Today is the start of a new era on my music journey. I have a promo video!
When I approach venue owners and talent bookers who are unfamiliar with my work, they usually ask for something they can listen to. This 60-second video gives them an idea what I sound like, tells them what I do, where they can go to hear more and how to contact me to discuss scheduling gigs.
I considered splicing together some clips from iPhone videos taken by friends at various shows. After all, during the last dozen years or so of my newspaper career, I shot and edited a fair amount of video; came to enjoy the process, in fact. But virtually all of the video of me performing was static, and despite my experience editing news videos, I am no professional.
So I took the recommendation of a friend and hired Raphael Rodolfi, who owns and operates Videogenique. Marketing videos are part of his business.
We exchanged messages, and by the time we talked for the first time, he already had researched my Facebook page, YouTube channel and website. He asked a lot of well-informed questions. I was impressed. We discussed what I wanted to do, he offered suggestions and asked me to draft a script. Then we set up the time to shoot.
Raphael used multiple cameras, some stationary from different angles and one mobile camera with which he moved about the room. A few days later, we met at his office studio in the Peoria Warehouse District to review best takes and work the scripted lines onto the video. You can see the finished product here:
In addition, I have video of the entire set, plus individual cuts of each song performed that night. Those individual videos – Harry Chapin's "WOLD," Don McLean's "Vincent" and my own original "Geronimo" – are found on the EPK page of this website.
I’m thoroughly pleased with the results, and I highly recommend Raphael to fellow musicians who are interested in taking their promotional efforts to a truly professional level.
Finally, a special shoutout to all my friends in The Listening Room Open Mobile Mic Community – and the incomparable host Sarah Marie Dillard – who supported me the night of the shoot at the 3300 Event Center. Love you all!
Thank you so much for the kind words, Kirk 🤗 It was truly a pleasure working with you on this project,! And I am delighted to see that you are proud of the video. I am very proud of it myself and I can’t wait to hear how the video has helps promote your amazing singing and songwriting talents. Onward!