TABLE OF CONTENTS
* Upcoming Reggae Festivals
* Recipe: Jamaican Buns from Jamaicans.com
* Fun & Games: What's Patois outdoors? (for answer, see below under Fun & Games)
* Band Promotion: The Secret of Minimal Effort Music Marketing of Unsigned Bands
* Reggae Biz Marketing Tidbit: How to Make Your Business Card Call for Action
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Upcoming Reggae Festivals
Saturday-Sunday, April 2-3, 2005
9th Annual Budweiser Spring Reggae Festival
Mt. Snow Resort
West Dover, Vermont, U.S.
www.mountsnow.com
Hotline: 800-498-0479
Friday-Sunday, April 7-10, 2005
Sugarloaf Reggae Festival
Budweiser True Music Series
Carrabassett Valley, Maine, U.S.
www.sugarloaf.com
Hotline: 207-237-2000
Friday-Sunday, April 8-10, 2005
Barbados International Reggae Splash
Garfield Sobers Sports Complex outside park
Barbados, Barbados
www.barbadosreggaesplash.com
Hotline: TBA
Friday-Sunday, April 8-10, 2005
4th Annual Pure Aloha Festival
Cannery Casino & Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
www.vizzun.com
Hotline: 702-871-0440
Saturday, April 9, 2005
2nd Puerto Galera Reggae Festival
Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Philipines
www.encenada.com
Hotline: (63)9205870041
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Green Peace 420 Music & Arts Festival
Trini Ranch
Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
www.socanow.com
Hotline: 831-423-0233
Saturday-Sunday, April 16-17, 2005
2005 Austin Marley Festival
Auditorium Shores
Austin, Texas, U.S.
www.austinmarleyfest.com
Hotline: 512-312-0435
Friday-Saturday, April 22-23, 2005
Bobolink Music Festival
Belden Town Resort
Belden, California, U.S.
www.bobolinkmusic.org
Hotline: none
Saturday-Sunday, April 23-24, 2005
Houston International Festival
Tranquility Park, Sam Houston park, Allen Pkwy
Houston, Texas, U.S.
www.ifest.org
Hotline: 713-654-8808
Friday-Saturday, April 29-30, 2005
McDowell Mountain Music Festival
Westworld
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
www.mmmf.net
Hotline: 602-343-0453
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Caribbean Culture Fest
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
www.Caribbeanculturefest.com
Hotline: 407-895-0782
Saturday-Sunday, April 30-1, 2005
Houston International Festival (2nd weekend)
Downtown Houston
Houston, Texas, U.S.
www.ifest.org
Hotline: 713-654-8808
Saturday-Sunday, April 31-1, 2005
13th Annual San Antonio Legends of Rasta Reggae Festival
Camargo Park
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
www.legendsofrastareggaefestival.com
Hotline: 281-893-0044
Festival listings are believed to be correct. Please contact the promoter
directly for more information. Promoters are responsible for making sure their
festival info is correct on www.ReggaeFestivalGuide.com prior to this publication.
Are you a reggae festival promoter? Post your festival at
www.ReggaeFestivalGuide.com/post_festival.html
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Recipe: Jamaican Buns
Ingredients:
* 3 cups flour
* 3 teaspoons baking powder
* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 2 eggs beaten
* 1 tablespoon browning
* 1/2 pint milk
* 2 tablespoon melted margarine
* raisins and mixed peel (amount based on your taste)
* 1 tablespoon mixed spice
* 1 tablespoon cinnamon
* 1 tablespoon nutmeg
Directions:
* Measure all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
* Pour into bun shaped baking pans and bake in a moderate 350F until done well.
* Glaze with Sugar and water or pancake syrup and serve.
Recipe courtesy of (c) 2004 Jamaicans.com.
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Fun & Games
What's Patois for outdoors?
"A DOOR"
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Band Promotion: The Secret of Minimal Effort Music Marketing of Unsigned Bands
When it comes to band promotion, I love facts. So I'm going to give
you some cold hard facts on how my band, the Brobdingnagian Bards, has
quadrupled visits to our website with minimal effort.
I know, it sounds like great ad copy, but the truth of the matter is I
found some incredible promotional ideas, first, in "Poor Richard's
Internet Marketing and Promotion", and then inspired to action by David
Nevue's "How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet".
About a month ago, we began running The Great Celtic Music Giveaway from
our website. And during that time have doubled unique visits to our homepage.
In case you don't know what a "unique visit" is. It is a more accurate
reflection of how many people are visiting you. Whereas one "hit" means
you had one visit, plus, one download for every image on your site, a
"unique visit" is one person visiting that particular page.
I don't have the count for unique visits to our contest page, but that's
okay, because we are getting hundreds of unique visits to our homepage,
meaning...people are looking around. And with 3-5 new signups per day,
that's 150 new people per month who are interested in our style of music.
Sure, it's nothing compared to them millions visiting Yahoo. But the Celtic
music scene is small and tight. And we are making ourselves known to a growing
number of people. And considering I've only promoted the contest in this
newsletter and in About.com, I think it is one heck of a start.
So is this something you should consider? Sure. Give it a try. Keep it small
to start if you need to. One CD. But promote it BIG!
THE GREAT (your style of music) GIVEAWAY.
Promote it online. To YOUR audience. That is the key. Don't try to promote
it the musician crowd, but the music-lover crowd. People love to win things
for free, and you too could pull in hundreds of new fans with minimal effort.
Bard Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards has helped 1000's of
musicians make money with their musical groups through the Bards Crier
Music Marketing and Promotion Ezine and the Texas Musicians' Texas Music
Biz Tips. Now you can get personal advice by visiting
http://www.bardscrier.com for FREE "how-to" music marketing assistance.
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Planning a special event for next summer?
The Caribbean Cove has begun renovations on our new Berkeley, California
location! Ask to be added to our mailing list for updates on the grand opening.
Book your caterer today! The Caribbean Cove is now accepting
bookings for next summer's event season. Spice up your party with
food from the islands - weddings, corporate events, birthday parties,
customer appreciation, moving parties and more. We deliver authentic,
high-quality Caribbean food to your door with a professional and
courteous manner - ask for references or see our customer testimonials
online: www.thecaribbeancove.com
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Marketing Your Reggae Biz Tidbit:
How to Make Your Business Card Call for Action
An old marketing adage goes something like this:
"He who has a thing to sell
And goes and whispers in a well,
Is not as apt to get the dollars
As he who climbs a tree and hollers."
Most business cards whisper. If they speak to your prospect at all,
they do so quietly. Many don't say much at all. And because of that, a
potential customer never learns about your award-winning service department,
or your extended hours, or your playroom area for the kids.
Instead, your card is tossed into the wastebasket and your competitor's
card is carefully tucked into a Rolodex.
True, business cards do more than convey the information that's printed
on the card. A card that's ugly, dirty, printed on perforated paper or full
of corrections screams loud and clear that you're an amateur. No matter how
many wonderful services you offer, your card brands you as unprofessional and
you lose business. A clean, creative, professionally printed and visually
attractive card, on the other hand, conveys a positive first impression that
lingers long after your initial meeting.
Still, a savvy businessperson knows that adding marketing-oriented text
to a business card in addition to contact information pays off.
One strategy is to add text that gives specific customer benefits.
For example, your card can tell people how easy you are to do business
with by adding a slogan or tagline such as:
* Easy to PAY - "Credit cards and competitor's coupons accepted"
* Easy to FIND - "Located next to ___ in the heart of ___"
* Easy to BUY - "Walk-ins welcome. No appointment required."
* Easy to BUY - "Express check-in and check-out."
* Easy to get EXPERT ADVICE - "Pharmacist on duty around the clock."
Better yet, your business card can be a marketing tool that asks for
your prospect's business. Asking people via your business card to visit your
store or log onto your website is a great idea. But in order for this strategy
to be effective, you need to be specific, and you need to give people a reason
to do what you request.
Consider the following types of phrases often found on business cards:
* Visit today
* Stop by and see us!
* Customer service is our priority
* In business for 25 years
The first two immediately raise the question, "Why?" Why should someone come
visit your store? Your prospect is busy, and she's not stupid. She knows you want
her to come into your showroom, fall in love with the latest model, and walk out
thousands of dollars poorer. So you need to give her a reason to come in.
These calls to action are much more powerful:
* "Present this card for a free watch battery"; or
* "Ask for Fred to receive your first oil change free!"; or
* "Log onto YourCompany.com for current discount coupons!"
The last two phrases sound good but are so overused that they're almost
meaningless. What do they actually say to your customer?
Do you promise to return phone calls within 15 minutes, or that you provide
a late-model loaner car while theirs is being serviced?
Do you offer jewelry repair is done on-site by a certified technician, or that
you offer a complimentary two-year extension to the manufacturer's warranty?
Then say so on your business card! Let the holder know why you are the person
they should come to when they need the services you provide.
Using a business card merely to convey contact information is downright wasteful.
Your business card can be the most portable, affordable and versatile marketing method
you use - but not if it's quiet about your services or shy about your accomplishments.
Investing in full color business cards that grab attention and appear more
valuable will help you to gain new prospects. Your clients will love them, and you
will enjoy handing them out.
Christopher Brunner is interested in helping you gain more clients with your business cards.
Browse one of the web's largest collection of business card networking articles and create
eye-catching business cards online at http://www.greatfxbusinesscards.com.
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Getting Serious About Promoting Your Band?
You love creating music and/or art, but you are bogged down with mundane
tasks of every day business - putting your creativity on the back burner.
Having a manager is essential to surviving the business of promoting your
own talent in this day and age. One burgeoning company based out of
California is ready to take your talent to the next level. Owner's name is
Amy Shapas and she is willing to negotiate a contract with you that you
are able to afford. Call 831-479-0711 and visit her website at www.soyoucan.com.
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Contact Us
Reggae Festival E-Guide
P.O. Box 10917, Napa, CA 94581
Website: www.ReggaeFestivalEGuide.com
Email: eguideReggaeFestivalEGuide.com
707-257-6652
Please feel free to pass this ezine along to your friends. However, we ask that you forward it in its entirety.
(c) 2004 Reggae Festival E-Guide, ISSN 1551-6121
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