TJDuprey Unlimited is proud to announce the addition of Tami Countryman as a Marketing and Public Relations specialist. Ms Countryman will be working with the Tucson branch of the company.  Previously, Ms Countryman headed a special project for TJDuprey Unlimited, working with one of our non-profit clients to wrap up numerous projects as the organization was winding down its affairs.

During her initial year with TJDuprey Unlimited, Ms Countryman worked as an intern, learning the ins and outs of working with a team of freelance professionals and we were very impressed with the thoroughness she brought to her projects.  She showed a true knack for leadership and led several teams simultaneously under very tight deadlines to meet diverse goals.

Ms Countryman brings with her a fresh enthusiasm for the local arts and business community as well as an over 30 year knowledge of Tucson issues.

When Ms Countryman is not busy working she can be found riding horseback with friends and family, or relaxing with her dogs.

Ms Countryman can be reached at CountrymanTami@gmail(dot)com.

“TEEN STREET – a Film Acting Company” is a new actor training and film production company for teens who wish to take their artistry to the highest level.  Teen participants meet twice a month for actor training and the development of a short-film script, which will shoot in the spring.  First meeting is December 12.  Any teenager is welcome regardless of experience.  Company dues: $80/month.  Sessions take place at the Red Monkey Studio at Campbell & Skyline. Actor demo reels will also be available to company members.

Registration has begun, and space is limited.

Under the direction of Steve Anderson, MFA, Teen Street offers a safe, empowering, and creative atmosphere for teen performers.  Steve also offers teen and adult stage acting workshops and private coaching in Southern Arizona.  Steve believes that the arts are a vehicle to build leadership skills and confidence, and to prepare youth for the next step in their lives.

Send an email to steve@steveandersonacting.com to sign up now or, for more information, please visit http://steveandersonacting.com/site/Teens.html.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patricia Possert / ppossert@asba.com
Phone: 520.327.0222

TUCSON, AZ (Tuesday, November 4, 2010) – Kyle Eastwood, son of actor-director Clint Eastwood, will perform at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites located at 5151 E. Grant Road on Thursday, November 18. The performance is part of the Arizona Small Business Association’s (asba) holiday business mixer open to the general public and designed to encourage collaboration between the business and arts communities.

“asba is pleased to create a forum where business professionals and arts patrons can come together to further the dialogue on how they can support one another,” states asba CEO, Donna Davis.

“How often do you attend a film, concert, or theater event, and after surveying the audience, wish for the chance to get to personally connect with them?” asks asba Director of Marketing and Events, Patricia Possert. Attendees are invited to mix business with pleasure at the pre-concert mixer and bring plenty of business cards, appetites, smiles and conversation.

Eastwood has established himself as an influential and contemporary jazz musician who has carved his own path in the music industry. His style is contemporary and hard-bop. The eldest son of actor Clint Eastwood, Kyle Eastwood has released three critically-acclaimed albums, toured worldwide, and composed music and soundtracks for several Clint Eastwood films including Flags of Our Fathers, Gran Torino, and Invictus, as well as Academy Award®-winning films Letters from Iwo Jima, Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby. Eastwood received a Golden Globe® nomination for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for Gran Torino.

“The Kyle Eastwood band is an experience like no other,” states Possert. “Mr. Eastwood’s 2007 show here in Tucson ended with over 400 people giving the band a standing ovation. For a couple of hours, the audience was transported from Tucson to Paris, France, and it was magical.” Band members include trumpeter Alex Norris, piano/keyboardist Rick Germanson, saxophonist Jason Rigby, drummer Joe Strasser and critically acclaimed bassist/composer Kyle Eastwood.

The pre-concert mixer will go from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres with concert from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastwood will personally autograph CDs after the concert. Seating is limited; advanced reservations are recommended. Tickets for the event are all inclusive: $40 General Public includes networking, heavy hors d’oeuvres and concert; $35 for asba Members only. Don’t miss this live Tucson performance! Reserved tables of 8 may be purchased by phone at 520-327-0222. Ticket purchases and info available at www.asba.com.

About asba – For nearly 40 years, the arizona small business association (asba) has been a trusted source in creating opportunities for businesses to make money, save money and achieve amAZing results. With a membership of almost 5,000 businesses, representing over 300,000 employees, asba is the second largest trade association in the state and the only statewide association dedicated to serving small businesses. From outstanding value to an extensive range of support and services, asba is committed to making Arizona the best place for launching and growing your business. For more information, please call 520-327-0222 or visit www.asba.com. Join asba. Be amAZed®.

Tripoli Horses, formerly known as Triple E Horses, has moved from Tucson, Arizona to Clarksville, Tennessee.  A full service training facility, offering riding lessons and full board horse training, the company retains trainers in both states.  Emily Kelly, owner and head trainer, relocated to join her husband in Clarksville while he is serving in the military.  She was so enchanted with the facilities, the weather, and the new opportunities that she immediately invited her colt breaker, Jon Duprey and his wife Lakota to join her.  Staying behind in Tucson to continue serving the Tucson area is Ashley Beard.

For more information about Tripoli check out www.tripolihorses.com

There’s nothing quite like putting a campaign to bed knowing that all of the right outlets have been reached, that the message was on track, and initial response from the public has been positive.  Satisfying.  A feeling of accomplishment.

That is, until the client starts falling apart or cracking at the seams.

Before you start your next campaign or invest dollars in advertising, here is something to think about:

Does your organization or business have the infrastructure to handle anticipated response? How about response above anticipation?

Will customers be contacting you via phone?  Make sure:

… you have developed an answering system that is informative and helpful.  This means both human and automated systems must be ready.  Train your receptionist to answer questions or be ready to transfer the call to the appropriate department. Don’t make a caller wait through multiple messages on an automated system before they can leave a message or purchase a ticket.  If you are promoting an event, it should be the first thing mentioned in your messages and your staff should be ready to take ticket information as soon as the call is taken.

Will customers be directed to your website?  Make sure:

… you have updated your site and that it is user friendly for people accessing it from a different browsers.  Remember not everyone has a brand new PC.  Is your site work safe?  Nothing discourages worktime purchases like loud music which plays automatically as soon as the potential customer lands on your page.  If you want music on your site, display the option prominently and allow visitors to turn it on themselves.  Be sure to test your order buttons if you have a product on your site.  Always include a back up email option on each product page in case a customer can’t use your payment method.  This allows for instant feedback on any issues which might prevent sales.

Will customers be directed to your store?  Make sure:

… your ad has your hours of operation and that you are actually open during those hours.  Right after the launch of an ad campaign if NOT the time to experiment with new hours.  If you advertised enrollments for classes or are selling tickets, make sure you have your paperwork in order and that all materials are easy to find.  Make sure whoever is in your shop or office knows the procedure for filling out forms and can answer event information.

While this may sound like common sense, these are common areas of opportunity for improvement for all clients.  I once had a client fire the only employee who knew how to retrieve phone messages and change the voice message the day before the launch of their yearly enrollment.  I found out that the phones were down during a check of the phone message – routine for me – the day after the launch.  NO ONE at the organization knew the phones were down.  The phone service provider did not send someone to retrain their staff (and would not instruct anyone via phone or internet) for a full week.  How many people did not enroll when they couldn’t get through on the phone for additional information or directions?  We’ll never know.

So don’t forget this internal checklist before you launch your next advertising campaign.