Our View

Our View
In Old Towne Ridgecrest

Monday, July 24, 2006

It Was A Hot Hit!

Yeah, it was toasty...and considering all of mother nature's challenges, it was a great event. Of course I am talking about the Small Business Expo, put on by the Swap Sheet, the Ridgecrest Chamber and Hometown Radio 92-7 The Coyote! There were over 100 vendors sweating it out and I'm not sure of the total head count for attendance but we had a lot of folks brave the icky, steamy halls to check out what Ridgecrest has to offer in small businesses.

I'm SO glad we did it and can't wait to do it again. We are working on trying to find either a way to cool it off at the halls there or find a cooler place. The only thing that makes that tough? It's been great for the small businesses so we need a place air conditioned and big enough to hold over 100 vendors. We'll get it figured out so that we can raise attendance even more.

From noon til 3 Sara was down at Ashley Furniture Homestore, giving away another $2500 in furniture and this week it's the big finale with $5,000 in furniture. The cool technical part of that is that we were doing two remotes simultaneously! Cellular technology rocks for radio.

A couple of last notes as we get our noses back to the grindstone...one I would like to throw out a giant shout out to John at I-Rock for bringing us a present, or make that two presents....so that little power surges like we had this morning won't take us off the air. I-Rock? Nope, John YOU rock.

AND, we would like to welcome our newest staff members. Shila, our intern extrordinaire and Dave Larson our new Sales Executive. He's coming soon to a business near you. Dave is very active in the community including being on the Lions Club Board.

More later!

-Eric

Friday, July 21, 2006

Are We There Yet?

One of our goals, when we came over here, was to eventual make everyone say, "man you guys are everywhere!". Not sure if we are there yet, but we have something going on almost every single weekend from now through October here in the Valley, and our plan is to be there. To sweeten the pot a little is being an Old Towne Ridgecrest business. The difference between working for a regional station and actually being here is that we participate in these events at no cost to the merchants here because, simply, we are one of them. I have to tell you, that during the Summer Stroll, we haven't felt that validated as a community radio station as we did that night. Not monetarily, but just on a community basis. A lot of small market owners would say we are nuts by not attaching strings that would make us money, but my philosophy has always been to by intertwining yourself in the community gets you two things. First more listeners, because they will always want to know what's going on, and then of course advertisers will follow because you are a happening place that people tune into for the community.

The final part of this radio equation is that you can actually do things like get normal people who might not participate in the activities of BEING a small community interested in something to better the community. Everyone wins. This is not, I repeat, NOT a theory. I have seen it work. Back in Texas, and yes, here in Ridgecrest. I think if there was one thing I missed being down the street, over the last several years was not keeping this plan in motion. And worst of all about that, was that it is not just possible in one community, but in all that you cover. Is it hard work? Damn right it is. Is it rewarding? You bet.

convoluted and wordy as it was, I am hoping that the community that is the Indian Wells Valley will get out and support the Small Business Expo this weekend. It will validate you as a member of the community and validate the people who make this place tick everyday. Whether we actually see it in action or not.

Plus you can win some cool prizes. (ok....I will appeal to a different sensibility if the other stuff didn't work)

-Eric

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

I'm Ready To Kick This Thing In The Butt...

Well, not that we don't try to kick butt daily here, but you know you've been there too. A little complacency sets in. The whole fat and happy thing. You drop off your game a little. It's amazing, doing this "boutique" style (as they say in L.A.) the domino effect that happens when you kick it in gear. The Small Business Expo is a perfect example. We have come through many crossroads on our little radio adventure, and so far, mostly correct turns. This was certainly one of them. I was proud when Peggy, who owns the Swap Sheet asked us to join in. It's our first year, and I don't know necessarily that we pulled our weight, but we're trying. But it has been not just an business opportunity but has openend up new lines of communication. Not with just the goal of making more money, but for us to become a better business at meeting the needs of the community. All of the small business owners giving us feedback about THEIR businesses. We're all fighting together.

You know, I have been accused on occasion of having a "Pollyana-esk" view on things when it comes to small town life, but I really believe a community, or groups within a community are capable of working together and doing great things. This expo is a perfect example of that. The Old Towne Stroll was that way. By the way, Old Towne is really buzzing these days. Again, the domino effect. The turnout that night was nice enough, but the impression it has left with the public in Ridgecrest, is that it is becoming a "happening" place.

Onto our powerful and efficient AM station. Foxtalk 1360 has finally entrenched itself as a radio staple for TalkRadio fans here in the IWV. Our outside the Valley coverage has been a real plus. We're doing a little more technical work right now so we are covering a little more than the Valley, but when we get things back up to snuff, our daytime coverage is Lone Pine to Palmdale, Tehachapi to Barstow and Victorville. I have been astonished. Bottom line? We will STILL only cater to the IWV. Local local local. Well and Rush Limbaugh doesn't hurt.

We hit a little speed bump with our sports coverage. We are taking a pass on BHS football. We had big plans, but the school wouldn't (or couldn't) go with one station, so we took the high road, for our advertisers. That is such a limited audience, it is just not fair to divide that up. It would have meant a premium price for limited reach. It was borderline that way anyway. Two radio stations would have really watered it down. I'm at peace with our decision. Kim and I talked a long time about this. I couldn't let ego get in the way of smart business and looking out for our clients.

Speaking of which. I plan a long winded diatribe about why radio is different (and in some ways more difficult) because we have two uniquely different customer bases.

More on that later. I'm activating the cooling center in my brain now.

-Eric

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Celebrate your Liberty

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

On Tuesday we will celebrate our Nations Birthday. In July 1776 the Continental Congress courageously voted to declare independence from Great Britain.
The "Declaration of Independence" not only declared our freedom from English rule but it also set fourth many of the ideals important to our nation today.

The Fourth of July for me is a celebration of Patriotism as well as a celebration of everything that is summer. Coney Island will host the 91st "Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest." Major League, Minor League and backyard baseball games will be played, fireworks will light up the sky and many sunburns will be earned. In Ridgecrest we are fortunate to have a community celebration at the Desert Empire Fairgrounds. Each year the Lions Club and Knights of Columbus work together to bring our Valley a fantastic fireworks show funded by donations from businesses, individuals and service groups. There will be great food, live music and games from the Southern Sierra Boys and Girls Club. Eric has produced the background music for the fireworks and you can hear it live at the fairgrounds or on your FM dial at 92.7, beginning at about 9pm. Fritz and I will be live at the fairgrounds so I encourage you to come out and enjoy the festivities.

As we celebrate our Nation's Birth, we should also take a moment to reflect on the brave men and women who have fought and died to protect the liberty our fore fathers worked so hard for. Please remember their families as you celebrate with yours.

~Sara