A big thanks goes to Dwayne Parker, reporter for Channel 69 news.

Read the article on www.wfmz.com

Design a logo for the new Reading arts district called Ricktown Arts District.

The Ricktown Planning Committee seeks an artist to create our logo. The Ricktown project is a new and ambitious project that will transform the lives of artists by making our communities and city a better place to live through the power of the arts.

What is Ricktown?
The Ricktown Arts District is an initiative to transform a nine-square-block area north of the Goggle Works into a viable and sustainable mixed-income, mixed-use neighborhood through a focused effort to:

Improve streetscape conditions, property values and tax revenues Focus on cleanliness, safety and engagement of citizens Concentrate on the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing Integrate artist housing and “live-above-the-store” studio space Encourage and support economic development initiatives to create a sustainable, walkable, functioning urban neighborhood Enhance the quality of life in the neighborhood, City and Greater Reading community.

Geography: 4th to Front and Washington to Buttonwood

Why is it called Ricktown?
In the mid to late 1800’s four Rick brothers owned most of the land from 4th to Front St and from Washington to Greenwich. The Rick brothers started many businesses and built much of the housing in an area that encompasses a part of the 6th ward. This tract included several breweries, foundries, manufacturing plants and is an ideal place to begin a neighborhood transformation.

Submission Guidelines:

Logo should embody the Ricktown mission statement: To cultivate the Renaissance and revitalization of Reading’s Ricktown neighborhood through arts and culture, community engagement, and sustainable development.

Logo will be used on websites, various printed formats from business cards to posters, packaging and other print publications. The logo should be effective in both black and white and color.

Submit up to 3 concepts in PDS or EPS format. Optional: Fonts can be converted to paths and Pantone colors should be included, if known.

Overall design should be limited to a maximum of four colors.

By submitting the winning design, you recognize that the Ricktown Arts District will own the design and all associated rights.

Use of any copyrighted logos, fonts or slogans that require a license to reproduce will disqualify your submission.

How to Submit: To submit your artwork, please email files to reading.ricktown@gmail.com and include the following information:

First Name
Last Name
Address
City/State/Zip
Phone
Email
Website:

If applicable Optional: Artist Bio (one paragraph limit)

Deadlines: January 31, 2011: submission deadline of 1-3 concepts in PDF or EPS format

February 3, 2011: The Planning Committee will select the 3 most effective designs and vote on their favorite.

February 4, 2011: The winning artist will be notified by email. The new name and logo will appear on the website as soon as it is completed. The winning artist will be credited for the new design on the website and the arts district will introduce the new logo in key media outlets.

The winning artist will receive:

1) Fame and glory
2) Your logo/name displayed on the Ricktown website with a link to your website or contact
3) Recognition for your donation through a media blast
4) $100 honorarium

Thoughts on Design: The logo should work well on a small scale (such as letterhead and return envelopes) as well as large scale (posters). It should have a clear gray scale version (for less expensive production) as well as a 4-color version (perhaps even a 2-color version). There might be a purely graphic version, one version with a simple “R” or “RAD”, and one version with “Ricktown Arts District” depending on scale. The color scheme is open but please keep in mind, reproduction and 4-color maximum.

The logo should be distinct and clear in its design so that upon seeing the logo, someone will think “Ricktown Arts District”.

We thank you in advance for your submission.

Ricktown Planning Committee – reading.ricktown@gmail.com

GRYP has grown tremendously in the past couple of years and it shows in both attendance and the effort members are putting forth to grow the organization. This particular event showcased the various committees that make up the Greater Reading Young Professionals. Each committee had an area where they explained what the committee does and how members can help.

Interested in attending a GRYP event? A complete schedule of events can be found on their website.

Goggle Works administration is looking for opinions on the top 5 ideas in the list of 50. Which ideas do you feel would work best for promoting and raising awareness of the Goggle Works? Feel free to post ideas in the comments box or email them to bryan@bmullconsulting.com.

50 Ways to Help the Goggle Works - Alan Shirk, Shirk Communications

1. Art Happy Hour. Perhaps with wine-tasting, dance music.

2. Install caboose on section of railroad tracks behind glass studio. Paint it bright colors (ala glassworks). Reading Technical society, which has a new museum in Hamburg, would probably help since it is great visibility for them and our railroad heritage. Plus-take a Ride on the Reading.

3. Paint This Neighborhood. Have summer camp kids, Lauer’s Park students, Olivets, YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, etc. join in helping neighbors to spruce up the GoggleWorks neighborhood.

4. Join with Community School of Music and the Arts-our major tenant-to offer dance classes at the GoggleWorks-ballroom, C&W, oldies, etc.

5. Create a Wall of Contributors and/or Wall of Members somewhere in the building. People could autograph it, put up and sign their own handprint. Or we could do a photo montage of portraits.

6. Put lights between the two buildings (Thorn street). Put lights in the crosswalk windows.

7. Replace the temporary sign on the roof with neon. Perhaps a co-op deal with a local sign company. Perhaps the sign company could start a neon school at the GoggleWorks.

8. Pre-1960 cartoon festival. Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, etc. We all need to laugh.

9. Finally place permanent signs at the elevators on the first floors. “Through this door, please explore, our second, third, fourth and fifth floors.”

10. Pa. Dutch Art Tour staring at the GoggleWorks-visitors would pay to see memories of Updike, Stevens, Bertoia, John Phillip Sousa, Michael Constantine, other sites and attractions, museum, Hopewell, Pagoda.

11. Consider joining all the other arts councils in Pennsylvania for cross-promotion, good will and other advantages. Why not host a PA arts council or state councils meeting?

12. Create annual 2 or 3-day Arts Expo at the GoggleWorks featuring arts suppliers, unique/unusual arts, aspiring musicians, celebrities and events also designed to encourage the public to attend.

13. Start a Berks and/or regional weekend workshop for art teachers. This could also offer art teachers a chance to show parents what their children are being taught and how we can help our children learn.

14. College Arts Career Fair-Berks and regional institutions.

15. Sponsor an Art Attack program similar to what David Guest ran at the Berks County Arts Council’s Gallery 20 in West Reading. Let him do it.

16. Do some coop exhibits with other local galleries, etc. Perhaps a single exhibit could include works at the GoggleWorks, Freedman, the Museum, etc. That way people would be encouraged to go to different places and allow us to greatly expand the scope of our exhibits. That might allow us to bring in bigger pieces.

17. Bring in experts in their fields with a connection to art, graphics, etc. For example, how do they detect counterfeit money, how easy is it to copy an undetectable version of a Van Gogh, what does it take to restore paintings, etc. Sort of like “How Do They Do It?” on TV.

18. Start a local academic talk series bringing in expert professors from our own local colleges whose skills and talents may go largely unrecognized. Perhaps panel discussions. This could be a lunch, or a Saturday morning, or a Sunday afternoon series.

19. Set up a special campaign to collect money to fix the elevator in the western corner. Instead of asking for general contributions at the front desk, perhaps we could target the elevator. Create a large wooden animal (in our woodshop), the GoggleWorks Gator with a large plastic stomach where children and parents could drop in money. I think giving kids the opportunity to think they are contributing directly would be good. Or make it some less expensive and more reachable item.

20. Prominently display our wish list where people can see it as they enter or leave. Spread the word among tenants, etc. about special things we need.

21. Blockbuster events. How about a Tony Curtis art exhibit with a Tony Curtis film festival? The goal of course to break even or make money. Why not shoot for the moon.

22. Show free cartoons, Westerns, serials etc. for on Saturday mornings. I think we could ask for donations.

23. Hold a conference for art/movie critics (newspapers, TV, radio). Pack it with good content, charge accordingly. One thing this will do, of course, is exposing the GoggleWorks to the media. Perhaps we could bring in people the caliber of Robert Osborne from TCM.

24. Create a small non-paid arts advisory board-educator, working artist, art institution, volunteer.

25. Encourage art teachers to spend some of their sabbaticals volunteering or working here.

26. Offer periodic lectures by locals or out-of-towners about famous Berks people in the arts and entertainment.

27. Try to land a major high-end film symposium.

28. Obtain a liquor license.

29. Establish a Friday or Saturday night World Café, perhaps tie in with WXPN.

30. See if we could partner with WFMZ, which is right across the street, to create an additional TV show, perhaps a half-hour and hosted by Gene Burkhart. This would expand our reach into the Lehigh Valley. WFMZ has been good to our community and us.

31. If it becomes available, consider broadcasting BCTV annual fund raiser from the GoggleWorks.

32. Possible Events-coin/currency shows, antique shows, collectibles events, stamp shows, comics, etc. provided our rental rates are competitive and we don’t compete with Expo Center.

33. PBS appraisal show here or imitation thereof. Bring in a high-caliber appraise like Noel Barrett. Perhaps we could use our WHYY connection.

34. Start a Berks art Hall of Fame.

35. Greatly expand our list of media for news releases. (Only about 50 as of 2/11/09)

36. Contact all NEA high school art teachers in Pennsylvania. A list like this is available, roughly half of names have e-mails. So it would cost next to nothing. Encourage them to visit, offer free 6-month membership.

37. Conference on the state of funding of the arts-local, state and national. Bring in someone like Jane Alexander?

38. Boy Scouts have art, graphic arts and music merit badges. The Girl Scouts and Brownies have several art and music. We could help them win them. A GoggleWorks chapter?

39. Let’s make our annual September gala more public. Have music on all 5 floors, bring in food vendors and let them take full responsibility, have working artists, other party activities/games, Reading police (in a positive way), etc. etc. Sort of like Holly Go-Lightly’s party in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. We could charge admission, do silent auctions, etc.

40. Produce an ongoing “An Art Moment” in cooperation with WEEU. This could talk about specific GoggleWorks, events, other important county art events, art in general. I’m sure we could do a trade off.

41. Arts sleepovers for kids. Or rent out space for art sleepovers-birthday parties, graduations, sweet 16, etc. Overnight Art Camp.

42. Set up an arts incubator fund with local businesses. Use contributions to buy supplies for schools, etc. This would not have to be expensive things, but basic items-even pencils and papers.

43. Add a countywide arts calendar to the GoggleWorks website. This has been a frustrating problem for so many years. The goal would be to give everyone a central place where they could find out what events might be taking place on a day they want to schedule one. Somewhat similar to Visit PA but much simpler. Say-Sunday, November 16. Reading Symphony Concert. Call 610-trumpet. Have it so that people could list their own events pending approval.

44. Build an art library-donated books-for art students K-12. Work with the Berks Libraries.

45. Convert the front part of the large room on the second floor to a “reading area” with comfortable furniture (donated) warm lighting. Could also rent this out for small, intimate meetings, other special events. Name it after a major contributor, famous Berks arts person, etc.

46. Have energy conservation with teeth.

47. Communicate much more strongly the need for everyone who works or visits the GoggleWorks to do everything they can as individuals to reduce costs. Offer a free class/free gift shop item to the best cost-saving idea of the month.

48. Think alternative energy. (A Paoli, PA consultant has promised to put together a basic proposal on the feasibility of solar power for the GoggleWorks. I will deliver that to all board members as soon as I receive it. Tim Lash has been extremely helpful with this.)

49. Create an annual wacky event that could involve students from the Berks colleges, other art organizations, the public etc. Something like a bed race with the beds decorated in the style of major artists-Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Warhol, etc. Could limit this to the parking lot or our neighborhood.

50. A suggestion box. People can sign or remain anonymous. Those visitors with the best suggestion (month?) who have signed their name can be given an award.

Small videos can show your customers (or potential customers) how to do something. For example, I am working with an online shelving retailer to create a “how to hang a shelf” video series explaining the basics of properly hanging a shelf in various applications. These videos will help educate customers and draw new customers looking for help hanging a shelf. In the past this could have been accomplished using photos and text, but why not show a video? If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine the value of a video clip.

Another great use of online video is to show production capabilities. BMull Consulting is working with a steel company to produce several short videos showing their in-house production capabilities. These videos will be used on their website. Online capability videos have been around for years, but it’s yet another way that businesses are using video to enhance their online presence.

Video business cards are an increasingly popular form of online video marketing. These videos are 15-30 seconds in length and have a short dialogue featuring a spokesperson from the company. Video business cards are typically shot using a green screen to allow video editors to remove the background. The end result is an “interactive” business card. Here is a example video business card for BMull Consulting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR4hhqE1lBs

If used properly, you can get a lot of mileage out of one video business card. One short video could be used on:

• Facebook & MySpace pages
• Embedded video on your website pages
• YouTube, Flickr, or Vimeo
• Email signatures – include a link to your video business card
• TV commercials

A great idea would be for the Reading Berks Chamber to create an online directory of video business cards for Reading Chamber members. Members could view videos of other members to get a feel for their company. Sure enough, I heard something similar is in the works.

Production costs for video business cards start at $695 with many features and upgrades available. Contact Bryan Mull today for more information or to schedule your video business card shoot at our studio in downtown Reading, PA.

By email at bryan@bmullconsulting.com or by phone at (800) 918-4828.

T-Bone and Al Jax Ween Poster

Tony and Allen are an extremely talented graphic design/illustration duo that has assisted me with numerous projects over the years. They currently own a video production studio located in Reading, PA where they write and produce their own sketch comedy show.

Congratulations Tony and Allen! See more examples of T-Bone and Aljaxx poster designs.

It was October of 2008 when I first heard about the Reading Berks Chamber looking to redesign their website. I was honored when the Chamber marketing committee asked me to come in and talk about ideas for pod casting and using multimedia on the new website. It was apparent that the Reading Chamber was looking to do more online. Armed with ideas and a plan, the Chamber set forth to redesign their website and upgrade their online presence.

Redesigned by Launch Dynamic Media of Wyomissing, PA, the new Chamber of Commerce website looks great and is easy to navigate. Most people join the Chamber looking to expand their contact list by networking. The new Chamber website has a dedicated section for networking and events. This is something I suggested in my meeting and I am glad to see this carry over. For those of you that are involved with business networking, the chamber is now offering video clips of recent networking events.

One of the coolest new features of the Chamber website is the video testimonials from members. It looks like the Chamber is allowing members to produce short video commercials about their business explaining the benefits of joining the Reading Chamber of Commerce. Very cool indeed and I look forward to more testimonials in the future.

It’s great to see the Greater Reading Chamber or Commerce step things up by redesigning their website to better serve members. Congratulations goes to Rob Wolf and the entire team at Launch Dynamic Media for putting together a great website.

I live in the Reading Pennsylvania area and I work with local businesses. One of the first initiatives a new (or existing) business does when they want to ramp up marketing is join the Greater Reading Berks Chamber of Commerce. Joining the local chamber of commerce shows that you care about the status of your business and want to be part of the local business community.

Joining (or re-joining) the chamber comes with a few perks that a lot of local members often overlook. Here are my top ten ways to utilize your Greater Berks Chamber of Commerce membership benefits when joining.

1.) Free radio spot on WEEU
WEEU is offers free 15-second spots of radio advertising to new chamber members.

2.) Free print ad in Reading Eagle
Pennsylvania law requires new business owners to run at least one print ad in a business publication. Your free Reading Eagle ad counts as your first official print advertisement in a business publication. Plus it’s free. Why not use it?

3.) Free print ad in Berks Mont
Berks Chamber members also receive one free ad in Berks Mont, La Voz, or other related publications. You have to act quickly on this offer since it expires within a few months of joining the chamber.

4.) Ribbon cutting ceremony
This is a great way to kick off a new office or retail location. The chamber will visit your location and take a photo of you with a large ribbon ready to be cut. They place the photo in the chamber newsletter to announce your new business.

5.) Mention in chamber newsletter
As I mentioned above, your ribbon cutting ceremony photo is placed in the chamber newsletter. From what I recall, the chamber places a text listing of your business when you first join. Once the ribbon cutting ceremony is complete, they they mention your business again when they print the photo.

6.) Free gift certificate for learning seminar
Each new chamber member receives a $50 gift certificate to attend one of the ongoing educational seminars hosted by the Greater Berks Chamber of Commerce. The seminars cover a variety of topics and are held on a regular basis. The schedule can be found on the Berks Chamber website.

7.) Access to the PRP program
In addition to a free learning seminar, the Reading Berks Chamber allows members to take advantage of their Professional Resource Program (PRP). The program provides a free consultation with another member of the chamber that has expertise in the area you are looking for. I myself have met with two companies to answer their questions about redesigning their website so I know there are good consultants available through the program.

8.) Listing on chamber website
The Berks Chamber has an online membership directory that allows members to list their business name and contact information. Every new chamber member should take advantage of this free online listing.

9.) Deals on advertising specials
WEEU, Reading Eagle, and Berks County Living will offer you a deal on advertising when you join the Reading Chamber. This can result in big savings if you planning on doing a local advertising campaign.

10.) Attend networking events
I left this one for last because it’s usually the first benefit people see from joining the chamber. Networking can be a great way to meet new business colleagues. I would definitely recommend attending a minimum of three chamber networking events each year.

If you have any of your own tips for using your Reading Chamber benefit, feel free to post them in the comments section.