Hello everyone,

Some of you know that I interviewed Paul on my show, Talking Smooth Jazz. On the show, MsDigital and I offered to start a fan club. We want to make this fan club the best experience for Paul and you.

Please share your thoughts/suggestions/ideas.

Jazz Queen
talkingsmoothjazz@cox.net

For starters Jazzqueen a Myspace presence... easy to hook up to!

Chris,
Thank you for your response. A website/social page was one of the suggestions MsDigital and I gave Paul. MsDigital will be creating it.

Jazz Queen

Hi Jazz Queen,

I would be happy to start / maintain something in the UK, if everyone agrees.

Martyn

Cranners,

The Paul Taylor Fan Club - international, how cool!!!

Works for me.


Jazz Queen

I love Paul's music, but what would a fan club provide to the fans? For me, this discussion board handles the online interaction with Paul -- I've never belonged to a fan club, so I don't know what "benefits" or experiences you're hoping to provided that aren't already present on his website (I assume there is one)....

Musicman,

You're right, this forum is a great place to interact with Paul, online. But what about at his concerts? As a fan club member, you could purchase concert tickets before they go on sale to the general public and get preferential seating at Paul's concerts and/or meet and greet Paul before a concert. Or how about having the first opportunity to purchase his new cd's, which by the way he is working on the next one, before its release date at a discount?

These benefits and more.

Thanks Jazzqueen!
also from a fan's standpoint it would be nice to have (again) the 'presence' of a fan club... for our own camaraderie and....we also want to support our favorite jazzman..I'd like to see him promoted there too in the only way that fans can... not just reap the benefits ourselves--a real give and take. A lot of Jazz artists have all 3...their own site...a fan site and a myspace site...the more the merrier.

ChrisE,

Exactly!!

Other thoughts: autographed photos and other merchadized items....love the idea of an organized forum... a comprehensive, organized gallery (members contribute too?) schedules, discography, news, contests, give aways and some PT chat sometime? (if he wants?)

I want to give you an update on the PTFC. Paul, Msdigital, and myself will be talking tomorrow (Wed. 9/24) to go over the ideas/suggestions that have been submitted to him to date.

Stay tuned!

Jazz Queen

PM received and replied to. Thanks.

Bill

Alright now sounding good a PT fan club I'll support that for sure. LET'S DO THIS!

Kudos to Jazzqueen and Msdigital for getting this party started.

Stay tuned Pamela.

Jazz Queen

I want to give everyone an update on the PTFC. Msdigital, myself and Paul talked on the phone about the ideas/suggestions given to him so far. He liked them and had some of his own. So far they include a membership packet that would include a welcome letter from Paul; an autographed picture; a discography; and some kind of logo merchandise.

We also talked about meet and greets before concerts; first chance to purchase new music before its released date and a fan club website. These are just some of the things we talked about.

The next step is to talk to Paul's manager for approval.

Stay tuned.

Jazz Queen

Hello Paul, jazzqueen and Msdigital,

Great ideas! Thanks for keeping us updated....sounds like things are looking good for the PTFC!!!

T

This all sounds wonderful jazzqueen! Very exciting. Thank you so much for the update and am staying tuned :-) Love the ideas presented... plus the meet and greet. Way cool!

/Chris

Thanks so much, Paul, JazzQueen & Ms. Digital--this sounds great & I can't wait!! Thanks for doing this & thanks for the updates!!
Don't forget about the PT t-shirts... :))--also you probably have already thought about this, but what about a PTFC photo gallery where the fans could contribute pics? Wow, I am so excited!! :))

KathynDenver

You're welcome. Billy G has agreed to create a PTFC logo.

Thanks Billy. . .

I think all those things add value and make membership in such a club worthwhile....

Hey Kathy:
Kat has established a place to post photos here on the Island. Are
you referring to something like that, or an exclusive for Paul?

Jazzqueen & MsDigital:
I toyed around with logo ideas last night and surprised myself with
what I came up with. I'll run it by my design group for purification
so to speak and clean up the rough edges. I'll try to get a prototype
for you two and Paul to review by the weekend. I do have to consider the priority of the engineering/design group is that company work comes first. I hear their boss is pretty tough

Billy, an exclusive for Paul for sure...

Gotcha.

Understood. Thanks Billy. I can't wait to see it.

Terri
Jazz Queen

Sorry ladies. I got busted for driving when I'm not suppose to be, so I couldn't get my sketches to engineering. My wife had taken all the keys, but I had a spare to my pick-up in the garage. The neighbor lady saw me leave and ratted me out to the bride. Now I have no wheels. I should be released Monday

That is hilarious! Do you need bail money?

Poor Billy!!!!

Thanks for offering up the bail Terri, but after 30 years with this lady it wouldn't do any good. She knows me rather well. I thought I was doing good at sneaking out the past few weeks, but I must have slipped up somewhere. Ha! I certainly didn't know she had deputies out there!

I've been pretty much confined to quarters since coming home from my family reunion this past August 9th where I ended up in the hospital. I was experiencing an unexplained shortness of breath all day and into the night. When I finally agreed to go to the hospital (yes, I'm a typical stubborn male) they found a blood clot in my right lung. Without going into detail I will say they REALLY got my attention when telling me the next day that they came "very" close to losing me; and had I gone to bed (as I had planned because I thought old grandpa here was just tired) rather than the hospital (which is what my bride insisted on), that would have been it. Wow! Thank the good Lord for his blessings and that stubborn woman of mine. After an 8 day stay we took 3 days getting back to Michigan from Tennessee.

I'm fortunate that my business is only 7-8 miles away in a straight line due east of my home. I can get there by driving either on a paved main road, or a parallel gravel back road. I've used the gravel road for all my prior escapes; even with the motorcycle until she took the key. I'm not suppose to be driving because I'm on medicine to help me heal that makes me drowsy at times; even driving short distances. Monday I'm suppose to be able to "legally" go back to work. I hope my employees enjoyed their vacation from me more than I did mine from them.

Thank God is right! Glad to hear that you are recouperating well.

Terri

Billy,
Thank goodness for your wife!! I'm glad you're okay--you were really pushin' it though!!

Kathy

You just can't keep a good man down!!!!
(even if you try :-)

So happy you're healing Billy!

Chris

Thanks for the well wishes. I'm doing just fine. Not as stubborn as I used to be and my ears work a lot better at delivering messages to the brain.

God Bless you BillyG, take it slow my friend.


Janet

Hey Terri;

I got the sketches to my engineers today. They actually seemed relieved to be able to work on something that's not work related. I am such a hard@$$ boss. They're good kids and I know they appreciate a departure from the grind now and then.

They have some loose ends to tie up for new products I need completed and photographed for our 2009 catalog. I need that to the printer by November 1st.

Anyway, it'll be a few days then I'll get them e-mailed for you guys to review. In the meantime, if anyone on here has any ideas of what they think would look cool in the logo, let me know, but be aware that I think we will probably have to avoid using images, or likenesses of Paul.

Let's see if I can describe what I think is my favorite one. First picture the earth green. Now add a stem to it and make it a musical note. Now place a saxophone in the center of the earth image. From the sax are musical notes on a scale that appear to wrap around the earth. At the top of and partially above the earth is an abstract peace dove, wings spread with a note in it's beak (as opposed to an olive branch). Kinda hard to describe, but hopefully the illustrations when completed will depict what I am after. A peaceful green earth as part of and surrounded by the music of Paul Taylor.

Thanks Janet.

Yes, I'm afraid I may have to start acting my age in a few years!

Billy,

I like what you described. Sounds interesting. I like the use of the saxophone. Are you using the words Paul Taylor Fan Club?

Thanks, Terri

Absolutely!

It's a beautiful thought Billy...

I hope we can get the finished product to match what I envision. Then, I hope it's acceptable!

Hey Pamela!
How have you been?
Fan club is awesome right?
Hope everything is good your way?
Mandi

Billy!
This logo sounds very cool!
Didnt take long for you to come up w/it! A+

I didnt realize you had this past health issue charge in. Uggh.
Knew of the other last year? [i beleive].
Be careful!!!!!
We value you!
Mandi


Hey Janet!
Been awhile again!

Any updates on this?

Hi Chris;

I'm afraid I don't really have an update. We're having issues with the catalog deadline which delays the "government work" which is the logo.

I can say that the draft we put together in black and white unfortunately looks too busy in my opinion. I like things clean and eye catching. We can go great guns as soon as I'm comfortable with how I'm gonna make money next year.

Hey Mandi! How's m'girl? My best to the hubby.

That "little" health issue took us all by surprise; especially ME! It's almost all behind me now and I have several months of "being monitored" ahead of me. There are some lifestyle changes to make, like I can't jump in the car and do road-trips like before, but nothing that affects #1: playing my bass & #2: riding my Harley. Believe it or not I'm in danger if I eat mayonnaise and lettuce. Now that kills one of my most favorite parts of Thanksgiving; left over turkey sandwiches. Oh man, I'm really missing my mayo!

Hey Billy!
Thanks for the reply... I was sort of asking about the fan club in general. But I appreciate the word on the logo and I know how graphic work can go...used to do it myself :-)

Take care of yourself!!!
Chris

Hi Chris.
Dont think i said "welcome " yet.

Billy,
Pretty good here.I will tell Bob you said hey.Alot of aches & pain working in this chilly damp weather.
Best to you on the new project for our fanclub.
Have all the faith in you.
Be safe... oh, no , not the mayo.
We should discuss this...i may have something for you here.
Send me a p.m. ok?
Talk soon,
Mandi

Hey Darlin'

I sent you a p.m. Whatcha got for me? I love surprises if they're good and if they're for ME! Whatcha got, whatcha got? I'm gonna be out most of the day; we're cutting to our new website tonight hopefully with the catalog launch taking place Monday. Geez; I've got picnic tables, park benches, trash receptacles, photographers, models, kids, cars and all kinds of pure chaos going on here. I'm gonna be totally frazzled by the end of next week.

Hey Billy!
Got no PM yet?
I'll try sending you 1 soon
Dont you work to hard now!
mandi

Hey Billy,

How's the logo going?

Terri
Jazz Queen

Don't give up on me. Got issues, but working. I'll get back atcha in a couple.

Looking forward to it.

Jazz Queen

Oh my gosh! I feel like I'm running myself ragged. Things still are not well at my business, but I am managing to stay afloat with most all of my employees laid off. I'm preparing to go on a jazz cruise next weekend with Nick Colionne and Norman Brown, but I did manage to get a little bit of artwork completed.

I did not like much of what we worked on in the early stages. Much too busy with too broad a focus. While pondering what to do, I got a cd from Joyce Cooling for Christmas that led me to what I have here.


This is similar to what I received except a sax has replaced the guitar and the hair is downward as opposed to straight back. This is more of a start than a finished product. I wanted to get it posted with the hopes of getting the creative juices flowing in others and receive input, especially from Paul as his ideas and acceptance are the ultimate in this undertaking.

I think simple is more to the point, but in my estimation, Paul's input will play a major roll in the end. I do have some "abstract photography" by Mr. Taylor in my study at home.

There you have it for now. I'll revisit at some point over the next couple weeks. I plan to take my Harley to Miami with me and spend a few days in the keys after the cruise so I will not be playing around in cyberspace until I return to Michigan in mid-February - or so! It's been a long time since I've had a vacation.

Hey Paul. Holla!

I've gotta get on the road to Miami either Monday, or early Tuesday. I had hoped we'd have a little chatter about the posted logo by now, but perhaps everyone's busy. My schedule dictates leaving early so I may stop in Gulf Shores, Alabama to see my daughter "Wheels" and then my mom in Tampa before getting to Miami Friday night. The cruise departs Saturday the 31st.

I doubt that I'll be accessing the web while I'm traveling so until I return in mid-February I hope you guys chat it up and send some ideas my way so we can modify the start of the logo I've posted as a proposal. At present it is entirely too similar to what Joyce has.

Hope you all manage to stay warm. I'll do the same and I'll try not to get sunburn, but I usually do on the first day!

G

Hey BillyG,

Nice job on getting started on the logo. Thanks for working on it.

So to "chat it up" a bit I had an idea about the PT fan club logo while making my long drive from work this evening. This is my idea...I thought a logo of Paul holding his sax in the air the way he does at the end of his concerts would be a classic picture. A way to change up the position of the sax from what you have now. Maybe add some music notes circling around it. I'm no artist, so I can't show a sample, but I hope you can picture it. If not, there's a picture in the photo gallery under PT Live to give you an idea. Just thought I'd toss an idea out there.

Enjoy your vacation and have fantastic time on the cruise with NB and NC!

Great day everybody...be blessed!
T

Hey Darlin'

Yes; I can picture what you're saying. I've seen him do it many times and I think that is a good idea.

I had not planned on checking in here during my trip, but due to the ice storms that happened, I got socked. I should have made it to Atlanta yesterday, but I got iced in here in southern Kentucky. Bowling Green. Roads were absolutely terrible. Every hotel I checked was full; finally found a Hilton hours after I tried to get off the road. Wow. What a trek!

Weather channel shows Nashville and Atlanta in the 40's today so I should be able to breeze through to Florida. Looks like they have a band of rain across the state, but I can deal with that a lot more comfortably than freezing rain, ice and snow build-up.

I'm glad I give myself extra time to get to these things....

Thanks for the idea on the logo. It would be nice to also hear from others.

I'll think of you on the trip.

G

Hey Billy,
Thanks for posting the logo idea.
Its cool. but , 1st thing that i noticed was the neck of the horn . Looks like a tenor , which Paul plays as well but isnt really his 'signature horn'
Also thought that if some1 else has used something like this even close,that we should have something all different?
Hope you dont mind me piping up so much but i felt the urge!
Enjoy your trip and we'll be ready to hear back from you!
mandi

Hi MsT !
I like the idea !
Glad you mentioned it!
I know that exact pic your talking of too!
Its a classic!
Things are quiet around here!
Mandi

Hey Mandi; no problem with the input. That's why I put it up there. Ms. T has offered a good idea as well as you...(leave it to a SAX player to be critical about the horn). So we can absolutely mimic the image of Paul holding the sax above his head, but I seriously doubt we can use Paul's picture.

Tonight I'm at my brother's house in Tampa; took my mom out to dinner and she insisted on paying. Parents. Sheesh! What a zoooooo here in Tampa with the game coming up Sunday. Every place we went was packed. My brother says it started last week and the heavy traffic and packed restaurants has only gotten worse as the bowl gets nearer. I'm glad I'm heading out for Miami early in the morning.

Holla back atcha in a couple weeks. Keep the input coming on the logo.

G

Can someone get a copy of this picture posted so I can had it adapted please? Seems to me like someone has part of it as their avatar here.

Oh; and the cruise is going just great. The ship charges a premium for internet usage; like .53 cents a minute so I thought I'd spend a couple bucks and shout at my buds here on the island. We'll be back in a few days. Miss cruising with you T.!

G

Hello Everyone!!

I had a GREAT time & now I am an official "PT" Cruiser!! --Hey Billy--thanks for the ad!! I really, really like Ms. T's idea--that is a signature PT pose with him holding his sax in the air. I also think it would be really nice to have some kind of reference to "peace" and "love," which I think is also uniquely a part of Paul's persona.

Hi Kathy,
Yea, the peace & love !
I agree!
Mandi

Any one have any news about THE fanclub?
MsDigital, you have been very quiet! You must be busy with all the preperations??
It will be great!
Mandi

I'm losing my illustrator in a few days. In fact, I'm losing the whole department. Does anyone have a "complete" copy of this photograph? I have the avatar which has Paul with his arm raised; but no sax. Times running out.

hi jazzqueen,

yes, we need a ptfc – do you have any updates at this time?

i love paul and promoting him comes naturally to me. i was in washington, dc last tuesday at one of the official offices and i raved about paul and his music. before i left the building paul's website was accessed and his music was playing throughout the office and some agreed to purchase his albums!

i have also contacted several places in my city asking them to please bring paul taylor!

i believe a ptfc would do nicely!

Just wodereing if any1 has the scoop oo our fanclub?

Mandi

Ditto Mandi,

WE NEED A FANCLUB... NOW MORE THAN EVER! Can somebody Please get this started? Release of the new CD is only days away!

Don't care who gets it underway...just need to move on it! (Abstract shot of Paul w/in a circle would be great...or just an abstract photo! a sax...anything!)

/Chris

okay, i looked into it and found that it takes effort, determination and some funds to run a fan club.

if i can get enough volunteers, i will be glad to coordinate the fan club. and if no objections, we will need a volunteer staff to handle publishing, accounting, merchandising, public relations and general administration.

any volunteers?

Hi msjazzy--I would like to volunteer, as well as ChrisE sending PM...

hi kathy"n"denver,

that is terrific!!! thanks for stepping you and chrise up to the plate!

how would you and chrise like to communicate, via email, phone or both? if paul gives us his permission, i think we should move forward with plans to build a paul taylor fan club.

we still need just a few more volunteers. anyone else?