May 11th, 2010 by wtam
May is Mental Health Month and Synergy Production Group is excited to feature the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee (MHAMT) as our cause of the month. Synergy is blessed to count MHAMT as a current client. Through our business relationship, our staff has seen the first-hand benefits of this amazing organization’s programs in our community.
MHAMT is now in its 62nd year of service to the Middle Tennessee community.
Since its founding, the organization’s mission has been to promote mental health for all people through education, advocacy, and service. Over the years, the Association has worked diligently to educate all members of our community about how to attain good mental health. Last year alone the chapter was able to share the message of hope for mental wellness to over 100,000 individuals.
By being a frontline resource for the community, the MHAMT is in a position to identify important mental health needs in Middle Tennessee, and then often facilitates the development of programs to meet those needs or enhance resources to address service gaps. Several programs that began with the MHAMT have now evolved into independent agencies, such as Park Center, Tennessee Voices for Children and the Crisis Center.
Synergy Production Group had the privilege of producing the MHAMT’s bi-annual fundraiser this past Fall. Branding it as The Lost Lyrics and highlighting the Alzheimer’s care takers program through original video content, the event was an absolute success. To learn more about the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee visit: www.ichope.com
To view the event website check out: www.thelostlyrics.com
Tags: Cause, Lost Lyrics, Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee, Mental Health Month, Synergy Production Group
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April 21st, 2010 by wtam
With earth day approaching this weekend Synergy Production Group has stepped up it’s efforts to become a greener company. Since our inception we have prided ourselves on being an environmentally conscious company. Our data and document management systems have always been 95% digital. A small ant holding a big “green” apple signifies our core competency of “Small Details and Big Results”, and this is no accident. In the first quarter of 2010 we made greater steps toward making the color of our logo a deeper reality in our offices. With the help of several interns, Morgan Cawley and Ryan Gorgol, Synergy Production Group has started a recycling program. Much to our disappointment, Williamson County does not have a curbside pick-up option for recycling. We are going the extra mile by dropping off our paper, plastic, and other recyclable waste on the way back to our respective homes. With the reality of climate change more and more apparent each year, Synergy is trying to play our small part in a cleaner world.
Tags: Climate Change, Earth Day, Recycling, Synergy
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April 19th, 2010 by jzebell
We are blessed to do what we do as a business. We get paid to go and put on great events and listen to great music and great speakers from all walks of life. This past weekend was no exception. One of our clients, Amy Grant, did two acoustic shows in Knoxville at The Square Room and at the FHPS Fine Arts Center in Grand Rapids.
The Square Room is an amazing organization located in the heart of Knoxville, TN that is using art to define the culture. Whether it is through the exquisite food provided by Cafe 4, or the staff of the Knoxville Fellow Program, the entire organization is top notch. It was an honor to be a part of such a great thing and to work with such great people.
We headed up to Grand Rapids, MI after the show in Knoxville. We have been to Grand Rapids many times and yet never had the privilege of playing at this Fine Arts Center. It is nestled a bit off of the beaten path but what a great venue! The audience was great and the staff was extremely accommodating. I haven’t had a bad show in Grand Rapids and ironically this was the first time I have been without snow on the ground.
Every time we hit the road, I am reminded that the live show still captivates audiences. You can’t download or tivo a live performance. It will forever be an original work of art from city to city. Until next time.
Tags: Amy Grant, Grand Rapids, Knoxville, Live Show, The Square Room
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April 15th, 2010 by jzebell
Do you know your sweet spot? Are you using technologies to your advantage? What technologies are available? Whether a product driven company or an idea and intellectual properties driven organization, you have to be able to think outside your office walls. For example, as a product based company you may want to understand what your consumers think of you. Forget the granular level of thinking and float to the top to better understand how they view your products. What makes your product better? What emotion does it evoke? You may respond by telling us that your product doesn’t need to evoke emotion but rather it serves a very practical use and therefore people will want it. Lets go with that for a minute. It is practical. It is functional. It eventually wears out, breaks, or ceases to exist. Are your consumers tied to the brand or the functionality? If the functionality, they will seek out another functional piece, most often selected based on lowest price. While this model is okay, do you really want your base to be tied to the lowest common denominator? If so, someone will always beat you out in product or brand placement. If you are content to play this game, then no need to read on further. If you want something different, read on.
Why does your brand or cause need to evoke emotion? On BrandingStrategyInsider.com, they hit the nail on the head with several statements:
To achieve brand insistence the consumer must trust your brand and feel an emotional connection to it. People become emotionally connected to a brand for a number of reasons:
- The brand stands for something important to them.
- The brand is intense and vibrant. It connects with people on multiple levels across several senses.
- The brand is unique.
- The brand is admirable.
- The brand consistently interacts with them. It never disappoints them.
- The brand makes them feel good.
They go on to say the following:
“good service is all about creating positive feelings, treating people well and solving people’s problems.
Ultimately, emotional connection will come from positive shared experiences with the brand over time. While this trust is built over time, offering an unconditional guarantee is a quick way to reduce the risk of a new unknown brand and to generate some minimum level of trust immediately.”
Chew on this and take a look at your brand. Do you use emotion to activate your core base? Do you use emotion to drive their perception of your brand? NOT YOUR NAME. YOUR BRAND. Big difference here. In our business we create touch points for our clients in the form of events. We are often on the forefront of audiences impression of our clients and what they have to offer. We connect on emotion. In the 3rd part of the three part series, we will outline methodologies that Synergy uses to help our clients uncover their sweet spot, activate, and expand their core base. Happy Thursday.
Tags: Brand, Core, Different, Emotion, Stand Out, Synergy
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April 13th, 2010 by jzebell
Expanding your brand. How is this accomplished in today’s economy of business that is fast paced and here today and gone tomorrow? For many businesses, the allure to Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks or media platforms. While they increase your name recognition, what do they do to increase your brand? There is a difference between name recognition and brand awareness. Social networking, while powerful, provides a forum in which the consumer decides on their own how they interpret your brand. Do they know your name? Yes. Do they understand what you do and who you are? Probably not.
How can you fix this? How do you address your core members and unpack your brand for them while limiting your marketing costs? To do this, a business or non-profit must understand it’s sweet spot and how to drive its audiences into the center of this sweet spot. Scott Davis of Brandweek, states, that the benefit of understanding this sweet spot are obvious. First, you get greater flexibility in driving out new products and services. Second, you are able to potentially serve segments of the market you may not have had a prayer of reaching earlier. Third, you help to make competitors appear incredibly one-dimensional. Fourth, you’re able to exert more channel power. And fifth, you can drive your company’s growth agenda more confidently.
You know the benefits but for many the question still remains. How do I uncover this sweet spot? Tomorrow, we will answer this question with an example of what we have seen work with our clients and offer additional technology solutions that will activate your core base. Happy Tuesday
Tags: Activate, Brand, Core Base, Synergy
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April 1st, 2010 by wtam
On March 23rd Synergy Production Group had the opportunity to once again produce the Red Cross Nashville Area Chapter’s Life Saver Breakfast. The event was a tremendous success with fundraising goals far exceeding expectations. Check out the final cuts from the Synergy produced video vignettes highlighting Red Cross chapter programs:
Nashville Area Chapter – Military Services Program Video
Nashville Area Chapter – Disaster Response Video
Tags: Disaster Response, Fire, Red Cross
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March 15th, 2010 by wtam
On March 23rd, Synergy is producing the annual Life Saver Breakfast fundraiser for the American Red Cross. In order to truly capture and promote the Nashville Chapter programs, the event called for a creative way to paint the story. Producing three video vignettes of first hand community member experiences was the obvious highway of choice for Synergy Production Group.
Working hand in hand with the marketing team at the Red Cross, interviewees were selected to highlight the programs of CPR Training, Disasters Response (Local Fire Aid), and Military Services. The story of Angela Gamez, a single mother of four, who’s home burned down the day after Christmas, particularly hit home. The Red Cross was able to put the family in a hotel and meet their immediate needs in time of crisis. It is because of stories like Angela’s, that Synergy is proud to serve the American Red Cross.
After the arduous process of securing interviewees, Synergy’s video partner Stone Castle Pictures helmed by director Barry Simmons conducted phone interviews, scouted shoot locations, and lined up b-roll shots for postproduction. A 12-hour film shoot soon ensued and took Barry’s team and the Synergy staff to Park Center Nashville, Antioch, and La Vergne, TN. The emotion filled and coffee lubricated day proved fruit-full as the vignette rough cuts have turned out beautifully. We are looking forward to the final product on March 23rd.
Check out a few photos from the film shoot:
Tags: Barry Simmons, Fire, Life Saver Breakfast, Red Cross, Stone Castle Pictures, Synergy
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March 5th, 2010 by wtam
America celebrates Red Cross month every March. This year we at Synergy Production Group have decided to jump in and feature our long time client and friends.
Since it’s founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation’s premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Today, in addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers compassionate services in five other areas:
* Community services that help the needy
* Support and comfort for military members and their families
* Collecting, processing and distributing lifesaving blood and blood products
* Educational programs that promote health and safety
* International relief and development programs.
Synergy Production Group is proud to not only support the American Red Cross ideologically but also in practice. We have the privilege of producing the Nashville Area Chapter’s annual Life Saver breakfast this month on March 23rd. We will updating our blogg weekly with Red Cross news as well as some features on the event.
Tags: American Red Cross, Synergy, The Red Cross
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March 2nd, 2010 by wtam
This past Saturday, February 27th, Synergy Production Group was proud to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Standing backstage at the mother church of country music with two radios clipped to my shirt, I and 2300 others listened intently to the perfection of a Alison Krauss and Union Station with Jerry Douglas in tow. Mat Kearney, Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz, Jars of Clay, Jon Foreman, NEEDTOBREATHE, and Big Kenny also graced the Ryman stage with their presences. What is more impressive yet, is the reason so many multi-platinum selling, Grammy decorated artists sang this past Saturday non other than hope. Hope for people of Haiti that morn the loss of their loved ones in a devastating earthquake less than two months ago. Compassion International with the leadership of Shaun Groves managed to get all of these artists to donate their time in hopes that others would donate their dollars to a people who have nothing left. Synergy Production Group is proud to have aided in producing such an incredible evening of giving. It you so desire to give you can do so here: www.helphaitilive.com.
Tags: Alison Krauss, Big Kenny, Compassion International, Dave Barnes, Haiti, Help Haiti Live, Hope, Jars Of Clay, Jon Foreman, Mat Kearney, Matt Wertz, NEEDTOBREATHE
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February 15th, 2010 by wtam
On January 22nd in West Palm Beach and February 12th in Louisville, Synergy Production Group had the privilege of producing 2 sold out shows in conjunction with WAYFM Media Group and World Vision. The Speaking Louder than before tour included Jeremy Camp, The Afters, Chasen, and Jason Gray. The jury is still out on the final total, but this incredible outfit of bands sponsored at least 500 children in third world. In addition, the Louisville show included a brave young man’s marriage proposal during intermission! Synergy Production Group is proud to have played a vital part in these amazing musical evenings with a socially conscious heart.
Tags: Concerts, Jeremy Camp, WayFM, World Vision
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