Drum Fantasy Camp Steve Smith Jay Oliver Dave Weckl Peter Erskine Chrissi Poland Tommy Igoe and the Birdland Big Band

Steven Orkin

OMC president Steven Orkin has established a unique place in the music industry; almost as unique as the path that got him there. A former advertising agency executive who started his career in corporate marketing, Orkin uses his skills to help musicians navigate the business side of their careers.

After earning a degree in English literature at the University of Cincinnati, Orkin began his career behind the news desk at television stations in Cincinnati and Cleveland. He wrote and co-produced hundreds of news stories and also coordinated an original news project called “News Neighbors.” The project’s purpose was to gather and report more positive stories about urban neighborhoods.

After nearly two years in television, Orkin accepted a marketing position at MBNA Corporation, then the world's largest independent issuer of credit cards. It was at MBNA where Orkin's liberal arts background came face-to-face with an untapped business sensibility.

At MBNA, Orkin learned the business of direct response and customer relationship marketing. He helped grow many of MBNA’s affinity credit card programs through direct mail, telemarketing, direct promotions and advertising. This created a foundation of business acumen that would allow the more creative side to come through.

After four years with MBNA, Orkin moved into an account management position at Wyse Advertising. Orkin gained a wide range of strategic marketing experience working with a major electric utility, B2B publishing companies, a retail jewelry chain, and more.

After three years with Wyse, Orkin was invited to join a small business-to-business marketing communications firm. The firm was eventually bought by a larger agency and Orkin, along with most of the employees who came over from the smaller firm, was laid off.

Just a week before losing his job, Orkin had won a new account for the agency. Upon hearing of the layoffs, the company expressed an interest in staying with Orkin. Starting with this one client, Orkin decided to begin consulting.

While prospecting for new business, Orkin came upon the Web site of legendary drummer Dave Weckl. Orkin came up with ideas for Weckl's instructional products and e-mailed the drummer a detailed plan. They next thing he knew, he was pitching the ideas to Weckl directly at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.

Since then, Orkin has completed wide-ranging work for Weckl, plus drummers Steve Smith, Peter Erskine, Tommy Igoe, and Joel Rosenblatt. He has also worked with jazz pianist Jay Oliver, guitarist Peter Mayer (Jimmy Buffett), violinist Christian Howes, singer Chrissi Poland, and many others.

In 2007, Orkin launched Drum Fantasy Camp. The camp featured Weckl, Smith, and several other world-class drummers teaching intimate master classes and performing. More than 90 people from all over the world attended.

The camp has become an annual event, providing an incredible experience for campers and a rewarding teaching experience for many of Orkin's clients.

Orkin is driven by the social and spiritual consciousness of music. He feels that many musicians are vulnerable in the business world; that they need an advocate.

This is the mission of Orkin Marketing Consultants.

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Drum Fantasy Camp

2009 Recap Video