[atlantaprog] Re: It's raining on prog-nite...! :-P

WOW!  Bill sure has been doing some thinking!!  Everything he said made alot
of sense to me.  I'm still open and willing to do ANY promoting over here in
the Augusta area (CSRA)  and I'm sure that Kevin from Farpoint would do some
in the Columbia, SC area...I think there are a few folks that would be
willing to travel that far or even from Florida for a decent prog show:)
I've said before that I would!  Anyway....I'm still open Allen...so if you
think of something specific for me...just let me know:)   Good going on all
the great thoughts and ideas Bill!!!!

PEACE
Beth


----- Original Message -----
From: William Kargel <wkargel@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <atlantaprog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 12:12 PM
Subject: [atlantaprog] It's raining on prog-nite...! :-P


>
> OK, no rude comments from the peanut gallery, please!
> ;-)  I thought it was a good pun!  (LOL)
>
>
> Seriously, now...
>
> If we are going to put up an online prog resource as
> has been suggested, we should tie it directly in with
> our group.
>
> That said, we really do need then to create an
> identity for ourselves.  And really soon!
>
> Rather than give ourselves a collective headache
> trying to be too orginial, or straining to cast of the
> negative connotations associated with "progressive"
> music, we need to find an identity that is both easy
> to remember and is rather general, yet also pointing
> out our purpose.
>
> As far as an online resource is concerned, it
> shouldn't be too hard to put together.  The big
> question is who would host it?  Sean Tonar is
> associated with Progressive Ears.  Maybe he has an
> idea or two.  Sean, who is PE's host...Earthlink,
> maybe?
>
> And do we just stick with Metro Atlanta?  What about
> the SE region in general?  Get bands from surrounding
> states to gig here and vice versa?  For those who were
> at RogueFest in July, the Nashville band Trilobyte
> Cafe was (IMHO) very different AND good!  Ands they
> were funny too!  ;-)   I think they enjoyed the day as
> well and I am sure they wouldn't mind playing down
> here again, perhaps at one of these "prog-nites" that
> we are proposing.
>
> To address the issue of the "older" versus "younger"
> prog audience.  So far, what has been proposed caters
> to one at the expense of the other.  If we go for a
> place that serves alcohol and is a smoking environment
> (not to mention late hours), we will alienate the
> majority of the "older" audiences.  But, if we opt for
> a venue that has none of these things, we then
> alienate "younger" and potentially new fans.
>
> Local Atlanta guitar-meister Glenn Phillips has
> regular shows at the Red Light Cafe.  What he usually
> does are two full shows:  one an earlier, all ages,
> non-smoking show (which encourages the older fans with
> families to come on down and bring the kids with
> them...a "family-oriented/friendly" affair), and then
> a later set for the 21-plus crowd (a more traditional
> club setting).  I personally like that concept.  The
> only real problem with that is that I think it only
> reasonably works with one (or maybe two) band(s).  If
> we were to do a real "prog-nite", I think we need to
> showcase three (3) bands at a time.  OK, at least two
> if you want them to have long sets.
>
> I think any "prog-nite" we do should be on a Friday or
> even better a Saturday evening.  This will maximize
> the possibility of attracting Mr. Jon Doe Prog-Fan who
> has a M-F, 9-5 commuting to/from downtown job with a
> wife, 2.2 children, pets and a white picket fence in
> Alpharetta to sample local prog music.  If the show is
> an early enough time, that will allow him to bring the
> whole family if he wants to (i.e., no babysitter).
> Maybe if it is early enough (winding down by 11 or
> so), then the younger set will get their prog fix for
> the night and still have time to hit the bars/clubs
> for their usual entertainments.  I found that back in
> my partying days in Atlanta (and it wasn't THAT long
> ago), that things really didn't get started until that
> time anyway.  ;-)
>
> For the sake of logistics, it needs to be at one venue
> and not split up for different audiences, though the
> venue can be at different locations per event if so
> desired (but personally I think we should stick with
> one location for continuity's sake).
>
> We make use of the internet to advertise/promote these
> events...send emails to folks utilizing the
> participating band(s) mainling lists reminding them of
> the shows.  Advance notice is the key.  The more
> notice a potential audience member has, the more
> likely they can make plans around it (arranging
> babysitter, errands, etc.)  Have the following month's
> lineup set in advance would be good as well, for then
> we could announce it and drum it up at the previous
> prog-nite in between sets.  If we get any radio spots,
> then the DJ can also announce and promote these shows
> repeatedly.  Advertising in the Creative Loafing
> wouldn't be a bad idea, either.
>
> My guess is that attendance to these "prog-nite" shows
> would at first be rather light.  But if we play our
> cards right, the size of the audience should get
> larger each month.
>
> I would venture to say if all goes well, after about a
> year (i.e, a dozen or so "prog-nites") we should have
> gotten a good saturation point of local attention to
> plan a local festival with at least a semi-known band
> headlining.  And give them plenty of advance warning.
> This first festival should be small (one day event,
> five to six bands), and besides the headliner, should
> have a big regional/out of town band and the rest made
> up of local bands.  If we break even on this, we can
> expand to two days and more bands (and bigger names
> headlining) the next year.  We of course continue the
> local "prog-nites".
>
> Oh yeah, continually rotate the roster of the
> "prog-nite" bands to ensure everyone gets to "come off
> the bench" and play a bit! ;-)  The theory is that the
> same two/three bands wouldn't play together at any
> other "prog-nite", or at least for quite some time.
> And definately that for the headliner, so that
> everyone gets a crack at headlining if they want it.
> Examples:  Month 1 might be Timothy Pure headlining
> with Karma Lingo and KTM.  Month 2 could be Brain 21
> headlining with Ultima Thule and Natural Tension.
> Month 3 could be Trilobyte Cafe in from Nashville with
> Cobweb Strange and Mindworm.  Month 4 could be Z-Axis
> headlining with 3d5spd and Agent Cooper.  Month 5
> could be Farpoint from SC headlining with Tales From
> Utopia (new prog-metalish band up in my neck of the
> woods) and Paracelsus (if we have our act together by
> then...LOL) And so on and so on.
>
> Don't worry if you have never heard of some of these
> bands...I have and I ahve also been talking to people
> about joining our little community.
>
> While all this goes on, each band of course can book
> their own seperate gigs, individually or with other
> local prog bands like we have done previously.  Here,
> however, is the prime area to follow up on the
> suggestion of "cross-pollinating" with other "artsy"
> local bands and their audiences.  Time to scratch each
> others' collective backs!
>
> At every "prog-nite", even bands who aren't playing
> can promote their music by having a merchandise table
> set up with their CDs for sale and stuff.  Even better
> if they have a free sampler CD/tape to give away.
>
> That comes to something I suggested at the meeting...
> making our presence felt at the other prog festivals.
> If one of us were going to be going to these anyway,
> we can purchase a merchant's table and promote SE (and
> especially Metro Atlanta) prog music.  You
> know...samplers...full-blown CDs for sale...other
> merchandise like T-shirts and bumper
> stickers...mailing list/website...boombox/CD-Walkman
> to preview the material, etc. ...Atlanta
> "prog-nites"...and our own festival when that comes
> up.
>
> I think that ProgDay, NEARfest and even ProgPower USA
> are no-brainers, since many of us have gone to these
> repeatedly ourselves (or are close by or even local
> like PPUSA).  The more difficult ones would be ones
> like ProgWest or even Baja Prog.
>
> Another thought that sprang up was this:  in the
> future, getting our foot in the door with larger
> events like the Atlantis Music Conference or even the
> smaller stages at Music Midtown.  BIG exposure
> potential at these!  Also charity gigs or rallys for
> any socio-political organizations that you may support
> and/or be part of are also good sources for us to
> exploit.  EarthDay comes to mind for me.  I remember a
> lot of cool and varied bands playing at the
> (FREE!)EarthDay concerts when I was in college...!
>
> Anyway, some brainstorming I have been doing.
> Comments/suggestions/flames are welcome!  ;-)
>
>
>
> Bill
>
>
>
> =====
> William C. Kargel
>
> wkargel@xxxxxxxxx
>
> Visit my homepage at http://www.geocities.com/wkargel
>
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