|
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. |
