[JPL] announcing local events (musicians please read!)

[jazzhead]

We have our own little jazz series in Gainesville, Ga that's put on by the 
Arts Council - I can honestly say in the entire 7 or 8 years I've been 
hosting my show I haven't had a single musician that plays the series ask 
about an interview - a live appearance on the show - or even a phone call or 
an email to just say "Hello - we're listening to your show - thanks for the 
music, etc". even when they come to play in Gainesville on the night I'm on 
the air.

I have had them call me and tell me how great I am and the next breath ask 
me to play something from their CD...

Mark Dove
"Sounds of Jazz"
"Cafe Jazz"
Eclectic 89.1 WBCX
http://www.brenau.edu/about/wbcx
http://www.myspace.com/soundsofjazz
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ron-gill at att.net>
To: <jazzproglist at jazzweek.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 8:23 AM
Subject: Re: [JPL] announcing local events (musicians please read!)


> JAZZWEEK SUMMIT 2010: JUNE 17-19, RADISSON RIVERSIDE HOTEL, ROCHESTER 
> N.Y. -- Mark your calendar!
>
> ******************************************************************************
>
>
> On Jul 18, 2009, at 11:23 PM, Susan Reeves wrote:
>
>> JAZZWEEK SUMMIT 2010: JUNE 17-19, RADISSON RIVERSIDE HOTEL,  ROCHESTER 
>> N.Y. -- Mark your calendar!
>>
>> ********************************************************************** 
>> ********
>
>     Eric Jackson can support my comments here. When I was at WGBH in 
> Boston, they
>     discontinued on air announcements. In fact Eric dedicated a part  of 
> his program to
>     announcing musicians gigs. They substituted that with enabling 
> musicians to place
>     their events on the stations website for free. I don't know how  many 
> of those musicians
>     were members, but I do know that many musicians in Boston  supported 
> the station.
>     Eric may know better than I what that number may be.
>     Of course, WGBH gave a lot of opportunity to musicians to get 
> exposure; live performances,
>     interviews, etc. But, let me say this. Jazz musicians, in  particular, 
> are their worse enemies.
>     Only skills most of them have is related to their instrument and 
> playing it. Other publicity skills?
>     Usually none. Even though it's gotten better because of  technology. 
> They have no idea how
>     important it is to become engaged in radio stations, jazz  writers, 
> jazz organizations, etc.
>     As the former president of the New England Jazz Alliance we used  to 
> talk about this problem
>     all the time about how musicians were disengaged in fostering  their 
> own future in regard to
>     organizations that could help them in exposing their art.
>     Maybe it's time to tell them how important it is that they get 
> engaged. We ARE losing jazz
>     stations and opportunities. When I left WGBH a few months ago,  they 
> lost three (3) radio shows
>     that gave them radio exposure.
>     In the long run, that can hurt. I wonder how many of them  complained 
> to WGBH that we were
>     no longer on the air. I doubt any.
>     Ron Gill
>>
>> Tom, Jae, et al -
>>
>> I have very strong feelings about this.  My station has a policy to  not 
>> announce anything unless it's a paid sponsorship, and we no  longer have 
>> a local calendar, so announcing individual gigs are a  moot point.  But 
>> regardless, I feel that all musicians should  support the jazz stations 
>> since there is a correlation between  having jazz on the local radio and 
>> having a presence in the  community to get gigs.  And since the stations 
>> do keep the music in  people's minds (the other area station here does 
>> actually have a  calendar) and allow musicians to hear new music that we 
>> otherwise  would not keep up on, it's essential to support it.  And if 
>> you get  a gig mention, that's worth a pledge right there. Or an 
>> interview -  Oh my! What's THAT worth!
>>
>> But there is a group of musicians who don't "get it", and I don't  think 
>> they ever will. They feel that a specific thing isn't the way  they would 
>> like it and thus withhold money, feeling that they are  voting with their 
>> checkbooks (or state that as an excuse for being  cheap).  Although I 
>> have many gripes as well, I recognize that some  station is better than 
>> no station... and that there aren't huge  sources to make up the gap. 
>> And some feel too poor - but don't  acknowledge this as being a cost of 
>> doing business, a  responsibility. Twenty to fifty bucks - SOMEthing to 
>> acknowledge  the relationship/ service.
>>
>> I actually came to the station some years ago as a general  fundraiser 
>> volunteer, knowing that it was a mutual-support  concept.  Then for a few 
>> years before I had my own show, I would  help pitch on others' shows, and 
>> always put out a shout to other  musicians to call in.  They didn't.
>> This last fundraiser, however, I am happy to say that 2 musicians I  work 
>> with actually pledged during my show. Progress!
>>
>>
>> -Susan
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> **Support Live Music**
>> ****** ****** ******
>> Susan Reeves
>> PO Box 3047
>> Durham, NC   27715
>> susan at susanreeves.net
>> www.susanreeves.net
>> Straight No Chaser - 88.9 fm - WSHAfm.org
>>
>> --
>>
>> Jazz Programmers' Mailing List: jazzproglist at jazzweek.com
>> List information: http://lists.jazzweek.com/mailman/listinfo/ 
>> jazzproglist
>> List archive: http://lists.jazzweek.com/pipermail/jazzproglist/
>> Sponsorship information: jplsponsor at jazzweek.com
>
> --
>
> Jazz Programmers' Mailing List: jazzproglist at jazzweek.com
> List information: http://lists.jazzweek.com/mailman/listinfo/jazzproglist
> List archive: http://lists.jazzweek.com/pipermail/jazzproglist/
> Sponsorship information: jplsponsor at jazzweek.com
>