Nikki Frizzell
Many of you know that my family and I have spent considerable time this summer at our cabin in Montana. In fact we left for the cabin just a few days after the release concert. Now, out there in the Flathead Valley, there’s a very fine radio station called KALS (at 97.1fm) if you’re in the area. I have enjoyed listening for quite a few years. Their programming is much like KTIS here in Minneapolis, but as a commercial station they have a little more freedom with their play list.
In this process of making and promoting a CD, I have had to step outside of my comfort zone many times. I’m beginning to get used to it, I think. Early in June, I bought a bucket of Brookies Cookies, put a CD inside and a ribbon on top, and walked right in the front door of KALS radio in Kalispell. Were my hands empty, I would’ve been wringing them! Having been a listener, I knew who to ask for: Dave Brown, the program director. Was it the cookies? Was it that I walked into the midst of a handful of God’s own? Probably a little of both, because I was immediately embraced by the staff. They insisted on watching my kids as Dave and I sat down in his office to talk. Dave did an interview right on the spot, and told me the day/time that he’d play the interview and the song “Love Colored Glasses.” Since then, they’ve played the song on Dave’s Diner, a call-in request show. And starting early in July, they added the song to their eight week regular rotation. (Like to hear or request it? KALS is available online at www.kals.com.)
I was so happy to be welcomed by these friendly folks at KALS. Dave, Sandy, MaryJo, Nick – they’ve all been wonderful, and I can feel God’s hand on me as I continue to step outside of the lines. Of course, it was helpful to be able to tell Dave that Wendell Gafford would be promoting the song. That’s instant credibility, and I was glad to have things lined up in that regard before I went into the station. I’m proud of these folks because they took a chance on me, and it seems the good people of northwest Montana are enjoying the song!
For my songwriting buddies, here are the lessons I’ve learned through this experience:
- Do things in order. Had I gone into the station prior to setting up radio promotion with a known promoter, it may have been difficult to convince the station to take a chance on me. They have stacks of CDs to listen to!
- If you have a favorite station, do a little research and try to visit in person. When I visited, I knew the name of the person most likely to help me. Though everyone at the station was warm and welcoming, they’re also very busy. If you can visit in person, do! I didn’t call first, but next time I would.
- Bring a treat or a promotional item along. OK, a little bribery perhaps. The cookies were a hit. It’s just an ice-breaker really. I loved being able to add something special to their time in the break room, and we all instantly had something in common: Chocolate! In my work with Wendell and Mark, we’ve decided it would be fun to send a pair of new sunglasses with the singles that go out to the stations. (I Ebay’d for a very good deal.) It’s simple, but they’ll remember me and “Love Colored Glasses” when they don their new shades.
- Don’t be shy! Gosh, it is sometimes tough to toot our own horns! But someone’s got to do it! What’s the worst thing that can happen? They so “no thanks.” What’s the best? Hmmm…it’s still up in the air, but at least I can be proud of myself for taking a chance.
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