CPR Promotional Check-Up - Nov 3, 2022

Remembering Russell Rush

In the course of thirty years of doing this job I’ve been saddened to say goodbye to some amazing Radio people. Bartell Bartell. Tom Rivers from CBS. The morning show producer at KLUC. The night guy at Jamz in Bham. Jay Stone. When Bill Tanner passed in 2021 I really felt that I needed to say something about him in the daily eblast because he was just such a special and brilliant guy.

I feel the same about Russell Rush, the PD at 96.1 NOW-FM in San Antonio who we lost last weekend after a long battle with cancer. Was he a great dude? Absolutely. A great programmer? Absolutely. But his stations did some of the best promotions in Radio. Out of all those, I’d point out the sky diving teacher as a high light. For a School Supply Drive last year. Russell hooked it up so that the teacher who collected the most supplies for her classroom, could parachute from a plane. Toss The Teacher" at 96.1 NOW-FM in San Antonio - YouTube

And his ghost tour series won a Texas State Emmy. ‘Russell Rush Haunted Tour’ releases 13th season with lost episode - YouTube

They all hurt but this one just wrecked me.

Bingo!

I’m not exactly sure how to seg from that to this.

Most of the great contest methodologies or digital content can be traced back to 4th grade birthday parties or carnival midways. Or with Bingo, church basements and VFW’s. You could do “Thanksgiving Bingo” with things seen/heard at the big feast with all the rellies.

You could do Christmas Shopping Bingo with visuals and experiences while at a mall.

Ryan Smetzer at Live in Hagerstown did Hallmark Movie Bingo. Why not? We’re always trying to find ways to address the season and for content to add to or stick on social media.

JACK in Vancouver to Quarantine Bingo in 2020.

Energy-FM has done “Naughty Bingo” as a club event.

Y94 in Fargo has and continues to do Purse Bingo. When the fire department threatens to fine you for capacity violations, that’s a great promotion.

94.9 in Cincy did Office Bingo: a new card that you could download or sav every day with “stuff seen around the workplace.”

KS95 (I think) did State Fair Bingo with the many sights and sounds and aromas associated with the Great Minnesota Get Together.

K-Rock in St. John’s did $10,000 Bingo. Win a card on-air and join them for a final event.

Don’t forget Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Bingo using ALL of the cliches that are fed to the TV hosts. “Dazzling”, “High Stepping” and “Let’s check in with Al.” And Super Bowl Bingo.

And of course for the northern tier states and Canada, there would be Blingo or Blizzard Bingo.

I’m back in the office later this afternoon and return to a normal work sked on Friday.