Hello,
I read yesterday that BAM Media were re contracted to look after Karting in Australia after this last AGM, and for the next 3 years. One user did not seem real happy on the thread that they got the gig again. I think it was under AGM/AKA thread??
I have only been back in the sport for around 5 months and just want to know "what is" the role of Bam Media?
Are they here to promote the sport of Karting around Australia?
if that answer is yes...Is it then fair enough to say that part of that role is to promote events that are held around Australia be it club days or major events such as the recent "City of Melbourne Titles"?
Just a bit confused what role they play.
Not sure if i will be opening a box of worms here or not. Perhaps everyone is happy with them?
Joe
I read yesterday that BAM Media were re contracted to look after Karting in Australia after this last AGM, and for the next 3 years. One user did not seem real happy on the thread that they got the gig again. I think it was under AGM/AKA thread??
I have only been back in the sport for around 5 months and just want to know "what is" the role of Bam Media?
Are they here to promote the sport of Karting around Australia?
if that answer is yes...Is it then fair enough to say that part of that role is to promote events that are held around Australia be it club days or major events such as the recent "City of Melbourne Titles"?
Just a bit confused what role they play.
Not sure if i will be opening a box of worms here or not. Perhaps everyone is happy with them?
Joe
Views: 101
Comments12
good question Joe.
My understanding is exactly that - they are charged with promoting the sport to the wider community.
I'm definately not happy with them - because I think I could do a better job - but someone must be, if they were kept on.......
Gus,
Ok maybe I am wrong here..... Wont be the first time....
But, i purchased my son's kart near on 18 months ago and for the next 12 months after much renovations we were ready to do his first clubday here in Melbourne.
What's my point? even though up and until around November 2008 we were not at the track that much doing practice, I still was trying to learn the "ropes" as much as possible. Things like reading as much as possible as to what has changed since I raced over 20 years ago. Searching the net, listening to Radio just in case something popped up about Karting.
Now.... if it is BAM Media that is supposed to run the PR Side of Australian Karting, to me they have failed and in a big way!
Not once have I seen anything in our local paper saying "pop down" to the City of Melbourne Titles in August or anything such as clubdays are run on the last Sunday of the month and basically trying to promote the sport of Karting.
I would have thought that David Sera getting the gig with the Kelly boys was HUGE news, so why nothing in the papers promoting the fact that this guy has had huge sucess in the world of Karting and now has a test drive with Jack Daniels??
My thoughts (and ok... i fess up here) I am invloved in the retail industry and to grow your brand you need to promote it. How can the sport grow to new members if the only way (if and i say if...) I am right the sport is only promoted by word and mouth??
I cant tell you how many people i speak to (outside Karting) who have no clue where the Oakleigh Kart Track is. How can that be allowed or for that matter be accepted?
I have email addresses (be it 2 years old) for every media contact around Australia, whether it be Paper, Radio, or television. So if i have them surely BAM Media have them and surely you would be pumping the media until they get sick of you and help you promote Karing.
Unfortunately, it seems (and i may be wrong again) you cant seem to be able to rely on the VKA website when they are still showing zero about the C&D grade titles for 2009. Again to me I took my son down there to race, and yet "nothing on the website 3 weeks later. And for that matter the results that are showing are back to 2007???
The kids and big kid drivers down there (although it's not for different color plate) deserve to have some write up and praising them all for a great job!!
But is this the role of BAM Media??? if it is.... then sorry to say things need to improve to promote this great sport.
Joe
Gus Cyrillo said:good question Joe.My understanding is exactly that - they are charged with promoting the sport to the wider community.I'm definately not happy with them - because I think I could do a better job - but someone must be, if they were kept on.......
Michael,
I agree 100% and did not see your reply because i was in a "rant" pumping my thoughts. So it's great that we agree, but how do we all fix this.
Mike promting it to me or you (your correct) is not the answer..... get out to the masses and get people into Karting....
Joe
Michael Hitchcock said:I get an email from them every once in a while, crapping on about a driver "returning home" or "home track advantage"but to be honest, i dont read them. I have tried three times to stop the mail from cluttering up my inbox, but for some reason i cannot get the link to work.That money they spend should be put to radio advertising. "Come this weekend and watch NSW best karters in the state titles" Sending an email to me is not promoting the sport in my opinion. If you are getting an email, chances are you are aware of the sport, and you have joined the mailing list. Preeching to the converted i say. they need to advertise it to people that have never heard of or know very little about karting. they might look, and think "i want to do that"
I couldn't agree more guys.
The coverage karting gets in the media is close to non-existant. And as you say, it seems the people already involved in the sport are the ones being targeted by BAM's (more than likely non-existant also!) marketing "plan".
There is soooooooooo much more that can be done.
BAM sees itself [ wrongly] at the top end of the sport, only doing the little bit for state and nationals and thats it!!!!
they supposedly brought some sponsors to the sport? but haven't heard of any lately!!!!
I think they believe the promotion of individual events below state titles is the clubs domain, which in some cases it IS, BUT the money spent on BAM is very hard to see in real life, how do you judge what they do?? has numbers doubled, dropped, is karting getting better coverage?? how much can be attributed to BAM.
Personally I think the money spent on BAM can do a better job in getting the sprt out to the general population [ where it should be] not PRing in house which seems to be where its at at the moment.
But hey they are salesman, charged with selling the sport, obviously they "SOLD" their proposal to US, as we bought another 3 years worth
Guys,
Have a read.. this is directly from www.bammedia.com.au
NATIONAL MEDIA
One of BAM Media's strongest assets is its relationship with national media. With key contacts in every state and across every medium, this is a distinct advantage in the pitching of stories for publication. The contacts are not just in the field of sports, but in other areas such as travel, lifestyle and general news reporting.
Ok and they also look after Kelly Brothers and Jack Daniels Racing. So again I say where is the write that Australia Kart Champion David Sera will be driving for Kelly Racing??
So ..... is this something that we can fix? Bloody hell anyone who lives in Melbourne knows about SEN Radio (24 hours, 7 days a week of Sport) For the love of God........ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week of Sport!!!! BUT NO KARTING.
I am so frustrated on this.... time to check my blood pressure
Joe
Gus Cyrillo said:I couldn't agree more guys.The coverage karting gets in the media is close to non-existant. And as you say, it seems the people already involved in the sport are the ones being targeted by BAM's (more than likely non-existant also!) marketing "plan".There is soooooooooo much more that can be done.
There was a pic in the paper last week of Schumi driving his TK in euro... i thought that was cool, dont think it had anything to do with anyone in Karting in aus or BAM but still.
I have seen a few articles in the cars guide in the Herald Sun over time. There was one on Wally's national win this year and i remember reading something about Dave Sera at one stage as well - also i think there was something about the Vic Open - i don't keep these articles but that's just from memory.
I'm not where these articles came from or who wrote them but could BAM be doing this?
I also notice that sometimes the articles in Motorsport News and Auto Action are exactly the same as what is posted on the karting.net.au site - BAM write these articles do they not? People are quick to say they are doing nothing but are we fully aware of what they have done?
I get the feeling i'll get flamed for this post however i still feel that more can be done by them - id love to see some races recorded and uploaded to youtube - i think getting the video out there of races on the internet is a gold mine in terms of exposure.
Hi Guys
I've had more success getting stories in the paper than BAM have. For Oakleigh's 50th we organised the local Leader newspaper group to come down and they did a great job - there was a three or four minute slideshow (complete with sound bites) on their main website for a good 4 months as well as articles in about two or three of their papers with a massive photo (I know this 'cause the photo was of my daughters :))
The biggest thing for me that showed BAM were not doing the job they were contracted to do (ie promote the sport) - and I have raised this before - was when the family went to the Royal Show and there, front and centre in the sports pavillion, were stands for callisthenics, athletics, dancing, motocross, rally cars, and HOT WHEELS!! yes, those little cars every 3 year old plays with had a stand. I eagerly looked around for the karting stand to no avail. The thousands of people that would have gone through that show and BAM couldn't even set up a stand with some brochures and posters, let alone real people. How many "shows" are there around the country that BAM working with the clubs could set up a stand at?
It is no use preaching or promoting to those of us in the sport, as they seem to be doing - we know all about it. You need to reach the people outside the sport. I know everyone says how expensive media advertising is but geeze, with all the money we pay them you'd think they'd be able to afford something.
Does anyone know how much the AKA pays BAM per year?
Sharon,
Do we actually know how much they get paid?
You know Prime (Regional televsion) can give you a 15 second ad on TV for as low as around $25.00. Ok it doesn't help Melbourne or Greater Sydney etc.... but there are clubs in Gippsland, Albury, Rochester, Ballarat (and i am only talking from a Victorian Perspective) but Newcastle all have Prime (Channel 7) as their feed.
Like i said SEN Radio.....
Paul, no spray from my end but if these guys are paid well...... earn your $$ and the AKA should be all ovber them like a rash asking for a monthly report on all the activities they have undertaken for the month...
blood pressure all good :-)
Sharon Harper (Kart Mum) said:Hi GuysI've had more success getting stories in the paper than BAM have. For Oakleigh's 50th we organised the local Leader newspaper group to come down and they did a great job - there was a three or four minute slideshow (complete with sound bites) on their main website for a good 4 months as well as articles in about two or three of their papers with a massive photo (I know this 'cause the photo was of my daughters :))The biggest thing for me that showed BAM were not doing the job they were contracted to do (ie promote the sport) - and I have raised this before - was when the family went to the Royal Show and there, front and centre in the sports pavillion, were stands for callisthenics, athletics, dancing, motocross, rally cars, and HOT WHEELS!! yes, those little cars every 3 year old plays with had a stand. I eagerly looked around for the karting stand to no avail. The thousands of people that would have gone through that show and BAM couldn't even set up a stand with some brochures and posters, let alone real people.It is no use preaching or promoting to those of us in the sport, as they seem to be doing - we know all about it. You need to reach the people outside the sport. I know everyone says how expensive media advertising is but geeze, with all the money we pay them you'd think they'd be able to afford something.
Paul Rodgers said:I'd love to see some races recorded and uploaded to youtube - i think getting the video out there of races on the internet is a gold mine in terms of exposure.
I've been saying that for a while now...... It'd do wonders, that's for sure.
Now I'm trying my best to keep my head from growing too large as I write this - but I would go so far as to say more people have seen my video on the 'Tube where I spin into the first corner gravel, all 15 seconds of it - than will see D.Sera's drive from last to first in the final of the Pro Tour rd 2.
In my view - much as I'd like to be famous for being the most awesomest driver there ever was - That is just sad. Just plain sad.
The role of BAM media is the Public interface of the AKA , there role as a public liason company is to present a proffessional representation for the Governing body, along with the task of raising the profile of our sport and attracting media coverage and new sponsors to help you budding racing drivers to advance your chances of reaching your goal of a full time proffessional drive , be it in dare I say F1 or V8 Taxi racing.
However there main role of recent is to CRINGE in a corner at all the fo pars our administration are tuning up for us the customer to swollow. I personaly would love the opportunity of being paid $200k + per year to do what BAM are achieving.
I believe the money paid to BAMould be better suited employing a proffessional to carry out there duties and to raise the profile of the sport.
I would like to invite some one from BAM to now explain to us the customer what there role is.
Over to you Mr / Mrs BAM