Vitamin V Tour - The Sunshine State, Florida
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
The next leg of the 2009 Vitamin V Tour had me teaming up with Warner Brothers' Franco Iemmello heading to the Sunshine State of Florida. We kicked things off in Miami meeting up with Reprise Local, Shama Patel before heading to dinner with WPOW's Tom Calococci, Eddie Mix, Holiday and Rog.
After dinner, I handed Eddie an official CD leak of New Artist Kevin Cossom before Tom, Franco, and I slipped back to the hotel for the first remote Executive Card Game of the trip. Franco was well prepared for the game with chips that featured notable facts about current WB projects to help him promote his priorities during the hands. Although Franco's promotion strategy was commendable it didn't pay off for either of us as Tom walked away three candy bars later grinning from ear to ear.
MONDAY, MARCH 2
I woke up to the sound of DJ Laz on the POWER 96 morning show before meeting up with Franco and Shama to head to West Palm Beach where we were meeting S.I.N. Award Winner WMBX's Mark McCray and station MD, Preston Lowe.
After a music intensive meeting featuring the S.I.N. New Music Program CD, SINternet and my advance preview of New Artist Kevin Cossom, we headed to one of Mark's favorite spots, Duffy's, for lunch. Mark explained that one reason he enjoyed Duffy's was that they offered a discounted lunch menu after 2pm which showed he's sensitive to the current state of the economy and that a good time is based on your company not where you dine.
After West Palm Beach, we made our way to Fort Myers to meet up with another S.I.N. Award Winner, WBTT's Omar and his PD, Scrap Jackson for a music meeting. I introduced both of them to the debut from New Artist, Kevin Cossom. Later in the evening Franco, Shama and I met up with Omar again for a quick dinner before turning in for the night.
TUESDAY, MARCH 3
I woke up to WBTT's morning show before hopping back into the rental to head to Tampa where we grabbed lunch with S.I.N. Awards Co-Host Orlando and Award Winner Brewstaa. Unfortunately, due to our timing, S.I.N. Award Winner, Kristi Reif was in a Mixer Meeting and wasn't able to join us but we made sure to bring her lunch when we returned to the station.
Back at the WLLD offices, we talked music with Orlando and convinced him to partake in the traveling Executive Card Game. He was feeling good from having success at the casinos the previous weekend but his luck seemed to have run out the minute the cards were dealt and he ended up taking a beating.
From WLLD we headed to WPYO in Orlando to grab time with station PD, Stevie DeMann before bringing the day to a close.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
We got the day rolling with WJMH's Michael Saunders and Dawn Campbell. During the meal we discussed the current state of the industry, music and their approach to programming WJMH. The conversation was cut short by a call informing us that Flo Rida had just arrived at the station.
I took this opportunity to finally meet Flo Rida since I had missed him on his first visit to S.I.N. and extended my personal invite for him to return to record another "Vitamin A" Segment in support of his upcoming album.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5
We headed back to WPOW today to attend a Music Meeting with Eddie Mix and review his Short Stack which included Felli Fel, DJ Drama, the S.I.N. Mystery Artist, Utada and Mike Jones who Eddie confirmed was going into rotation.
Eddie also discussed the station's interest in doing a "New At 2" Segment which I explained was similar to what POWER 106 and HOT 97 were doing and having success with their markets. I also thanked him and congratulated the station for doing more to introduce New Music to their audience. I played Kevin Cossom's "You're A Star (You Know What You're Doin')" for him before leaving the station.
We closed out our day and trip to the Sunshine State by hitting up the South Beach nightlife before heading back to our hotel to prepare for our trip home.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
Someone screwed up! "I'm sorry we have no reservation for you Mr. Pellegrino" was the last thing I expected to hear at 6 a.m. in the morning. Hey, I'm all for a relaxing weekend in Miami but a planned one, not the result of a screw up. Luckily there was one seat left and I'd be home in time to blitz the phones on Monday... After wrapping my fingers around VJ's neck for not reviewing my itinerary thoroughly.
The next leg of the 2009 Vitamin V Tour had me teaming up with Warner Brothers' Franco Iemmello heading to the Sunshine State of Florida. We kicked things off in Miami meeting up with Reprise Local, Shama Patel before heading to dinner with WPOW's Tom Calococci, Eddie Mix, Holiday and Rog.
After dinner, I handed Eddie an official CD leak of New Artist Kevin Cossom before Tom, Franco, and I slipped back to the hotel for the first remote Executive Card Game of the trip. Franco was well prepared for the game with chips that featured notable facts about current WB projects to help him promote his priorities during the hands. Although Franco's promotion strategy was commendable it didn't pay off for either of us as Tom walked away three candy bars later grinning from ear to ear.
MONDAY, MARCH 2
I woke up to the sound of DJ Laz on the POWER 96 morning show before meeting up with Franco and Shama to head to West Palm Beach where we were meeting S.I.N. Award Winner WMBX's Mark McCray and station MD, Preston Lowe.
After a music intensive meeting featuring the S.I.N. New Music Program CD, SINternet and my advance preview of New Artist Kevin Cossom, we headed to one of Mark's favorite spots, Duffy's, for lunch. Mark explained that one reason he enjoyed Duffy's was that they offered a discounted lunch menu after 2pm which showed he's sensitive to the current state of the economy and that a good time is based on your company not where you dine.
After West Palm Beach, we made our way to Fort Myers to meet up with another S.I.N. Award Winner, WBTT's Omar and his PD, Scrap Jackson for a music meeting. I introduced both of them to the debut from New Artist, Kevin Cossom. Later in the evening Franco, Shama and I met up with Omar again for a quick dinner before turning in for the night.
TUESDAY, MARCH 3
I woke up to WBTT's morning show before hopping back into the rental to head to Tampa where we grabbed lunch with S.I.N. Awards Co-Host Orlando and Award Winner Brewstaa. Unfortunately, due to our timing, S.I.N. Award Winner, Kristi Reif was in a Mixer Meeting and wasn't able to join us but we made sure to bring her lunch when we returned to the station.
Back at the WLLD offices, we talked music with Orlando and convinced him to partake in the traveling Executive Card Game. He was feeling good from having success at the casinos the previous weekend but his luck seemed to have run out the minute the cards were dealt and he ended up taking a beating.
From WLLD we headed to WPYO in Orlando to grab time with station PD, Stevie DeMann before bringing the day to a close.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
We got the day rolling with WJMH's Michael Saunders and Dawn Campbell. During the meal we discussed the current state of the industry, music and their approach to programming WJMH. The conversation was cut short by a call informing us that Flo Rida had just arrived at the station.
I took this opportunity to finally meet Flo Rida since I had missed him on his first visit to S.I.N. and extended my personal invite for him to return to record another "Vitamin A" Segment in support of his upcoming album.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5
We headed back to WPOW today to attend a Music Meeting with Eddie Mix and review his Short Stack which included Felli Fel, DJ Drama, the S.I.N. Mystery Artist, Utada and Mike Jones who Eddie confirmed was going into rotation.
Eddie also discussed the station's interest in doing a "New At 2" Segment which I explained was similar to what POWER 106 and HOT 97 were doing and having success with their markets. I also thanked him and congratulated the station for doing more to introduce New Music to their audience. I played Kevin Cossom's "You're A Star (You Know What You're Doin')" for him before leaving the station.
We closed out our day and trip to the Sunshine State by hitting up the South Beach nightlife before heading back to our hotel to prepare for our trip home.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
Someone screwed up! "I'm sorry we have no reservation for you Mr. Pellegrino" was the last thing I expected to hear at 6 a.m. in the morning. Hey, I'm all for a relaxing weekend in Miami but a planned one, not the result of a screw up. Luckily there was one seat left and I'd be home in time to blitz the phones on Monday... After wrapping my fingers around VJ's neck for not reviewing my itinerary thoroughly.
