CLEVELAND, Ohio – October 15, 2004 – Orkin Marketing Consultants, LLC, a strategic marketing firm, announced that it has been chosen to formulate and execute marketing plans for Los Angeles-based The Players Circle, Inc. Founded in 1998 by Dave Weckl, one of the world’s leading jazz drummers, and Jay Oliver, a versatile pianist, music composer and producer, The Players Circle produces instructional products for musicians of all skill levels.

Orkin Marketing Consultants was hired to build direct Internet sales for the products, which are currently available through various retail outlets. Steven Orkin, president of the firm, has extensive direct-to-consumer experience with a combined 11 years at Cleveland-based Wyse Advertising, Akron-based Malone Advertising and Wilmington, Delaware-based MBNA Corporation.

“Being hired by The Players Circle is significant on many levels,” Orkin said. “It is a perfect fit for our direct-to-consumer and affinity marketing experience, and also shows that you don’t have to be in New York or Los Angeles to win this kind of work.”

The Player Circle’s first release, called “In Session,” is an instructional product that features an audio CD of The Dave Weckl Band’s 1998 release “Rhythm of the Soul.” Each version of the product features one instrument so drummers, keyboardists, bassists, guitarists and saxophone players can play along. The product comes with a booklet with charts and comprehensive input by the artists.

Orkin plans to publicize the products through a combination of unique consumer magazine promotions and interactive media.

“We plan to kick it off with a reality TV-style drumming contest in music industry magazines that target musicians directly,” he said. “Drummers, for example, will have the ability to compete for prizes by performing Dave Weckl Band compositions. The performances also will be available for viewing on our web site.”

Orkin, a part-time drummer in a Cleveland band, said that sticking to the fundamentals helped win this business.

“More than ever, companies want to see a precise knowledge of their industries and, specifically, their own products and services. We understood this client very well and did our homework to generate strategies they could believe in.”

“Orkin Marketing caught our attention with very concise questions about our goals and objectives,” Oliver said. “They showed a great deal of strategic leadership, something we had been needing while pursuing very busy and diverse musical careers.”

Oliver started his professional career at age 19 playing with legendary trumpet player Maynard Ferguson. He has performed with and or/composed for Glenn Frey, Jimmy Buffett, Joe Walsh, Bonnie Raitt, Wynona Judd and several jazz musicians including Weckl. While managing a commercial recording studio in St. Louis, Oliver helped launch the career of Sheryl Crow, then a schoolteacher, who approached Oliver about collaborating on various projects.

Weckl is best known for his tenure in bands headed by legendary pianist Chick Corea and his own group, The Dave Weckl Band. He also has recorded and/or performed with artists including Mike Stern, Simon and Garfunkel, George Benson, Peabo Bryson, Diana Ross, and many more.



ABOUT ORKIN MARKETING CONSULTANTS, LLC
Founded in 2002 by Steven Orkin, Orkin Marketing Consultants, LLC. (www.orkinmarketing.com) is a strategic consumer and business-to-business marketing communications firm. Mr. Orkin has 11 years of experience in consumer and business-to-business marketing, and specializes in strategic planning for customer acquisition marketing campaigns. The company is based in Solon, Ohio.

For more information about The Players Circle, Dave Weckl and Jay Oliver, please visit:

www.theplayerscircle.com 

www.daveweckl.com 

www.jayoliver.com