StoryCorps Creator David Isay talks about the ripples of hope and good that public radio creates; ultimately creating a more powerful, thoughtful and compassionate society. A StoryCorp excerpt in which a bus driver talks about a memorable passenger is used to illustrate Isay's point. He ends with "if you want public radio to thrive and survive you have to support it, there's no two ways about it." Isay's comments were recorded in an interview with VPR's Leah Hollenberger following his presentation at the Brattleboro Literary Festival Oct. 8, 2005. In addition to this feature, VPR broadcast Isay's presentation as part of their occasional lecture series "VPR Presents....."

These spots are part of the income-generating Fundraising Funnies series used by nearly fifty stations around the country. Each spot is woven around an entertaining premise that your on-air announcer can use to segue into a pledge pitch. After playing "Hamlet," for example, your announcer can say, "If Hamlet can make up his mind to pledge, so can you!" The spots are voiced by professional actors including radio veteran Richard Fish. Put Fundraising Funnies II to work in your next pledge drive. They'll keep your listeners happy, laughing, and pledging! Summaries of individual spots: (Note: The descriptions in parentheses indicate the programs or formats mentioned in the spot.) "Get the Glow" (generic): Our street reporter speaks to a couple literally glowing from the good feelings they get from making their pledge to public radio. (:42) "Hamlet" (generic) To pledge or not to pledge . . . that is the question. (:57) "One Good Reason" (news) A woman refuses to pledge until her companion gives her one good reason why she should. (:41) "Operating Room" (classical music) A surgeon won't start operating without classical music on in the background. (:45) "Overload" (Morning Edition): Due to an unprecedented number of listeners, our transmitter has overheated. To reduce demand, we ask listeners who do not value Morning Edition to turn off their radios now. (:30) "Something Nice For You" (news): Make a pledge for that special someone in your life, the one who's with you all the time--you! (:55) "Sounds of Satisfaction" (classical music): When the stress and aggravation of life make us go, "Grrrr!" it's good to have the music of public radio that makes us go, "Ahhhh." (:38) "Stickler For Accuracy" (news): He tries to convince his wife that public radio doesn't need their pledge but she's too precise to take the bait. (:48) "Survival Guide to Pledging" (generic) Minimize the hazards of pledging by taking these simple, ridiculous precautions. (:42)

Use any of these Funder Spot choices during your Classical Music Fundraising programming, and especially before or after playing any performance by Joshua Bell. Music Options for before or after the spot are listed below.

BEST PRACTICES: Choose the 2-3 spots you feel are the strongest and rotate them regularly and consistently throughout your fundraising campaign - at least once, every other hour. Using this OES strategy, your listeners will hear the most powerful messages enough times for them to resonate and inspire action.

Option 1. As a Self-Contained Spot
FUNDER MESSAGE RUNDOWN, TRANSCRIPT and TIMINGS
Music: Debussy - Beau Soir ("Voices of the Violin" SONY SK 97779)

Intro: It's said that music is the universal language, and Violinist Joshua Bell says that comes in handy when everyday language falls short.
Joshua Bell Clip: "A great song can be sad or uplifting at the same time, or beautiful and joyous yet melancholy. You can convey these subtle things through music that you actually can't through words and that's why we turn to music."
Outro: Classical Music on Public Radio is made possible by your financial support. Please contribute today. (Text out at 0:46)

SUGGESTED LIVE HOST OUTRO Please call (insert station phone number), or make your contribution online at (insert station web address). We're asking you to speak up for the music you enjoy on (insert station name). As Joshua Bell says, words sometimes fall short, but the word "contribute" means everything right now during this fund raising campaign for (insert station name). Tell us you want to contribute right now by calling (insert station phone number)...

Music...to 0:59
 
* * * * * * * * * * *
Option 2: As a Self-Contained Spot With a Longer, Live Outro
FUNDER MESSAGE RUNDOWN, TRANSCRIPT and TIMINGS
Music: Debussy - Beau Soir ("Voices of the Violin" SONY SK 97779)
Intro: It's said that music is the universal language, and Violinist Joshua Bell says that comes in handy when everyday language falls short.
Joshua Bell Clip: "A great song can be sad or uplifting at the same time, or beautiful and joyous yet melancholy. You can convey these subtle things through music that you actually can't through words and that's why we turn to music." (text out at 0:28 )

SUGGESTED LIVE HOST OUTRO:
Classical Music on Public Radio is made possible by your financial support. Please call (insert station phone number), or make your contribution online at (insert station web address). We're asking you to speak up for the music you enjoy on (insert station name). As Joshua Bell says, words sometimes fall short, but the word "contribute" means everything right now during this fund raising campaign for (insert station name). Tell us you want to contribute right now by calling (insert station phone number)...

Music....to 0:59

* * * * * * * * * *
Option 3: Clip Only -- You create and assemble the elements and text to your station's specifications, providing the live intro, outro and music bed based on the suggested texts and music bed listed above.

Joshua Bell Clip: "A great song can be sad or uplifting at the same time, or beautiful and joyous yet melancholy. You can convey these subtle things through music that you actually can't through words and that's why we turn to music." (0:14 )

* * * * * * * * * * *
(To download a .txt file of the suggested copy for each of these three options, look under the "Additional Files" for this piece.)

*Additional music options for before or after this spot, or as a music bed, include any track from Bell's "Voices of the Violin" or "Romance of the Violin" CDs; also, the "West Side Story" or Gershwin recordings. A wide variety of recording options are also available at http://joshuabell.com.

WHAT IS VIRTUOSO VOICES™?

Virtuoso Voices™ is a performer interview service that provides short interview segments to radio stations, their websites and other online platforms.

Virtuoso Voices provides stations with a new strategy for presenting classical music on the radio by directly involving the performer in the introduction of the music.  These topical and evergreen clips enable announcers to bring an additional insider's perspective to the music they introduce and play on their shifts.

Program content is taken from interviews with internationally recognized classical music performers, such as Gil Shaham, Yo-Yo Ma, Marin Alsop, Lorin Maazel, Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn and Michael Tilson Thomas.

For more information and to see additional ways to use these clips, please visit our website, www.virtuosovoices.org.


Virtuoso Voices™ Fundraising Service

Virtuoso Voices(tm) is also Public Radio's primary source for classical music fundraising messages.

Please visit the fundraising page of our website for examples and further information.  www.virtuosovoices.org/fundraising.


VIRTUOSO VOICES

"Classical Music's Virtuosos Want a Word with Your Listeners."

Virtuoso Voices is a trademark of Listener Directed Productions, Inc.