PUBLICITY

August 6, 2013

August Publicity Committee Report

Publicity Committee members: Alicia Weimer, Jeff Saxton, Jim Gartner, Jim King, Joanne Cronin, John Lamb, Karen Justin, Michael Mitsch, Nancy Kelner, Pam Robinson, Pat Brangs

Lots of things going on and the publicity committee worked hard to get the word out. I took over Karen Justin’s outlets for this month, at her request, while she and her husband are looking for a new place to live.

Webmaster Report – John Lamb

This has been a very busy month for the web team, primarily due to the discovery that our site had been hacked. For a period of about two months, some of our files had been altered and some extra files were placed on our site by parties unknown. As far as we can tell, the changes hijacked our Google and Yahoo search results to display adverts for Viagra and similar products, and to use our storage space to hold temporary files for another website. We do not believe that any attempt was being made to cause harm to the users of our site.

Upon discovering the problem (thanks to Mark Schaffer) we immediately changed all of the passwords for the site and removed the infection within 24 hours. We have been monitoring the site much more closely than before and are working on ways that will make it much more difficult to compromise site security in the future. Many thanks to Allan Kugel, who gave many hours of his time in immediate and effective response to this intrusion.

As a result, we were able to accommodate only the most pressing needs on the website this month, responding to requests for the David Gans house concert, the upcoming Uke Fest, and some minor fixes for Minstrel, Swingin' Tern and the Fall Festival.

As always, many thanks to Allan Kugel and Lori Falco for their contributions. Please address any questions, concerns or comments to webmaster@folkproject.org.

Facebook Report – Pam Robinson

Our Facebook page is looking good. On behalf of the Electronic Communications Committee, Lori has worked out how to have Constant Contact post the Minstrel Gram to the FP's Facebook wall. It will be posted on Wednesdays by Gloria Friedman, saving Gloria the need to write a witty remark about the upcoming Minstrel event.

Publicity Chairman Report – Nancy Kelner

Print/Internet Articles:

The most exciting thing that happened in July was a blog article about the Folk Project and the Minstrel on the Jersey Arts website - Culture Vultures link. Had spoken to the woman in charge at the May Jersey Arts Marketers meeting about the birthday show, and thought she had forgotten all about it. Link is: http://www.jerseyarts.com/blog/index.php/nj-music/2013/07/a-hidden-gem-of-jersey-the-minstrel-acoustic-series-turns-38/ Sent her a thank-you email.

Morristown Green did an article about the Uke Fest. Link is: http://morristowngreen.com/2013/08/01/the-little-instrument-that-could-uke-fest-to-sing-ukuleles-praises-in-morris-township-aug-30-31/ Sent a thank-you email.

The Bucks County Folk Song Society printed the Uke Fest schedule in their July and August bulletins, as well as the usual Minstrel schedule. Learned they have a lot of uke players in BCFSS, so maybe some of them will come to the festival.

The July 19 Minstrel was in the July 10 email blast from the Morris County Tourism Bureau.

All July and August Minstrels and Swingin’ Terns plus the Uke Fest were in the summer issue of Vicinity Magazine. Sent a thank-you email.

The July Open Stage was in the June 28 and July 5 NY Times event listings.

Tony Mottola, editor of the Jazz Journal (NJ Jazz Society) says he put a promo for the Frank Vignola and Rory Block Minstrels in the September issue. When he sends me the link, I will forward it to the board.

Uke Fest:

Sent some uke fest flyers to various places in the area. Gave a flyer to the librarian at the Garwood Library to post. Put some flyers out at the JCC in Edison when we went there for a concert and at the Rondalla concert in South Plainfield that Russ performed in. In fact, the woman at the ticket table in South Plainfield insisted I put the flyers on the front table. Turns out her daughter is teaching herself ukulele and she took a flyer home for her.

Radio Stations:

In response to some blues and jazz niche emails, a DJ at WFDU who does a show called Wendee’s Blues Rumble asked for Minstrel passes to give away and promised to promote the concerts on her show. I have authorized one pair of tickets to Frank Vignola, two pairs of tickets to Mulebone, and two pairs of tickets to Rory Block.

Other:

Sent Finvarra’s Wren, Mara Levine and Jim Hurst’s publicist the lists of radio stations and newspapers that might be interested in interviews.

Worked with Liz Pagan and Jim King to finalize the ad for the Morris County Tourism Bureau brochure. The ad will not be a cut-out coupon, which would have limited its placement in the brochure. The wording is “Mention this MCTB ad for one free first-time admission to any regular Minstrel concert or regular Swingin’ Tern dance.” The ad and payment will be sent to MCTB later this week.

Attended the Swingin’ Tern board meeting on Aug.3 and received a warm welcome (and dinner!). Spoke about the publicity we do now, which always includes Swingin’ Tern. It was obvious how much the Swingin’ Tern board members care about the contra dance arm of the Folk Project and how hard they work.

Asked that our venue be updated (correct address, website) on the link from Mara Levine’s website. It was done quickly.

Emailed BOTMA (Bluegrass and Old Time Music Assoc.) about adding a link to the Folk Project website from their Organizations link. It was up the next day. Plus, they added a link under “News” that leads straight to the Folk Project home page. The BOTMA webmaster describes us as “The Folk Project - A local NJ Acoustic Music Resource.”

Posted Minstrel, Swingin’ Tern and the Uke Fest on the NJ 350^th anniversary celebration calendar. Minstrel and Swingin’ Tern are listed as recurring events through Dec. 2014. (Made it clear in the description for Swingin’ Tern that it is held the 1^st and 3^rd Saturdays of the month.) Hope we get some folks who saw them there. The link is http://officialnj350.com/

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