Storms of 2008?

[Bob Hartig]

It's possible to become too diffuse. By trying to cover everything, one can end up accomplishing nothing. As I understand it, the SO... series is defined by tornadoes and supercells, and it is targeted to people with those interests. Other weather phenomena may be interesting in their own right, but unless you wish to turn SO into a general weather series, those phenomena don't fit the niche. In terms of marketing, its wise to stay within the parameters. If you want to turn out other weather-related DVDs, that's great, but I think you need to keep such things separate from the SO label. That label has already acquired a certain identity, and with it some expectations of what it will and will not contain that shouldn't get confused or sidetracked.

 

[Bill Hark]

It's possible to become too diffuse. By trying to cover everything, one can end up accomplishing nothing. As I understand it, the SO... series is defined by tornadoes and supercells, and it is targeted to people with those interests. Other weather phenomena may be interesting in their own right, but unless you wish to turn SO into a general weather series, those phenomena don't fit the niche. In terms of marketing, its wise to stay within the parameters.

I definitely agree. There are plenty of damaging environmental phenomena (flooding, volcanoes, mudslides, snowstorms) but the target audience and brand name is for storm chasers and others with an interest in tornadoes and supercells. There have been major hurricanes covered in the past but as secondary importance. Since there are many chasers who have an interest in hurricanes (and great footage of flying debris), a little bit of really good hurricane footage would be all right if available and if there is room. I certainly don't mean to deny the suffering and impact of floods.

I am only offering an opinion. I really don't have much right to complain or suggest as I am not working on Storms of 2008 this year. The final content and format is up to those who have graciously offered their time and ability. I appreciate their effort and am willing to donate any of my video.

Bill Hark

 

[Eric Flescher]

own label and tornado /supercell theme versus EOAS

Well as you all might have seen I have a thread that covers several topics areas inc Chaser Bar and grill:Earth, Oceans, Atmosphere and Space -which is the name for my summer camps, blog and more. A wider expanded version would be interesting and encompass that .

But for now I think it is better to just focus on the two tornadoes and supercell.

If there is interest later, we can have another expanded different theme.
However I myself don't have hurricane footage.

::

It's possible to become too diffuse. By trying to cover everything, one can end up accomplishing nothing. As I understand it, the SO... series is defined by tornadoes and supercells, and it is targeted to people with those interests. Other weather phenomena may be interesting in their own right, but unless you wish to turn SO into a general weather series, those phenomena don't fit the niche. In terms of marketing, its wise to stay within the parameters. If you want to turn out other weather-related DVDs, that's great, but I think you need to keep such things separate from the SO label. That label has already acquired a certain identity, and with it some expectations of what it will and will not contain that shouldn't get confused or sidetracked.

 

[Tony Lyza]

To those interested in producing chapters:

It's time to start choosing which chapters you all want to produce. Here are what I see as being the most important dates that do not have producers yet:

May 1st-2nd (we can divide these into two chapters if we have enough material)
May 10th
May 23rd
May 24th
May 25th
May 29th
June 7th
June 11th

Other dates that will be added if enough good footage can be obtained:
January 7th
March 2nd
March 31st
April 10th
May 26th
May 30th
June 3rd

For these dates, some may have there own chapters, we might do a small events chapter (depending on the amount of video we have and where we stand with the main chapters), and some will likely not appear in the video.

Our main goal is to fill the chapter producer roles for the dates listed in the first grouping. If you are interested, please PM me.

And finally, as a reminder, if you are interested in being a chapter producer, contributor, or in assisting this project in another fashion, please join the discussion forum I have set up for Storms of 2008. It will make the flow of information much easier.

http://forums.tornadotony.com

Tony

Cell: 219-613-6083

 

[Chad Cowan]

I can help out with sales and marketing again. Tom Skilling invited me back to speak at next years Fermilab severe storms seminar to talk about and sell the DVD. I can also help promote through some other outlets. I would be able to sell a few (hundred) more if there was a June 7th chapter... Pritchard has enough awesome footage of the Chicago area tor's to constitute a whole chapter and I'm sure with Adam Lucio's footage and some public contributions it could be a really good one.

 

[Tony Lyza]

I can help out with sales and marketing again. Tom Skilling invited me back to speak at next years Fermilab severe storms seminar to talk about and sell the DVD. I can also help promote through some other outlets. I would be able to sell a few (hundred) more if there was a June 7th chapter... Pritchard has enough awesome footage of the Chicago area tor's to constitute a whole chapter and I'm sure with Adam Lucio's footage and some public contributions it could be a really good one.

If you need help manning the booth that weekend, let me know because I'll most likely be there barring any unforeseen scheduling conflicts.

 

[Jeremy Bower]

UNL is also interested in helping out with marketing and sales again like we did last year. We'd like to sell the Storms of 2008 at the Central Plains Severe Weather Symposium next spring (April 4, 2009). It would be another great opportunity for sales as the event last year drew about 5,000 people.

 

[Melissa Moon]

I'll do some music again this year...I have a new "toy" this year that I haven't had in the past (a Korg TR-88) and I've been looking forward to using it on this project all year!

 

[Mickey Ptak]

Thank all of you who have shown interest in being a part of this project. As Tony posted a few posts back the message board is up and running. Those of you who are in the project can sign up there and get started. There will be a lot of information posted there in the coming days about the project so keep in touch over there.

If you are not in the project there is a place for your comment and questions. So feel free to jump in anytime.


On another note:

I threw this idea around last year but due to time constraints and the lack of interest it never materialized. This year the DVD may or may not need a full two hours to complete. This may leave us with some extra space to throw a bit of education at the viewers. So let me get to the meat of this topic.


As many know we would like to market outside of the chase community even more this year. One of the comments I got many times at public showings was simple questions like "How do you know when to chase". "What do you look for". "The weather maps and narration language threw me off". Now granted those are not the exact words but you get the point...

So an idea I had was to create a small chapter explaining what chasers look for on a chase day. May be a little explanation of what those cool little maps we are showing and wording we use at the beginning of our chapters are all about. This may require some help from mets or even some met students. But we want it to be in down to earth terms so they would understand the point.

Just an idea that I would like to get some opinions on. So feel free to shoot it up or down.

Mick.

 

[Eric Flescher]

Those are good ideas.

Those are good ideas. It would be interesting to see how these extras are inserted and come out.

I would like to propose these:

"What conditions favor a chase?"
"How do you decide where to chase and possible targets?"

I will work on dates that I can contribute.

I am glad things can get underway.

::
from Mick

On another note:

I threw this idea around last year but due to time constraints and the lack of interest it never materialized. This year the DVD may or may not need a full two hours to complete. This may leave us with some extra space to throw a bit of education at the viewers. So let me get to the meat of this topic.


As many know we would like to market outside of the chase community even more this year. One of the comments I got many times at public showings was simple questions like "How do you know when to chase". "What do you look for". "The weather maps and narration language threw me off". Now granted those are not the exact words but you get the point...

So an idea I had was to create a small chapter explaining what chasers look for on a chase day. May be a little explanation of what those cool little maps we are showing and wording we use at the beginning of our chapters are all about. This may require some help from mets or even some met students. But we want it to be in down to earth terms so they would understand the point.

Just an idea that I would like to get some opinions on. So feel free to shoot it up or down.

Mick.[/quote]

 

[Shane Adams]

A little piece at the end explaining (in laymen's terms) what the graphics and maps mean is an excellent idea.

 

[Bob Hartig]

Excellent idea. And it would make a great marketing tool--e.g. put a callout on the amaray cover that says something like "EXTRA! Special chapter explaining terminology and basics of storm forecasting."

You might even include a simple glossary as an insert, then bump up the price an extra buck, which should more than cover the added production cost.

 

[Mickey Ptak]

Just a reminder, we do need chapter producers for the following chapters by the end of the month.

Chapters and producers:
Feb 5 2008 - Heidi Farrar
May 22 2008 - Verne Carlson

Chapters that need producers:
May 1st-2nd (we can divide these into two chapters if we have enough material)
May 10th
May 23rd
May 24th
May 25th
May 29th
June 7th
June 11th

Other dates that will be added if enough good footage can be obtained:
January 7th
March 2nd
March 31st
April 10th
May 26th
May 30th
June 3rd
Bonus - Educational Chapter

Thanks,

Mick

 

[Tony Lyza]

If you've expressed interest in being a chapter producer (even if you haven't and you'd like to), I really, really need to know which chapter you will be doing. Please post it here or at the So2008 board @ http://forums.tornadotony.com .

 

[Tony Lyza]

An update...

As of this morning, we have 4 confirmed chapter producers.

Heidi Farrar will be producing the February 5th chapter.

Verne Carlson will be producing the May 22nd chapter.

Robin Tanamachi will be producing the May 29th chapter.

Kory Hartman will be producing the June 11th chapter.

To summarize where we are now, the following dates are our highest priority to fill for chapter producer slots:
May 1st-2nd (we can divide these into two chapters if we have enough material)
May 10th
May 23rd
May 24th
May 25th
June 7th

Other dates that will be added if enough good footage can be obtained:
January 7th
March 2nd
March 31st
April 10th
May 26th
May 30th
June 3rd
Bonus - Educational Chapter