that casts the matter in a light favorable to the interest the lobbyist represents. Sometimes, lobbyists will even sit down and help a politician draft legislation that is advantageous for their interest. Maintaining good relations with politicians who can be relied on to support the lobbyist’s interest is key. While lobbyists and their employers cannot themselves make large campaign donations to politicians, they can, and do, raise money from other sources for reelection campaigns. To be successful at all of this, the lobbyist must be well-informed, persuasive, and self-confident. Personal charm doesn’t hurt either, and lobbyists will often do social things like host cocktail parties, which allow them to interact with politicians-and opponents-in a less formal atmosphere. Indirect lobbying, sometimes referred to as grassroots organizing, is a bit less glamorous. Grassroots lobbyists enlist the help of the community to influence politicians by writing, calling, or demonstrating on the organization’s behalf. This means long hours spent on the phone and writing letters, trying to rouse the community to get involved. These lobbyists also report to politicians about the concerns and reactions they have gotten from community members. Indirect lobbying is also done through the media. Grassroots lobbyists write articles for newspapers and magazines and appear on talk shows to generate interest in and awareness of their issues. Lobbyists tend to work long hours-between forty and eighty hours per week is normal, and when a bill is up for vote they will usually work through at least one night. But the least attractive part of being a lobbyist may be the profession’s less-than-spotless reputation. While most are undoubtedly scrupulous, some lobbyists have been known to grease a palm or two where persuasion falls short, and the rest must suffer the public’s mistrust. These honest lobbyists, who represent every segment of society, take refuge in the knowledge that they are working to promote causes they believe in.
Paying Your Dues
Lobbying is a profession full of people who have changed careers, since relevant knowledge and experience are all you really need to become a lobbyist. There are no licensing or certification requirements, but lobbyists are required to register with the state and federal governments. Most lobbyists have college degrees. A major in political science, journalism, law, communications, public relations, or economics should stand future lobbyists in good stead. While you’re still in college you can check out the terrain through various government-related internships-as a congressional aide, in a government agency, or with a lobbying firm, for example. Any of these positions will give you a look at the role of lobbying in the political system. After college the same holds-working in a government or political office, especially as a congressional aide, takes you to the front lines, but it may also be useful to start out in a law or public relations firm. Many lobbyists also come from careers as legislators, as former politicians often capitalize on their years of government service and their connections to old pals still in office. This is the “revolving door” that recent legislation has begun to regulate (see “Past and Future”). Indeed, networking is the name of the game in lobbying, where people are hired as much for who they know as what they know. Someone who can schmooze at high levels will start his lobbying career from an accordingly high perch, while others face a long hard climb upwards. While there is no hierarchy of seniority as in corporations, this also means that there is no ceiling for those who do well.
Associated Careers
Primarily, the lobbyist works with legislators and aides, both of which are career options for former lobbyists, with their inside knowledge of the political system. Public relations is also a natural choice, since packaging and communicating messages is the lobbyist’s primary skill. Advertising, journalism, and teaching are also good outlets for the lobbyist’s energy and talents
About the Author
For more educational and career information, go to http://www.jobsinlobbying.com
H2$ Cast Lobby DVD