Art Bell

[WhiteCrow]

Make sure and call back at least twice.

Nah ...it's up to someone else to do the follow up call ins "This is White Crow" impersonations.
MV loves this stuff... Don'cha know

[sorefinger]

Of course, there are other ways to get the word out.  How do you do that?  Well, you do what Donald Trump is doing, taking the nation by storm by saying and doing outrageous things.  The GOP debate did not drive Fox News ratings. Donald Trump drove Fox News ratings. Jeb Bush will never get popular by his army calling in to talk shows and spreading the word.  But if Bush got real, like Trump, he might not beat Trump but he certainly would do far better.  Until then, no one is interested in Bush whatsoever.

[FallenSeraph]

How about a campaign to call other shows and just say Art Bell is back! That's all they would need to do a Google search and find the show, but I don't think it's a good idea on Coast because (being honest here) that I want their caller's.



Art

Am I the only one to suggest the shocking concept of doing a few mainstream media interviews, possibly pitched on the broader premise of how free radio apps are reviving and redefining talk radio and erasing its former boundaries? Case in point: One of the most popular talk radio hosts in talk radio history has now chosen this platform over traditional radio, due to its better sound quality, mobility and archive lifespan.

*shrug* I don't know. I'm just a former award-winning PR pro who's now scraping by on such compelling freelance articles as "How to Winterize Your Wooden Doors!" and the oh-so-awkward "Sex After Breast Cancer: It can happen and YES! It CAN be good!" I've been interviewing sex therapists all morning. My brain feels like it's vibrating.

And on a completely unrelated topic: I got an email saying my Time Traveler subscription has been canceled due to some mess with PayPal. WAIT ... WHA? I've been ignoring those PayPal emails because I thought that was a glitch. This one said my "ach" is bad. WTF, my "ach" is fine. HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT MY ACH LIKE THAT, PAYPAL! I emailed poor Keith. I don't mind resubscribing at the more expensive rate, but it was still kind of a buzz kill.

[sorefinger]

I'd rather he interviewed that squirrel he has nesting on his head.

I know Art is into the paranormal, but interviewing Trump would be a step too far into the bizarre. Apart from his appeal to hillbillies and assorted mouth-breathers he offers no insight or amusement to the even vaguely educated. He's just another blowhard who would soil himself if people took him at his word and elected him President. Not that it would ever happen.

How condescending and cavalier of you, denigrating 90% of Art's demographics.

[AppealPlay]

I'd rather he interviewed that squirrel he has nesting on his head.

I know Art is into the paranormal, but interviewing Trump would be a step too far into the bizarre. Apart from his appeal to hillbillies and assorted mouth-breathers he offers no insight or amusement to the even vaguely educated. He's just another blowhard who would soil himself if people took him at his word and elected him President. Not that it would ever happen.

You're a Democrat, eh?  Pretty sure Trump was a Dem, too, at one time.  Reagan as well.

This is the reason why I feel like Art should avoid politics.  It pisses too many people off.

[SredniVashtar]

How condescending and cavalier of you, denigrating 90% of Art's demographics.

I can't tell whether that's very witty or very stupid.

Keep it to yourself and let me use my judgement.

[SredniVashtar]

You're a Democrat, eh? 

In the sense that I believe in democracy, yes. It's an underrated idea and should be given a chance one day.

[transistorundermypillow]

There are a lot of good ideas in this thread. Some of the better ones:

Set up a Youtube channel with short clips of MITD. Of course there would be some eventual ad revenue in addition to the free exposure and links back to your site for subscriptions.
Have Redacted set up an interview with Marc Maron and make a trip over to his garage. He is smart, funny, has a top notch podcast with just the demographic you're looking for - smart people, free thinkers, a younger audience that may not be familiar with your work. An interview with Marc would be a big plus for your subscription numbers. It is also in the same forum that you're using now. Many habitual podcast listeners are on the lookout to add more content to their feed. Joe Rogan and Adam Carolla are, as you know, the other heavy hitters in this medium. Interviews on their shows would be a great place to start. If you want more subscriptions stay focused on this medium. If you want more listeners then advertise on the radio, TV, mags.

I'm sure you're joking about the call-ins to other shows a la "Ba Ba Belly!!" (good one Sredni) I just listened to last night's show and you told a listener about your dry sense of humor. "You'll get used to me. Eventually."   

[AppealPlay]

"Mel's Hole, Mel's Hole, Art Bell's Penis!" 

[SredniVashtar]

"Mel's Hole, Mel's Hole, Art Bell's Penis!" 

Who is BellGab's Captain Janks?

[AppealPlay]

There are a lot of good ideas in this thread. Some of the better ones:

Set up a Youtube channel with short clips of MITD. Of course there would be some eventual ad revenue in addition to the free exposure and links back to your site for subscriptions.
Have Redacted set up an interview with Marc Maron and make a trip over to his garage. He is smart, funny, has a top notch podcast with just the demographic you're looking for - smart people, free thinkers, a younger audience that may not be familiar with your work. An interview with Marc would be a big plus for your subscription numbers. It is also in the same forum that you're using now. Many habitual podcast listeners are on the lookout to add more content to their feed. Joe Rogan and Adam Carolla are, as you know, the other heavy hitters in this medium. Interviews on their shows would be a great place to start. If you want more subscriptions stay focused on this medium. If you want more listeners then advertise on the radio, TV, mags.

I'm sure you're joking about the call-ins to other shows a la "Ba Ba Belly!!" (good one Sredni) I just listened to last night's show and you told a listener about your dry sense of humor. "You'll get used to me. Eventually."   

Adam Carolla?  Oof.  He's not a pleasant man I've heard.  People that have been on his show are less than impressed by his attitude.  Then again...RADIO WAR!

[SredniVashtar]

Adam Carolla?  Oof.  He's not a pleasant man I've heard.  People that have been on his show are less than impressed by his attitude.  Then again...RADIO WAR!

There has always been this talk that he is autistic. He likes to present himself as a blue collar tough guy on the air.

That man's voice is like a chainsaw, it goes straight through me.

[transistorundermypillow]

Adam Carolla?  Oof.  He's not a pleasant man I've heard.  People that have been on his show are less than impressed by his attitude.  Then again...RADIO WAR!

I'm no big fan of Carolla's either but he's one of the top podcasters. An interview by him would be free and heard by many potential subscribers.

Just an idea.  Carolla was just an example.

[FallenSeraph]

I know the long-timers get sick of my John B. Wells fangirl stuff here, but when Wells was trying to engage new audience members for his Caravan to Midnight show, he posted full shows on YouTube during his first few weeks to get people hooked on it. Now he just posts segments, or at least he was the last time I checked. Smart move.

[transistorundermypillow]

There has always been this talk that he is autistic. He likes to present himself as a blue collar tough guy on the air.

That man's voice is like a chainsaw, it goes straight through me.

Same here.  Also, he and Stern lose me when they start whining about how hard their lives are. Boo hoo.

[Uncle Duke]

If you want more subscriptions stay focused on this medium. If you want more listeners then advertise on the radio, TV, mags.

This is an important point, and a distinction that did not occur to me based on Art's message.  What is Art really seeking?

[Mebee]

I just think Art's idea of a'guerrilla' promotion tactics is without class. It would come off a bit like people calling various shows just to say "Baba Booey".

[Kolchak]

And on a completely unrelated topic: I got an email saying my Time Traveler subscription has been canceled due to some mess with PayPal. WAIT ... WHA? I've been ignoring those PayPal emails because I thought that was a glitch. This one said my "ach" is bad. WTF, my "ach" is fine. HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT MY ACH LIKE THAT, PAYPAL! I emailed poor Keith. I don't mind resubscribing at the more expensive rate, but it was still kind of a buzz kill.

Same thing happened to me. After the second one, I actually read it and it said my payment hadn't gone through. How the first one went through (and several other payments to services since then), I have no idea. But I added a secondary payment source (for some reason), and it went through today. Very weird.

[Mebee]

Are they panicking? How many subscribers did MITD get in the first month? Seemed to me to add up, $-wise,  quite nicely. Maybe the expenses are greater than I imagine.

[albrecht]

In the sense that I believe in democracy, yes. It's an underrated idea and should be given a chance one day.

I don't. If we have that we get an even worse celebrity than Trump as President, or worse. There is a reason most stable states have a form of a representative republic, parliamentarian system, and lots of "checks" on the masses, ideally with also "checks" on the government.

[sorefinger]

Not only has Art's demographics aged, but so has his medium changed.  The medium is now the internet, not terrestrial radio.  For every 60-year old with a smartphone, there are dozens of Millennials and younger people who have no memory of AM radio -- all wielding smartphones.  Laura Ingraham is the queen of talk, number 3 behind only Rush and Savage, because she's NOT out of touch with 90% of the soul of the nation.  Last nights show on longevity, I'd say, probably there is not one single person alive who would not be interested in that subject.

[sorefinger]

I know the long-timers get sick of my John B. Wells fangirl stuff here, but when Wells was trying to engage new audience members for his Caravan to Midnight show, he posted full shows on YouTube during his first few weeks to get people hooked on it. Now he just posts segments, or at least he was the last time I checked. Smart move.

Excellent idea!  Before Rogen appeared on mitd, I did not know he was doing podcasts.  So I went to YouTube and found several podcasts, none of which I really cared for, mainly because of the trash language.  Nonetheless, the podcasts posted at YouTube at least gave me an introduction to Rogen's fare.  I'm absolutely certain Rogen appeared on mitd not because he's in love with Art but because he wanted to drive more traffic to his podcasts.

[AppealPlay]

I'm absolutely certain Rogen appeared on mitd not because he's in love with Art but because he wanted to drive more traffic to his podcasts.

Why not both?

But yeah, if Art is willing to do the radio show/podcast circuit that would definitely help his numbers.

[malliard]

Art needs to do an interview with every magazine blog newspaper TV show he can.

He needs art bell needs to put hours of work into this.

No amount of screw balls calling into major radio shows is going to help.

I am not going to listen to some show cause some caller mentioned it

People need to hear from ART

YouTube clips are another solid idea.

Removing the wormhole and going to twitter so people see Art engaging on social media.

[Designx]

You want to get the word out?  Book Donald Trump!  That is what the country is interested in, kicking the ass of the establishment and bureaucrats who have destroyed this country.  Also, your demographics are getting older, explaining why last night's show on longevity is also what is of tremendous interest to the population.  Bigfoot and UFOs can't help the middle class who have been all but wiped out by trough-feeding politicians and bureaucrats.  This is not to say that people are not interested in the paranormal, it simply means they have too many problems distracting their attention right now.  This is no longer the 90s. It's a whole new world.

Please no.

[FallenSeraph]

Excellent idea!  Before Rogen appeared on mitd, I did not know he was doing podcasts.  So I went to YouTube and found several podcasts, none of which I really cared for, mainly because of the trash language.  Nonetheless, the podcasts posted at YouTube at least gave me an introduction to Rogen's fare.  I'm absolutely certain Rogen appeared on mitd not because he's in love with Art but because he wanted to drive more traffic to his podcasts.

Exactly -- and then if you think about it, people randomly surfing YouTube for things like "Bigfoot," "UFO sightings," "EVPs," etc., might stumble across an Art Bell clip, listen to it and get into it â€" younger people who aren't as familiar with him. I'm one of those people who have been listening to Art for decades. (I know now never to mention this to him, as it'll depress the hell out of him.) But when I posted something like "Woohoo! Art Bell is back on the airwaves!" on my FB page a few weeks ago, more than a few people said, "Who?" which made me sad. But then again, they were mostly suburban types who post pics of the cupcakes they baked or their dogs wearing cute bandanas during "family Sunday in the park after church" or whatever. OR they were people in their old 20s/young 30s who don't know the history. We are kind of a different breed over here. 

Another good example is the NoSleep podcast: They have a free podcast each week with two or three spooky stories. If you get hooked and want the whole four- or five-story experience, you pay to become a Season Pass member. This is what happened to me. A friend said, "Hey, you gotta check out this podcast!" I listened to the free version for a few shows and then said, "Oh hell yeah, give me more" and handed over my money gleefully, at which point I got the same type of RSS podcast link that Time Travelers get. Art could try something like that with the first hour of his show for a while. And putting it somewhere in general podcasts or on YouTube would make the time more flexible for people who just want to check it out at first.

[FallenSeraph]

A lot of Ground Zero listeners jump directly over to C2C when Ground Zero is over. Art may want to think about an advertising spot over there. I used to hear some of the same callers on both shows. It also sounded like Jorch's screeners won't let callers say "Ground Zero" when they call in â€" they always say things like, "I heard about this topic on, uh, uh, another radio show that's on right before this one ...." which made me laugh every time.

Many of the Ground Zero listeners tune in to the live show through the KXL-101FM app or IHeart or something similar (I did before our local AM station finally bumped Dave Ramsey for Clyde), so they're hip to the whole streaming radio thing.

[sorefinger]

Removing the wormhole and going to twitter so people see Art engaging on social media.

Excellent idea!

I've never liked the idea of limiting feedback to, for example, the wormhole, which is nothing more than a variation on screening, which Art absolutely is against, as I am, as well.  We want to know what everybody is thinking.  Besides, when people find out they have to be a certain member in order to provide certain feedback, it smacks of a clique of some sort, turning them off completely.  People want to feel that they belong. They don't want to be alienated. They already have enough of that in the world.

[Eddie Coyle]

     We must consider how many people under 30 really know who Art is at all. What are the odds of today's 30 year old being a hardcore Art listener circa 2002? Radio is not a burgeoning medium. Art's "Q" rating overall can't be very high. Among us, he's a legend. But randomly ask 1000 people of all ages/races who he is and I honestly have no idea how many could really tell you who he is. The most famous radio personalities in recent times also have a TV presence.

[Uncle Duke]

Excellent idea!

I've never liked the idea of limiting feedback to, for example, the wormhole, which is nothing more than a variation on screening, which Art absolutely is against, as I am, as well.  We want to know what everybody is thinking.  Besides, when people find out they have to be a certain member in order to provide certain feedback, it smacks of a clique of some sort, turning them off completely.  People want to feel that they belong. They don't want to be alienated. They already have enough of that in the world.

Don't even need twitter.  All he has to do is log-in to Bellgab's live show thread.  Yes, he'd have to mention this site several times a show.  And yes current non-members would have to join Bellgab if they wanted to contact Art during the show, but it's free to join and then they too can join the cool kids and Jaz.