PUBLICITY

May 6, 2013

PUBLICITY COMMITTEE REPORT

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

Webmaster Report – John Lamb

In addition to the normal maintenance, the web team met to discuss work that needs to be addressed. The high priority items of immediate concern were identified as follows:

Publicity (Allan):

Find out what we can do to help the publicity committee and implement it.

Clean up cal_panel processing (Allan) - these are calendar entries that appear throughout the site. Allan has identified some design issues that he wishes to improve.

Database backups (John):

Design backup system and implement it. A backup of the entire site will be created once per month. The site's master database will be stored online in free storage that is distinct from our web host. Both the master database and a backup image of the entire site will be written to DVD each month on a rotating basis by each web team member. This will provide at least three different sets of backups that are all stored in different locations.

Minstrel Volunteer application (Lori):

Design and implement a web-based application to assist Minstrel volunteers.

TBDs (John, Lori):

Listing unbooked dates as TBD in the Minstrel calendar is useful for Mike in booking shows, so that acts and agents can quickly see what dates are available, but the TBD dates clutter up the page for the vast majority of users who are looking to see what shows they wish to attend. We would like to create separate versions of the calendar page optimized for each of these purposes, one with only the scheduled shows for general patrons and one highlighting the as yet unscheduled dates for booking purposes. This could be implemented as two separate pages, or on one page with a button that shows or hides the TBD dates. John will attempt to get buy-in from Mike. Lori will do the coding.

Work is in progress on all of these items, but not yet complete. Thanks to Lori and Alan for their efforts. Please direct any questions comments or concerns to webmaster@folkproject.org.

Facebook Report – Pam Robinson

Chugging along.

Chairman’s Report – Nancy Kelner

A few months ago, Jeff Saxton suggested I contact someone he had met from a company called PCK Media, which has a history of taping nonprofit organizations for PBS television. I checked them out and emailed Jeff’s contact in late March. On the last Friday in April, the PCK contact replied and said they wanted to come and tape the Ellis concert on May 3. I had them contact Mike Agranoff to make sure it was all right with him. Everything seemed set, but then the PCK contact emailed us two days later to say they couldn’t come that night, but would like to come another time. Needless to say, we were disappointed. He will work with Mike to choose another Minstrel concert to tape.

There was a short article about the Annie and the Hedonists Minstrel concert in the April issue of the NJ Jazz Society magazine.

Sent a radio station list and the major newspaper list to the publicists for Tumbling Bones and Ellis.

The Annie and the Hedonists Minstrel concert was in the Top Ten Things to Do list in the Morris County Tourism Bureau’s email blast on 4/3/13 and again on 4/17/13.

The Raina Rose house concert cancellation was taken in stride; publicity committee members contacted their publicity outlets.

I recently learned that publicity committee member Karen Justin has been updating Swingin’ Tern listings on the Dance Gypsy website about once a month. Thanks, Karen!

Went to a free jazz concert at the Chatham Library in late April and noticed our flyers weren’t on their bulletin board, even though they’re on our mailing list. Met the woman in charge of Adult Services and will add her name to the mailing label. She allowed me to put some FP cards out and she took a Minstrel flyer to post.

Update on Eventful.com: I have determined that this website is not helpful to us, so will no longer use it.

I represented Folk Project at a Jersey Arts Marketers – Northern Region meeting on May 1. The woman who does the Culture Vultures portion of their website was looking for ideas for July; told her about the Minstrel birthday show and she seemed interested. Will let you know if she lists us in July. (www.jerseyarts.com)

Bought theater tickets recently at Union County PAC and noticed they had a business card display. Of course, I asked if I could put out some FP cards and they said yes.

Went to a lecture at the Westfield Library and met the head of adult services, who agreed to receive our flyers.

The Morris County Tourism Bureau reports that overall traffic to their website has increased by 57% from 2011 to 2012. (www.morristourism.org)

Discover Jersey Arts claims that people visit their website nearly one million times a year to find out what’s going on. (www.jerseyarts.com)

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