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| Would you actively promote DIO in your local area? |
| Yes |
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75% |
[ 15 ] |
| No |
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25% |
[ 5 ] |
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| Total Votes : 20 |
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Voice of Reason
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 278
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 Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:51 pm Post subject: North American Woes |
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In recent interviews, I have heard Ronnie James Dio lament about the current touring and promotion situation in North America. This is not the 1980s. Musical genres have fractured and multiplied in the past two decades which probably accounts for the waning classic metal market. Nonetheless, I feel the fans could help DIO. We could do our part to guarantee successful show turn-outs which would increase the likelihood of more frequent North American tours.
KISS introduced the “KISS Army” and enlisted its legions to do grassroots promotions on their behalf. Megadeth introduced its “Street Teams” to do the same type of promotional work on their behalf. Both of these fan-based organizations have been successful.
Why doesn’t DIO introduce a fan-based project to distribute flyers at record stores, hang up small posters in commercial areas, call radio stations, etc?
First, the organization would need a catchy name. Then management could provide online downloads of flyers to maintain control over the promotional quality. Volunteers print copies and take to the streets with staplers in hand. Specific regional volunteers could be mailed small posters to hang up in the weeks before the scheduled events in their local areas. Volunteers could be provided with a scripted suggestion detailing what to discuss when calling local radio stations. All of this would be practically free for DIO. It would be cheap, easy, and effective.
If you vote yes in the poll, post a comment indicating your local area.
If we could get enough volunteers, we could "make" Holymagica forward on this request.  |
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Peaceman
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 248
Location: Akron, Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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Heh look at Iron Maiden in the USA in the 80's... NO AIRPLAY and they made bank.... I think their largest gig was in california like 100k peeps. (was multiple bands tho i think)
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Holymagica
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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Voice of Reason
Thanx alot....David Coverdale....gives a good answer to that in his new interview...on his website...now I know his website is a nightmare regarding finding things...check out the FEATURES section.
VOR....We don't have a problem with music promoters booking Dio for UK.....thats all you need is for a USA promoter to have the balls to risk it....you don't need folks on the streets...if the tickets go on sale they will sell,but you need your local music promoter to bring Dio to your local city.
I vote yes...but I ain't standing on any street corner... you get arrested for that in Scotland
http://whitesnake.com/goldsite/index2.html
Last edited by Holymagica on Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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DevinMacGregor
The Cap'n
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 2195
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Peaceman wrote: |
| Heh look at Iron Maiden in the USA in the 80's... NO AIRPLAY and they made bank.... I think their largest gig was in california like 100k peeps. (was multiple bands tho i think) |
What do you mean? I heard them all the time on KMET 94.7 and then KNAC 105.5
They were on MTV with the rest of the metal maniacs as well as on the network channel (free over the airwaves) video shows. They produce many videos for airplay. Number of the Beast, Flight of Icarus, Run to the Hills, etc.
KMET used to play entire just released albums. I believe they played Piece of Mind when it was released. I wish I recorded it. I recorded Last in Line.
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Rockerbob
Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Posts: 870
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:09 am Post subject: |
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Devin, I used to listen to KMET and KNAC as well as KLOS. LA used to have killer radio stations.
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Nurse Ratched
Joined: 29 Jun 2006
Posts: 1033
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:07 am Post subject: |
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| Rockerbob wrote: |
| Devin, I used to listen to KMET and KNAC as well as KLOS. LA used to have killer radio stations. |
I will never forget when KNAC went metal. I was like 15 or something and my friend said, "check out this station." Quiet riot was playing at the time and every song they played I was like, "holy shit!" That was the greatest station for Heavy Metal ever. And you're right, Iron Maiden did get a lot of air play in those days, as did Dio. (I grew up in H.B.)
The ? is, how do you get the promoters to book Dio? If they are the problem, what do we do?
"A little bit of heaven 94.7, KMET, tweedle-dee"
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Holymagica
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:09 am Post subject: |
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diodreams
Remember I am in UK
So I don't know how the market works there,
Look at your local venue....see who is putting on the event,
Get in touch with a local promoter,ask them why they are not booking Dio.
Dio will have an agent in the USA.
The thing is....Dio Management are smarter than me,
So they may have already did this in the past,a 1000 times,
Where its known to all all the promoters that Dio is available to tour,but if the USA promoters don't get on board early enough,they could be missing out as the offers from all around the world come in for Dio to perform in their country,I bet Dio would love to tour the USA,but if no one comes forward,then how can he put on a show.Someone has to take a risk...I know how you feel
There was a band....that I was trying to bring to Scotland,and all the band wanted was expenses paid,but I could not book the venue for the dates they had. 
I really wish....I could help...but I don't know anyone on music and events promotions in the USA. |
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Voice of Reason
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 278
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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The touring problem in the USA is not limited to the unwillingness of promoters to book DIO. Promoters book bands that sell tickets. If a band isn’t selling enough tickets for the venues in which they play, then it is not in the promoter’s best economic interest to focus enormous amounts of energy into getting the band booked. I have no interest in throwing a wrench into the free-market capitalist machine. In the entertainment industry, money talks and everything else walks. However, there are times when ingenuity and grassroots efforts can work within the system to achieve desired goals.
Small bands micromanage their own tours by formulating their desired touring schedule, booking their own gigs, and promoting themselves through a network of business associates and fans. Is there some law that prevents DIO from approaching a North American tour in this fashion? Wouldn’t that overcome the disadvantage of less than zealous American promoters?
Then the real problem lies with the fact that DIO does not sell out shows. The band has millions of fans in North America, but they are not heavily promoted when they come to town. That’s why I believe a fan-based organization could help with getting the word out before the show. That would translate into actual ticket sales.
As the headlining act, DIO sold out some US venues on the Magica tour. Most of those venues had seating capacities ranging from 500 to 1500, on average. To my knowledge, the last time DIO sold out a North American show was in 2002.* It was a Canadian show featuring DIO and Voivod. No disrespect to DIO because I love the band with a passion, but anyone can sell out a Canadian show if Voivod is on the bill. Voivod is like crack to Canadians. I say these things to illustrate the fact that its not a matter of just booking the shows; people have to buy the tickets. People don’t buy the tickets in the USA because lots of people never even hear about the shows.
This entire poll/thread is merely an indication of my personal desire to see some quality metal shows. I believe in the value of volunteerism because it has the power to bring people together to combine their efforts and achieve great things. Next week, I will be plastering this town with Gigantour 2006 flyers for Megadeth. It’s the least I can do, and I would gladly do it for DIO in the Southeastern Virginia area if they ever decide to take this approach.
If you want a metal scene, you have to support the metal scene.
*If I am incorrect about ticket sales statistics, I will gladly admit it. |
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DevinMacGregor
The Cap'n
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 2195
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Rockerbob wrote: |
| Devin, I used to listen to KMET and KNAC as well as KLOS. LA used to have killer radio stations. |
Yeah it used to and that is greatly sad because that was how we heard about concerts. Who hears about them anymore? If it were not for the internet how many of us would know that any of these bands are still playing? I am shocked if I ever hear a blurp on the radio promoing a concert.
LA is the second largest media market in the US behind NY and yet WhereTF are our metal stations at? Buttloads of spanish ones. And what is that one out in IE? They have mandatory metallica. Ok posers that was KNAC when KNAC was a real radio station here in SoCal and that was back when Metallica was not huge. So I bet if we go back to the 80s Jimbo proabably was a Duran Duran freak. KLOS is still around but it doesn't sound like it used to. KLOS was largely 70s Hard rock while KMET played 70s Hard Rock and 80s Metal. KNAC was an all Metal channel.
In the 80s I remember hearing constantly when concerts were coming. Rock magazines had pull out sections of entire tours of ALL the legs. You could look at 9 months or more of tour dates.
Ronnie is not the only one to say this but others have said that record companies are not giving out promo money like they used to so the artist lacks the cash to do what was done back in the 80s.
When I was at the MOTM Greek Theatre show before the show I walked down the hill to the golf course to get something to eat and I passed a couple walking. They asked me who was playing tonight. When I said Dio the guy looked at me and said, Ronnie James Dio from Rainbow? I said yes. His reply was, Oh he is still performing?
But that to me brings up another sad fact. The fact that many as they get older see rock in general as a kids thing so they believe that to do the adult family guy mature thing they have to give that up. Please no one tell me they have 10 kids and still rock out. We are exceptions at this site. Average Joe Sixpack is watching cartoon network with his kids after a hard days work and any metal albums he had were most likely collecting dust in some closet or were sold at a garage sale because junior needed braces.
So yes fans can't buy tickets if they do not know a concert exists. I missed the Dehumanizer tour and that was then. I do not remember hearing it being advertised at all other that to say hey I want to see them when they come through and someone telling me oh they already came through. Shit. I saw Iron Maiden, Dio and WASP back in 98 sometime or 99. That was at Universal's Amp now called Gibson Amp. I had no idea WASP was even around anymore till I saw who was on the bill.
Grassroots campaign may be the only way to increase awareness to increase ticket sales. So yeah the Fan Club could do this and simply have volunteers in different regions who go out and pass out flyers or what not. Hell Diane Feinstein just called me so why not Ronnie. What does a calling poll like that cost? Hi I am Ronnie James Dio. I am playing at the XYZ club on such and such at such and such.
We couldnt call the group Rainbow Bridge or something since rainbow today has a different connotation. Holy Divers? Dio's Holy Divers. Ok maybe maybe not.
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Nurse Ratched
Joined: 29 Jun 2006
Posts: 1033
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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There's also a lot to be said about the fact that Clear Channel bought out most, if not al of the good stations in so cal and ruined them. They fired all of the top DJ's so they could pay idiots to do the job. I saw this happen to my ex. He toured with Ronnie on the Holy Diver and Last in Line tours, and created Metal Shop I believe when he worked at KLOS. That is how I got "in" with Ronnie. But when Clear Channel bought the last station he worked at, it went to shit and he couldn't find work.
There are still a couple DJ's your hear that are still around, but they don't have the freedom to play what they want. They are told what to play.
I don't know how much that has to do with Dio not playing, but I would do anything to get them back here. Just let me know and sign me up.
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agentalbert
Joined: 27 Sep 2004
Posts: 606
Location: San Antonio, TX
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:09 am Post subject: |
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I think radio sucks. I stopped listening around the time I got my first CD player in a car. I would bet I've listened to less than 30 minutes of FM radio in the last 5 years. The sound quality sucks, the song selection sucks, the commercials suck.
I've got a better cd collection than the playlist of any radio station I know of, so I can always find something I want to hear without having to bother with them. FM radio can go to the dustbin of history.
And the influence of FM radio has substantially declined to the point that I'm not sure radio support is as important as it used to be. The internet is the more important frontier. |
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Holymagica
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:29 am Post subject: |
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Voice of Reason
You are right with much what you said,
| Quote: |
| If you want a metal scene, you have to support the metal scene. |
I know from my own experiences with fans in Europe,who are into genres of music,that America does not seem to enjoy as much as Europe like Folk/Viking ~ Gothic ~Orchestral/Symphonic ~ Power ~ Progressive Metal,but these fans...do cross over and do buy the Heavy/Traditional Metal cds as well.The word gets about pretty quick in the UK,when Dio is heading to our shores,you would also be surprised how quickly other music forums let there members know of a Tour as well,I know with my group of friends,there is sometimes between 10-25 of us buying tickets right away,then you have digi radio stations like Arrow,Classic Rock,Kerrang pick up on this news really quick as well,then you have digi TV with channels like Scuzz and Kerrang and their websites spreading the news as well,and the mags doing the same thing,Holland,Germany and most of Northern Europe is very much the same as UK with the same kind of radio stations,tv shows and mags,I take my hat off to you VOR for working so hard to let folks know about Metal Bands in your area,but then you look at the size of America 
And the size of Europe there is 60 million in UK alone,around 70 odd million in Germany,thats just 2 places and we are talking about getting nearer the numbers in America but I can travel to Germany in less than a couple of hours,I don't think I could travel from East Coast of the US to the West in that time,there is a massive change needed in the America media,and maybe the VOR will not have stand out in the rain with flyers anymore,I wish you,the best of luck,becoz I am sort of going through the same kind of thing myself in Scotland trying to get certain bands here,I would love to see the likes of Epica playing in Scotland,but they would never sellout here,seems only the bands like Nightwish,Lacuna Coil can do that just now,so I have to travel to Europe,which is always a pleasure anyway,but the again the distances are nothing like the distances in North America.
Fingers crossed for VOR...that you do get to see Dio soon,but only after he's been to Scotland first  |
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DevinMacGregor
The Cap'n
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 2195
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:59 am Post subject: |
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| diodreams wrote: |
There's also a lot to be said about the fact that Clear Channel bought out most, if not al of the good stations in so cal and ruined them. They fired all of the top DJ's so they could pay idiots to do the job. I saw this happen to my ex. He toured with Ronnie on the Holy Diver and Last in Line tours, and created Metal Shop I believe when he worked at KLOS. That is how I got "in" with Ronnie. But when Clear Channel bought the last station he worked at, it went to shit and he couldn't find work.
There are still a couple DJ's your hear that are still around, but they don't have the freedom to play what they want. They are told what to play.
I don't know how much that has to do with Dio not playing, but I would do anything to get them back here. Just let me know and sign me up. |
KNAC came on the scene in 1986. I had already gone in the Army. KMET used to have a solid block one day a week of emetal. I believe Sunday night. Like a headbangers Ball. Lucifer LaRock was a character played that would introduce new tracks at times. When I came home I flipped to 94.7 and heard The Wave. WTF did my Mighty Met of Southern California go? The music was music you sleep to. WTF. I asked around about what happened. Rumors of they were smoking pot on the air and got caught conspiracy theories. Years later I read that the owner decided after KNAC came out that the market for Hard Rock was not big enough of both of them and the format was changed. KMET changed pre 1989 before I got out and I believe the actual date they became the Wave was right after KNAC come on the scene. KNAC went off the air in 1995 I believe and the last song they played was Fade to Black. MTV had already largely stopped playing metal videos by then.
Now I have only heard of clear channel in more recent years. And no I think radio is a format that still can be used. Even that piped in music that cable and satellite TV has. My nephews asked me one day if I had certain bands and I looked at them asking how do you know about them because they were not getting airplay on the regular radio.
Regular radio could still be used. I mean gee they take away a metal station and people just walk away so since no one screams the suits see no money in it. People have to get active and march to get what they want. Or we get Jimbo that acts like he is hard.
Satellite radio would be better since it can be tailored to the users tastes etc. Not to mention it is paid by the one listening.
The Internet is an excellent source but not everyone is glued to the damn thing. Most people are not internet junkies. If they are they may not be looking for music at all.
I had a cassette player in my car and I did take around no less than a 48 case even for a 10 minute trip but I did listen to the radio a lot as well. Once KNAC was gone there was nothing to listen to. I stopped watching live radio, aka MTV when they started doing that real world crap and wanted to be a network shows channel. They are also part responsible in getting people to blast the 80s so we would embrace their 90s format. Make devils of the old gods so one can say their god is cool.
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The Cap'n
Sons of Griogair
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Voice of Reason
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 278
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:20 am Post subject: |
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| DevinMacGregor wrote: |
| But that to me brings up another sad fact. The fact that many as they get older see rock in general as a kids thing so they believe that to do the adult family guy mature thing they have to give that up. Please no one tell me they have 10 kids and still rock out. We are exceptions at this site. Average Joe Sixpack is watching cartoon network with his kids after a hard days work and any metal albums he had were most likely collecting dust in some closet or were sold at a garage sale because junior needed braces. |
Calculated targeting of a select demographic is called for in any promotional program. The average metal audience I see is white, male, and approximately 40 years old. They have cut their long hair to gain entrance into decent professions. We could reach that particular market by posting flyers on bulletin boards at Barnes and Noble, Blockbuster, Lowes, Home Depot, department stores, grocery stores, auto parts stores, etc. To reach the younger generation, we could post flyers at college campuses, Starbuck’s, record stores, malls, etc. To hit all members of the population, telephone poles at intersections work well. Physically handing out flyers is a waste of time and money because you never know who will be walking down the street at any given time. Some eighty year old lady on the sidewalk will just clutch her pocketbook, give you a strange look, and throw it in the trash. However, handing them out after other rock/metal concerts works well.
Holymagica - This chick has enough sense to own an umbrella, but I dont have to stand out in the rain to do my part.
| DevinMacGregor wrote: |
| We couldnt call the group Rainbow Bridge or something since rainbow today has a different connotation. Holy Divers? Dio's Holy Divers. Ok maybe maybe not. |
Funny. I was thinking about the same thing. Its difficult to coin a name that flows with DIO. DIO’s Stargazers sounds cool to me. Then the regional leaders could be called Wizards, regardless of gender. I know that sounds hilarious, but I would love to be called a Wizard. Actually, I think DIO should choose the name and coordinate/govern the program. That way there would be uniformity in terms of quality control. I don’t think you should have to be a fan club member to be a volunteer, either. No offense, but some of those fan club members seem mentally deranged based on their behaviors in this forum.
So far there are 10 people who would volunteer. Ten people equals ten cities and outlying areas. That would be a start.
Oh yeah, have a nice weekend, people!  |
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Holymagica
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:25 am Post subject: |
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VOR
Hey I know you are smart''chick'',
I was just being dramatic with my words....
Anyway umbrellas are for wimps. 
Same to you have a good one! |
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