Just released for your musical pleasure, The Drop launches their final podcast of the year. What made the cut? Download it here!
Gudgel and I hit Vegas about Noon… Right after we stopped at the Mad Greek. (I was told, “You Have to check it out”) Checked in and got our badges for the expo. Immediately I was thrilled at the size and the scope of the event. We checked into the room at the Hilton (which was snazzy, Thanks Dave) and then the lounge for some munchies.
The big fun happened when Blog4Tix hooked us up with some tickets to the Blue Man Group. I’ve received tickets in the past for events and it’s usually a good time. I have to say this was a whole new level of amazing because we got 4th row center! Blue Man Group has always been a great act combining elements of humor and music together is a blend that is engaging and fun to watch. I don’t want to spoil the show but the production coordination on this show is really impressive. Music cues for chomping Cap’n’ Crunch, the talent to catch gumballs and marshmallows at such a rapid pace and black lights that change the experience in the blink of an eye.
The show is really interactive and wearing a poncho or rain slicker (depending which part of the country you’re in) there was real terror at every turn that we were going to be doused with something at any moment. The music was equal parts Explosions in the Sky and The World Inside – but with a twist of Gallagher, it’s on a different level. I’d highly recommend checking it out.
After the show we went to the Mirage Hotel for the Techset After party. Great location and the music was a lot of fun. I got to meet up with Julie Smith from ShareThis – I love this plug-in!!! ShareThis gives so much integration to a site with very little (if any) configuration. I’m using it on The Drop, Meet The Casting Director (an actors workshop lead by Jerold Franks, past president of The Casting Society of America and he also cast LOST) and it’s a part of the roll out of the new Union Rescue Mission website (Sept 30th)
Also at the party a new service Tagga just launched in August and I was really impressed with the team of Amielle and Ryan. It’s a mobile messaging service using SMS and I was wrapping my head around the possibilities last night. I fully plan on integrating it with my projects in the very near future.
Last great conversation happened with gooseGrade’s CEO John Brooks Pounders. gooseGrade (lowercase is intentional) is a grammar helper for guys like me. Misspellings and bad grammar is the norm (and I’m sorry) on my sites. gooseGrade is an easy way to fix the problem and make the blogger look good in the meantime. Check out the video here.
That’s day one… day two is shaping up nicely.
She’s been called the “voice” of Grey’s Anatomy and this week, Kate Havnevik, joins Dan for a conversation at The Hotel Cafe. Kate talks about her upcoming album, working with Guy Sigsworth and how she sees her music. Download it today!
The fall is fast approaching, and with The Fall – comes school. It would seem that every 10 months The Drop goes through some growing pains, and this fall is no different. Hitting the airwaves of your local college station will be the latest incarnation of THE DROP’s Radio Show. I’m particularly excited because with the latest update – I think we’ve ironed out so many of the kinks. From the delivery system to production it all seems to be well in hand. Additional staff have also been brought on to reinforce the site by publishing articles and as production assistants to help with the radio show and podcasts.
Specifically I’m excited about:
Being in Los Angeles this Fall! As the 2nd largest market, all the big tours stop here and with the amount of venues – it’s been a nice change from Market 116 in the country. Can’t wait for RADIOHEAD and SIGUR ROS!!
The selection – purely because of location the amount of choice for live shows on any given night is rather large.
A Great Team From Chris Wygal on the production and engineering side of things to some great writers like Amy Kaherl, Adam Bodine and the New England Hook up of Annie Bannana (her name is changed to protect the guilty).
What I’m still looking for:
The street with no name….. but I digress.
A Title Sponsor. This is the tricky one. Multiple stations across the country, a creative team to make and produce customized commercials, sponsorship of the podcast, the show and website – should be easy, right? Unfortunately no – this has been one of the tougher things I’ve encountered. Know someone? Is getting in on the bottom floor of an established music site with over 20,000 podcast downloads per month sound like it could make a difference in your bottom line than look no further. Shoot me an email or call the office (434.426.8523), I’m literally next to my phone.
Additional Writers. Interested? Send me a writing sample (or send me your blog url) and let me know why you are a great fit for THE DROP.
Record Companies looking to expose their latest and greatest. If you’re on a label and you want to get your bands on the show, send me your stuff. 556 S Fair Oaks Ave. Ste. 101 #318 Pasadena, CA 91104.
I think that’s about it.. I’m really excited to work with some really great people and very interested to hear from you… What are you looking forward to this fall? What shows? What record releases?
After enjoying HUGE success with their EP and thousands and thousands of digital downloads, the guys from Lynden are just getting into their rhythm. Coury Palermo from the band talks with Dan about their latest release, “The Act of Becoming”. Find out what the buzz is about, download it today!
