Friday, October 7, 2011

Mojoceratops on Volta Radio: 10/18

The Mojoceratops campaign is gradually gaining traction. I've gotten a few important people's attention, at least. :-)

And we've got a radio interview! Tune in to Volta Radio on Tuesday, October 18th, at 7:30 PM (EDT) to hear Mojoceratops and some tracks from their debut album, Dino Dance Party -- which, let me remind you, is available on iTunes.

And by the way, this radio appearance is timed to promote their show on Friday the 21st at Lickety Split, 4th and South Streets in Philadelphia. Come on out and join the dino dance party.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Mojoceratops news! And a farewell of sorts...

Mojoceratops' debut album, Dino Dance Party, is now available on iTunes! You know what that means....we've gotta do some PR for it. And you know what THAT means.....my September slump has officially been broken!

I honestly do consider Dino Dance Party a strong album, and a remarkably accomplished one for a new band, so pick up a copy and get the party started! Also remember http://www.mojoceratops.net for more info on the band. If you have a chance to see them in person, do so!

In other news, even though these guys are no longer my clients, they were for such a long time that I feel compelled to report this. As of today, The Josh and Pete Band are history....they are now The Really Cooks. And that's just the first of many big developments. http://www.thereallycooks.com

I will miss The Josh and Pete Band. But all good things must come to an end, right?

Stay tuned, as always.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

New Dani Mari Bio

While the Mojoceratops project continues to brew (we HAVE been working on it, just behind the scenes so far), things are moving forward with Dani Mari. Here is the new bio I've written for her:

http://www.reverbnation.com/page_object/page_object_bio/artist_596473


Of course, she's using this for more than just ReverbNation, but this is a good isolated copy of it.

Stay tuned!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

And now, presenting Dani Mari!

Well, I am comin' back up in the world of music PR! After being approached by Mojoceratops and working out a deal with them, I was then approached by Philly-based singer/songwriter Dani Mari. If you know me well enough, you've heard me talk about her plenty already but now that I'm her publicist, you're gonna hear me talk about her a lot more!

I'll share more about her (and my work for her) in due time, but right now, check out her music: http://www.reverbnation.com/danimari

And trust me when I say that being Dani Mari's publicist is gonna be really DIFFERENT. In good ways, I predict.

The Mojoceratops project will officially get underway before long, don't worry.....

Watch this space for more news!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The way to go/New clients

If you've been reading this blog lately, you know that I've been feeling like music PR has been pushing me out. The trials and tribulations of the past several months, brightened only by occasional rays of hope, really got me rethinking this career path and considering new directions in the music business and in life in general. I kept coming to the conclusion that I am a music publicist, dammit -- that's what I know how to do and what I feel I should be doing at this point. It's definitely not the only thing I should be doing with my life, work-wise or otherwise, but it is a niche I should remain in.

Not coincidentally, once I came to this conclusion, things started to look more promising for me as a music publicist than they had looked in a long time. I am in talks with a few artists I've known for a while, but as always, mum's the word until everything is official. In the meantime, I have a new band on my client roster!

I literally have a NEW band on my client roster. Mojoceratops played their first gig not even four months ago! My campaigning will officially get underway in the coming weeks, which should give you enough time to buy a new pair of dancin' shoes and re-learn the art of getting your groove on. By the way, their bass player BJ Felsted used to play in Bad Apples. Yes, my former clients Bad Apples! Small world, huh?

Check out Mojoceratops: http://www.mojoceratops.net/

And stay tuned for updates.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Bad campaigns are occupational hazards.

You might have been able to sense my frustration following the disastrous Heather Maloney campaign (ahem), but it had been so long since I'd run a disastrous campaign that I forgot one simple fact of PR: no matter how good a publicist is, some campaigns just suck!

Like the Downtown Harvest campaign in which I wrote a very specific press release for a show and began promoting it, only to find that the supporting acts, and thus the nature of the show, kept changing for reasons unknown to me. And amidst all the resulting confusion, I was able to get only one writer interested in covering the show -- but he couldn't make it because the show was set to run too late!

Or what was supposed to be an oh-so-important campaign for The Josh and Pete Band, in which no one could seem to get show info from the venue in time, but I had to start the campaign. After I'd been promoting for a while, the venue listed the show -- without The Josh and Pete Band! A decidedly unfunny comedy of errors ensued between the venue and the band while I had to switch from "urgent" to "dormant" until the mess was settled. By which point, of course, the campaign was dead.

Smaller, but equally unsettling, developments can be expected as well. Like the writer who was expected to cover the Audible Eye show -- but she never showed up. Or the carefully-booked, precisely-promoted Laura Cheadle show onto which someone (most likely from the venue) belatedly tacked on an ill-fitting extra act who was not the least bit welcome.....but it's not like we had any say in the matter!

When things go well in this line of work, it's wonderful. But every field sucks in some ways, right?

Monday, July 18, 2011

Holy Maloney!

Can baby say, "Epic fail"?

With this Heather Maloney campaign, I started off getting surprisingly little interest, finding in the process that tech snafus had ruined the formatting of my press release and may have thus sabotaged my efforts. Bloody but unbowed, I sent out a corrected press release and gained a tad more traction. Still not getting enough interest, I contacted friends of mine outside of the media who had shown an interest in Heather, hoping they'd come to the show and/or help spread the word. I gained a little more traction. One week before the show, I sent out a reminder to my media contacts and got an offer for an interview. Now we were cooking! But when I asked Heather's manager if she was available for the interview, he wrote back not only that she was unavailable, but that....

HER SHOW HAD BEEN POSTPONED INDEFINITELY!

That's right, Heather's show this Thursday at Roosevelt's is NOT HAPPENING until God knows when.

Leading me, of course, to have to send out retractions and make amends with everyone who had expressed an interest.

Remind me, why do I want to stay in this line of work?

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Heather Maloney press release

This Heather Maloney campaign is one of my more formal ones, so I've decided to write a proper press release:

On her second album, Time and Pocket Change, Massachusetts-based singer/songwriter Heather Maloney continues to explore a broad musical palette while retaining a strong basis in country-tinged folk. Whether whispering, lilting, or soaring, her vocals always deliver honest emotion without needless theatrics. As The Times of Trenton put it, "Her songs are personal. Her passion is contagious. Her lyrics go beyond surface level and penetrate the core of humanity that we all try so hard to embrace, yet at the same time, ignore."

Heather has been gradually establishing a presence in the Philly area, having already played at MilkBoy, Burlap and Bean, PSALM Salon, and Upstairs at World Cafe Live Philadelphia. After performing at the Philly Rising Open Mic, she won both Weekly and Monthly Standout Performer, earning her a spot in the yearly best-of showcase and competition to be held in 2012. Her next Philly show will take place on July 21st as part of the new music series in Room VII at Roosevelt's, located on the corner of 23rd and Walnut Streets. Show details to come.

To listen to Heather's music, please visit: http://heathermaloney.bandcamp.com

And for general information: http://www.heathermaloney.com

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Presenting Heather Maloney! But first...

Yes, I've got a new client! But first, let me say that The Warm Guns campaign was more of a success than I can represent through mere examples of publicity. Cheesy as this may sound, PR is not just a promotion business -- it's a people business. And when all was said and done, not only did I promote The Warm Guns, but I hooked them up with people who were highly impressed by them, really came through for them, and may open up exciting new doors for them in the near future. Sometimes, I just love this line of work!

Now, as for my new client, I am happy to announce that I will be promoting the Massachusetts-based Heather Maloney in Philadelphia. Heather is a singer/songwriter who explores an ever-expanding range of styles while retaining a strong basis in folk and country. If you want to listen to either or both of her two albums:

http://heathermaloney.bandcamp.com/

and for general information:

http://www.heathermaloney.com/

And wouldn't ya know it, like The Warm Guns, she's playing in Room VII at Roosevelt's! Roosevelt's at 23rd and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia, of course, on July 21st. Show details to come.

And I may have yet another new client to announce soon, but as always, mum's the word until the deal is sealed.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Warm Guns - Volta Reminder and Rebroadcast

Remember that the Volta Radio interview is coming up at 3 PM. Listen at http://www.voltaradio.com, and if you miss it now, it will be rebroadcast on Tuesday, July 5th at Cindy's usual time, 7:30 PM Eastern Time!

Come on out to Roosevelt's at 23rd & Walnut tonight. The Warm Guns are on at 10. Nordic Chinnuts open the show at 9. It all happens in Room VII.

I have an exciting new project on the horizon, which I will announce in the coming days!