Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • June 2014
24
action. Furthermore, because everyone has their own
preference for receiving or responding to information,
one must advertise a minimum of 27 times, across
multiple media, to ensure a customer is adequately
exposed to the information (9 or more times) to motivate
action (Levinson, 2011). So, one must ask the question,
if these are the statistics required of household names
like Macy’s and Home Depot, why do band programs
and booster clubs think that successful communication
occurs when only one flyer is sent?
Importantly,
successful organizational
communication should seek to clearly and concisely
state a message or goals on a particular issue and then
over communicate that message many times through
multiple channels. Strive to include a minimum of one
print, voice and digital method for each message, per
week of your campaign or preparation leading up to an
event. These methods could include:
As you seek to build your booster team, remember
that strong communication provides the framework to
keep your team strong. Henry Ford quips, “Coming
together is a beginning. Keeping together is a progress.
Working together is success.” The summer vacation
provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on your
program’s communication effectiveness. Are you
communicating a consistent message in multiple
settings and multiple times? Are you using a variety
of media and channels to communicate your goals
and messages? Begin preparations now for developing
strategic plans for implementing more effective
communication for the new school year.
For additional information on this and other
organizational management topics, please attend
the “Foundations for a Successful Booster Club”
seminar as part of the 2014 TBA Convention in San
Antonio. The seminar will further explore important
booster concepts in developing stronger organizational
management strategies, communication plans,
marketing, and branding a band program or event.
Sources:
Ellis, Lee (2012).
Leading with Honor.
Freedom Star Media.
Levinson, J.C. (2011).
The Best of Guerrilla Marketing:
Guerrilla Marketing Remix.
Entrepreneur Press.
Vandewalker, D. W. (2014).
Boosters to the Rescue,
3rd
Edition. Vision Publications.
presentations
radio
memos
reports
policies
newsletters
promotional
materials
voicemails
emails
blogs
websites
text messages
face-to-face
phone calls
group
discussion
surveys
blogs
skype
facetime
linkedIn
facebook
iChat
twitter
instagram
Organizat ional Communicat ion: Gett ing the Message Out
David Vandewalker is the assistant director of bands at Georgia State University and the music director/ principal conductor of the
Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble. During his tenure, the GSU Marching Band has received several honors and accolades including
an invitation to march in the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, participation in the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade, and a national
top-ten honor by the 2013 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA). Prior to his appointment at GSU, Mr. Vandewalker taught
for 24 years in both middle and high school settings in Texas and Georgia. He is a recipient of the Sudler Flag of Honor (Harrison HS/GA),
nine-NBA Citation of Excellence Awards, three National Wind Band Honors Awards, is recognized in multiple editions of Who’s Who Among
American Teachers, and is an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.
As a conductor, he has led acclaimed concerts at the Midwest Clinic, MFA National Concert Festival, GMEA, and the CBDNA/NBA
Southern Division Conference. As an active clinician, David has had multiple appearances at conferences for the Georgia Music Educators
Association, Music for All Summer Symposium, Smith Walbridge Directors Institute, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Midwest Clinic.
He is the author of Boosters to the Rescue, Everyday Stuff Every Director Needs to Know, Foundations for Wind Band Clarity Arrangements,
and the Foundations for Wind Band Clarity Instructional DVD published by Vision Publications. Mr. Vandewalker and his wife, Pamela,
reside in Marietta, Ga. She is Minister of Creativity and Worship Programming at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church where she has over 1000
children actively involved in music making.