Episode 61: Mostly Dead Folks with @Brainzooming

Happy New Year!

The guys are joined by special guest Mike Brown of the @Brainzooming Group for a look at those famous folks who departed this life in 2013. So sit back and enjoy the passing of time...and people.

AMAZING! play your ad on our podcast for $5 on #Fiverr !

Don't forget to download the Parachuting Buddha Radio (@BuddhaRecords) Show on the Simon's Groove Network on every other #MusicMonday!

Thanks for listening. Please visit us on Facebook at "SimonsGroove." Really. Seriously. Say hi. Would it kill ya?

Visit the mothership at SimonsGroove.com. 

Music on the show: by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "Moonscape" and "Less Than Seven" by 37hz

Episode 64: Most Business Entities

The guys talk about Business Entities and make Super Bowl predictions. Chat with them on Twitter during the Super Bowl:@UnckelMike & @SimonsGroove!

Visit the mothership at SimonsGroove.com! Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonsGroove 

Music on the show: "Less Than Seven" by 37hz

Episode 65: Most Bowl Movements

The guys talk the poopy Super Bowl and the poopy toilet bowls at the Olympic Games.

AMAZING! play your ad on our podcast for $5 on #Fiverr !

Don't forget to download the Parachuting Buddha Radio via @BuddhaRecords how on the Simon's Groove Network on every other #MusicMonday!

Thanks for listening. Please visit us on Facebook at "SimonsGroove." Really. Seriously. Say hi. Would it kill ya?

Mike Brown, come back to the show.

Visit the mothership at SimonsGroove.com. 

Music on the show: "Moonscape" and "Less Than Seven" by 37hz

Episode 66: Most Wastelanded

@UnckelMike and @SimonsGroove talk about the wasteland between New Year's and Summer. 

AMAZING! play your ad on our podcast for $5 on #Fiverr !

Thanks for listening. Please visit us on Facebook at “SimonsGroove.” Really. Seriously. Say hi. Would it kill ya?

Visit the mothership at SimonsGroove.com.

Music on the show: Opportunity Talks by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

Episode 67: Most Bum Tickers

@UnckelMike and @SimonsGroove talk about Mike's brush with the Grim Reaper!

It's American Heart Month--learn the signs of a heart attack or stroke--and get your ticker checked!

AMAZING! play your ad on our podcast for $5 on #Fiverr!

Thanks for listening. Please visit us on Facebook at “SimonsGroove.” Really. Seriously. Say hi. Would it kill ya?

Visit the mothership at SimonsGroove.com.

 Music: Protofunk by Kevin McLeod/Incompetech

Episode 68: Most Alien Skulls

@UnckelMike and @SimonsGroove talk about the elongated alien skulls of Paracas and other heady matters.

Thanks for listening. Please visit us on Facebook at “SimonsGroove.” Really. Seriously. Say hi. Would it kill ya?

Visit the mothership at SimonsGroove.com.

Music: Opportunity Walks and Hot Swing by Kevin McLeod/Incompetech

P.S. Rest in Peace, Harold Ramis.

Check Out The Latest Simon's Groove Podcast Episode: Most Mystery Holes in Oak Island

Halloween Marks Return of Popular Mystery Series

As John Pilate attempts to settle into a quiet life with his new wife and family, he is tormented by ghosts of past and present in Pilate's Ghost (John Pilate Mysteries) , the much-anticipated third installment of the mystery thriller series by J. Alexander Greenwood.

Pilate’s Ghost joins John Pilate a few weeks after events of Pilate's Key as he promotes a book about his near-fatal experiences at Cross College. A mystery man threatening to kill him and his family dogs Pilate, who is still dealing with the fallout of those events and the suspicious citizens of Cross Township.

Pilate's Ghost (Caroline Street Press) will be available to haunt readers on Halloween 2012 in paperback via Amazon.com, Lulu and local booksellers. It will be available as an Ebook exclusively in the Amazon.com Kindle Store.

Book one in the John Pilate Mystery Series, Pilate’s Cross, was published in 2010. Inspired by a true-life murder at a small college in the American Midwest, Pilate's Cross was nominated for several Global Ebook Awards. It will be re-released as an audiobook in 2013.

Pilate's Ghost is the second novel Greenwood has released in 2012. Pilate's Key was released in February and named a semi-finalist for Best Mystery/Thriller in the Kindle Book Review Awards.

Pilate fans may find this new book familiar--yet simultaneously a jarring departure from the first two books, including critical favorite Pilate's Key, set in Key West, Florida. 

"It's an odd thing, writing the third book in a series," Greenwood said. "I suddenly understand--in my own very small way--how the people behind (movies) Alien3, Return of the Jedi and even The Dark Knight Rises must feel: audiences want more of what they loved before, but in order to be an effective storyteller, you can't root everything in the same place. I mean, Luke and the gang couldn't hang around on Hoth; Batman had to move on from the Joker. In that vein, John Pilate can't stay in Key West, either."

Greenwood has an idea for a fourth book in the series, but hastened to add, "It's up to the fans if I write it. If response to Pilate's Ghost is strong, I'll certainly bring Pilate and his pals back by fall of 2013. But for now, I'm working on some other projects, including What the Gardener Saw."

What the Gardener Saw is a multi-media story created for tablets including the iPad, created by artist David A. Terrill. Greenwood collaborated with Terrill on the novella that is drawn from the characters and world Terrill created. It is slated for a late 2012 or early 2013 release. Terrill also created the cover art for Pilate’s Ghost and the previous covers in the series.

"What the Gardner Saw is about as far from the world of John Pilate you can get," Greenwood said. "But it's heaps of fun and I think it will set a new standard for storytelling in the electronic tablet format."

Jason McIntyre, top-selling suspense author of On The Gathering Storm and Thalo Blue, likes Greenwood’s approach to his books.

 "Greenwood offers a fresh take on the mystery thriller with his John Pilate Series. His novels are populated with flawed and neurotic—yet instantly likable—characters who find themselves thrown into maddeningly entertaining situations," McIntyre said. "Greenwood writes fun, accessible fiction that leaves readers asking for more.”

To order Pilate’s Ghost or any of the John Pilate mystery series books, visit PilatesCross.com or Amazon.com. Join the John Pilate Facebook community at Facebook.com/Pilates.Cross.Book.

Pilate’s Ghost

October 31, 2012

$14.99 / 220 pages/ 978-0-9883201-1-6/ Trade Paperback Original

$3.99 / 978-0-9883201-0-9/ ebook

Caroline Street Press

About J. Alexander Greenwood

J. Alexander Greenwood won the 2011 Shelf Unbound Short Story competition for his popular story Obsidian (available on Amazon.com). His debut novel Pilate's Cross was nominated for several Global eBook Awards. His second book, Pilate's Key was a semi-finalist for the Kindle Book Review's Best Mystery/Thriller of 2012.

He is a former actor, director and radio show host. Greenwood has been interviewed by countless blogs in the United States and Canada, and appeared on radio and TV talking about the books and the burgeoning e-publishing movement. Greenwood is the grandson of acclaimed historical fiction novelist Robert E. Trevathan (Ballanger, Red River Angel).

He resides in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife and daughter.

Chick-Fil-A, PR and the Power of Social Media

I was interviewed by the Kansas City Fox affiliate yesterday about the effects social media can have on spontaneous protests in cases such as the Chick-Fil-A/gay marriage (and divorced straight marriage too!) dustup. The clip covers my responses to the reporter's questions about the credibility social media can lend to a cause, and to the amped-up emotions of a political season contributing to even more furious social network activity.


On to the more general aspects of the controversy:
The basics are that Chick-Fil-A (a fast food chicken restaurant with more than 1600 locations nationwide) CEO President Dan Cathy made some statements of support of what he terms "traditional, biblical marriage" in a religious publication:

"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."

Many gay and (some divorced straight people) took offense, and protests have sparked. (Click here to get up to speed on this issue.)

Chick-Fil-A issued a statement July 19 stating "going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena" and that it is their intent "to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender." That didn't seem to be enough for protestors, who started a boycott.

Obviously, I believe business owners should be true to their beliefs and (judiciously) speak their minds. However, I would never advise my client that it's okay to make potentially inflammatory statements in any public way. Why risk alienating customers? Perhaps CEO President Dan Cathy felt that as he was speaking to a religious publication radio show, therefore a non-mainstream "friendly media outlet," and didn't think his comments would be picked up by anyone else. If so, that's extraordinarily naive.

The cynical among us may posit that Cathy wanted to strike a blow in the culture wars. If so, this lends more credence to my belief that he will not fold amidst the storm of protest. Let's not forget huge numbers of people have publicly supported Cathy and Chick-Fil-A on "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day." Opportunistic politicians on both sides (look here and here for just a couple examples) have jumped on the issue for some election year media attention, too. (Some polling indicates Chick-Fil-A should ask their political supporters to quiet down.)

Despite boycotts, the death of his PR chief and bad press, I doubt Cathy will budge. As I said in a previous interview about the first Chick-Fil-A/gay controversy, I think the growing chicken empire will stand their ground.

*From the 2011 Ragan article:

Don’t expect that Chick-fil-A will respond further on this issue, Greenwood says.

“It’s not surprising when you consider that this company, as a matter  of principle, leaves so much revenue on the table by being closed on  Sundays,” he says. “They stick to their guns. I think they’re going to  continue to play to their base, weather this storm and move on.”

*(Full disclosure: I worked at Chick-fil-A in high school.)

***

Stay tuned, though. These things can move faster than a rooster in a hen house!
--Alex Greenwood
UPDATE  Aug. 3, 2012: Please note corrections marked with strikethroughs.


Cross posted with the AlexanderG Whiz Pr Blog

Writing and Marketing Erotic Fiction: An Interview with Eden Baylee

Eden Baylee writes literary erotica and erotic romance. She is also a delightful person who I have known (via the world wide web), for a few years now. She is a generous, talented lady who writes incredibly good fiction with an erotic flavor. Her stories are both sensual and sexual, incorporating some of her favorite things such as travel, culture, and a deep curiosity for what turns people on. Spring into Summer is her second collection of erotic novellas. In this interview, we talk about writing, her books and what really pisses her off about marketing erotica.

 

You left a career in finance to become a full-time writer. Why?

I was a banker for twenty years and just didn’t have the passion for it anymore. I’m not sure I ever did, but it provided a means for a living. I actually left the first time after ten years to pursue a writing career. Unfortunately, I got sick. I returned to the job after my recovery with the intention of only staying a couple of years to pay off debts. Who knew it would be another ten years before I worked up the courage to leave again?  
 
Any regrets? Regrets? Not a one. I wasn’t meant to be in banking until the end of my days, but I can see myself writing until I die.  

Do you have a favorite author or work that inspired your writing? I have many authors who inspired me, but as for my stand-by favorites, I’m a fan of Charles Bukowski and have read all his books, including his poetry. I loved The Magus by John Fowles, and Story of O by Pauline Réage started me on my sexual journey when I read it at eleven. I also enjoy the style of Haruki Murakami, and his latest IQ84 was brilliant.

 Your first book, Fall into Winter, was extremely well received--I know I loved it! What seems to be the most common aspect about the book that resonates with reviewers and readers? I think it’s the stories because the themes are universal: younger man, older woman; sexual exploration; lost love. Aside from that, what perhaps sets the book apart is the caliber of the writing. I’m a stickler for the mechanics of writing.

 A signature of your work is that it is extremely well written erotica. The characters are easy to visualize as real people with realistic motivations and appetites. The stories are sexy and sexual. In my reading experience, that's more the exception than the norm--but I could be making an unfair generalization about the genre. (More than a few "erotic novels" I've read seem to be about as erotic as a gynecological exam, or worse, read like a bad porno clip.) Does that perception make marketing your books more challenging? Firstly, thanks Alex so much for your compliment about the characters and stories in my books. They are always given top priority along with writing that is as flawless as I can make it. Marketing is a challenge for all indie writers, but for a writer in my genre, there are added hurdles. You’ve touched on a few. Erotica is often perceived as pornography. No matter how many times I’ve answered this question to dispel the myth, it will never be enough. People believe what they want to. Given this, many sites will not review erotica. There is also the perception that erotica is poorly written, and some of it certainly is, but that goes for all genres. It’s just that there are scores of self-published erotica books out there, so the numbers are skewed against it. In addition to this, I also fight against people who think authors of erotica are sexual deviants and therefore pariahs of the writing world. I don’t have enough time and energy to fight all the ignorance.

Writers of horror, thrillers, [and] mysteries don’t ever need to “explain” their genres; erotica writers do. Sometimes, I just get tired of being on the defensive and want to slap my book into a reader’s hands and say “Read the f***ing book before you judge the genre or me.”

Aren’t you happy you asked this question, Alex? ;)

 I knew I was touching the third rail when I did, Eden! Thank you for your passionate and candid response. Let me grasp that third rail a little longer: Do you think the 50 Shades of Grey craze has helped or hurt other writers of erotica?
 I believe it’s helped writers of erotica—exposing the genre to a mainstream public even though good erotica has been around for ages. What E.L. James has managed to do is ignite a fire of enthusiasm for the genre. This has given other writers of erotica an opportunity to get their work noticed. In a nutshell, if you wrote crappy erotica that didn’t sell before “50 Shades,” perhaps you got a small lift from the success of it. In the end, it’s still crappy writing. Hopefully, the good stuff will rise to the top in the long run.  

Tell us about Spring Into Summer. Ahh, Spring into Summer is my second anthology of four stories; two take place in the spring and two in the summer. I’m very proud of it, and I rarely say that about any of my work. Readers who’ve read my first book, Fall into Winter, will notice a more sensual language in this current release. I was heavily influenced by poetry while writing it, and I think my words reflect that.  

Was a series of seasonal-themed books always planned from the beginning?
Oh no. I’m not that organized. I wrote short stories with the intention of selling them individually to traditional publishers but got rejected. As a result, I packaged my writing differently as an anthology and tied them together with a common thread—the seasons. I knew I would get two books out of it. It’s time to move on unless someone’s discovered another season I don’t know about.  

Ha! What have you learned about marketing your work since your first book--in particular, lessons/ideas you will put into place for the new book?
I learned most of what I know by following the right people (like you, Alex), forming meaningful relationships, and observing those I respect. Sincerity and kindness go a long way in real life and just as far in the virtual world where there are fewer cues to draw upon. Without a supportive network, it’s difficult to get the word out about anything, let alone a book. I’m no marketing guru, so I’ll provide my simplified plan. Continue writing good books and have friends help spread the word when it’s done. Make sure you reciprocate in kind. I don’t mind helping anyone if I can, but it’s never tit for tat with me. That’s why a genuine relationship is important to establish from the get-go.  

What's the toughest part of being an independent writer? Doing it all—design, editing, marketing. I hire out what I can’t do myself. What this translates to is less time to write. What it provides me is full control. It’s a compromise I can live with.  

You blog extensively. How has your blog helped your brand? My blog is mainly to highlight other authors and make those meaningful connections I spoke of earlier. I like blogging and it’s been a home to my flash fiction, poetry, and other work I’ve done.  

What's coming up after Spring Into Summer? My next book will be a full-length novel. I am not committed to a genre as yet, but I have ideas for a story, and erotic elements will definitely be included in the book. I’m a fan of writing that arouses me, and I’m not just talking about sexually.

 I can't wait to see what you create next. Thank you, Eden. We look forward to your next book and many more. Thanks so much, Alex for interviewing me. I loved your questions and so appreciate being here on your wonderful site.  

About the book In Spring into Summer, a collection of emotionally-charged erotic novellas, four women explore their sexual limits, marked by love, lust, and loss. Life for Claire Pelletier is changed forever when she meets a professor who teaches her a most important lesson in "A Season for Everything." Evelyn Sutton goes in search of a man in "Unlocking the Mystery" and discovers the key to her own heart. With an open mind, Ava Connors attends a party but wonders if reality can ever live up to her hottest fantasies in "Summer Solstice." In "The Lottery," Sierra Zhao sacrifices herself to numerous men to help a friend, fully aware of the consequences. With locations in London, Dublin, Cape Cod, and Bangkok, these four women will seek pleasure to alter their lives and push their sexual boundaries.

Buy Links: Ebook formats Amazon.com Amazon.UK  

More About Eden and Her Work: Twitter @edenbaylee Facebook Youtube Pinterest

 --This article cross-posted with the AlexanderG Whiz PR Blog

Greece is the Word, KC!

More info? Click here!

The Dangers of Careless Social Media Use

(Cross-posted at the AlexanderG Whiz PR Blog.)

Social media is a magnificent thing…unless your ability to think your actions through is a tad lacking. Case in point:

The images of the devastation wrought by Japan’s worst-ever earthquake and tsunami stunned the world. But as the death toll climbed higher, one student at the University of California decided it was the perfect time to film a racist rant about Asian students – and post it on YouTube.

In the three-minute clip, a blond girl, named on the internet as Alexandra Wallace, complains about Asian students using their cellphones in the library – and speculates they’re “going through their whole families, just checking on everybody from the tsunami thing.”
via Alexandra Wallace: YouTube racist Asian rant on day of Japan tsunami | Mail Online.

We’ll spare you the hideous video–it’s all over the net if you want to see it.
Our advice is simple: Just like that heated email reply, nasty note or furious phone call–don’t post anything to the net until you’ve had time to ask yourself:

1. Does this clearly demonstrate my intent?
2. Is there any way this will harm others?
3. Could this backfire and ruin my project, career or even my life?

Words, said, written or recorded in anger or during a period of thoughtlessness may dog you forever on the internet. Just ask Gilbert Gottfried, the now-former AFLAC Duck voice fired for stupid remarks about the tsunami on Twitter.

Special word to parents: please discuss this type of thing with your kids before they go to college (heck, talk to them about it when they’re old enough to use a computer!). Besides the usual warnings about Facebook behavior, now you will want to add that posting videos should be carefully considered. It only takes moments of flip thoughtlessness (or worse–unvarnished bigotry) captured by a camera and uploaded to the world for a person’s life to be forever tarnished.

The Award-Winning Book Trailer for Thriller Novel "Pilate's Cross"

The Award-Winning Book Trailer for the thriller novel Pilate's Cross, produced by T2 + Back Alley Films, a nationally recognized digital media agency that creates all forms of new media content.

Pilate's Cross has a bit of everything—action, romance and spine-chilling suspense.  Mr. Greenwood has a very strong voice for mystery storytelling. His style is to tease and draw you in, and that’s exactly what happened when I read his book. Now I must wait patiently for his next one to be further thrilled by the adventures of John Pilate. ***Big 2 Thumbs Up***

--Eden Baylee, Author of Fall Into Winter

For more reviews, links, excerpts and an interview with the author, visit PilatesCross.com. Get it in paperback from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Lulu. Ebook fans may order it for only $1.99 in any ereader format from Smashwords. 

Bonus offer! Get a free short story ebook and excerpt of Pilate's Cross here.

Advice for "Solopreneuers" from Redhead Writing

Starting or running your own small business? Then you know it's fraught with the potential for missteps and blind alleys that can slow you down.

So why not save yourself some trouble and check out this great advice from "solopreneur" star Erika Napoletano, aka Redhead Writing? Here's a sample:

1. Trade is crap. It’s a very fine line and there’s little margin for error. Someone always ends up getting the short end of the stick. If you’re looking for ways to build a portfolio, I think it’s better to quietly do work for pennies on the dollar and later raise your rates than give it away for something that’s unequal in value.
2. You’re not a freelancer. You own a business. Start treating what you do like a business from day 1 because sooner or later, you’re going to wish you had.
3. Pick a ditch to die in. Take a stand. Believe in something. Being wishy washy gets you nowhere. Grow a pair. When you stop caring about the people who will never like you, the coolest thing happens: you find the people who actually do.
4. Your target customer is not “everyone.” I watched roughly twenty six-minute pitches from startups on the DEMO Conference live feed this week, and not one startup stood up on stage and said that “everyone” was their target customer. Take a hint.
5. There will always be naysayers. If everyone agrees with you, you’re doing it wrong. But then again, if everyone disagrees with you, you just might be doing it wrong, too.

There are 14 more great nuggets of wisdom, so check out the rest of the post here.

Join Us at the 2011 Kansas City Arthritis Walk at Zona Rosa

We're involved with the Arthritis Foundation's efforts to help people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases -- the nation's most common cause of disability.
May is National Arthritis Month and the Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation’s nationwide, signature fundraising event with more than 200 Arthritis Walks across the country.
Arthritis is more widespread than imagined, affecting nearly 50 million American adults and more than 300,000 children.
The Kansas City Arthritis Walk will be held Sunday, May 22^nd at the Zona Rosa Shopping District in North Kansas City (610 N. Dixon, KCMO 64153). People are invited to sign up, form a team to fundraise for the Arthritis Foundation in the months leading up to the event and to walk together on May 22^nd.
Each person who fundraises $100 or more will receive an official Arthritis Walk t-shirt. Funds raised go to arthritis research, programs and services and patient advocacy efforts. For information on how to register, please visit www.afwalkkc.kintera.org, or call (913) 262-2233.
Day-of event details:

• This event runs from 8 am to 10 am.
• The walk route will be less than 1 mile, making it accessible for all participants.
• Participants will enjoy refreshments, games, face-painting, live entertainment and raffle prizes.
• As many as 1 in 5 adult dogs get arthritis. Dogs on leashes who are accompanied by their owners
  are welcome to participate in the Kansas City Arthritis Walk.
• Worth Harley Davidson will be leading the Walk this year on motorcycles.

We hope to see you there! If you set up a team or join a team, please leave us a comment below and we'll help you get the word out via social networks about your efforts to raise much-needed funds.
For information, please contact our pal Annie Noonen at (913) 262-2233, ext 110.

PR Tip #345

If a public relations firm promises to get you media coverage, they're probably doing one of two things:

1. Lying (to you and/or themselves).
2. Actually selling you an ad.

Look for another firm that tells you the truth: they will put their skills, contacts and creativity to work to give you a great shot at publicity--but they cannot guarantee anything.

KC A Pivotal Point in Musician's Career

Dan Coyle Performs Nov. 16 at RecordBar--Free CD with Every Ticket

Kansas City has been very good to Dan Coyle, and now the acclaimed singer songwriter Dan Coyle aims to give something back by launching his new CD at RecordBar Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.

Coyle has twice played the KCRiverFest Independence Day Festival in Kansas City as well as other local venues. He had such an enthusiastic welcome from Kansas City audiences that he chose to offer his new CD "You Linger Your Little Hour And Are Gone" free to every ticket holder at his RecordBar appearance Tuesday.

"In 2007, I got my first big break when I played at the Folklore Alliance Conference in Memphis. From there I started to make some fans, got some exposure on some NPR stations. Things went pretty well until early 2009, when my Dad died," Coyle said.

"I lost some momentum. I wasn't working until KCRiverFest 2009 got me back on the road."

"I stayed in close contact with the people from Kansas City and it gave me this sense of hope that there was a need or a want or a market for my kind of music and I needed to get out and do things again. Kansas City gained this little place in my heart from what it did in breaking me loose from the stagnation. It wasn't a big break in the traditional sense but it got me back where I needed to be. I'm thrilled to be back in KC."

Tickets are $10 at the door or may be pre-ordered online. Every ticketholder gets a free copy of his new CD. RecordBar is located at 1020 Westport Road in Midtown Kansas City. Call 816-753-5207 for directions or more information. Singer Kevin Hiatt will open the performance.

Coyle recently completed a tour of the Seattle area and is preparing for a European Tour in February.

Coyle's music has been described by Alexandra McKay of the Prince Street Press as "Bright musicality and sunny inflections almost hide the thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics that are woven throughout this album. A lo-fi live recording that's simple without being simplistic, and utterly charming."

"It's an acoustic mix of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, with some soft and hard edges to it." Coyle said.

Coyle has released five albums to date, including "Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences" and "Briar Street: The Acoustic Sessions." His latest album is scheduled for wide release December 1. He has toured nationally, playing everything from small venues to concert halls to massive festivals.

For more information about Dan Coyle's music, including his complete tour schedule, song samples, video, interviews, reviews and special offers, visit www.dancoyle.com. Follow him on Twitter @Dan_Coyle and on Facebook.

Online ticket preorder here.

Media Relations Strategy: Opportunity Has a Secret Knock

Learning the “secret knock” on the door of opportunity is key when dealing with today’s news media. Check out this brief presentation to learn more.

Media Relations Strategy: Opportunity Has a Secret Knock

View more presentations from AlexanderG Public Relations.

KCRiverFest Entertainment Lineup Announced

Gold Record Winning ‘Head East’ Returns to Kansas City

Rock and roll legends, country stars, jazz and ragtime acts will take the stage at KCRiverFest July 3 & 4.

Presented by Friends of the River—Kansas City, the acclaimed festival returns to Richard Berkley Riverfront Park for a sixth year with a diverse lineup of bands and an 18-minute fireworks spectacular by internationally-renowned Zambelli Fireworks. Again, festival goers will also be treated to a six-minute “sneak preview” fireworks show on July 3rd at approximately 10 p.m.

Legendary gold-album certified band Head East will headline on the Friends of the River Main Stage at 8:30 p.m. July 3rd. Head East has Missouri roots and has appeared in more than 5,000 concerts over the past 25 years. From St. Louis to Seattle and Dallas to Detroit, Head East has performed in every major city and market in North America. Led by founding member, keyboardist and producer Roger Boyd, Head East is one of the hottest, most exciting live shows touring today.
Other acts appearing July 3rd acclaimed guitarist Fast Johnny Ricker, bluesman Rich Berry, the Bluecat Creole Band and Chicago-based singer/songwriter Dan Coyle. Coyle was a crowd pleaser at last year’s KCRiverFest.

July 4th entertainment will feature the best in country and jazz, with performances by returning KCRiverFest favorites Bayley Kate and Phil Vandel. The all-girl group broadBAND will lead in to the wildly popular U.S. Air Force Shades of Blue Jazz Band. As in years past, the Shades of Blue will perform patriotic standards and tributes to the Armed Services, culminating with the 18-minute fireworks show over the river by the First Family of Fireworks, Zambelli International.

Besides the Friends of the River Main Stage, two new stages will offer something for everyone. The Show Me Stage presented by Radio Disney is under a shade tent and features children’s entertainment. The children’s zone in the stage area offers inflatables and other activities, including Tom Mancuso of Sit Means Sit Dog Training. As seen on Animal Planet, Mancuso will return to demonstrate the Sit Means Sit dog training method.

KCRiverFest will feature the best in ragtime and jazz musicians at the Americana Pavilion presented by the Kansas City Ragtime Revelry. Grab a seat under the shade tent as emcee Bill Long (known by ragtime fans for his years emceeing Sedalia's Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival) keeps the Americana Pavilion hopping both days of the festival welcoming the best in ragtime performers. Acts include the New Red Onion Jazz Babies, TurpinTyme Ragsters, Marty Mincer, Frederick Hodges, the Rhythmia, the Sunflower Ragtime Orchestra and many more.

2010 marks the inaugural year of a new tradition: the First Annual KCRiverFest Canoe & Kayak Invitational Championships. Be sure to be at KCRiverFest at 3 p.m. July 4th to watch these river racers challenge themselves and their competitors on the Mighty Missouri.

The U.S. Army Strength in Action Zone returns, featuring an Apache helicopter simulator, Guitar Hero stage, dog tags and the Army fitness challenge.

Complete schedules, a new map of the park and detailed information about performers are online now at www.KCRiverFest.com. Regular priced adult tickets are $6 at the gate, but may be purchased online for $5 at www.KCRiverFest.com. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted online. Children age five and under are admitted free of charge. Only cash will be accepted at the gate.

Community groups and individuals may volunteer at KCRiverFest. More information and volunteer applications are available at www.KCRiverFest.com or by calling 816.960.3400.

A special package deal is offered by the Downtown Marriott, including a room with a panoramic view of the fireworks and tickets to the festival. A link to the special hotel package for KCRiverFest visitors is posted on www.KCRiverFest.com.

Sponsors for KCRiverFest include Friends of the River—Kansas City, the Port Authority of Kansas City, the Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund, U.S. Army, Midwest Living magazine, Burns & McDonnell, Mazuma Credit Union, Country 94.1 KFKF, Q104, Mix 93.3, Star 102, ink, Radio Disney, Capitol Federal, Clear, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, DST Systems, BNSF, Ameristar Cares, Central States Beverage Co., Isle of Capri Casino, GE Energy, HNTB, King Hershey, Konrady’s, Corporate Branding, Liberty RV, Missouri Bank, Missouri Gas Energy, Downtown Kansas City Marriott, the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, Lockton, TranSystems, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, the Session Law Firm, Sound Check and Bartlett and West.

Friends of KCRiverFest include American Red Cross, the Hon. Mayor Richard Berkley, Centerpoint Properties, Cold Storage Lofts, Enterprise Rent A Car, Jim & Ann Foil, Chris & Lois Gutierrez, Hanson Professional Services Inc., KPMG, Kansas City Garden Railroad Society, Kansas City Kite Club, Kansas City Parks & Recreation, Kansas City Water Department, Mark Laverentz, North Kansas City Levee, J. B. Reynolds Foundation, Taliaferro & Browne, Tetra Tech, Tradebot Systems, Trinity Transport Foundation, Turner Construction and The View Condo Association.
KCRiverFest is produced by EventPros, Inc., Kansas City’s creative meeting, event and communications resource. Visit EventPros on the web at www.EventProsInc.com.

EventPros Quoted in Nat'l Mag: Social Conscience Marks Corporate Special Events Today

Check it out:

With top managers eager to burnish their corporate image with a cynical public, many event professionals are adding an altruistic element to the special event programs they create. From local programs to nationwide campaigns, the focus today is on demonstrating the host's sense of social responsibility.

"Community involvement is becoming more prevalent in our corporate culture," according to John Short and Bill Svoboda, owners of Kansas City, Mo.-based EventPros. "Clients are decorating holiday events with toys that are subsequently donated to children's charities, and hosting their employee picnics in conjunction with public fundraising events to ensure their employees are aware of the company's civic commitments."