PUBLICITY

End of Year Publicity Report

Webmaster Report – John Lamb (Web Committee - Allan Kugel, Lori Falco, Charles Lamb)

The website continues to function as expected with the help of all involved.

In December 2012, our web host moved our server from a machine in Los Angeles to one in Ashton, Virginia. There was minimal disruption and no changes required to the site.

On a typical day, our site answers over 1500 page requests, providing over 240 MB of information to our users.

Our site was hacked in August 2013! Upon discovering the problem, 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. There have been additional attempts to break in since we discovered the problem, but so far it seems that our security is holding.

In September we added another member, Charles Lamb, to the web team.

In the course of our more typical activities, we have provided continued support for Minstrel, Festival, Uke New Jersey, Swingin' Tern and various special events.

Facebook Report – Pam Robinson

The Folk Project's FaceBook page started the year with almost 750 fans and ended the year with almost 850.

I have started to post video of upcoming performers on the "Wall" and it is resulting in some good buzz on the page.

Gloria Friedman joined the FaceBook team in March.

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.

Chairman’s Report – Nancy Kelner

January 2013 - Publicity Committee members: Alice Weimer, Jim Gartner, Jim King, Joanne Cronin, John Lamb, Karen Justin, Michael Mitsch, Nancy Kelner, Pam Robinson, Pat Brangs (10)

December 2013 - Publicity Committee members: Alice Weimer, Jeff Saxton, Jim Gartner, Jim King, Joanne Cronin, John Lamb, Karen Justin, Loretta Brooks, Michael Mitsch, Nancy Kelner, Pam Robinson, Pat Brangs, Paul Fisher (13)

The members of the publicity committee who were not in charge of the Folk Project website or the FaceBook page worked very hard in 2013, gathering and posting performer photos, writing press releases, emailing information to newspapers, magazines, and websites, posting events to Internet calendars, mailing flyers, and suggesting radio stations we could work with, all in an effort to “get the word out.”

We again provided press passes for 2013 to several journalists and DJ’s. We have developed good relationships with several of them, notably Jennifer Nelson of the Daily Record, Gwen Orel of the Irish Examiner, Bill Nutt of the Daily Record, Tony Mottola of the NJ Jazz Society’s Jazz Journal, and Kevin Coughlin of Morristown Green.

We are frequently listed in the “Top Ten” events of the month in the Morris County Tourism Bureau’s email blasts which go to more than 5000 people. We are also often listed in The Collection, Vicinity Magazine and the Independent Press. We even had some NY Times events listings during the year.

In late April, we had some emails back and forth with PCK Media, which has taped nonprofit organizations for PBS television. They arranged to tape the Ellis concert on May 3, but unfortunately, were unable to come that night and decided to come on Dec. 27 to tape the Shockenaw Mountain Boys. Will let you know if they do, indeed, come that night.

At their request, I have sent a radio station list and/or a newspaper list to the publicists for several performers this year.

I represented Folk Project at two Jersey Arts Marketers meetings this year, where people are still impressed that we run the Folk Project with all volunteers and no physical office. Talked up the July Birthday Show with the woman in charge of the Culture Vultures link on the Jersey Arts website and she did a blog article about it.

Arranged with several radio stations this year to give away Minstrel passes for selected concerts. These included WNTI (Centenary College), WPRB (Princeton University), WMSU (Montclair State University), and WFDU (Fairleigh Dickinson University).

Spent some money on advertising this year. Radio Station WNTI required us to buy air time in order to give away free Minstrel passes, so we purchased a total of 45 air spots for $300. We also bought a quarter-page ad in the 2014 Morris County Tourism Bureau booklet for $625, and a quarter-page ad in the Philadelphia Folk Song Society’s program book for $125. This adds up to a total of $1050 spent on advertising.

The state of New Jersey will celebrate its 350^th anniversary in 2014 and we have posted Minstrel, the Uke Fest, and Swingin’ Tern to the website’s events calendar.

I have started to work with Paul Fisher, chairman-elect.

(end)