A Little Lower Than The Angels - Rick L. James - News & Videos

"Half-Way" Live in Concert 12-27-09

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Rick is at the piano. His mom, dad, and sister are singing harmony with him.

"Mary's Song" IN Concert 12-27-09

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Jesus Took My Blues Away In Concert 12-27-09

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

A Different Kind Of Christmas

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

It may seem a bit early to be talking about Christmas but I am writing you about a matter that is close to my heart because I believe it is near God’s heart, and it has to do with Christmas this year. Every day people all around the world die from a lack of clean water. Those of us who live in the United States take for granted that we can simply turn on a tap and have water in our homes to drink, bathe, and do dishes, laundry, cook, and so many other things.

Can you imagine waking up today and not knowing if you will have any water to drink, and knowing bathing would be entirely out of the question? Can you imagine watching your children dehydrate in front of you and not be able to do anything about it? Many people in the world don’t have to imagine because it happens to them every day.

Now think of this. Americans spend $450 billion dollars every Christmas. Did you know that only $10 billion dollars would supply the whole world with clean water? I want to encourage all of you to visit this web site http://www.adventconspiracy.org and watch the 2 minute video on what you can do to help bring change this Christmas. It is not asking you for money, just to think about giving more PRESENCE and less PRESENTS.

Let’s put our heads together and think about what God would have us do this year. I personally am available for fund-raiser concerts for any churches/organizations/neighborhoods that would be serious about making Christmas different this year. Let’s think and pray about what God would have us do.

Blessings,

Rick L. James

www.rickjamesmusic.net

Successful Concert Promotion Tips

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Thinking of promoting Rick L James in concert, but don't have a clue as to how to start or when to start? Maybe the following information will get you started in the right direction. If you need to talk, feel free to call us at 937-206-1146. We'll be happy to discuss the ins and outs of concert promotion with you.

Tips on Successful Concert Promotion

Word of Mouth

1. The most important thing you can do is to start a "word of mouth" campaign immediately.

2. Get on the phone and call as many churches as you can and ask them to put the concert on their calendars. Ask if you can send posters to put up in their church to advertise the concert. THIS IS VERY EFFECTIVE AND HELPS GET THE BUZZ GOING. DO THIS RIGHT AWAY. The support of churches and youth pastors is vital. Call them, bug them, and mail them!

3. In the meantime, you want to have all your posters and flyers printed including a picture of Rick, stating time, date location, and ticket price. Send them to the churches you have already called. You will also need the flyers to send to a mailing list of previous concert attendees, churches and bookstores. This leads us to the next step, which is bulk mailing. This is the lifeblood of a successful concert.

The Promotional Countdown
14 weeks prior to the concert.

1. Make arrangements to do a direct mail campaign. You should try to mail to 25 - 1000 churches and individuals in order to saturate the market.

2. It is vital that your mailings arrive at least six weeks prior to the concert. When sending a mailing of this size you can get a bulk rate discount. Use your churches non-profit permit to get the lowest postal rate possible. You must give the post office substantial amount of time to ensure your mailing arrives on the determined schedule, remember, bulk mail usually takes at least three weeks to be fully delivered.

3. Set up ticket sales at bookstores and churches. List them on your promotional materials, inform all outlets that you will pick up the receipts and excess tickets no later than the day before the concert. Inform your stores that even if they sell all their allotted tickets, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should they tell their customers the concert is sold out unless you personally tell them so.

4. Have your tickets printed. (Often the cost of this will be absorbed by a local business in exchange for using their logo on the back. You might even work a deal whereby the ticket stub is used as a discount coupon for their customers.)

5. Contact the local Christian radio station about advertising. Get rates and ask for discounts and special promotion policies. Explore all public service announcements

12 weeks prior to the concert

Distribute all promotional materials and tickets to outlets. Be sure to get receipts and carefully log ticket dispersal so a proper accounting can easily be made when you settle.

6 weeks prior to the concert

1. Recruit or hire crew to help with concert (load-in, ushers, ticket takers, load-out).

2. Send announcements to all free publications (activities calendars, church bulletins, newspapers, radio, TV, cable shows, schools, youth programs, etc.).

3. Your mailing should have arrived by this time. Check with people on your list to see when they received theirs.

4 weeks prior to the concert

1. Start Christian radio advertising. You should buy 60-second spots to run four times a day Monday through Friday for at least four weeks prior to the concert. Also, have the station do a ticket give-away (about 10 pairs per station) and offer tickets to the station employees.

2. Artists radio interviews should be scheduled and approved by this time.

3. Make arrangements for counseling materials to be available and plans for follow-up counseling. Check with local pastors who might be available for the evening or to disciple and counsel as part of your follow-up efforts.

3 weeks prior to the concert

1. Send press releases to the religion and entertainment editors of all local newspapers. Keep them short and to the point with a name and number to call for more information

2. Check tickets every three days. Redistribute tickets if necessary. No outlet should be allowed to run out of tickets if other outlets still have them.

The week of the concert

1. Be sure that all ticket monies and/or tickets are picked up from the outlets no later than the day prior to the concert. This will give you enough time to make an accounting of all tickets sold at advance and group rates. Group rates will not be applicable at the door nor should any tickets not already paid for be held at the door. It is not uncommon for people to call ask you to hold 30 tickets, and then not show up or appear with just a few people.

2. If you have not already discussed arrival times and last minutes details with Rick or his road manager, call him to confirm appropriate arrangements.

3. Be sure to have hotels reserved and prepaid in the artist’s name. There is often confusion at the desk so be sure that artist’s name is correctly spelled out, and if possible, a confirmation number is assigned and given to the road manager.

4. Have meals or food money (per Diems) arranged.

The day of the concert

1. Be sure that your crew will be there at the pre-determined time. The hall manager should have the building open and ready for set-up

2. Brief ushers and staff on their duties at least two hours before concert time. Photographs and Video Cameras Are permitted but Rick asks that the photos be shared with him on on Facebook, Myspace, of Email rickjames@rickjamesmusic.net for grassroots promotional purposes.

3. Meet with Rick or road manager to cover details on set-up and load out as well as sound check, etc.

4. Have tables set up at the rear of the auditorium and several people available to help with sales of records and T-shirts etc.

5. Have an expense record sheet completed (door sales can be added following the concert) and receipts on hand so you can settle up quickly if percentages are involved.

6. Meal(s) for artists and crew

7. Prayer time with artists, crew and counselors usually takes place an hour or so prior to the concert. Doors usually open to the public 30 to 45 minutes before concert time

8. Pass out mailing list cards to get the name and address of all that attended so you can send flyers to them in the future.

After the concert

1. Please be sure that enough crewmembers are present to help artists with load out

2. Send thank you notes to all volunteers and counselors

3. Pay all your bills

Other Important Promotional Ideas

1. Pass out flyers at other Christian concerts that are before your concert

2. Get local business to sponsor the concert by putting their name on all advertising in exchange for cash or free hotel rooms, etc.

3. Telemarketing (calling every church) is free and very effective

Other Facets of Effective Concert Promotion

Research: Always asks questions, gather information, meet people learn more about your market.
Quantity: Enough has to be done to let all potential attendees know of this event. Many avenues must be pursued to make sure no stone is left unturned.
Frequency & Distribution: If you wait until the last six days to bombard the market, it is too late. People plan their "free time" weeks and months ahead. Must give your audience plenty of advance notice.

Daily Devotions

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Rick L. James Fan Club

Ring tones and Rick L. James Trio concert November 8th

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

I just wanted to take a moment to make you aware of some more ways
that you can help out my music ministry. groupietunes.com has made
several of the songs on my newest CD, "A Little Lower Than The
Angels" available as cell phone ring tones. If you are interested you
can simply paste this address into you web browser
http://www.groupietunes.com/artists/RickLJames and download for $2.99
a song.

Also, I just added a last minute gig this coming Saturday night at
the Mustard Seed Cafe in West Jefferson. I think the show will start
at 7:00pm and I will be accompanied by Brandon Sipes on drums and
Shawn Alex on Bass guitar. Should be a fun night. I'm not sure if
there is a cover charge but I'll get that information out to you as
soon as I find out. The address is at the end of this Email. It's a
great venue and I expect it to be quite a fun night.

Blessings,
Rick L. James

www.rickjamesmusic.net

Saturday November 8th, 2008
The Mustard Seed Cafe
18 West Main Street
West Jefferson, Ohio 43162
Ph: 614-879-9251
http://www.judah.com/mustardseed/

Sunday, November 9th, 2008
London Church of the Nazarene -
http://www.londonnazarene.com/index.html
Revival Services with Claude Nicholas - Nov. 9th, 11th, and 12th
224 Elm Street
London, OH 43140
USA
(740) 852-3498

Rick will be leading music with evangelist Claude Nicholas.

Sunday, December 21st, 2008
High Street Church of the Nazarene
Rick L. James Christmas Worship Service
1625 E. High Street
Springfield, OH 45505
USA
937-325-5140

Rick will be leading an acoustic Christmas worship service on the
morning service.

Sunday, December 21st, 2008
High Street Church of the Nazarene
Rick L. James band Christmas Concert - 6:00pm
1625 E. High Street
Springfield, OH 45503
USA
937-325-5140

The Rick L. James Band will be performing a concert for the Christmas
Dinner at High Street Church of the Nazarene.

Back from Africa

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Hello my friends,
I want to thank you for all of the love and prayers that you lifted up to God on behalf of my ministry trip to Africa. From the beautiful landscape beneath the Ngong Hills to the heartbreaking poverty in the community of Kibera, I believe God led every step of the journey.

Every time I preached, played music, taught, and fellowshipped I sensed the closeness of the Lord with us. He people of Nairobi are a beautiful and wonderful people. Their smiles can light up the darkest room and I believe I formed lifelong friendships with many of them. I can't wait to go back again if the Lord provides the opportunity.

Now that I am back I am beginning to add more dates to my tour schedule and would love to now only share in my usual concert ministry but would love to share about what God is doing in Kenya. Well, I am going to keep this Email brief since I am still trying to get over my jetlag, just wanted to share my gratitude and joy for a renewing trip to Africa.

BTW, if you would like to see pictures from my trip they are all posted at www.myspace.com/rickjamesmusic.

In Christ,
Rick L. James

www.rickjamesmusic.net
www.myspace.com/rickjamesmusic

Africa, Day 5

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Hello everyone,
I am writing you from Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi Kenya.
This has been a really amazing experience for me, and I have nearly
two weeks left here in Africa.

On the positive side, I have met so many wonderful people, played
music with two different worship bands, fed giraffes, walked among a
family of baboons, shared morning devotional music with the
maintenance department, been to BUSY downtown Nairobi, and played
cards and fellowshipped with some incredible Africa college guys,
have spent a lot fo time wiht my parents, and have simply met some of
God’s very best people on the planet.

On the sad side, I have seen Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya. I’ve
seen people living in heartbreaking poverty with no electricity,
running water, or sewer systems. I’ve observed women and children
walking long miles to gather firewood to cook what I’m sure are
meager meals.

Please pray for the people in Africa and for the government in Kenya
will be able to find new ways to help it’s people and that corrupt
government officials would come to true repentance. Please continue
to pray for me as well since next week will begin five days of
sermons and at least one more concert here on the campus of ANU for
the students. There is a need for revival among these young people
and I sense the staff as well. I know that I don’t bring revival, I
just pray that God will use me as His mouthpiece to deliver words
that need to be heard.

Blessings,
Rick L. James

http://www.rickjamesmusic.net
http://www.myspace.com/rickjamesmusic