Last week several members of the executive staff for WGUR 88.9 FM visited the Cox Radio Group in Atlanta for a tour of the inner workings of a large radio station. The Cox Radio Group broadcasts WSB-AM, WSB-FM, WALR-FM, WBTS-FM, and WSRV-FM.
Our tour guides were Andrew Rudd, Director of Client Services and Lee Cagle, Program Director for 95.5 The BEAT. We toured most of the gargantuan building and got to pick the brains of our tour guides. The experience was enlightening and we were able to make some good contacts in the industry, not to mention all the nice swag and freebies we got.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
New Radio Show at WGUR
I am the DJ to a new show at WGUR, Georgia College & State University's student run radio station. The show is called Garage Band and airs at 3 on Wednesdays.
This is my first time being a DJ and I have found it to be a very fun project. The show came about because WGUR had been receiving promo material for several small bands and we were not doing anything with it. I suggested a show focused on new and local bands.
Planning the show is a fun process because I get to research bands many people have not heard of. I also try to attend more concerts now so I can see who is playing.
You can also listen to the show via podcast. To get the podcast go the WGUR's website, gcsuradio.com, and click on the podcast link. Your Itunes will open up at the GCSU Itunes U website and Garage Band is a tab at the bottom of the screen. Just subscribe to our show and new episodes will be downloaded automatically to your Itunes.
This is my first time being a DJ and I have found it to be a very fun project. The show came about because WGUR had been receiving promo material for several small bands and we were not doing anything with it. I suggested a show focused on new and local bands.
Planning the show is a fun process because I get to research bands many people have not heard of. I also try to attend more concerts now so I can see who is playing.
You can also listen to the show via podcast. To get the podcast go the WGUR's website, gcsuradio.com, and click on the podcast link. Your Itunes will open up at the GCSU Itunes U website and Garage Band is a tab at the bottom of the screen. Just subscribe to our show and new episodes will be downloaded automatically to your Itunes.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Moonshine Still Concert
Saturday I was in Macon at the Cox Capitol Theater. There I saw Moonshine Still as well as three other bands at a charity concert. I wasn't there merely to watch the show however. I went to film the concert with several other students and a professor, Stacy Lumley, at GCSU.
We had 4 cameras set up during the show. Two wide shots and me and another camera were in front of and behind the stage getting close ups on some very talented bands.
Included in the line up were Brass Tacks, Saint Francis, and Treas in Season. The last two are very similar jam bands to Moonshine Still and actually share some members. Brass Tacks, however, was similar to The Black Keys and a good band to check out if you like a lot of distortion.
I learned several techniques for live filming and worked with a monopod for the first time. All-in-all it was a valuable and fun experience.
We had 4 cameras set up during the show. Two wide shots and me and another camera were in front of and behind the stage getting close ups on some very talented bands.
Included in the line up were Brass Tacks, Saint Francis, and Treas in Season. The last two are very similar jam bands to Moonshine Still and actually share some members. Brass Tacks, however, was similar to The Black Keys and a good band to check out if you like a lot of distortion.
I learned several techniques for live filming and worked with a monopod for the first time. All-in-all it was a valuable and fun experience.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Tipping Point
If you haven't read The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell, you should. It is a strikingly observant book with simple concepts that will radically change the way you generate buzz and develop marketing strategies.
The main point Gladwell conveys is that every event has a Tipping Point, "one dramatic moment ... when everything can change all it once." The factors that influence the Tipping Point are often small. The first example he gives is the explosion of popularity in Hush Puppies during the 1990's. A retro shoe that was about to be phased out, the Hush Puppy exploded onto the fashion scene. A shoe that had sold 30,000 pairs a year jumped to 430,000 in 1995, 1.72 million in 1996, and even more the following year. Maxwell attributes the dramatic increase in sales to "at the most" 100 kids who began wearing the shoes in downtown Manhattan.
We can go about reaching our own Tipping Point by following Gladwell's three rules of the Tipping Point: The Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. Gladwell explains these in detail in the book but I find that the Power of Context is the most intriguing and most important.
"The key to getting people to change their behavior... sometimes lies with the smallest details of their immediate situation. The Power of Context says that human beings are a lot more sensitive to their environment than they may seem."
As PR practitioners, I believe we sometimes focus to much on the message we are trying to convey. There are many other factors that need to be taken into consideration the least of which is context.
When we are in a large auditorium listening to someone speak, most of us get tired. The sound of their voice gets lost in the large room and we find ourselves straining to hear. We become tired and end up hearing only part of the message.
Think about the famous speech given by Harry Truman after Pearl Harbor was bombed. His demeanor and his slow and emotional delivery trigger a subconscious response in us, to prepare us for grave or important news. The message he gave was indeed important but the context in which it was given elevated its status to one of the greatest and most memorable speeches given by a president.
In The Tipping Point, Gladwell also highlights three types of people that create word of mouth epidemics. They are Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen.
The Connectors are essentially people who know people. While most of us have strong ties with a small group of friends or acquaintances, Connectors have mastered the "soft tie." They are able to maintain friendly but casual relationships with a staggering number of people. Any ideas that are positioned near a Connector can be distributed to a larger number of people than could be reached by an average person.
Mavens are market specialists. They obsess about prices and are always trying to get the best deal. The best thing about Mavens though is they are not self-serving. When they find a deal "they want to tell you about it too." Mavens "want to help, for no other reason that they like to help." This is the type that I have the most affinity with. I love to share new products and services with my friends and instruct them on their uses. I gather information and distribute it willingly and helpfully to anyone who asks.
The third type are Salesmen. The way that Gladwell differentiates a great salesmen from an average one is "the number and quality of answers they have to the objections commonly raised by potential clients." So it is not the volume of sales Gladwell considers important but the ability to contradict common objections.
So, Mavens provide the information, Connectors spread it, and Salesmen convince you its true. This dynamic is essential to the spread of an idea.
In a previous post, I mentioned that my PR class is responsible for the Georgia College & State University Athletic Auction theme. To bring the concepts of The Tipping Point in to the real world I began to think of how I, as a Maven, can help to cause the auction to tip (to increase attendance). I believe that I can generate a large amount of information (emails, websites, mass mailings, etc...) that can get people interested in the theme we have created. The more people hear about our amazing backdrop, lighting scheme, and other artistic elements the more they will want to see it for themselves. I need to consider context though. If people get a lot of mass mailings they will just assume it is false hype and my efforts may have an opposite effect. I need to strategically develop and place information in such a way that people have access to it but don't become overwhelmed by it.
The main point Gladwell conveys is that every event has a Tipping Point, "one dramatic moment ... when everything can change all it once." The factors that influence the Tipping Point are often small. The first example he gives is the explosion of popularity in Hush Puppies during the 1990's. A retro shoe that was about to be phased out, the Hush Puppy exploded onto the fashion scene. A shoe that had sold 30,000 pairs a year jumped to 430,000 in 1995, 1.72 million in 1996, and even more the following year. Maxwell attributes the dramatic increase in sales to "at the most" 100 kids who began wearing the shoes in downtown Manhattan.
We can go about reaching our own Tipping Point by following Gladwell's three rules of the Tipping Point: The Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. Gladwell explains these in detail in the book but I find that the Power of Context is the most intriguing and most important.
"The key to getting people to change their behavior... sometimes lies with the smallest details of their immediate situation. The Power of Context says that human beings are a lot more sensitive to their environment than they may seem."
As PR practitioners, I believe we sometimes focus to much on the message we are trying to convey. There are many other factors that need to be taken into consideration the least of which is context.
When we are in a large auditorium listening to someone speak, most of us get tired. The sound of their voice gets lost in the large room and we find ourselves straining to hear. We become tired and end up hearing only part of the message.
Think about the famous speech given by Harry Truman after Pearl Harbor was bombed. His demeanor and his slow and emotional delivery trigger a subconscious response in us, to prepare us for grave or important news. The message he gave was indeed important but the context in which it was given elevated its status to one of the greatest and most memorable speeches given by a president.
In The Tipping Point, Gladwell also highlights three types of people that create word of mouth epidemics. They are Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen.
The Connectors are essentially people who know people. While most of us have strong ties with a small group of friends or acquaintances, Connectors have mastered the "soft tie." They are able to maintain friendly but casual relationships with a staggering number of people. Any ideas that are positioned near a Connector can be distributed to a larger number of people than could be reached by an average person.
Mavens are market specialists. They obsess about prices and are always trying to get the best deal. The best thing about Mavens though is they are not self-serving. When they find a deal "they want to tell you about it too." Mavens "want to help, for no other reason that they like to help." This is the type that I have the most affinity with. I love to share new products and services with my friends and instruct them on their uses. I gather information and distribute it willingly and helpfully to anyone who asks.
The third type are Salesmen. The way that Gladwell differentiates a great salesmen from an average one is "the number and quality of answers they have to the objections commonly raised by potential clients." So it is not the volume of sales Gladwell considers important but the ability to contradict common objections.
So, Mavens provide the information, Connectors spread it, and Salesmen convince you its true. This dynamic is essential to the spread of an idea.
In a previous post, I mentioned that my PR class is responsible for the Georgia College & State University Athletic Auction theme. To bring the concepts of The Tipping Point in to the real world I began to think of how I, as a Maven, can help to cause the auction to tip (to increase attendance). I believe that I can generate a large amount of information (emails, websites, mass mailings, etc...) that can get people interested in the theme we have created. The more people hear about our amazing backdrop, lighting scheme, and other artistic elements the more they will want to see it for themselves. I need to consider context though. If people get a lot of mass mailings they will just assume it is false hype and my efforts may have an opposite effect. I need to strategically develop and place information in such a way that people have access to it but don't become overwhelmed by it.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Athletics Auction Theme Decided
Tuesday three professionally dressed and professionally minded PR groups pitched the theme for the 2010 Georgia College & State University Athletics Auction, which takes place this Spring. The groups all had excellent ideas and gave presentations that were well developed and the time they devoted to these themes was clearly noticed.
The theme that finally won out was A Night with the Stars of GCSU Athletics. The glitz and glam of Old Hollywood along with the suggested dim lighting gave an elegance to the theme not seen in years past. Also, the message that the Athletes are the stars of the athletic program seemed to resonant with the judges.
My favorite idea from this theme is that of a large 14 ft. backdrop that will include 3-D elements. With the participation of the Art Department at GCSU, the backdrop promises to look incredible and be a point of interest and conversation among the guests.
The theme that finally won out was A Night with the Stars of GCSU Athletics. The glitz and glam of Old Hollywood along with the suggested dim lighting gave an elegance to the theme not seen in years past. Also, the message that the Athletes are the stars of the athletic program seemed to resonant with the judges.
My favorite idea from this theme is that of a large 14 ft. backdrop that will include 3-D elements. With the participation of the Art Department at GCSU, the backdrop promises to look incredible and be a point of interest and conversation among the guests.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
WGUR Conference
Yesterday, I attended the 2010 WGUR Conference to orient new staff. The conference is held at the start of every semester and includes presentations on topics such as developing a good radio show and building networking skills.
As the new production manager at WGUR, I was pleased with the level of professionalism by the presenters. I especially enjoyed General Manager Lauren Dalton's presentation on interviewing for a job in radio. She made some excellent points and I hope that the students attending took them to heart.
This should be an exciting year to be involved with WGUR. GC&SU has acquired another radio frequency that will broadcast with a much wider range. It should reach Macon, Lake Oconee, and all of Milledgeville. GC&SU plans to hire new staff to run this station and have WGUR remain a student run station. In order to keep its spot however, WGUR may come under review of the FCC. While I have no doubt that the FCC will find our content suitable to remain on-air, it is still exciting to know that we are part of the team that will keep WGUR alive.
Remember to keep your radios tuned to 88.9 FM to listen to WGUR.
As the new production manager at WGUR, I was pleased with the level of professionalism by the presenters. I especially enjoyed General Manager Lauren Dalton's presentation on interviewing for a job in radio. She made some excellent points and I hope that the students attending took them to heart.
This should be an exciting year to be involved with WGUR. GC&SU has acquired another radio frequency that will broadcast with a much wider range. It should reach Macon, Lake Oconee, and all of Milledgeville. GC&SU plans to hire new staff to run this station and have WGUR remain a student run station. In order to keep its spot however, WGUR may come under review of the FCC. While I have no doubt that the FCC will find our content suitable to remain on-air, it is still exciting to know that we are part of the team that will keep WGUR alive.
Remember to keep your radios tuned to 88.9 FM to listen to WGUR.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
GC&SU Basketball Goes Hi-def
Last night, I shot video for the Georgia College & State University Bobcat's basketball game. Not only was I wowed by the Bobcats clear win over the Hurricanes but also the crystal clear picture I saw through my viewfinder.
All the cameras at last nights game broadcast in a stunning 1080i format. The picture was so clear i could see the sweat dripping from across the court.
Hi-def broadcasting has become a standard in the sports industry and for GC&SU to rise to that standard tells me that Athletics is committed to winning support for the Bobcats.
Milledgeville locals can watch GC&SU basketball on channel 4 but for the true high-def experience fans should watch the live streaming from Athletics website.
All the cameras at last nights game broadcast in a stunning 1080i format. The picture was so clear i could see the sweat dripping from across the court.
Hi-def broadcasting has become a standard in the sports industry and for GC&SU to rise to that standard tells me that Athletics is committed to winning support for the Bobcats.
Milledgeville locals can watch GC&SU basketball on channel 4 but for the true high-def experience fans should watch the live streaming from Athletics website.
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