Well, the blog is up and running. I still need to do some research and work to make it look and feel like the Swing Street web site, but at least it’s functional.
For the time being, however, here’s a disclaimer…
Remember that the primary reason for this blog is to increase the Swing Street web site’s position in search engines, which will presumeably increase traffic to the site and consequently increase the bookings for the band (and hopefully increase the employment opportunities for all of us who make up Swing Street).
Because of this goal, I’ll ask you to tolerate the fact that every day or so, there will be some blatant self-promotion with words that might tempt the various search engines to move us up in their rankings. I’ll try not to be ridiculous about it, but I suspect you’ll notice it. The rest of the time, I’ll make an attempt to offer some useful information about music, the music business, drums, or maybe just something that might give you a chuckle.
For now, let me reiterate that Swing Street is a dynamite 9-piece dance band / big band, that plays swing, jazz, and even some old time rock and roll, with the goal of helping audiences have a great time dancing and partying.
The band’s travel range reaches throughout most of North Carolina, including Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Wilmington, and the Outer Banks; along with Myrtle Beach, Florence, and other parts of South Carolina and Virginia.
For more information about the band, please see www.SwingStreetBand.com.
And finally, if there’s anyone out there actually reading this stuff, drop me a note to let me know about it, otherwise, I’ll just go on talking endlessly to myself in an effort to influence Google:-)
Cheers and keep swinging!!
Tom Bernett
Swing Street Band
Hey, I have always had an interest in big band music and would enjoy hearing your group play if you ever come to Raleigh area. I could not get the schedule part of your web site to work as it just kept giving me the news sections. If you are coming this way any time soon please drop me a note as I would enjoy coming out to hear you. Thanks, Greg
Comment by Greg Bryan — March 13, 2009 @ 1:01 am
Hey Greg! Sorry about the “Schedule” page. I’ve never gotten it set up properly, for a couple reasons. First of all, the schedule just never seems to have any public events on it. When I decided to re-start Swing Street here in North Carolina a few years ago, we did have some public concerts as part of our efforts to let potential clients know we existed. However, those events seem to have dried up. But they did serve their purpose by getting some paying clients for the band. Unfortunately, all the gigs we get these days are private events–we never seem to get hired for night clubs or restaurants.
On a couple of occasions, we have played public concerts in the Pinehurst area, and if/when that happens again, I will be sure to post those dates here. In the mean time, if you like big band music, there are a few other options that you might want to check out. In addition to running Swing Street, I also occasionally play with the Raleigh Jazz Orchestra; the Casablanca Orchesta; and the Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra. You should check out those sites and watch the schedules for public dates. Also, there are a couple other big bands in the region that I’m aware of, including: North Carolina Repertory Orchestra and the Jazz Alliance. A Google search should get you to their sites.
Finally, I hope you’ll keep checking here… I haven’t been as good with updates as I should be the last couple weeks, because I’ve been so busy with teaching and other smaller events. And also, quite frankly, because I haven’t seen any indication (up ’til now) that anyone was actually reading this stuff. I’ll get back at it right away.
Thanks for your interest!!
TTB
Comment by Tom — March 13, 2009 @ 11:16 am