By Nicky Boyette – John Walker of Deadhead Productions introduced himself to the City Advertising and Promotion Commission at its Dec. 7 workshop. Walker promotes music events, and told commissioners he wants to find out, “how to bring the town closer together with my events.”
He said he started putting on small scale music events, “and then there were five hundred people in my yard,” so he knew it was time for a bigger event. Walker said he has put on 15 festivals in different locations in the past five years, and has three planned next year at his site known as The Farm just northwest of Eureka Springs.
Walker said he is developing his space into more than just a music venue. He already has an 18-hole disk golf course and plans to expand it and host tournaments. There are weddings and camping at The Farm, and he said he encourages patrons to check out other activities in the area such as ziplining, canoeing and visiting Eureka Springs.
“My people do visit Eureka Springs,” Walker said, and indicated he was interested in “tie-ins and cross-promotion.”
Commissioners Damon Henke and Susan Harman both said they rented rooms to guests who came to town for one of Walker’s events. Henke even suggested Walker’s site and the Bluegrass Festival could benefit each other or the CAPC could schedule acts for the Folk Festival in October in conjunction with Walker’s Hillberry Festival.
Walker, who also produces acts at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, said he knows agents and would have no issues working with the CAPC to bring acts to town. The group tossed around a dozen ways to connect for mutual benefit.
Commissioner James DeVito encouraged Walker to submit a marketing support request for one of his events, and Henke suggested they hold a workshop with Walker in January. Everyone agreed, and Henke added, “This has been a good start today.”
DeVito remarked, “All I know is I can’t keep my cooks in the kitchen during your festivals.”
App chat
Chip Ford again appeared to see if there were a way to work with the CAPC as he develops a Eureka Springs app. Ford is asking for $20,000 for which the CAPC would have a presence on the app and access to the database. Ford said he plans for the app to be “the ultimate resource of information” with not only locations of everything and a current events’ calendar, but also history about Eureka Springs.
He said the launch date might be moved back to mid-March.
Executive Director Mike Maloney, who attended the meeting by phone, cited the fluctuation – from $90,000 to $120,000 down to $20,000 – in what Ford has asked for, and stated, “My confidence has eroded substantially.”
Henke suggested they could take it on in-house. “Doesn’t feel like the project for us,” he said.
Harman had a different take. She said $20,000 was a realistic cost for what Ford was offering, and asked, “If we brought it in-house, who does it? And do we need to hire someone to do it?” For her the bottom line was that the CAPC needs a product like Ford is creating, but Henke said he was not confident Ford would be able to accomplish what he intends.
Maloney figured to bring the project in-house he would need an additional staff at a cost of at least $40,000. But for him, the important point was the Eureka Springs app has had fewer than 1000 downloads. “So what do we see as the future of it going forward?” Maloney wanted to see Ford’s app in action.
Commissioner Terry McClung followed up on Maloney’s point, “So we’ll know if it’s any good before any money goes out.”
Henke asked Ford why he would involve the CAPC if he intended to launch the app regardless, and Ford replied, “I just wanted you to benefit from it… it’s another resource for you.” He also mentioned more tourists would learn about it if the CAPC partners with him on promotion.
Harman stated, “I’m not saying we have to go with Chip, but I want an easier way to tell my guests what there is to do.”
Maloney agreed Ford’s app could be a good value, “and for $20,000, I would be for it, but I would like to see it fly first.” Commissioner James DeVito agreed there would be no decision without a demonstration, and Ford said he would return with an update in January or February.
Dancing and dance lessons in Basin Park
Emma Ulibarri of Melonlight Productions proposed adding Dancing in the Park as a regular event on the fourth Saturday of every month from April through October. She would have a deejay set up for the music and offer dance lessons. She requested $1500 each time for one performance per month for seven months.
Henke observed the dancing would be more programming, which citizens ask for, and it would be easily sharable on social media. He said it would be up to Maloney to negotiate arrangements. Commissioners agreed to have a decision for Ulibarri in January.