Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I would like to take a moment and wish all of my friends and fans a very Merry Christmas and and a very Happy New Year. It's been a great year for me, and The Bob Narley Show, and without the fantastic support of my crew and our listeners none of this would have been possible.

I truly feel that I am one of the luckiest people on this earth. My friends would tell you that it's because I was born Chicago Irish. While that may be true, that is not at all what I'm talking about. What I really mean is that I am lucky because I get to wake up every morning to a great job working with a talented crew of people who also love what they do.

Every day we receive emails from all over the world complimenting us on our work and telling us how it made them laugh or brightened up their day. I can't tell you how rewarding that is to all of us here on The Bob Narley Show. My extremely talented crew will spend countless hours helping to create the fantastic comedy audio that is available, and yet they almost never receive any money for it. They help to create these productions because it's what they like to do, they are proud of it, and they enjoy the fact that it has effected so many people in a such a positive way.

This year has brought many changes to my life and my show. I resigned from my job at Real Rock 92.5 and left the great state of Florida to move with my family back to my hometown outside Chicago Illinois. I started taking improv classes at the famous Second City where I have I have met many new friends and learned a whole new way of creating comedy. We started Podcasting the show, which has enabled us to reach thousands of new listeners from all over the world. This month, traffic to bobnarley.com has quadrupled last months traffic and continues to grow exponentially. I have taken some big chances and luckily they have all paid off.

We have a lot planned for the next year and I'm excited about the possibilities that it will bring. I will be continuing my classes at Second City and I have invited some of my friends there to join me in the studio to see what we can dream up. The success of the first Podcast hasn't gone un-noticed, and next year we will make it longer and better, and even more fun. The studio here is getting a new make over and with the new equipment will come even more parody songs and comedy bits. Chicago is a great place for radio and I plan on being a part of it in 2005.

I would like to say thank you to all the people who have given so much to my family and the show over the last year:

A special thanks to all my friends and co-workers in SW Florida, who opened up their homes and their lives over the last 3 years, and contributed so much to the work we did while we were there.

To The Bob Narley Show Freaks. You guys are crazy, and I love that about you. Thanks.

To my band and road crew, you guys rock! I feel so blessed to have such a talented and fun group of people help bring the comedy to the live stage. Our shows are never easy, and something always seems to go wrong, but I guess that's what makes it so fun. You guys rock, thanks!

To my family, who put up with all the craziness that surrounds my life. Thank you for your trust, and for your incredible support. I couldn't have done any of it without you. I love you all very much.

To our listeners, the freaks and the geeks. On behalf of all of us here at The Bob Narley Show, thanks for listening, thanks for your support, and thanks for all of the great feedback! You guys rock and we appreciate your taking the time to listen to our work!

Thanks to all of you for making 2004 such a great year. I hope that 2005 brings both you and your families great success and happiness.

Peace,

Bob NarleyDecember 23, 2004

Christmas Comedy Songs

Free MP3 Comedy and Parody Songs

IPOD's and Portable MP3 Players Sold Out!

It's all over the news today, IPOD's and other portable MP3 players are sold out at Walmart Stores, Amazon.com, and many other popular retailers and e-tailers.

This news only solidifies my belief that "On Demand" audio is the wave of the future. Every single one of those consumers is now a potential listener to my Podcast, or any Podcast.

At the time of this post, over 2100 people have downloaded and listened to my first Podcast. Traffic to my comedy mp3 website at http://www.bobnarley.com has already doubled last months total traffic, and we are only half way through this month.

I think it's time to do another Podcast.

Dimebag Darrell Abbott 1966-2004

I was blown away when I heard the news about the passing of "Dimebag" on December 8th. He was truly a great guitar player and musician who's style inspired a generation of metal heads such as myself.

To his tribute I will say this; The night he was murdered, he was up on stage in a small nightclub in Ohio, his guitar in his hands, playing his heart out to approximately 250 people. A lot of bands would have passed on that gig, a lot of musicians would have scoffed at the idea. Not Damage Plan, not Dimebag. Whether he was playing to an arena full of freaks or to a small crowd of eager Metalheads in an obscure Ohio nightclub, Dimebag would always give it his all. He owned the guitar. He could make it crunch, and thunder, and scream. He played the music for the fans. He loved it, and we loved him for it. Hell, I don't know a single guitarist that hasn't borrowed a lick from the man. And while it's true that the music he created will continue to inspire future generations, his presence in this world will be sorely missed.

My sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of Darrell Abbott and the other victims of this horrible tragedy; Damageplan bodyguard Jeff Thompson, 40; fan Nathan Bray, 23; and Erin Halk, 29, who worked at the club.

"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, 1966-2004
He was seriously fu**ing Metal!

Podcast Results

The first official Podcast of The Bob Narley Show was released on December 3rd. As of today, over 1,800 people from all over the world downloaded and listened to the show. It was great to receive emails from new listeners who enjoyed the material. The response to the show was fantastic.

While I do realize that only 1,800 listeners to the show is not a huge number by broadcast standards, I can't help but feel that it is a great start to an unpublicized show delivered via new technology. To promote the feed I have submitted the RSS location to several directories and websites that review Podcast feeds for their index.

So far, the greatest benefit achieved from the Podcast has been the substantial increase in traffic to my comedy mp3 website, http://www.bobnarley.com. Traffic to my website has been growing steadily since the total rebuild, and has even doubled since October, however there was a noticeable jump in activity directly after the release of the Podcast. December traffic has already passed November, and if it continues should easily double the statistics.

With the increase in traffic came better affiliate advertising. The Bob Narley website now has new affiliate advertising deals with some major players including; Sirius, Musicians Friend, and Napster. As the traffic increases so do the affiliate dollars, however as the traffic increases so do the hosting costs. The good news is that the website's affiliate advertising dollars already make the website profitable. The Podcast just took it to another level.

Truth is, I would do the Podcast even if it didn't impact website traffic. I can't help but believe that "On Demand" is the future to media distribution, especially audio distribution, and that while streaming media has it's place, it's limited.

The next Podcast of The Bob Narley Show will have a few surprises. I have invited some of my classmates from Second City to join me in the studio and I had several requests from old listeners to do Torture Tuesday. I'm also working on a new Christmas Song that would never be allowed air time on radio. My goal is to increase the show time up to 30 minutes, of quality original content.

With any luck, the next show should launch later this week.

Second City

Last night I completed my first level of classes at the famous Second City here in Chicago. The whole experience has been just fantastic! I can't wait for the next level to begin in January.

Many of the basic improvisational ideas and skills that they have taught us so far totally apply to radio, especially ensemble shows and the creative process. After listening to many of the radio shows out on the air waves today, I can't help but feel that most of these guys could really benefit from some of this basic instruction.

One of the most important things we were taught was the idea of "Yes, and". Basically this means that you agree to what is going on, and add something to it. This keep the flow moving, in the right direction, without derailing it.

Another perfect example of Second City instruction and how it would help radio is the idea of surrendering what you think is, or might be, a better idea, to instead be a part of, and contribute to, what is actually going on at the time. How many times have you heard a DJ simply not contribute to a discussion, or worse, change the subject just because he didn't like the topic at hand or thought he had a better idea on where it should go? One of my pet peeves is when you hear a radio guy just agree with a discussion and not add anything to it.. "A ha" "yup".. "fo sure".

I'm totally enjoying the whole experience of being a student at Second City. Just being in the building and around all the creative energy can give you so much motivation. It's easy to see why Second City is THE place for learning Improv.

for more information on Second City you can visit their website at: http://www.secondcity.com

You know you got em, or.. It must suck to be Bob Garrett

Thousands of people have written me emails (bob@bobnarley.com) thanking me for making them laugh, or keeping them informed on important topics that nobody else was covering. I find it very rewarding when I hear that my comedy has impacted somebody's live in a positive way. It's the reason I do radio.

On the other hand, I have also been sent emails from people who hate what I do. They tend to rant and rave, saying the rudest things, that they would never say to you in person. We call these people Flamers, they hide behind the cloak of the Internet and pretend to be bad asses. I suppose that the more people your show reaches every day, the more this will happen. It is inevitable.

Some dj's have a very hard time allowing Flamers comments to pass through them, and seem to take the negative comments personal. Sometimes this can effect their show, and that is one thing should never be allowed to happen. I do not have this problem. To me, Flamers are a sign that your show works, that it is reaching a wide audience, and if nothing else, it's effecting them enough for them to take the time to write and tell you how you made them feel. To a shock jock, this is the best thing that could happen, it means your right on target. Even though I'm not a shock jock my any means, I still enjoy the fact that I have had this effect on somebody.

Today, I received a Flamers email, not from an old listener, but from a DJ that worked at the competing rock station, WJBX in Fort Myers. His name is Bob Garrett.

Even though I left Real Rock 92.5 over 3 months ago, it seems that this moron still can't get me out of his head... And Man, I love that! I receive nasty Flaming emails from him about once a month, with very colorful wording.

It should be noted that he never said one word to me in person during the whole 3 years I was working in Fort Myers. Imagine that?

It should also be stated for the record that Bob Garrett and his partner had picked a fight on the air with me a year or so ago, only after they thought I had been fired. O man, they talked some serious smack that morning, only to find out that I had only been moved to afternoons. They started an on air war that day, and it back fired for them big time. You see, all the talk they did about me on their station in the morning sent their listeners to me in the afternoon. It was beautifull.

You can hear a song I wrote about them on my website, it's called "The Three Dollar Bill Boys".
Here is a link to: The Three Dollar Bill Boys
More can be found at http://www.bobnarley.com

Here is the most recent email that Bob Garrett wrote me. I believe he must have written it after he saw a post on my website informing my fans that I had turned down my first off air gig offer in Chicago.

As my father use to say, "if they're not talking shit about you, you're doing something wrong"

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Garrett [mailto:garrett99x@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 3:25 PM
To: bob@bobnarley.com
Subject: Eat Shit, Fucker

Hey Douche:You have no gig! What a fucking surprise!!! Your big fucking mouth having trouble talking your no talent ass into a job somewhere?You can come back here and I'll pay you 5 bucks an hour to hold my phlegm bucket while I'm on the air. I'll even make you part of the show.Your new name will be "Out-of-Gas Bitch", and you can be the guy on the show that yells out "Faggot... Pussy" over and over again, 'cuz as we both know, that is SOME REAL FUNNY SHIT!!!!!!
Anyway, thanks for your time.
Miss you.

Bob Garrett
Safety First!

Man, it must suck to be him, to be so upset with somebody for so long, even after they are 1600 miles away.

I hope one day, every DJ has this same effect on your competition. That's how you know you got them right where you want them.

I miss you too Mr. Garrett! :)