all things marketing music and travel

rants, raves, stories, experiences and insights into marketing, concerts, books, travels and anything else under the sun.

[chdlucas-blog]

Root beer maple glazed bacon for dinner, only at Harry & Izzys #foodporn #foodie #bacon #wcw

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Red quinoa, sautéed veggies in coconut oil, avocado slices, Siracha drizzle and mango salsa garnish. # foodporn # foodie #sundayfunday @julianahughey

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HyperiOnICE Brings Festival Feel Indoors, Spanning Two Venues, Five musical Acts and an Array of Visual Entertainment

For most landlocked Midwesterners, the festival scene takes a break every September through April, leaving us to local and regional shows to get our music fix while we wait for the warm rays of summertime to return. The end of festy season has been rung in for the last two years at the Hyperion Music and Arts Festival, held in nearby Spencer, IN. In an attempt to warm our winter woes, local producers Herm Productions and Hyperion Music Festival are trying something new with HyperiOnICE at The Vogue Theatre on January 31st 2014.

  Logistics

Organized as a miniature indoor music festival, HyperiOnICE will set the stage for future multi-venue, single day events in Indianapolis. The main event begins at The Vogue Theatre in Broad Ripple with music starting around 9:00 PM. Tickets are $20, which may seem high to some, but the quality of talent and local artistry more than warrant the cost. When the music stops at The Vogue, head to the after-party at local bar, The Mousetrap on 56th & Keystone. Admission to The Mousetrap will be included in your ticket to The Vogue.

  Stop #1: The Vogue

The night begins with local DJ/producer Kaleidoscope Jukebox. A one-man army bringing you music spanning Jazz, Dub, hip hop, soul and funk, his music is backed by rich samples, ethnic elements, keyboards and guitar rifts. Next up in the evening will be Yo Mamma’s Big Fat Booty Band, hailing from Ashville, NC. They are a powerful funktastic band fueled by heavy saxophone and trombone rifts, high-energy rock, old school rap and soul. Their music is equally matched by their stage presence, known for outrageous behavior and clothing. Yo Mamma’s Big Fat Booty Band has been seen at major festivals such as Wakarusa, Bear Creek and Jam Cruise, while taking the stage with bands such as Parliament Funkadelic, Galactic and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk. Ending the night will be Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, a band that needs no introduction for most Midwest fans of jam bands. Their progressively improvisational jams fueled by jazz, funk, reggae, space rock and everything in between will leave you dancing well after the music has stopped.

Always careful to feature more of the arts than just music, Hyperion’s organizers have also arranged for  local painters Jenna Mishelow, Benjamin Church and Michael Arbuckle to practice their craft live at HyperiOnICE. There will also be a live model getting painted on stage. Herm Productions, Hoops Of Creation and Jeff Lowe’s Liquid Lights will also be in the house providing rich visual media that will leave you breathless (remember the lights on the pond at Hyperion? That’s Jeff’s work).

  Stop #2: The Mousetrap

Once the party at the Vogue ends, head over to The Mousetrap where your admission ticket will get you into the after party, set to run until the bartenders kick you out. For the budget conscious, you can still get into the trap without having been to the vogue, tickets will be $10 at the door. There will be local vendors such as Cultured Crowns selling hand made fedoras, and local food truck 2 Blind Mice will be serving up gourmet grilled cheed and soup. First to play will be local producer Shy Guy Says will close out the night with electronic music comprised of a mixture of glitch hop, hip hop, dubstep and trap. Headlining the after party and closing the night out will be Future Rock, an electronic rock trio from Chicago, IL that brings live loops, heavy bass lines, keyboards and drums together to make rich danceable songs.

  HyperiOnICE will be a funktastic, jam-and-electronic fueled night comprised of five different musical acts across two venues. There will be at least 11 different visual artists and performers, live painting, local art and vendors. All of this for $20, which again includes the after party! Tickets can be purchased online here or at The Vogue Theatre. For more information please check out the event page. We hope to see all of your shining beautiful faces on January 31st for what is guaranteed to be a very memorable evening.  

[chdlucas-blog]

My dog thinks she's a cat #wandathewonderingwalflower #dogsofinstagram #dogobsessed #catdog

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#wandathewonderingwalflower is goin a lil stir crazy in this weather #dogobsessed #dogsofinstagram #snowpocalypse

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Grass fed beef burger, sautéed onions and spinach and bacon, a great start to any #indiana #snowpocalypse

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#wandathewonderingwalflower discovers snow for the first time and loves it #dogsofinstagram #dogobsessed

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Amazon Prime Air, Potentially Redefining Retail Delivery Methods

This past week CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, created quite a stir with his announcement on 60 Minutes about the potential use of unmanned arial drones for quick delivery of small packages. However, to Amazon this is much more of a reality then we may assume. A quick Google search will bring an abundance of articles, blog posts and even videos of test flights of what appears to be already designed and functional drones. Apply named Amazon Prime Air, the delivery system is said to guarantee 30 minute or less delivery. 

Reception of this news appears to have many varying views and opinions, some calling it futuristic, some comparing it to the drones seen in movies like Terminator and others simply laying out reasons why we should be careful when exploring this new technology. I personally think this could be a very interesting direction in which companies could move, giving the ability to expedite delivery, not just of packages but of your regular mail from the post office. Being the giant that it is, it is no surprise that Amazon is the first out of the gate with this idea.

However there are many initial problems that must be faced, first and foremost those regarding FAA regulations. The FAA has made statements that it is actively taking steps in the direction that would make this a reality. Additional concerns could range from how the drones react in severe weather (just imagine driving down the road in a storm and out of the sky falls a miniature helicopter). As these will be unmanned, there is also the potential for the operating system to be hacked, the drone to be stolen and a number of other scary scenarios. 

So say it all plays out, and in two years we see these little buggers zipping across the sky, what's next? Will neighborhoods have the ability to purchase one for a neighborhood watch? Will this create the potential for extreme invasion of privacy by creepy old men in trench coats? What if police departments want to equip them with inferred cameras to seek out criminal behavior? I think there is a lot of good that could come out of this future enterprise, but there could also be a lot of bad that comes with it, and it could become an easily abused power. If you are interested in this more, Click the link below to see Amazon's video via Youtube, and please share and comment your personal concerns with this technological advancement. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98BIu9dpwHU

[the-inspirational-quotes-deacti]

[chdlucas-blog]

Healthy Companies Take Care of Their Own

In today's fast paced work environment, it pays to work for a company that takes care of its own. From health benefits, catered food, ping pong tables and everything else under the sun, the companies that offer the little bit extra to its employees are more likely to retain them as well as increase morale and work productivity. 

In a recent article by the Atlantic Journal-Constitution, they listed the top companies in decreasing employee size and the benefits they offered to them. These ran from the extreme like automatic snow days when it snows a minimum of two feet (Burton Snowboards), in-office slides (Google), three weeks vacation time every year (Nike), and more commonly seen perks like in-office workout facilities, coffee bars and healthy meal options. 

On a personal note I work for such a company, though they are fairly small in nature, the Bloomington, IN based Upland Brewing Co. definitely knows how to take care of their own. Once a year Upland holds its employee appreciation day, where they close all locations, commute all employees to Bloomington, IN and rent double deckers party boats outfitted with water slides, catered food and enough beer to put a giant to sleep. 

While in the work environment they offer quality, locally sourced food to employees with a 50% discount, shift beers after every shift you work and discounts on merchandise. In their free time they also host small music events, employees gather for off-site pumpkin carving contests and holiday parties. Many companies boast a "family" environment where everybody takes care of each other, but at this locally based brewery they truly do just that.

From a marketing standpoint Upland positions itself in a like-minded manner, sourcing from local farmers, staying true to their midwest roots, offering amazing beers and an unintrusive stance towards promotion, knowing that loyal hoosiers will come if they pour it. All in all this is a company that would be hard to leave, even if a full time marketing gig came my way. if you find yourself in the midwest definitely take a chance with coming in and tasting the great beer or food. The main restaurant and brewery is located in Bloomington, IN and the secondary restaurant in Carmel, IN just north of Indianapolis. There is also a tap room in nearby Broad Ripple. 

For the full story on the healthiest companies to work for in America please check out the link below:

http://www.ajc.com/news/lifestyles/healthiest-companies-work-america/nbT2P/

[chdlucas-blog]

Facebook VS. YouTube: The Fight for the 12-15 demographic

                                  According to a recent Mashable.com article, the count is in and recent polls show that teens 12-15 are favoring YouTube over Facebook as their online social media outlet of choice. With the rise in popularity of sites and apps like Vine and Snapchat, the challenge to make quick, hilarious movies is all the rage. It makes sense as we've been transitioning into a culture where WE can now make the media, the consumer has more of a choice then ever before. 

According to the article, about 50% of teens claim YouTube to be their favorite site, with Facebook only getting about 45%. However Facebook still claims the number-one spot with twentysomething millinials. The importance of this shows a shift in culture, as millinials grew up in an age of Myspace, Facebook and Twitter. The new generation is focused more on content creation, and thus finding themselves more on sites like Youtube. 

For advertisers this is crucial information as to how, when and where ad's targeting a younger generation will begin to appear more and more. For companies that would appeal to young twentysomethings we could begin to see an influx of ads for bars, alcohol, renters insurance and higher education on Facebook. For YouTube it holds the opportunity for campaigns like those raising awareness about bulling, green lifestyles, safe sex and drug use to reach a growing target that will be soon influencing society and will be heading to the polls to vote in the next 5-8 years. 

For more information please read the original article and source of this information at:

http://mashable.com/2013/11/05/teens-facebook-youtube-most-popular/

[chdlucas-blog]

marketing 101: How to build a marketing plan for yourself

I've recently gotten a rejuvenated sense of self, and an even deeper a sense of what I really want to do with my career. I've always been into marketing, advertising, promotions that whole shebang. However i've always struggled with marketing MYSELF to potential employers, which is kind of a problem when you think about it. 

I decided to sit down and come up with my own plan, a way to show my prowess, and being a product of integrated marketing I decided on a multi-pronged approach. First step: Re-design my resume; Second step: Write more; Third step: build my-self a website; fourth step: Make business cards to link it all together; Fifth step: Get a job!

With this simple five-step process i've found myself more interested in what it is that I love about the industry, and why I love it. I have a new vested interest in ME and MY career. The importance of this? Show them you can market yourself, so you can market for them. My resume shows who I am, my education, my achievements, jobs etc. The website is a digital portal to direct potential employers to my information. Business cards are a networking must, and linking them together brings it all full circle. 

Ultimately I feel that this strategy will help me advance my career, and maybe I can use this formula to help others in the future. In the meantime feel free to use my strategy, create a marketing plan for YOU and who knows, maybe all of those dreams will someday come true. 

[chdlucas-blog]

Mummy’s Invade Broad Ripple, Here Come The Mummies to Play Sold Out Show at The Vogue

Thousands of years ago there was an old evil pharaoh that requested the presence of the most acclaimed musicians in all the land. There was going to be a marriage and he wanted only the best to perform for such an event. However, after realizing that the bride to be was sleeping with the whole band, the pharaoh had all of them mummified. This didn’t stop them though, powered by something more then nature, they rose from the dead and have been spreading their funk and R&B tunes ever since.           

Or at least that’s one way of describing the Nashville, TN based Here Come The Mummies. Set to take the stage of The Vogue this Friday, November 8th, donning bandages from head to toe, members will be fully dressed as mummies so as to hide their identities. The reason behind it- whether it be rumored or not- is that almost all the members are nationally touring and recognized musicians, some maybe even Grammy award winners. 

What really makes Here Come The Mummies stand out is how dedicated they are to their act. They fully adopt the persona of mummies that have been dead for thousands of years but have risen to bring back the funk to modern society. The band is comprised of 12 members and their tunes, such as “Single Entrendre”, “Libido Knievel” and “Dirty Minds”, are humorous and engaging.  The mummies have put out eight studio albums to date and have been frequent members on the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom show.

In preparation for their upcoming show I connected with Java Mummy (percussion and vocals) to ask a few questions. As is true to mummy tradition, the conversation took a hilarious turn with Java staying in full character the whole time. The Mummies will be playing The Vogue theatre this Friday, November 8th. The show is completely sold out, however it may be possible to find tickets floating around the internet. This is a 21+ event, doors open at 8PM, show starts at 9PM.

Chris: When did the mummies first come up with the concept to tour as hidden musicians, and how long have you been doing it?

Java: We first tried touring as hidden musicians in the 1960's, because we were not sure folks could take us seriously in mummy form. Turns out that playing hidden behind curtains and towels is even less regarded than being a mummy.

Chris: Are you guys friends outside of Here Come The Mummies?

Java: Yep, when you are a mummy, it is tough making outside friends. Goth chicks think we are cool, but the stench inevitably chases them away.

Chris: Are the members of the band consistent, or do you have a rotating cast of characters?

Java: We normally have the same mummies on stage, but sometimes a mummy or two wants to do laundry or practice cooking souffles, so we sub them out.

Chris: Having played several times on the Bob & Tom show, and making appearance throughout Indiana, would you consider Indianapolis a second home?

Java: Absolutely. Indy was our first popular market.

Chris: Considering the superb musical talents and skills of the band members, why did you choose to take the rout of a humorous band with funny songs, as opposed to playing traditional blues, jazz and R&B songs?

Java: Honestly, we don't see ourselves as a humor band. We just think of ourselves as a rock band that digs to laugh.

Chris: Is it true that some, if not all, the members are nationally touring and recognized musicians that play under cover due to contractual agreements? 

Java: Yep, and if you ask our grandma's, they will also tell you that we are the most talented ever.

Chris: Is there anything you would like the Indianapolis audience to know about you as a band that maybe you haven't had the opportunity to speak on yet?

Java: We are nerds. Truly, nerds like in Revenge of The Nerds, where all we think about is sex.

[chdlucas-blog]

The Business of Beauty

As I was recently introduced to the Aveda Fredric’s Institute by my girlfriend, she being a recently enrolled student in their program, I’ve begun to notice some things in regards to their business of beauty. This comes in combination with the unlimited amount of “selfies” that young women post to social media sites, videos like Dove’s “Evolution” and simply living with a 20 something female. It appears that the biggest flaw, and yet a woman’s most powerful asset, is a their beauty. So in today’s modern age of technology, mass media and marketing where women are objectified it is no surprise that young women just coming of age feel the pressure to wear more and more make-up, and dress is clothing that continuously hides less and less. Its an attention thing, an ego thing or both? And are institutes like Aveda helping or hindering the situation?

  Having briefly looked around the school, seeing the thousands of dollars of equipment they give students and read various student information handouts I’ve begun to form an opinion, however mixed or varied it may be. I say mixed or varied because the marketing behind this entity is big, and most people don’t see it. Aveda is a manufacturer of skin care products, cosmetics, perfume and others, while teaching students in cosmetology and esthiology at their various institutes. They are an Estee Lauder Company, which means their parent is one of the largest beauty product manufactures in the world, though Aveda is branded as its own entity, which helps their case. They design their products, they sell their products, they teach students how to use their products then place them in jobs at salons branded with the Aveda name. It’s fitting for a company who’s roots come from ayurveda, a very old Indian healing tradition which is based on the knowledge of life and the interconnectedness of everything. They have mirrored their marketing after their base philosophy, and I applaud them for that, because a stream of continuity as such is just hidden enough that its not seen unless looked for.

  Ultimately I would have to say that though I am not a fan of mass marketing towards women to make them feel undervalued or ugly, I would say I like what Aveda is doing. They are somewhat separated from their parent company and, at least in Indiana, you don’t see their products advertised, because they don’t need to advertise them. They’ve created their own brand within a brand, creating a niche market exclusively for Aveda enthusiasts. And at that, they train their students to be empowered women who are then able to help other women achieve a level of beauty not seen in mass marketing with the help of creative suite programs like Photoshop. 

[chdlucas-blog]

The New Old Cavalry, Glostik Willy and Funky Junk to Headline The Vogue Theatre

Seven months ago, The Vogue Theatre put a call to action on Facebook; they needed bands to fill an event because a previously booked band pulled out at the last minute. Fans of the band Funky Junk immediately began posting, sharing and calling. As three local bands saw stars in their eyes, Bloomington based The New Old Cavalry, and Muncie based Glostik Willy, got together with Funky Junk and magic happened. Within an hour of sending an email, The Vogue responded, confirming that these three bands would take the bill, marking their biggest stage to date.

  With only a week to promote, friends and family pulled together utilizing social media, grassroots marketing and word of mouth to get as many people out as possible. As the night approached nobody knew what the turn out would be, least of all the venue. After the show, tickets were counted and in under a week these three local bands managed to draw over 500 people. The venue noticed, promoters noticed and the fans noticed.

  Seven months later, the boys are back, fueled by more time to promote, a larger fan base and their talents precisely honed and tuned in. The New Old Cavalry, coming off a summer tour, which included 60 gigs, many being weekend festivals, will be headlining the evening. Funky Junk will kick things off, keeping with last year’s tradition  of the youngest band playing first.  In-between will be heavy rockers Glostik Willy, just returning from gigs in New York and Philadelphia.

  This past week, I ran into Chandler Pickard, drummer and self made publicist of Funky Junk. We sat down, had a drink and discussed how things happened last time around and what to expect at this up-coming show on Friday November 1st.

  Chris: How did this event first take place?

  Chandler: Well, the event first happened because last March I believe, a band canceled at The Vogue and the venue put a call to action to fill the space and we saw it. We then hit up the New Old Cavalry and Glostik Willy, and we all had the night off. I then sent The Vogue an email, and within an hour they got back to us confirming that we could play that night, that’s how we got the gig.

  Chris: How much lead-time did you have before the gig was to take place?

  Chandler: Last time we had one week. So in one week we were able to get 500+ people out to the show utilizing social media and our friends and family to spread the word.

  Chris: Why is this event happening again?

  Chandler: Well it’s happening again because the last time all of our fans came out and supported us, with only one week to promote and with such a turn out the venue noticed and realized they had something. So they asked us to come out again roughly 7 months later, this time with more notice to better promote and hopefully we can double our numbers this year.

  Chris: How do you feel the first time this event took place increased your presence within the music scene in Indianapolis?

  Chandler: First and foremost, within 24 hours after the event we had over an additional 100 followers on our Facebook page and this allowed us to reach to more people then we ever had before as well as increase our rapport with other venues in Broad Ripple. Because of that show we now have played, and continue to play, at almost every bar in Broad Ripple.

  Chris: How are Funky Junk and the other two bands connected?

  Chandler: We are all bands from Indiana and we all play in similar circles. It was a combination of seeing them live before we were a band, and then them seeing us after we got started and friendships just kind of formed over the course of time.

  Chris: How did this event reinforce your friendship with these two bands?

  Chandler: It reinforced it because we all realized if we all work together that we are a really strong team, especially since we got so many people out in such a short time. Also more shows have formed since then because they think they can out drink us, but they’re getting older and we’re still the same age.

  Chris: So then are there any rivalries between the bands?

  Chandler: Yes, there is one and I don’t know if the public is aware of this but Funky Junk started a drinking competition. This competition goes that any band from Indiana can challenge the previously winning team, that currently being the New Old Cavalry, to a drink-off after a show to win our “world champion” belt back. Unfortunately New Old Cavalry has the belt now because they are cheaters and they cheat, but we let them win it last time because we felt bad. This drink-off is a tradition we started at the beginning of the summer, and we plan on winning the title back this Friday.

  Chris: So overall what are you most excited about and want people to know about this gig?

  Chandler: Over all what excites me the most is seeing local acts get back into The Vogue theatre. I really think that if us three bands work together and keep this going we can continue this tradition and turn it back into what it used to be. This involves seeing more local bands getting back into what is traditionally a nationally recognized theatre that typically only sees nationally touring bands. And really if anything else I just want people to feel the love I feel with these other great musicians from this area, because our community is a great big beautiful thing. The amount of love we get from the community makes us realize this even more.  The Indy music scene has a really cool thing going for it and I want to see it blossom and grow as much as possible.

  Again the event will take place this Friday, November 1st at The Vogue theatre. Doors open at 8pm, and Funky Junk is estimated to start around 9pm. Glostik Willy will play at 10pm, and The New Old Cavalry starting around 11pm. Each band is set get approximately one hour of stage time. Tickets are $5 and can be bought at the door and this is a 21+ event.

  **All photos property of Aaron Lingenfelter, Wide Aperture Images and FX Media Solutions, all rights reserved. Photos cannot be copied, used, or duplicated without the expressed permission of the photographer**

[chdlucas-blog]

50 posts!

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STS9 and Umphreys McGee - Review of Louisville and Indy

Sometimes getting back to ones roots is a great way to feel re-connected and rejuvenated with the music we love, that which is current in our lives and that which is no more. This past weekend I did a two-night run with Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) and Umphrey’s McGee- two bands that got me started down the path I currently walk today. I love STS9 and always have because they just have that way to get raw and weird with it. On the other hand, Umphrey’s is not my favorite band. They used to be my jam but as years have passed, my interests dwindled to other things. I’ve lost touch with them as a band, but I went into it with a very open mind, wholeheartedly ready to feel what all my UMPHfreak friends go nuts for.

  The Louisville Palace, a gem of a venue housed in what used to be an old Broadway theatre, was our destination for the evening and it was beautiful. The inside had vaulting ceilings adorned with carved faces of historical figures. Gold and red paint covered the walls and large staircases took patrons to the upper levels. The traditional theatre even had orchestral seating and a balcony with the ceiling boasting an imitation nighttime sky. Unfortunately, the security was pretty uptight at this show, considering the venue was probably half-full. Ticketholders absolutely had to stay in their exact designated seat.

  Umphrey’s opened their tour with an intense “Push The Pig” > “1348”. Their lighting was on point the whole night and the sound was phenomenal. The set’s highlight was the “Triple Wide” they seamlessly blended back into 1348 to end the show. STS9 started on time after setting up their intense lighting arrangement known as The Pyramid by avid fans. They opened with an awesome “Ramone & Emiglio” > “Moonsocket” and kept the heat coming all night long. My favorite moment of this night was the encore when Jake Cinninger came out and sat in for an instrumental version of “Sympathy For The Devil”, after which Tribe killed it with “When The Dust Settles”.

  When we awoke the next morning it was time to get the show on the road as we headed back to Indy for our hometown throw down. I couldn’t have been more excited to reconnect with these bands in the very venue that I first experienced them in years ago. We arrived to STS9 just in time to hear some of my favorite classic Tribe songs. As we got beers and walked to our meeting point, they busted into “Equinox” >” EHM” > “Inspire Strikes Back”, all back-to-back heavy hitters that just make you wanna dance your ass off. Their set felt a lot longer than it was, ending things with “Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist” and “20-12”.

  As quickly as STS9 were off, Umphrey’s was setting up against a beautifully backlit Indianapolis skyline. This venue always brings a smile to my face. It’s simple, it’s sweet, they don’t hassle you too much and you literally see every person you know in Indianapolis when you come to a show at WRSP. Umphrey’s closed their set with Dave Murphey sitting in on “Another Brick In The Wall”- the perfect way to end an amazing two-night run.