<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Chicago Radio Ads<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> There has been a little chatter online lately about what we’ve been doing in the Chicago radio market.  Our radio ad campaign started in September and will run until the end of the year.  Because of these facts, we would like to let you know more about it, but we are far from being able to analyze any success yet.  You can listen to these radio ads yourself too.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> For many years now, PTG has been working in a number of different ways to promote PTG and the RPT.  Promoting the RPT has been a priority for decades now, but more is being done in recent years.  Those of you who have been in Council for a number of years, and those who read the Journal and other publications for our members are familiar with many of them.  A couple of years ago, PTG began offering grants for chapters to help promote the RPT.  The Chicago and North Shore Chapters thought that this could be a good opportunity for us.  We submitted a proposal to the PTG Board and it was accepted.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Our local classical radio station is WFMT; it is a commercial station, not public radio.  They have some dedicated piano programs regularly scheduled which seemed to us to be a very good place to advertize piano service, PTG, and the RPT.  Some interested members of the Chicago and North Shore Chapters formed a committee to, at first, explore the possibilities.  We found the advertising rates, talked with the radio station about when ads might run, how often, and other details.  We decided that the period of time from September through Christmas would give us the best results.  Then we started writing 30 second and 60 second spots.  We had a lot of fun coming up with ideas for a bunch of them.  While we got creative with some of the writing, the parts about the PTG and RPT are very similar to what you see on the PTG web site or on pamphlets from PTG.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> We submitted our plan to the PTG Board, asking for $3,000.  Our chapters were also committing $3,000 of our own funds for these ads, apportioned by percentage of RPTs in each chapter.  The ad campaign will cost $6,000.  The North Shore Chapter discussed the campaign in our newsletter and in chapter meetings before making a commitment.  Associate members also voted in support; some of them are more motivated to become RPTs.  The Chicago Chapter runs meeting differently, but all of them are open to all members.  Since I am a member of the North Shore Chapter, I cannot say much more about Chicago’s process.  We also set up a web site for the radio listeners to go to.  This will help us track the effectiveness of the campaign.  All members of both chapters were sent questionnaires to track new client information that may be impacted by the ads.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Concerns were voiced on Pianotech and PTG-L about Associate members paying for these ads, but not benefitting by them.  At a North Shore Chapter meeting, when this issue was raised, it was pointed out that the RPT is what we have to market.  The RPT has passed the exams and the Guild stands behind the process and the RPTs.  Any Associate member of our chapter has easy access to take the exams; we have a CTE and a TEC ready to go.  This year, because of this issue, we are also devoting more of our monthly technical sessions to help the Associates learn what they need to become RPTs.  Next month, we also will begin monthly PACE programs as well.  The Chicago Chapter has an excellent program to help Associates too.  They have the first Tuesday of each month committed to Associates, almost always located at the excellent rebuilding shop of Jeff Cappelli.  It is lead by Jeff and other RPTs and offers a wide variety of ways for the Associate, and the occasional RPT, to learn more.  The Chicago Chapter also has the examiners and facilities ready for those who want to take any of the tests.   <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> You can listen to WFMT anytime on your computer at <a href="http://www.wfmt.com/">www.wfmt.com</a>.  We also have some of the radio ads as heard on the radio; they are on the web site set up for this project.  You can find it at <a href="http://www.tunechicago.org/">www.tunechicago.org</a>.  We also got permission from the PTG Home Office to use wording from PTG.org.  When the year ends, we will get a chance to analyze the data we have and see how successful this campaign is.  There have been hundreds of hits already, mostly from around Chicago, but as far away as India!  We would love to do it again here if we have good results.  It could be copied or modified to work in other locations as well.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Members of the Chicago Radio Ad Campaign are:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> John Blessing, Chicago Chapter, President<o:p></o:p> Bruce Dornfeld, North Shore Chapter<o:p></o:p> Joe Francavilla, Webmaster, North Shore Chapter<o:p></o:p> Ben Gac, Chicago Chapter, Vice President<o:p></o:p> Robert Guenther, North Shore Chapter<o:p></o:p> Carl Radford, North Shore Chapter, President<o:p></o:p> Terry Younce, North Shore Chapter, Treasurer<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Bruce Dornfeld, RPT<o:p></o:p> <a href="mailto:bdornfeld@earthlink.net">bdornfeld@earthlink.net</a><o:p></o:p> 847-498-0379<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>