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Sponsors Needed Urgently To Save Soul Shack - Solar Show

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Firstly forgive the direct begging bowl method here but i'm in the shit, up against the wall and have very little time or options left, i'll come straight to the point, Solar is a commercial station and all specialist shows such as mine need funding, in the past i have been supported by the likes of New Century Soul Club, North Manchester Soul Club, Tyne Side Soul Promotions and Soultown Promotions all of which i can't thank enough.

It has got to this point where i need to generate some financial support form either a record company who's products i promote, a regular promotion or simply some kind soul out there, i really hate doing this and hate asking but i have to try one last attempt to try and generate something otherwise the Soul Shack will be no more, i have until Christmas to work something out, so if anyone can help me out please get in touch, i love doing the show but in the real world of commercial radio if i can't drum up financial support then again that will be me done.

If you have any ideas of constructive comments please, please, please get in touch, failing that you can contact Solar directly www.solarradio.com , when i started on Solar back in 2000 i basically funded myself with a weekly contribution to the station, which went towards the running of the station basically paying for my time slot when i was given the Sunday slot this contribution was increased so a sponsor was and is very much needed, like i say i hate asking you guys on here as it's really not your problem, i simply wanted to explain the situation if i should suddenly lose the show which could be on the cards very soon, if it does go tits up thanks in advance for all your loyal and dedicated support over the past five years.

I will keep you posted on how this turns out, shows will still run for the next couple of Sunday's at least.

Any help please contact bicknellmark@aol.com tel 0161 330 6267.

Gutted and very pissed off - Mark Bicknell.

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Firstly forgive the direct begging bowl method here but i'm in the shit, up against the wall and have very little time or options left, i'll come straight to the point, Solar is a commercial station and all specialist shows such as mine need funding, in the past i have been supported by the likes of New Century Soul Club, North Manchester Soul Club, Tyne Side Soul Promotions and Soultown Promotions all of which i can't thank enough.

It has got to this point where i need to generate some financial support form either a record company who's products i promote, a regular promotion or simply some kind soul out there, i really hate doing this and hate asking but i have to try one last attempt to try and generate something otherwise the Soul Shack will be no more, i have until Christmas to work something out, so if anyone can help me out please get in touch, i love doing the show but in the real world of commercial radio if i can't drum up financial support then again that will be me done.

If you have any ideas of constructive comments please, please, please get in touch, failing that you can contact Solar directly www.solarradio.com , when i started on Solar back in 2000 i basically funded myself with a weekly contribution to the station, which went towards the running of the station basically paying for my time slot when i was given the Sunday slot this contribution was increased so a sponsor was and is very much needed, like i say i hate asking you guys on here as it's really not your problem, i simply wanted to explain the situation if i should suddenly lose the show which could be on the cards very soon, if it does go tits up thanks in advance for all your loyal and dedicated support over the past five years.

I will keep you posted on how this turns out, shows will still run for the next couple of Sunday's at least.

Any help please contact bicknellmark@aol.com tel 0161 330 6267.

Gutted and very pissed off - Mark Bicknell.

well, how much do you need ? throw a number out there, i'm sure theres many that want to help out but are put off because the "sponsor" word scares them off...........in the meanwhile, set up an account where people can send contributions to keep the show running.

Firstly forgive the direct begging bowl method here but i'm in the shit, up against the wall and have very little time or options left, i'll come straight to the point, Solar is a commercial station and all specialist shows such as mine need funding, in the past i have been supported by the likes of New Century Soul Club, North Manchester Soul Club, Tyne Side Soul Promotions and Soultown Promotions all of which i can't thank enough.

It has got to this point where i need to generate some financial support form either a record company who's products i promote, a regular promotion or simply some kind soul out there, i really hate doing this and hate asking but i have to try one last attempt to try and generate something otherwise the Soul Shack will be no more, i have until Christmas to work something out, so if anyone can help me out please get in touch, i love doing the show but in the real world of commercial radio if i can't drum up financial support then again that will be me done.

If you have any ideas of constructive comments please, please, please get in touch, failing that you can contact Solar directly www.solarradio.com , when i started on Solar back in 2000 i basically funded myself with a weekly contribution to the station, which went towards the running of the station basically paying for my time slot when i was given the Sunday slot this contribution was increased so a sponsor was and is very much needed, like i say i hate asking you guys on here as it's really not your problem, i simply wanted to explain the situation if i should suddenly lose the show which could be on the cards very soon, if it does go tits up thanks in advance for all your loyal and dedicated support over the past five years.

I will keep you posted on how this turns out, shows will still run for the next couple of Sunday's at least.

Any help please contact bicknellmark@aol.com tel 0161 330 6267.

Gutted and very pissed off - Mark Bicknell.

Mark,

Send me as many details as you can off list, but be quick.....the pot is shrinkin' fast.

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com/

Mark,

Send me as many details as you can off list, but be quick.....the pot is shrinkin' fast.

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com/

dave

off the subject of marks sponsorship issues but i cant get onto your site, anything happening in or near miami over new years ?

  • Author

Mark,

Send me as many details as you can off list, but be quick.....the pot is shrinkin' fast.

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com/

Dave, Thank you so much i have sent you an email off site as requested with a little more detail of the situation, i'm sure i can work something out with a little help from my friends....thanks.

Mark Bicknell.

  • Author

well, how much do you need ? throw a number out there, i'm sure theres many that want to help out but are put off because the "sponsor" word scares them off...........in the meanwhile, set up an account where people can send contributions to keep the show running.

I'm not sure if this is the correct arena to discuss how much it costs, but it's not a huge amount of money trust me.

Thanks for your support and suggestions.

Mark Bicknell.

your right, maybe its not the right place to discuss numbers, but what the hell, we're all one familly right ? maybe as a last resort if it looks like its really going pear shaped, open a "support the soul shack show" account, you might be surprissed how the $'s add up if all your listeners and supporters chip in...............as you said, things will work out, so get some sleep, its 3 o'clock in the morning !!

dave

off the subject of marks sponsorship issues but i cant get onto your site, anything happening in or near miami over new years ?

Not Rare Soul wise over NYE. But watch this space for a great new venue in Miami starting in the New Year. Sites working as far as I know. Some MAJOR uploads coming .....but more of that next week.

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com/

Not Rare Soul wise over NYE. But watch this space for a great new venue in Miami starting in the New Year. Sites working as far as I know. Some MAJOR uploads coming .....but more of that next week.

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com/

sites working now, must have been my conection...................i'll check out your site to see whats happening in Miami in the future.

Mark you have aol email. ohmy.gif

I'd set up a monthly standing order to contribute say £10 or £15, I think shows like yours do a great service to the rare soul scene and think it well worth a few quid a month if it helps to save the show ohmy.gif

Edited by richard

  • Author

I'd set up a monthly standing order to contribute say £10 or £15, I think shows like yours do a great service to the rare soul scene and think it well worth a few quid a month if it helps to save the show :thumbsup:

I don't want to come over as being totally desitute here and simply can't ask people to bail me out of this situation it's just not me pride and all that, but i feel support form a major company or something is perhaps far more in line as i can and do promote CD's, records, venues etc. on the show, thanks for the comments, ideas and suggestions so far, i have sent a generic email to pretty much everyone in my mail box who may be able to help so i'll just have to see what happens, i have a couple of weeks to work this out, so again if anyone has any ideas please feel free to contact either Solar or myself.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Mike, I need to keep this current can you maybe move it so it stays on for a few days, thanks.

Mark Bicknell.

Hi Mark just sent a PM :thumbsup: ATB Steve
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Hi Mark just sent a PM :thumbsup: ATB Steve

Thanks Steve, i have replied to you, some good ideas mate but i really hate asking for friends to bail me out, i've had one offer from an old friend so i'm hoping i can save the show from going under.But still need help so keep the ideas and suggestions coming.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Thanks Steve, i have replied to you, some good ideas mate but i really hate asking for friends to bail me out, i've had one offer from an old friend so i'm hoping i can save the show from going under.But still need help so keep the ideas and suggestions coming.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Hi Mark,just sent another PM :thumbsup: Keeps this important show at the top of the thread ,until Mike helps out :D ATB Steve
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Hi Mark,just sent another PM :D Keeps this important show at the top of the thread ,until Mike helps out :thumbsup: ATB Steve

I can see myself getting a small dog and begging outside venues next....lol, I've been working on this allday and there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel, still keep the suggestions and ideas coming, what a wonderful scene this is when people want to help.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Sell a couple of records out of that large big money collection of yours and use the proceeds to help keep you going for a while. Thats what I'd do personally :thumbsup:

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Sell a couple of records out of that large big money collection of yours and use the proceeds to help keep you going for a while. Thats what I'd do personally :thumbsup:

Who say's i've got a big money collection ? lol.......plus when i started at Solar five years ago i self funded for ages to pay towards the running of the station etc.I constantly promote gigs, review CD's etc. and as Solar is a commercial station i'm simply trying to stay on the air, i thank you for your comments and suggestions, i trust you were not having a dig here...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Who say's i've got a big money collection ? lol.......plus when i started at Solar five years ago i self funded for ages to pay towards the running of the station etc.I constantly promote gigs, review CD's etc. and as Solar is a commercial station i'm simply trying to stay on the air, i thank you for your comments and suggestions, i trust you were not having a dig here...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

All said in good humour. :D

Seriouslly if I sold the whole of my collection it might keep you on air for a week at most. :thumbsup:

Mike, I need to keep this current can you maybe move it so it stays on for a few days, thanks.

Mark Bicknell.

Mark

will post up the story as a news item

hope it helps

mike

hi mark

love the show

how about promoting peoples websites each week for a fee.

what sort of money do you need ?

Mark,

I have no idea how much you would need, could you not put soul nights on to promote your radio station, all proceeds going to your station. I'm sure you know enough dj's that would dj for you for free, or you could always find keen lesser known dj's to help you out.

a bit like a Solar radio northern soul roadshow as i say i don't know how much you would need but various venues around the country.. maybe have a word with established do's you could promote them on the radio and they could promote/support you.. if you get my drift..

I'm not always good at explaining things but i'm sure you can see where i'm heading with this..

Good Luck..

Mischief

Edited by mischief

Solar did have an event in Brighton earlier this year.

All the internet stations run on a very tight budget -yet they HAVE to be the way forward as the mainstream stations are increasingly impossible to listen too. Apart from Richard Searling on Smooth fm (as Jazz fm is now called for some reason) and Peter Young on Smooth's Southern branch there's very little worth listenening to in the way of proper Soul music apart from the internet stations which have the added bonus of being heard across the world- I have regular listeners in the US, Australia and Brazil ! Both Solar and Starpoint have an across the board policy for playing Soul - Mark's "Soul Shack" show is more Northern than "The Metropolitan Soul Show" which has an hour of recent dance often with a Northern influence but specialist shows are perfect for internet radio.

But money and sponsorship is always going to be a problem. It would be a tradegy if 'Soul Shack' closes through financial reasons. Good luck Mark.

Good luck with sponsorship Mark, love the show. Sorry I can`t help, but I`d buy a Soul Shack bowling shirt ?

Tom.

Hope we can all help in some way to keep your excellent show on the radio Mark, would be a crying shame to see it disappear, i know you continually support the major "Rare Soul" CD release companies, can't any of these groups help in any way, without undermining the very independent essence of the "Rhythm 'N' Soul Shack.

Yours..Brett.....a regular listener

I'm not sure if this is the correct arena to discuss how much it costs, but it's not a huge amount of money trust me.

Thanks for your support and suggestions.

Mark Bicknell.

Hi mark i think it is the right forum to discuss such matters we all care about the music and you provide a servise that is under threat becuse of funds

good luck mate :wicked:

nige shaw (aka heavenly blocked ) :wicked:

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I can't believe the feedback i've had on this, i'm sorry again for the begging bowl method but i had to try something, i've been on this for the past twenty four hours and the good news is that several people have offered to help all to a satisfactory conclusion, i'm out of the woods and very much ok through the next few months, the kindness, support and ideas to help out has been fantastic, the soul scene is a community of people second to none, i'm only sorry i had to burden you all with my troubles but i did not want to lose the show after five years, thank you all for your support it humbles me so much, Solar have also ben very generous to me without a sponsorship deal to fund the show, so thanks to them for sticking with me, all i want to do now is get on with playing a few tunes on a Sunday night....More top guests to follow and some top tunes in the Soul Shack...panic over for the time being...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I can't believe the feedback i've had on this, i'm sorry again for the begging bowl method but i had to try something, i've been on this for the past twenty four hours and the good news is that several people have offered to help all to a satisfactory conclusion, i'm out of the woods and very much ok through the next few months, the kindness, support and ideas to help out has been fantastic, the soul scene is a community of people second to none, i'm only sorry i had to burden you all with my troubles but i did not want to lose the show after five years, thank you all for your support it humbles me so much, Solar have also ben very generous to me without a sponsorship deal to fund the show, so thanks to them for sticking with me, all i want to do now is get on with playing a few tunes on a Sunday night....More top guests to follow and some top tunes in the Soul Shack...panic over for the time being...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Hi Mark, REAL pleased.Steve

Not half as pleased as i am Stevie let me tell you, panic over...lol

Mark Bicknell.

Hi Mark ,whoever has helped with sponsorship deserves a massive thankyou from soulies.ATB Stevie z
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Hi Mark ,whoever has helped with sponsorship deserves a massive thankyou from soulies.ATB Stevie z

There are as i say several people who have offered some support and i'm sure in time if they wish then they will be made public, i'm just glad there are some wonderful gems of people out there who are simply SOUL, what can i say?

I'm still getting emails from all over offering support and can they help, it's magic.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

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Thanks again to everyone who has helped here, the response to this has been fantastic, the show must and will go on now, Jo Wallace is my special guest this coming Sunday reviewing her new Soulsatisfaction CD Volume Five for Universal from 8pm - 10pm - CHANNEL 879 SKY DIGITAL and www.solarradio.com Also broadcasting at the same time on Christmas day. For any requests, mentions, dedications please send all those wonderful emails to markbicknell@solarradio.com or bicknellmark@aol.com

Thanks again - Mark Bicknell.

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I can now confirm that the Soul Shack is now safe certainly for the next six months basically down to three very decent investors, i'm still looking at the bigger picture and welcome any further help, ideas and suggestions, again thanks for helping me out.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

thank god for that ,i,d end watching bloody heartbeat with the mrs if it wasn,t for your show,well done mark

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thank god for that ,i,d end watching bloody heartbeat with the mrs if it wasn,t for your show,well done mark

Heartbeat now there is a good show....lol

Almost sold a Sofa Bed at my day job to one of the actors from Heartbeat, don't know his name but it was the blond guy who's been in it since it started, if he pops in again i'll tell him you watch the show...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Sent you a PM Mark before reading that you had secured the necessary funding. Well done to all who helped out.

Not half as pleased as i am Stevie let me tell you, panic over...lol

Mark Bicknell.

HI Mark PLEASE RING NOW wink.gif

I can see myself getting a small dog and begging outside venues next....lol, I've been working on this allday and there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel, still keep the suggestions and ideas coming, what a wonderful scene this is when people want to help.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Mark, I've said it before and I'll say it again - MEAT RAFFLE AND TOMBOLA - works every time and I'm prepared to stump up for a tin of Royal Oak Ham..........worked at Stockport Football Club soul night......and what's good enough for them is good enough for the Soul Shack wink.gif .......Plus this is a shameless plug for MEMEMEMEME on the show........can't wait for the 18th December - oh bugger, that's this Sunday wink.gif Better get me skates on............see you on the show..............Jo

oooo errrrr Jo ....that mean I can sit and argue with what you say without you hearing me wink.gif

Just kidding flower...will be listening in wink.gif

oooo errrrr Jo ....that mean I can sit and argue with what you say without you hearing me biggrin.gif

Just kidding flower...will be listening in :yes:

unsure.gif Giggles...........i've put my fingers in my ears........rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb.......can't hear you. Hope you're feeling better 'cos when me and Mark get together on the mike, it's always a laugh biggrin.gif Mark will be selling Meat Raffle Tickets on the show............don't forget that top prize of a tin of Royal Oak Ham....you could be the lucky winner ranting_1.gif Jo

:D with my luck? more likely to win a turkey to be received AFTER Xmas ( yeh its happened before huh.gif )

Give you a ring soon Jo :D Hope alls well with you xx

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