CAISO Steel Drum Band

Are You Ready to Make the Most of a New Year and a New Start?

The New Year’s Celebrations are  here and while many are focusing on ringing in the new year and new possibilities in the back of their mind they are trying to close out thinking past January 1.  The challenges that are ahead in the months to come can seem overwhelming when reflecting back on the past year.  The economy is still struggling to take a sure foot toward recovery and whether you are an employee, employer, or seeking work then the future can seem tough. 

It is important to remain focused.  Focused on what you want to achieve rather than the obstacles.  It is important to remain positive and goal oriented.  Surround yourself with those that are positive and are willing to help you reach your greatest potential.  The most important thing of all is to make sure that you plan.

Without a clear path in front of you to follow then you will get sidetracked off the path.  You are liable to spend days if not months going in circles and sideways as other things pull your focus away from your goals.  By the time you get back on track you are far behind where you would have been had you been following THE PLAN.

Making a plan is easy and it doesn’t take buying a business plan software kit or taking a life coaching course.  It simply takes sitting down, putting your effort toward the task at hand, and making a plan.  Start with the goals you want to achieve then focus on where you are now.  What steps are necessary to get you from where you are to where you want to be?  Put those steps in the basic terms and then prepare to focus and meet each step with gusto!  Before you know it your goals are within reach and are being achieved.

We would like you to keep CAISO in mind when it comes to any goals you are setting for your New Year.  Whether it is promoting a new business product launch, unique marketing approaches, planning the Wedding of your dreams, or organizing the celebration of a lifetime – WE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE in helping you make the most of the opportunity at hand.  Contact us and achieve a greater level of success in 2013!  Happy New Year!

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While it is likely a time filled with more than your schedule can handle and a bit of stress over unwrapped presents and such, let us have your thoughts for a minute and turn them toward 2013.  It is always important to look ahead and to be focusing on the future when your competition has their hands full in the “now”.  So, there is no better time than this to turn your attention to how you can build your brand and advertise in a fresh way in the New Year.

No matter your business, your product or your brand we would suggest you consider how CAISO can be a part of your reaching a new and wider audience and do so in a way that will make sure they remember you.  CAISO has a long history of helping businesses launch their new product lines or inject a fresh energy into their brand.  Whether it is a performance to bring a bit of the Caribbean sun into a restaurant that is surrounded by the cold and snow during a promotion or a performance to enhance the concept of a Bridal Fair show pushing honeymoon wear or honeymoon travel bookings – our band can make the difference.

Not only is a booking with CAISO the difference you need to make your marketing successful but we are budget friendly for small businesses.  We can arrange our band size and performance to fit your marketing and advertising budget. 

We also do original recorded music for businesses and jingles for radio and television promotions.

In addition, we have advertising space on our site at very affordable rates for 1, 3 or 6 month bookings.  You will reach a wide national audience as well a highly concentrated number of DC area Brides and Wedding Planners.  Along with an advertising space we will promote your business through our blog posts and social media accounts when you book one of our advertising spaces on our site.

If you keep pursuing the same old paths to reach potential customers and build your brand you will keep getting the same results.  The economy calls for a fresh outlook and effort.  If you want to outstep your competition and expand your reach to customers and be long remembered, then contact us!  Ask how we can help your marketing campaigns in 2013 be explosively successful for we have the experience to make it happen!

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Culturally Mixed Wedding Planning: 8 Tips to Create a Beautiful Ceremony

Planning a wedding? Are you and your fiancé are from different cultures? The most important aspect is to consider blending wedding traditions from both cultures to create a splendid wedding and reception. 

As you begin planning consider that most wedding traditions include culture, race, heritage, and religious components. It is important to decide which traditions mean the most to you and you partner.

Your family matters, (especially if they are the ones paying for the wedding) but this can be a hinderance due to difference of opinion of your wedding.  Creating a wedding that demonstrates respect for both cultures can be done and be absolutely fabulous.

First things first, sit down a talk to your fiancé about which traditions are most important to you.  Then consider the budget, date, venue, and fancey frills.  Communication is key, be open about what to include in the ceremony, be mutually respectful of each others opinions.

Next, talk with both of your families (it may be best to do this separately) to consider their advice in the ceremony planning.  Let them know that you would like to respect family traditions and combine them in the planning process.

8 Tips to Consider when planning a culturely mixed wedding:

1. Invitations: Send out two sets of invitations.
2. Venue: Consider a neutral site such as Park, Ballroom, Scenic Clubhouse, or non-relegious location.
3. Decor: Set up should include both cultures. Make your families feel good by using flowers and candles as centerpieces that represent both cultures.
4. Programs: Use 2 sets in same style and theme. Bride and Groom could write a personal note on the bottom in each program to demonstrate their respective culture.
5. Music: Use a mix of music from both cultures, instrumental music can provide seamless transitions and set an endearing climate.
6. Reading: Alternate reading in both languages as part of the ceremony.  Consider saying the vows in both languages so that the family and friends understand completely.
7. Reception: Plan seating so that people sit with someone they can communicate with and enjoy the festive occassion.
8. Menu: Getting the right food for everyone is a awesome task. Try buffet style to have two separate stations catering to both cultures. Or if you are using a menu, have options designed around both cultures. Find a caterer in your area to help you plan the best meal for your reception.

Remember, every couple is different, your wedding is about you and your spouse.  It is the beginning of a journey in matrimony that will take you to places you have never been.  Merge your style, values, and characteristics together to create a beautiful and unique event that collaborates both cultures.

For more great information visit http://www.CaisoSteelBand.com

 

 

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Welcome to the Cyber Home of the Famous C.A.I.S.O. Steeldrum Band

Thank you for visiting the cyber home of C.A.I.S.O. - the hottest steeldrum band in the surrounding DC and Baltimore area.  C.A.I.S.O. music draws from Calypso, Soca, Reggae, and Latin Jazz influences.  This combination brings the right variety in a band that can certainly make an event special. 

 

The Famous C.A.I.S.O. Steeldrum Band brings their easy going music of the Caribbean to your event along with the Professionalism of a Band that has been performing and entertaining for over 30 years.  From headlining concert events, opening for nationally known touring bands, turning a wedding into a true celebration, to branding and promoting a product or company - C.A.I.S.O. is the right choice for your celebration!

Just as the right background music makes a movie that much better, it also makes a party a success.  We bring the sunny feeling of the Caribbean as a background to your event.  For a festive musical atmosphere that will provide the right background music for your celebration, you have to choose a Band that knows how to not only perform but entertain as well.  Booking C.A.I.S.O. shows that you care about your event and your guests.  They may not remember the decorations, or the variety of the menu, but they WILL remember how your party made them feel.  C.A.I.S.O. brings the steel drum music of the Caribbean to your event to punctuate that this is a special one, a celebration, one to be remembered.  There will be smiles, swaying shoulders, a carefree mood, and a festive atmosphere brought together by the professional vibes of a Band that wants your event to be as successful as you do!

Hit the play button, stay awhile, and cruise around our site.  Here you can find a portal to easily book us for your event or request a free quote.  Read comments from a few of our MANY satisfied customers and learn more about the history of C.A.I.S.O.  You can join us on facebook, follow us on Twitter, check out our upcoming performances, buy our latest CD, find a cool shirt to sport about town (YES! It will make you COOL!), and keep up with our latest news through our blog posts. 

To bring a bit of C.A.I.S.O. to your everyday, which is sure to make you have a better one, you can download a few ring-tones for your mobile phone.  So, cruise around our site, and then go ahead and contact us - we'd love to make your event special.  We are happy to entertain at events in the DC-Baltimore area, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and surrounding West Virginia territory.  Let C.A.I.S.O. be a part of your plans and send your guests home with the feeling that it truly was everything you wanted it to be - a wondrous, joyful, and happy celebration! 

Please stay awhile and read through our blog posts below:

Jingle Campaigns Can Help Your Business: 7 Musings about Jingle Marketing

  Check out my recent Jingle for Smoothie King Crofton:

Smoothie King Crofton Jingle

 

1. What is the Hardest Job in the World?

Being a Small Business Owner is one of the hardest jobs in the world (really!). Earning customers business, cold calling clients, closing deals can be challenging. Earning peoples business can be rewarding, however it doesn't just happen without peaking their interest & earning their trust. Jingles are part of marketing methods to create public awareness of your product/services and generate new sales for your business.

2. Getting people to take notice of your Product/Service.

Okay yes we play SteelDrums (aka SteelPans), so when we perform in public we know we are introducing a lot people to the instrument we love. But what if you don't play SteelPan and have a great product or service to sell to your targeted market? Jingles can be a great way to attract new customers to your business. Most jingle composers incorporate upbeat grooves in major keys to give people happy feelings versus minor keys which can invoke anger or sad emotions. It's a method to jingle writing which incorporates company marketing objectives with lyrics and music arrangements. 

3. Social Media can help me, right?

Yes it can. It's a free, fast way to send advertising messages to people in your target market. It can be a great way to promote what you're selling as long as you don't bore people or bombard them with the same message over and over. You've got to leave an impression that gets people excited about your product/service. Social media can be time consuming, but their are ways to make it efficient, thereby increasing its effectiveness. All businesses should incorporate social media into their marketing strategy and there are ways to automate posts, tweets, and updates like putting it on  cruise control (Ask Mike for more details and free initial consultations).

4. Do I need a Jingle for my business?

You plan on advertising on radio or TV? Want to put music on your website? Then you may want to pay a pro to compose the jingle for you. Consider this, if you can name the product to the jingle then imagine what that jingle did for the companies bottom line. Think about the message you want to get across and relay it to the jingle composer so they mix the music & words together to make a hit  and get your cash register ringing.

5. Jingle Guidelines.

Clients give jingle composers guidelines during jingle creation mode. Somethings to keep in mind are the following:

• How long should the jingle be (i.e. 15, 30, or 60 second spot)
• the lyrics to use during the jingle 
• The style of music- depends on the product or service   

A good jingle writer will incorporate the tips mentioned above and personal qualities from the next musing to make a good jingle.

6. Qualities of a good Jingle writer.

A good jingle writer is:

1. Creative
2. Works well under pressure
3. Collaborates well with others
4. Takes direction from others
5. Understand advertising
6. Good musicianship and songwriting ability
7. Awareness of music theory 
8. Access to quality recording equipment, studio, and sound engineer

7. What else should I know about Jingles?

Cost- this could range from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending on how big the client is and their budget. Some jingle writers are freelancers, some are musicians in a group or solo act. As with most business interactions, do your due diligence regarding the quality of work before you hire anyone to do a job. Start with a small project in order to get an idea of the jingle writers work ethic and jingle quality.

Get a FREE 30 second Jingle by subscribing to our Youtube channel:

CAISO SteelDrum Band Youtube channel

Hear samples of the Jingles we've done!

 For more great information about the Steelpan instrument you can visit my SteelBand Music and Current Event Blog at http://www.CaisoSteelBand.com

From Michael "The SteelPan Guy" King Jr.- Caiso SteelBand Booking Manager