Red Monday Radio Drama Launches
Promoting one’s media is a tricky business. In the social media space, among podcasters, there are lots of people flinging cards, buttons, and stickers at you telling you about their show. Attending the New Media Expo (formerly Portable Media Exo, etc) is often like running a gauntlet for your attention.
But then, there was J. Marcus Xavier. (And this post is about his new thing, Red Monday).
Look at the picture. This gentleman had quite the schtick. He walked around, with red envelopes, with “intercepted” mail documents inside. And he wasn’t hurling them at anyone. In fact, I had to ask HIM for the envelope. Further, I saw him roaming the floor and approached him. I asked him what his plan was. (Remember, in a roomful of people trying to get my attention to listen to or watch their show, I was certainly not in the market to SEEK something, and yet…)
I got a perfect pitch. “Julius,” who refused even to give his name until I beat him down a bit, stuck to his script perfectly, and I felt so excited.
And then I got email updates from him, which were just warmups for his new show.
Red Monday is a weekly Internet radio drama telling the story of a nuclear weapon detonating in Las Angeles. The tag of the website says, “Millions of people are trying to get out. Three are trying to get in.” POW! Just like that, I’m asking, “Why? What happened? What’s the story?”
The #1 thing I like about this whole deal is how well it’s marketed. You have to go visit Red Monday to see what I mean. Yes, give them your email (at least a dummy account), and listen to the promo. It’s really worth it to hear how the show is promoted.
The show isn’t free. You get the first episode for free. But, you can buy the entire series, set to end on December 24th, I believe, for only $4.99 USD. I think even THIS is excellent. Someone showing that they feel their content is valuable enough to charge a subscription. So, like I say, swing by Red Monday just to see how JMX himself promoted this piece.
One Disclaimer
If this turns out to be NOT an independent production, like if this turns out to be a black man lonelygirl15 project, I will hunt J. Marcus Xavier down and cut his ear cord. Because I’m sold that this is an independent production by a really talented individual (and/or maybe some friends). If this is Hollywood being tricky, I will say really mean things.
But for Now…
You decide. I think this thing will be HOT!
Red Monday is your new radio drama.
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Comments
Chris,
I agree that this looks like an awesome campaign that feels really authentic (by your description that is). However, your “instant anger” in regards to whether or not it is an independent production or not is surprising. Granted its authenticity is likely to take a hit (if its a big studio production), but I don’t see the reason to denigrate what looks to be a well designed campaign. The thrust of it obviously compelled you to write glowingly of it’s manner of presentation and authenticity.
I’m often frustrated and surprised when people do “sell out” and “go corporate” and people don’t like them anymore, or think less of them as artists (while yes, in my life I’m trying to do the opposite) and that people that do make that shift, often to better their own position monetarily, are typically in that position because people have recognized that they have talent, and that they should be given a larger opportunity to demonstrate their cleverness.
It does (from the outside) look like Julius is working on his own (or with friends). Which does seem cooler. I think this part of it stems from some part of us that wants to be in that first group to find new talent.
Keep posting such great stuff!
-Fred
Man, I WAS going to do something like this. Should have took the plunge. Now I missed the boat. Got to be quick!
At the Podcast and New Media Expo “Julius” asked a question in one of the sessions to enable him to go up to the panel and hand each person a red envelope.
At the time I felt it took away an opportunity for someone with a ‘real’ question to ask it.
The Red Monday page is now 100 times better than the page that was there during the expo. That page required an email address before showing you anything.
So you know what I did after after arriving at the page?
I left.
if , after listening to Red Monday and enjoyed it, you discover it was a Hollywood tactic, would you be less inclined to recommend it to friends?
Hollywood will do this eventually, maybe under a different operating umbrella. Does Hollywood’s involement make it less enjoyable?
A good analogy is the bed and breakfast industry. Much of the appeal of b&bs are the people who run the place. If you discovered a b&b was really owned and operated by Hilton or Holiday Inn (eak!) you, after the fact, would feel cheated a bit.
So being independently produced really is part of the characteristics of the product. And trying to fake that with your audience (like lonely girl) can cause future products to be taken with a grain of salt.
I think I answered my own question :)
I’m listening now - It reminds me of when I used to listen to The Shadow (The Shadow Knows! Muahahahaa)
Believe it or not folks, this is what our parents and grand-parents used to listen to (probably LIVE) on the radio.
Chris, I understand what you are saying if it is a Hollywood produced piece, under the guise of being an independent production.
Attempting to “fake” being genuine isn’t going to make me feel good - I’d probably still listen to the other 4 parts however.
Of course, the secret to being a success in business is sincerity - learn how to fake that, and you’ve got it made (some quote).
Wow. Clearly no one here knows anything about Lonelygirl15 other than what the news tells them.
I’m not a big fan of the show, but seriously, it’s just as independent as Red Monday, which looks good.
I’m currently working on a radio drama for an independent study class and so I’ve been listening to a lot of modern day radio dramas - the I Love Bees (Haunted Apiary) series is about as good as radio dramas get, so I’m going to have to try to forget that if I want to give Red Monday a fair shake.
[…] GamJams.net: Where bike racers in DC/MD/VA/DE roll wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerpt [IMG redmonday] Promoting one’s media is a tricky business. In the social media space, among podcasters, there are lots of people flinging cards, buttons, and stickers at you telling you about their show. Attending the New Media Expo (formerly Portable Media Exo, etc) is often like running a gauntlet for your attention. But then, there was J. Marcus Xavier. (And this post is about his new thing, Red Monday). Look at the picture. This gentleman had quite the schtick. He walked around, with re […]