Lobeline Communications

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a European metal band. 

For what projects/services did your company hire Lobeline Communications?

Social media strategizing and marketing for a European Power Metal Band offering online guitar lessons.

What were your goals for this project?

Vastly increase our social media presence with expert marketing.

How did you select Lobeline Communications?

Online search of PR firms specializing in social media strategy/marketing.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

N/A.

What was the team composition?

Four mis-matched individuals with NO experience whatsoever in our musical genre.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

There was no progress/success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Poor.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Founder Phil Lobel's successful PAST musical projects.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I had high, high hopes for this firm. After all, the founder, Phil, had seemingly been in the music business for decades. Should be a straight shot to social media success, right? I could not have been more wrong and to the tune of $10,000.

The account manager/new business guy, Jamie, was pleasant enough during an in-person meeting but FAILED to acknowledge that his firm had NO experience with our musical genre.

FIRST RED FLAG. Obviously, the well-known musicians listed on the website were ancient history (a subsequent thorough perusal of current projects revealed only local 'LA-only' civic and small business projects). George Thorogood and The Trans Siberian Orchestra are currently nowhere to be found.

HIGHLY misleading. Most egregious was the absolute lack of value of their social media strategizing (our primary reason for retaining this firm). Months after our relationship ended we came to realize that the Instagram and Facebook followers were a sham (possibly purchased?), providing absolutely no engagement whatsoever.

Because the individuals assigned to the project had no knowledge of our musical genre, we had to continuously review, rework and micro-manage the content. Imagine a 'writer' who is unable to differentiate between the usage of THEN and THAN, and you'll have a good idea of the level of incompetence we were dealing with.

We have since partnered with a world-class PR firm specializing in rock/metal music (Adrenaline PR out of New York City, headed up by the amazingly talented Maria). Save yourself the hassle, aggravation, and outrageous fees and move right along. Lobeline PR is past its prime.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and chef of a restaurant and catering business in Los Angeles. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Lobeline Communications?

We use them for marketing and reaching a broader audience in various neighborhoods with a range of backgrounds to introduce them to our products and services. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their services include reaching out to entertainment publications to get us visibility, interviews, or reviews. We are a supper club with live music as well as a restaurant. In addition, we cater various high-profile premieres and Oscar parties for various studios and celebrities. We also do live theater at my restaurant, and Lobeline helps market the actors and the shows we put on with TV, magazine, and radio interviews. We use Lobeline to help make our brand more visible in the Los Angeles area. I mostly work with Phil [President, Lobeline Communications], and I also interact with two others on his team.

How did you come to work with Lobeline Communications?

I’ve known Phil socially for years, but I previously didn’t realize that he did more than just entertainment PR and marketing. I found out that he was involved with all kinds of restaurants, nightclubs, promoters, entertainment, and retail. When I was in the market for a firm to help pump up my business and throw out a bigger net to make my brand more known, I had used various other companies without great results. Phil offered to send me a proposal, and I decided to give it a shot. He and his firm continue to do a wonderful job.

How much have you invested with Lobeline Communications?

I’ve spent about $200,000–$275,000 over five years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together five or six years ago, and our partnership is ongoing. We have an annual contract, and they’re involved monthly in bringing visibility to our brand and business. They do everything, and they deliver. 

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

They’ve gotten me national and international media spots, television interviews, a few cooking spots on national television, and magazine interviews. They’ve really done a great job with my brand. We’ve increased the ticket sales for our shows. It’s hard to tell what is paying off when you hire PR companies. The most important part that works for us is that as we grow and they get us more national visibility, it brings a lot of interest in the city of LA. More people are interested in who we are, so I would say they’ve helped grow our visibility and our brand for the dinner shows and our restaurant. The catering side is a whole other beast. It’s a little harder to market.

How did Lobeline Communications perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re completely on top of it and very diligent. They always make sure I know what’s happening, where to go, and where to be for an interview. They push me to stay involved in the whole process. Sometimes, I don’t want to do an interview, but they convince me it’s the best thing to reach our goals. PR people are aggressive by nature, and Phil matches that. He never gives up and never stops, which is great. He’s not shy and stays out there marketing my business. He believes in what I do, what I offer, who I am, my product, and what I’ve created at my restaurant, and he’s not shy about getting me booked into as many things as possible.

What did you find most impressive about Lobeline Communications?

I’ve worked with three other marketing companies in my career, and Phil is definitely the most assertive. He’s very much on top of the plans we make. When we decide what to do, he jumps on it and makes it happen with his team. They use their connections, and they deliver well.

Are there any areas Lobeline Communications could improve?

No, it’s working for me. They’ve done an amazing job. My team and I have absolutely no complaints. We’re very happy.