“I’ll find out in a few hours if I’m part of the greeting committee”, read the text from a friend of mine. This friend is also a director of a summer festival where I am the music director. He’s also involved in public service.
So the backstory is that President Trump is coming to the neighborhood I live in at the local high school. I instantly think of the traffic headache this will cause. It’s also getting in the way of local news coverage I have scheduled for a band I’m working with. Not to mention the fact of the stigma this might cast on our community. Politics or not, he’s not very popular. Poor me.
“I’m getting to meet all the famous people, the president and your band.”, my friends says again via text. I chuckle, pause for a moment and then reply back, “Yep, see if you can get a meet and greet!!”.
I’m totally kidding but then I have this thought. Why not? Or why not send the band down to the school and have them get their message out? They are passionate about mental and behavioral health services. This might be an opportunity for further the message. It’s an audacious idea. This band has fewer than 1000 facebook likes and are just starting out.
So part of managing bands is gaining exposure for them so they can reach new audiences and in this case, let people know that there is help out there. In the teen demographics, 1 out of 10 teens has clinical depression. 123 suicides a day are occurring. The statistics are out of control. Losing even one life is unacceptable. The world needs healthy, vibrant minds working on our common problems. The world also needs young people to lead the effort to make change, whether it’s via civics, examples, or music.
As I think about what it might mean and that the band probably wouldn’t want to be associated with this at all except maybe as an influencing event. Maybe go down there with a sign to increase funding for mental and behavioral health services.
So then I look up why the President is coming to Columbus, Ohio on August 4, 2018. Turns out he’s supporting a local candidate in a special election. I look up this guy on google with the key word substance abuse. It turns out, he had just issued a press release last week where he was instrumental in getting funding for a new substance abuse center in his district. Right in line with the band message.
At this point, I think for a few minutes, and then decide to take action. The reason why is this:
If Bono from U2 can do it, why not this band?
Bono is famous for reaching out, challenging and working with political figures to advance causes. He’s worked with the Bushes, Clintons, and Obama’s and yes, even Mike Pence. He’s yet to reach out to Trump, and that may never happen. Point is, the message can be carried, even to those with hard hearts. Maybe it will soften them.
I put the issue down for a few minutes while I answered emails and finished my coffee. Then I thought, “Why not.”
So that’s what happened. I reached out to some other people in the community to see if they thought the idea was completely crazy and if they would help. The would help.
The EPK press kit that the band had put together along with the recent week’s press release came in SUPER handy. Just repackaged up a bit and off to the Ohio State House on my lunch hour I went.
This came together in about 2 hours. Which seems just about everything works this way in the music industry. Which is also what I really like about. Boom!!! Something happens, react quickly, move on to the next thing.
I met the state representatives office aide, explained what I was trying to do and dropped off the package. She was excited to hear about the band’s progress and listen to their music. Was a big fan of music and that was pretty exciting for them. She also said that I was at the wrong office to coordinate with public relations.
One of the charity events the band is doing also had a connection and reached out. So lots of pieces parts coming together on this one. I think it’s your job when you are supporting something to try to find out how all these disparate things can come together, like pieces of a puzzle.
In the end, the day is still unfolding and I’m not sure what will happen, but got into ACTION.
Was able to use the tools that were prepared and present the band to people that had never heard of them before.
Win win.
Moral of the story – keep trucking and trying to put the pieces together. You never know when something will help your cause.
HUGE DISCLAIMER: This post is not about supporting politicians or politics. It IS about supporting the cause of trying to help people who are suffering mental and behavioral health issues. That’s it. Please keep comments germane to that topic or they will be ignored.
Keep after it everyone!!
Have a great day!
-Just a Dude
Just a Dude 