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."

KCRiverFest Updated, Facebook Page Launched

Friends and fans of KCRiverFest 2010 will be cheered to learn that the main website, www.KCRiverFest.com, has been updated, and a brand spankin' new Facebook page is also a going concern.
Come on by and check out the latest on THE Summer Festival of Kansas City!

Veach Joins EventPros

Sauce fans will be happy to learn that Douglas D. Veach has joined EventPros, Inc. as business development associate.

Douglas is a great guy and will be doing some cool stuff at EP--he will spearhead EventPros’ business development operations as the company continues its growth in Kansas City and expansion to markets outside the Kansas City metro area.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, Veach has worked previously in the real estate and construction industries with success in sales, marketing and management. He was a partner in the construction of two commercial retail centers and previously founded a landscaping firm.

“We’re very excited to welcome Douglas to our team,” said Bill Svoboda, EventPros co-owner. “His strong entrepreneurial background is an ideal match for the EventPros corporate philosophy. Douglas will certainly be a major asset as we look forward to continued growth in our community and beyond.

Svoboda and EventPros co-owner John Short graduated the Kauffman Foundation Fast Trac and Growth Strategies entrepreneurial programs; both are advocates of the Kauffman entrepreneurial philosophies. Since 2002 EventPros, Inc. has grown to five employees.

Award-winning EventPros, Inc. produces corporate special events, trade shows and meetings. Locally, the company produces the KCRiverFest July 4th festival as well as numerous corporate meetings, celebrations and special events. Outside Kansas City EventPros has been recognized for their work planning events in Texas, California, Connecticut and Puerto Rico.

For more information visit www.EventProsInc.com or why not give Douglas a call 816.960.3400.

Welcome aboard, Douglas!