9/7/99 |
We have GifTvS do a three hour interview on the air on a Mt. Pleasant
radio station, WCEN, which is country format. But their nine-year old Tuesday
evening Bootleg music show is for local talent and does all styles of music. Bob
Dennis set this show up through his connections. He brings Bob Bateman of Brianbert
Productions to add color and help tell the "story" of the group.
| Dennis and Bateman are late by 40 minutes due to unforeseen
circumstances, part of which was taking the wrong freeway. The group gets on 5
minutes late and doesn't have a CD with them. Manager Bob hears that all is not
going well and calls with a 15 minute introduction to the evening via his cell phone in
the car. |
| On the show, with all assembled, the host loves the old Motown stories
that Bob Bateman has. After a half-hour he gets to Bob Dennis where the national
connection with Holland Group is introduced. The GifTvS music begins by comparing
the original cut of "Love is Like An Itching in My Heart" by the Supremes to the
GifTvS remake called "Itchin'." Bob calls the GifTvS cut the
"better" cut and the host and engineer nod in agreement as they hear the cut. |
| The evening rolls along with much talk and music, including the group
doing an acoustic guitar/vocal rendition of a GifTvS show cut not on the CD. It is
obvious that Jeremy doesn't have a "natural" air personality and that Kevin, the
bass player, does. |
|
| GOALS |
The basic goal was a dry-run of interviews.
Seasoned professionals like Bob Dennis & Bateman assured a good show. It was in
the area a week before the Mt. Pleasant release party. It was not really a rock
audience. If it came off well it could gather in new fans; if, however, it went
badly, it couldn't alienate important fans. |
CONCLUSIONS |
The goals were definitely accomplished. Kevin must
be the spokesperson for the band in these situations. He is given this position.
We were surprised how well the sound of the group and of the record is accepted by
these seasoned radio professionals. We make a potential referral or professional reference
in radio. |
9/9/99 |
Manager Bob Dennis and group leader Jeremy Lafferty take the program
director of the Lapeer MI, radio station to lunch. The PD likes the product and the
lead cut "Autumn." He's hooked up with clubs in the area and there is a
Monday evening local show. We explain the national hook-up of GifTvS. He will
play it but does not really commit to a certain schedule. He heard the cuts briefly and
wants to hear them again, even study the CD.
| 5 days later Bob Dennis will call the PD and find out it was first played
Monday, September 13th and that the Ann Arbor showcase on the 14th was announced. |
|
GOALS |
To get one influential station in Mid Michigan to give
the release a push-test to determine acceptance to mainstream radio. |
CONCLUSIONS |
We're on the way towards the goal. More effort and
communication must be established with this connection to make it "important" or
"personal" to bang this record for a test. If it builds gradually, we must
begin a forked push (including more stations) towards mainstream radio acceptance. |
9/11/99 |
The record company showcase takes place in Detroit, Michigan rather
un-smoothly. The report is here. |
GOALS |
To have record company executives meet GifTvS and see
that they could "take the stage." |
CONCLUSIONS |
We should have set as a goal to "show where we are
at, both good and bad." We accomplished our stated goal fully but could have
done it a whole lot smoother. |
