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PA/Keyboard Rental
At the Concert
Post-Concert CD Sales
Fundraising Tips
Create a mini tour
Shabbat and Kashrut
Extra Credit
Concert/Shabbaton Marketing Ideas
Publicity
Advertising
Pre-Concert CD Distribution Program
Community Involvement
PREPARING FOR A SAM GLASER EVENT
Thanks for making your event with Sam Glaser happen! Now comes the fun stuff. As Sam’s Director of Marketing, I am here to assist you in anyway that I can. We have compiled this list of frequently asked questions regarding the preparation for smooth and successful event. With 50+ cities in his itinerary each year, my job is to make sure that Sam is as comfortable as possible and that your job as producer of the show is simplified.
Sam’s solo equipment rental needs are outlined on the Solo Sound System Requirements section and band needs are on the Band Sound System Requirements section. The demands are exceedingly simple and any rental company or even a local pro musician should have the equipment. If the total charge is more than $350-500 for the average sized venue, feel free to have the rental organization call us so that we can negotiate. Please do not deviate from the keyboards on the enclosed list—it’s not only a matter of their adequacy, it is also a matter of Sam’s knowledge of their operation. He requests a tall keyboard stand because he often stands when he plays. A well tuned, maintained grand piano is also acceptable as long as it is located optimally and can be amplified with a pair of condenser microphones.
For solo shows, it is ideal to have a skilled operator on hand to run the system during the show. Many rental packages will include an engineer at no additional price. That said, if engineer charges are exorbitant, although it’s a bit less professional, Sam can run the PA if the mixing board is set up at the side of his keyboard and a soundman is present an hour before the show in order to acquaint him with the equipment. Make sure that the sound company has the system in place, wired up and plugged in an hour before the concert begins so that Sam can get his volume levels and make any last minute changes.
Sam’s band needs are more involved since a “backline” and more sophisticated PA are required. Still, it’s exactly what they need, without any fluff! A soundman is not optional for a band appearance. Let us know if there are any deviations from the list so that we can be prepared.
Kol Bamidbar musicals have their own Kol Bamidbar Sound System Requirements page. The KB Directors Notes that you should have already received have instructions to insure that the kids are heard and a skilled soundman will be kept very busy during these performances.
Before the show please arrange for a quiet dressing room at the venue where Sam can collect his thoughts, warm up, change, etc. Room temperature bottled water (16-20 oz. size is best) should be located both by his keyboard on stage and in his dressing room. And no, it doesn’t have to be Perrier!
When doing a longer show (over one hour), Sam prefers to take an intermission during which he can get off his feet and sign autographs at the sales table. In this case he typically plays a 50-minute first half, 15 minute intermission and a 40-minute second half. When he’s involving local choirs, he usually brings them up at the end of the set. In the case where you prefer a shorter “one act” show please let Sam know the approximate running time of the total set, including encores, so that he can plan the program accordingly.
You may choose to give Sam an index card with a list of those persons/organizations that he should thank at the end of the show.
Time permitting, Sam will stay on hand to autograph CDs and shmooze, often until the last person remains. He very much enjoys getting to know people, answering questions, or playing Jewish geography wherever he goes. After concerts he is often “wired” for several hours and in the evenings might enjoy going out on the town where it is not too loud or smoke filled.
Intermission and post-concert CD sales are a golden opportunities for you to encourage your community to “take home” the inspiration acquired during the concert. It is a fleeting chance to get them to listen to Jewish music, to internalize the messages in the music and to share the feeling with others. Please provide two capable volunteers and an eight-foot table at the location where people will most likely be exiting or shmoozing at intermission and after the show. At least one of the volunteers should be on hand a half hour prior to the show so Sam can brief him/her on his various CDs and credit card acceptance. It helps if you make an announcement at intermission and at the end of the concert that “Sam is autographing CD’s outside.” Receiving an autograph from Sam is strong incentive for them to take home a CD that night and from our experience, if they just take Sam’s brochure and wait to make an online purchase in the future, it usually never happens.
If your event is a fundraiser, the following ideas can help benefit the bottom line:
a. Print a program with ad sales and page sponsorships. Sam’s bio and CD titles and other information can be downloaded from his website. He usually customizes his choice of songs on the spot so he prefers not to provide the exact order in advance; simply indicate that “selections will be announced from the stage.”
b. Sell “Sponsor/Patron” tickets. Consider pricing select rows of seats for “Angels” who are helping with the fundraising. Sam is happy to attend VIP dessert receptions or the like as soon as he is finished autographing CD’s, schedule permitting.
c. Consider honoring a worthy teacher, benefactor or volunteer with a short presentation before the show. This can help with program book sponsorships as well as getting the honoree’s entire chevra out for the event.
d. Raffle donated door prizes at the conclusion of the event.
e. Sell food/drinks at intermission (perhaps donated home baked goods).
f. Establish an annual concert series: Initiate the sponsorship of the arts by acquiring a benefactor or an ad hoc Board of Directors to make a visible and redeeming annual gift to their community, perhaps in honor or in memory of someone.
g. Pursue education oriented grants that might be available both in the Jewish and community at large for edu-tainment-oriented programming.
If Sam’s schedule allows, you might consider using your contacts to line up additional singing/speaking engagements while Sam is in the region. We offer significant discounts for additional appearances and the various institutions involved can share Sam’s airfare/expenses. We also offer a 10% booking fee which can be used to offset the cost to your own institution. Think of any other synagogues, day and afternoon schools, retirement communities, teen groups, teachers, singles, etc. that might like their own chance to say Hineni!
Regarding dietary needs, Sam keeps kosher and eats in kosher households and restaurants. When these aren’t available, although he’s quite carnivorous, he becomes a vegetarian on the road and is satisfied with kosher bagels, salads, fruit plates, tuna and the like. Regular supermarkets are jammed with kosher items. In other words, please don’t go to too much trouble. For breakfast he’s fine with cereal (most have kosher certification) and cut up fruit. He doesn’t like eggs or coffee.
Sam avoids things like microphones, cars, elevators, etc. during Shabbat. Over Shabbat he sings a capella and will not play instruments. An option in the summer months is conducting Kabbalat Shabbat before Shabbat actually begins; Sam will use intstruments until eighteen minutes before sundown Friday and cannot start a concert until there are three stars in the sky on Saturday night.
Thank you for providing Sam the privacy of a hotel when he is on the road. Of course, he will graciously accept home hospitality if it is the only alternative. He prefers quiet, private room with a quality bed, preferably a double or queen (he’s 6’3”!). No fold out couches or basements, please. When he travels with his band it is ideal to give each member his own room.
For home hospitality over Shabbat in a non Shomer Shabbat household, please have the host call Sam to arrange for a few amenities to make keeping the Sabbath easier.
When there is extra time while Sam is in town, he loves to see the sights, take hikes, workout, shop, etc. Feel free to give him the “grand tour.” He will rarely refuse massages, jacuzzis and chiropractic adjustments.
When Sam travels solo and if your budget allows, he loves to bring along one of his kids or his wife.
CONCERT/SHABBATON MARKETING IDEAS
Publicity is crucial for events that are open to the public. Filling your hall is based on building as big a “buzz” as possible. Publicity takes some legwork, but compared with advertising rates, it’s practically free! A typical publicity campaign usually consists of:
1) Flyers sent home with students, inserted into bulletins and placed around synagogue, JCC, etc.
2) Posters posted in key areas, including neighboring Jewish organizations, markets, restaurants, etc. Feel free to make your own or take advantage of the four-color downloadable tour poster available on our website. Simply drag or copy and paste the hi-res jpeg image to a folder. Have whomever creates your flyers import the image onto an 11x17 document and then add event details such as time, location, prices of tickets and sponsor acknowledgement. Bring the finished file to a copy shop that can output both 8.5x11 and 11x17 color copies
3) Jewish or Regional Religious radio/cable TV (if available). Send press releases to DJs and offer the possibility for interview or broadcast of event. If possible, play Sam’s music on your organization’s phone lines during hold time.
4) Press releases to local Jewish and secular press. We have a sample press release which you can easily customize. Give all pertinent data and Sam’s bio and direct staff writers to Sam’s website for more information. Bear in mind that deadlines for monthly publications are often several months in advance. Don’t overlook the secular press…there are often religion sections in city papers that are hungry for heartwarming stories! Sam is happy to grant interviews by phone or skype.
5) Web/email alerts - place notice on your website, include links to Sam’s site, and send out weekly emails to build anticipation.
6) Facebook posts every few days on organization page and ask all to repost on their own pages. Also post as an Event and invite all constituents. We will also post/link on FB and include in our monthly Living Inspired newsletter.
Typically, ads are placed in local Jewish papers and small regional papers starting about a month before the show. The size of the ad generally reflects the amount of prestige that you want the event to carry in comparison with the other ads on the page. Yes, it costs money to make money. Other options include buying placement on websites frequented by the potential audience, buying radio air time and preparing PSA announcements for local cable TV and radio broadcast.
Pre-Concert CD Distribution Program
Sam’s interactive concerts are heightened when audiences come to the show with his songs on their lips. When his CD’s are spinning in their homes, offices, carpools, it greatly increases awareness and anticipation of the event. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of our “Pass it On” campaign, where we send a prepack of 50 of Sam’s ten Jewish CD’s at our distributor price of $7.50 each ($375 total). The idea is that you remove the shrink wrap, print with a Sharpie “Pass it On” on each CD cover and give them away to key people in the community with a note that they should be shared. Any remaining can be placed in the library or given to sponsors. This campaign virtually guarantees greater participation and “sends home” the messages in the music. Synagogue gift shops also can choose to order merchandise to stock in advance from among the titles that are on the website, enjoying the same discount. Sam usually brings with him sufficient quantities to sell at the show. Those CD’s purchased before the show for this pre-concert distribution are intended for the pre-show program and we prefer for them not to be sold at the show.
Other than the “Pass it On” pre sales campaign, we recommend a few ways of involving more of the community. Sam’s music appeals to all ages and movements in Judaism. We invite you to perceive this concert as an excellent outreach opportunity which will enable you to invite other local synagogues across the denominational spectrum. For daytime shows, consider encouraging various senior or children’s groups to attend. If there are local children’s or adult choirs, have them learn some of the songs from the Sam Glaser Songbook or his Kol Haneshama Choral book. Sam welcomes the local chazzanim to join him for a number, especially if they choose to learn one of their favorites from his CDs. Also, if there is an accomplished local musician or band that might enjoy sitting in for a tune, Sam is happy to call them up. Getting people on stage gives them a peak experience and guarantees they show up! Ticket sales can be augmented by giving students books of tickets to sell or distribute, with an incentive for selling the most tickets. Also, enlisting volunteers to serve as ushers, help with ticket sales, CD sales, foodservice and publicity involves more people and thereby creates more of a “buzz” about the show.
Solo Performance Sound System Requirements
1) two dynamic mics on boom stands, ie. EV 757, Shure Beta 58, SM 58
2) two house speakers adequate for the size of the hall, on tripods, set as wide as possible and slightly behind keyboard setup (which is front and center) so that they are audible at the keyboard without creating feedback.
3) two floor wedge stage monitors at 45 degree angle, 6 ft. away from the performer
4) amps with sufficient ability to drive house and monitor system in stereo
5) stereo mixing board with ample EQ, digital reverb unit
6) A 76-88 note weighted keyboard with tall X stand or USS Apex stand and full size sustain pedal. Suggested models in order of brand preference are:
Yamaha S-90ES ,S-90XS,CP4, S-90, S-80, Motif ES8, Motif 8, MOXF8, P250, P255
Kurzweil PC3X, PC2X, PC88, K2600X, K2500X, K2500
Korg Kronos 88, Krome 88, SGproX, M3-88, SG-1
Roland FA-08, JUNO-DS88, VR-O9, Fantom X8, S88, RD-800, RD 700SX, RD 300SX, FP-80, RD-170, RD-600, RD-500
Alesis QS8, DG8
If a recently tuned, well maintained grand piano is available, please insure that it is mic’d with a PAIR of condenser mics on boom stands.
7) all required cables, DI boxes, etc. to run the keyboard in stereo through the house and monitor speakers
8) 1/8" iPhone audio cable patched into stereo direct box, placed at keyboard.
8) dressing room with 2 16-20oz. bottles of water and 2 16-20oz. bottles of water on stage. Pareve kosher snacks/fruit/veggies are appreciated.
Call Marcia Baron at Glaser Musicworks to discuss further details:
1-800-972-6694
Band Sound System Requirements
•P.A. System
1) Mics: three dynamic vocal mics on boom stands, kick, snare, stereo overhead mics for drums, mic for guitar amp. If choir, horn section or percussion is added please provide appropriate mics for each.
2) house speakers adequate for the size of the hall, if outdoors, include subwoofers and insure stage is completely shaded from the sun throughout the day.
3) 4-6 stage monitors, two separate monitor mixes
4) amps with sufficient ability to drive house and monitor system
5) minimum 24 channel stereo mixing board, digital reverb, graphic EQ, digital delay
6) direct boxes for keyboards (in stereo) and bass
7) all necessary patch cords for system
8)
A 76-88 note weighted keyboard with tall X stand or USS Apex stand and full size sustain pedal. Suggested models in order of brand preference are:
Yamaha S-90ES ,S-90XS,CP4, S-90, S-80, Motif ES8, Motif 8, MOXF8, P250, P255
Kurzweil PC3X, PC2X, PC88, K2600X, K2500X, K2500
Korg Kronos 88, Krome 88, SGproX, M3-88, SG-1
Roland FA-08, JUNO-DS88, VR-O9, Fantom X8, S88, RD-800, RD 700SX, RD 300SX, FP-80, RD-170, RD-600, RD-500
Alesis QS8, DG8
•Backline (not necessary for shows using local musicians)
1) Keyboard amp
2) Guitar amp (prefer Line 6 or Marshall)
3) Bass head and speaker: (SWR Goliath/SM900, Eden, or GK)
4) 5 piece drum kit (cymbals will be provided by drummer)
•Amenities
1) dressing room
2) bottled water in dressing room and on stage, 16-20oz size.
3) assorted pareve kosher snacks/fruit/veggies
Please call Sam Glaser at Glaser Musicworks to discuss further details (800) 972-6694
Kol Bamidbar Sound System Requirements
1) two dynamic mics on boom stands, ie. EV 757, Shure Beta 58, SM 58
2) two house speakers adequate for the size of the hall, on tripods, set as wide as possible and slightly behind keyboard setup (which is front and center) so that they are audible at the keyboard without creating feedback.
3) two floor wedge stage monitors at 45 degree angles 6 ft. in front of keyboard
4) amps with sufficient ability to drive house and monitor system in stereo
5) stereo mixing board with ample EQ, digital reverb unit
6) A 76-88 note weighted keyboard with tall X stand or USS Apex stand and full size sustain pedal. Suggested models in order of brand preference are:
Yamaha S-90ES ,S-90XS,CP4, S-90, S-80, Motif ES8, Motif 8, MOXF8, P250, P255
Kurzweil PC3X, PC2X, PC88, K2600X, K2500X, K2500
Korg Kronos 88, Krome 88, SGproX, M3-88, SG-1
Roland FA-08, JUNO-DS88, VR-O9, Fantom X8, S88, RD-800, RD 700SX, RD 300SX, FP-80, RD-170, RD-600, RD-500
Alesis QS8, DG8
7) all required cables, DI boxes, etc. to run the keyboard in stereo through the house and monitor speakers
8) 1/8" iPhone audio cable patched into stereo direct box, placed at keyboard.
9) dressing room with 2 16-20oz. bottles of water and 2 16-20oz. bottles of water on stage. Pareve kosher snacks/fruit/veggies are appreciated.
10) choir risers ample for the number of participants, side fill monitors for choir, 2-6 condenser mics on boom stands
Call Marcia Baron at Glaser Musicworks to discuss further details:
1-800-972-6694
Thank You!
It’s people like you that make Sam’s world go around. Thank you for all your effort and love. Don’t hesitate to let me know about any concerns. Email is the best way to get our attention.
Looking forward to an awesome event!
Sincerely,
Marcia Baron, Director of Marketing, Glaser Musicworks
marcia@samglaser.com
800-972-6694