Rick Steves Europe: Radio Fundraiser

Travel with Rick Steves: Fundraiser Modules

Released September 2010 (for use through September 2011)

Overview

This year's Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser modules will provide you with more than two hours of material on the theme of "authentic experiences in far flung places" to generate enthusiastic listener support for your station. You can plan to use this material as two discreet hours, to air one in the fall and the other in the spring. You can run each hour on two consecutive weeks of fundraising Travel with Rick Steves. Or you can use both hours together to create a two-hour Rick Steves special.

Our suggested rundowns will give you options for how to squeeze the funder material into one hour, plus options for extending into a longer fundraiser special. An extra module and generic funder pitch from Rick in each hour allows you to plan for something longer than one hour, but less than two, if you prefer, as a way to get a little more help fundraising from Rick.

Each hour has its own billboard, which we recommend using, to set up the tone for the program coming up under a comprehensive theme, and so it sounds as much like the weekly show as possible, in order to not train listeners to tune away because it's a fundraiser. The rundown allows time for fundraising at the open of the show, but from our own experience at stations, you'll probably have better results to wait for the program to establish itself before pitching it.

The modules contain both "best of" excerpts from interviews in the past year or so, as well as material which has not been heard before on the broadcast.

As we have done in past years, there is a generic public radio fundraising pitch from Rick at the close of each module. Also, except for the first module in each hour, Rick opens the rest of the modules with a brief reference to thank listeners for "doing your part" during the just-concluded pitch break.

If you need additional fundraising segments, select from 2009's modules.

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Fundraising Premiums

As a nod to economic realities for many listeners, this year Rick is pitching lower contribution rates than in previous Rick Steves premium packages, with two levels, at $60 and $160. If you'd like to offer a third level package with more Rick Steves material at a higher contribution level, you can contact Angie Kirkwood (425/771-8303 ext. 240) at Europe Through the Back Door for additional Rick Steves premiums that you can pitch locally.

The thank you gifts are directly related to Rick's work and the show. Stations who have used these packages during their fundraising for Travel with Rick Steves have often exceeded their goals for the hour by a wide margin. It works, so it's worth convincing your development director to offer the Rick Steves premium package, and make Travel with Rick Steves work even harder for your station.

We strongly recommend offering the Rick Steves premium package as an incentive to get contributors, with a low cost per package to your station, and no minimum order requirements. Use Rick's premium pitches during your local pitch breaks, or directly at the end of each module.

Rick has recorded three versions of the premium pitch. It's designed for you to use either following his generic pitch at the end of each module, or to play in the middle of your local pitch break. He describes the premiums, and the contribution levels of either $60 or $160. The shorter third funder pitch is designed to be used in a later pitch break, after having aired at least one of his longer premium pitches in an earlier pitch break.

Some stations have also offered the Rick Steves premium package as a special Rick Steves-themed incentive during their local talk shows, and even during Morning Edition, with remarkably strong results. There's no minimum order for your station - just order the number you need to fulfill your pledges, and the wholesale cost for your station is very modest as well, to cover our production costs.

Rick Steves Premium Packages are offered to supporters at two levels: $60 and $160.

$60 Level Premiums:

(station wholesale cost = $8.50)

  • Rick's latest book, "Travel as a Political Act"
  • Smithsonian Presents "Travels with Rick Steves" Special Edition
  • Rick Steves Tour Newsletter
$160 Level Premiums:

(station wholesale cost = $30.00)

  • Rick Steves' Europe: All 80 Shows DVD Box Set
  • Rick's latest book, "Travel as a Political Act"
  • Smithsonian Magazine "Travels with Rick Steves" Special Edition
  • Rick Steves Tour Newsletter

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Scheduling Rick for Customized Fundraiser Pitches

Keep in mind that we aim to make Rick available for a customized hour's fundraising each year for each affiliate who requests it. However, you should request a date at least a month or two in advance, to make sure Rick will be available, and is not traveling when you want him. He's also glad to record custom funder spots and pitches, which we can even do by ISDN with a local host on your end. To put in your request and to determine when Rick is available, contact Ashley Systma at 425/608-4293, or email ashley@ricksteves.com.

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Formatting Options — Airing the Travel with Rick Steves Fundraiser Material

The following rundowns give you several options for how to air either hour, or both hours, of the latest Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser modules. We suggest start times for each segment and lengths for your local pitch breaks in order to time out correctly to one full hour. We recommend airing the Billboard, even if you're going to go directly to the first module, so that it sounds like the weekly program, and to let Rick create an enthusiastic air of anticipation for what will air in the hour ahead.

If you're offering the Rick Steves premium package, include Rick's premium pitches during your local pitch breaks.

Formatting Options: A | B | C | D | E | F | G

Formatting Option A — Hour 1:

This rundown option includes the first part of the network newscast (or a short pitch break after the billboard), and includes three segments (1A, 1B, and 1D). It will time out to one hour, and allows for three local pitch breaks of roughly 7 minutes each.

Run Time Segment (Length)
00:00 - 01:00 Billboard — Hour 1 (1:00)
01:00 - 04:00 NPR or BBC Newscast 1, or Local Pitch

  • Note: Insert part one of the hourly newscast, or do a short local pitch, or move the rest of the modules up earlier and change the segment start times accordingly, to give you additional time for local pitching later in the hour
 (3:00)
04:00 -14:09 Segment 1 A "Authenticity in Italian Regional Cuisine"

  • Guest: Fred Plotkin, author of "Italy Italy for the Gourmet Traveler"
  • Guests: Italy tour guides Cecilia Bottai and Jamie Blair Gould
  • Music Credit: Cincinnati Pops, "'Allegro' from 'Mandolin Concerto' (Vivaldi)," Bella Tuscany (collection) / Telarc
  • Callers: Ed from Burlington, Ontario and Nancy in Markeson, Wisconsin
  • inQ: (Rick) "Hi. I'm Rick Steves. Thanks for joining us today for a special whirlwind edition of Travel with Rick Steves…"
  • outQ: (Rick) "Thanks for being generous in showing your support for public radio." (music fades)
 (10:09)
14:10 - 21:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 1 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (6:50)
21:00 - 35:35 Segment 1 B "Lessons from the Arctic"

  • Guest: Nature photographer Paul Bannick, author of "The Owl and the Woodpecker"
  • Guest: Wildlife artist Richard Ellis, author of "On Thin Ice"
  • Music Credit: Mark Isham, "Sympathy and Acknowledgement," Vapor Drawings / Windham Hill
  • inQ: (Rick) "Thanks again for being an important part of this tasty dish we call public radio."
  • outQ: (Rick) "…thanks so much." (music fades)
(14:35)
35:36 - 43:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 2 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (7:24)
43:00 - 52:21 Segment 1 D "Little-Known Andorra; Beer Toasting Protocols in Europe"

  • Guest: Rolf Potts, author of "Marco Polo Didn't Go There"
  • Guests: Tour guides Roy Nichols (Britain), Stephen McPhilemy (Ireland), Dave Hoerline (USA-Denmark), and Ferdi Menghi (Belgium)
  • Music Credit: The Chieftans, "Ireland Moving," Film Cuts / RCA
  • inQ: (Rick) "It makes a big difference when you support your public radio station."
  • outQ: (Rick) "Public radio is an important part of our lives, and you make it possible. Thanks." (music fades)
(9:21)
52:22 - 1:00:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 1 and/or 3 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (7:38)


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Formatting Option B — Hour 1:

This version includes all four segments for hour one, with five snappily-paced local pitch breaks, and forgoes the hourly newscast, to fit within an hour. Segment 1D sets an upbeat, playful note for your last local pitch break.

If you would like to extend the program beyond one hour, you can leave in the hourly newscast, use all four segments, and lengthen the local pitch breaks. Include Rick's premium pitches in at least two of your local pitch breaks, if you're offering the Rick Steves premium package.

Run Time Segment (Length)
00:00 - 01:00 Billboard — Hour 1 (1:00)
01:00 -11:09 Segment 1 A "Authenticity in Italian Regional Cuisine"

  • Guest: Fred Plotkin, author of "Italy Italy for the Gourmet Traveler"
  • Guests: Italy tour guides Cecilia Bottai and Jamie Blair Gould
  • Music Credit: Cincinnati Pops, "'Allegro' from 'Mandolin Concerto' (Vivaldi)," Bella Tuscany (collection) / Telarc
  • Callers: Ed from Burlington, Ontario and Nancy in Markeson, Wisconsin
  • inQ: (Rick) "Hi. I'm Rick Steves. Thanks for joining us today for a special whirlwind edition of Travel with Rick Steves…"
  • outQ: (Rick) "Thanks for being generous in showing your support for public radio." (music fades)
 (10:09)
11:10 - 15:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 1 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (3:50)
15:00 - 29:35 Segment 1 B "Lessons from the Arctic"

  • Guest: Nature photographer Paul Bannick, author of "The Owl and the Woodpecker"
  • Guest: Wildlife artist Richard Ellis, author of "On Thin Ice"
  • Music Credit: Mark Isham, "Sympathy and Acknowledgement," Vapor Drawings / Windham Hill
  • inQ: (Rick) "Thanks again for being an important part of this tasty dish we call public radio."
  • outQ: (Rick) "…thanks so much." (music fades)
(14:35)
29:36 - 34:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 2 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (4:24)
34:00 - 42:32 Segment 1 C "The Tradition of the Public Sauna in Finland"

  • Note: Segment 1C can be added to rundown Option A, C, or D to extend the fundraiser beyond one hour.
  • Guest: Fred Plotkin
  • Music Credit: Helsinki Radio Symphony Orchestra, Okko Kamu, "Karelia Suite, Opus 11 - 3, Alla Marcia (Sibelius)," Sibelius: Finlandia / Deutsche Grammophon
  • inQ: (Rick): "Thanks for doing what you can to support public radio in your community."
  • outQ (Rick): "Thanks so much for playing an important role in supporting public radio in your community." (music fade)
(8:32)
42:33 - 46:00 Local Pitch Break (3:27)
46:00 - 55:21 Segment 1 D "Little-Known Andorra; Beer Toasting Protocols in Europe"

  • Guest: Rolf Potts, author of "Marco Polo Didn't Go There"
  • Guests: Tour guides Roy Nichols (Britain), Stephen McPhilemy (Ireland), Dave Hoerline (USA-Denmark), and Ferdi Menghi (Belgium)
  • Music Credit: The Chieftans, "Ireland Moving," Film Cuts / RCA
  • inQ: (Rick) "It makes a big difference when you support your public radio station."
  • outQ: (Rick) "Public radio is an important part of our lives, and you make it possible. Thanks." (music fades)
(9:21)
55:22 - 1:00:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 3 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (4:38)


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Formatting Option C — Hour 2:

This version uses Hour 2 of the 2010 Funder, and includes the first part of the network newscast (or a short pitch break after the billboard). It features three segments (2A, 2C, and 2D). It will time out to one hour, and allows for three local pitch breaks of a bit longer than 6 minutes each.

Run Time Segment (Length)
00:00 - 01:00 Billboard — Hour 2 (1:00)
01:00 - 04:00 NPR or BBC Newscast 1, or Local Pitch

  • Note: Insert part one of the hourly newscast, or do a short local pitch, or move the rest of the modules up earlier and change the segment start times accordingly, to give you additional time for local pitching later in the hour
 (3:00)
04:00 -15:23 Segment 2 A "Making History Come Alive: Royal Sight-Seeing; Mont Saint-Michel"

  • Guest: Leslie Carroll, author of "Notorious Royal Marriages"
  • Guests: Tour guide Patrick Vidal, based in Brittany, France
  • in Q: (Rick) "I like the way travel makes history come to life."
  • out Q: (Rick) "If we haven't heard from you yet, would you please give us a call right now." (no music)
 (11:23)
15:24 - 22:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 1 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (6:36)
22:00 - 31:40 Segment 2 C "Getting Personal with European Art Treasures"

  • Guest: Gene Openshaw, co-author with Rick of "Europe 101"
  • Caller: Regina, from Deerfield Beach, Florida
  • Music Credit: Cleveland Quartet, "'Finale - Vivace ma non troppo' from Quartet No. 12 (Dvorak)," Dvorak: Quartet No. 14 and 12 / Telarc
  • inQ: (Rick) "Thanks. We count on your support."
  • outQ: (Rick) "That's why I'd say it's flat out good citizenship right now to support this station with a phone call. Thanks, so much." (music fade)
(9:40)
31:41 - 38:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 2 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (6:19)
38:00 - 52:24 Segment 2 D "Making Your Best Souvenir; Lessons from Under the Tuscan Sun "

  • Guest: Tour guide Dave Fox, author of "Globe Jotting"
  • Guest: Frances Mayes, author of "Under the Tuscan Sun"
  • Music Credit: Brooklyn Philharmonic, Keith Jarrett, "Etruscan Concerto: Promenade," Lou Harrison: Seven Pastorales / Music Masters
  • inQ: (Rick) "We're so glad to be hearing from people who support public radio during this special edition of Travel with Rick Steves."
  • outQ: (Rick) "Mille grazie, merci beaucoup, and thanks so much for doing your part today." (music up, slow music fade)
 (14:24)
54:25 - 1:00:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 1 and/or 3 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (7:35)


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Formatting Option D — Hour 2:

This version includes all four segments for hour two, with five snappily-paced local pitch breaks, and forgoes the hourly newscast, to fit within an hour.

If you would like to extend the program beyond one hour, you can leave in the hourly newscast, use all four segments, and lengthen the local pitch breaks. Include Rick's premium pitches in at least two local pitch breaks, if you're offering the Rick Steves premium package.

Run Time Segment (Length)
00:00 - 01:00 Billboard — Hour 2 (1:00)
01:00 -12:23 Segment 2 A "Making History Come Alive: Royal Sight-Seeing; Mont Saint-Michel"

  • Guest: Leslie Carroll, author of "Notorious Royal Marriages"
  • Guests: Tour guide Patrick Vidal, based in Brittany, France
  • in Q: (Rick) "I like the way travel makes history come to life."
  • out Q: (Rick) "If we haven't heard from you yet, would you please give us a call right now." (no music)
 (11:23)
12:24 - 16:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 1 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (3:36)
16:00 - 24:56 Segment 2 B "See the USA Through European Eyes; Pauline Frommer's Las Vegas" [Optional]

  • Note: Segment 2B can be added to rundown Option A, B or C, to extend the fundraiser beyond one hour.
  • Guest: Croatia-based tour guide Marijan Kriskovich
  • Guest: Pauline Frommer, author of guidebook, "Pauline Frommer's Las Vegas"
  • Music Credit: Andy Narell, "We Kinda Music," Little Secrets / Windham Hill Jazz
  • in Q: (Rick) "Thanks for doing your part to support the station during this drive, and during Travel with Rick Steves."
  • outQ: (Rick) "Thanks so much for doing your part for public radio." (slow music fade)
(8:56)
24:57 - 29:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 2 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (4:03)
29:00 - 38:40 Segment 2 C "Getting Personal with European Art Treasures"

  • Guest: Gene Openshaw, co-author with Rick of "Europe 101"
  • Caller: Regina, from Deerfield Beach, Florida
  • Music Credit: Cleveland Quartet, "'Finale - Vivace ma non troppo' from Quartet No. 12 (Dvorak)," Dvorak: Quartet No. 14 and 12 / Telarc
  • inQ: (Rick) "Thanks. We count on your support."
  • outQ: (Rick) "That's why I'd say it's flat out good citizenship right now to support this station with a phone call. Thanks, so much." (music fade)
(9:40)
38:41 - 42:00 Local Pitch Break (3:19)
42:00 - 56:24 Segment 2 D "Making Your Best Souvenir; Lessons from Under the Tuscan Sun "

  • Guest: Tour guide Dave Fox, author of "Globe Jotting"
  • Guest: Frances Mayes, author of "Under the Tuscan Sun"
  • Music Credit: Brooklyn Philharmonic, Keith Jarrett, "Etruscan Concerto: Promenade," Lou Harrison: Seven Pastorales / Music Masters
  • inQ: (Rick) "We're so glad to be hearing from people who support public radio during this special edition of Travel with Rick Steves."
  • outQ: (Rick) "Mille grazie, merci beaucoup, and thanks so much for doing your part today." (music up, slow music fade)
 (14:24)
56:25 - 1:00:00 Local Pitch Break

  • Note: Include Rick's premium pitch 3 in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package
 (3:35)


Print Details | Download Segments

Formatting Option E — Combined Hours 1 and 2:

Use the rundowns for Options A and C, in order to present a two hour Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser special, with at least six local pitch breaks of roughly 6 to 7 minutes each.

Formatting Option F — Combined and Extended Hours 1 and 2:

For two full hours with more program segments and tighter, and more frequent, local pitch breaks, combine the rundowns for options B and D. This will give you eight local pitch breaks of around 3 to 5 minutes each.

Formatting Option G — Extended Hours 1 and 2:

Segments 1C and 2B are "optional" extra modules. If you want longer local pitch breaks than the rundown that options B or D will allow, and are able to extend past one hour, you can add segments 1C and/or 2B to the rundowns described in option A or C. This will give you more material and pitching from Rick.

If you'd like additional fundraiser modules and generic pitches from Rick, you can select material from the 2009 Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser.

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Rick Steves Premium Package Pitches

Rick has voiced three different pitches in which he describes his latest premium package for Travel with Rick Steves. Choose from the voice-only versions, or the optional versions with music beds for pitches 1 and 2.

Premium Pitch 1 — Vox Only (2:08)

  • inQ: "To encourage you to join this station, we've put together thank you packages at two exciting contribution levels..."
  • outQ: "Please, call now and show your support for public radio. Thanks."

Premium Pitch 1 — Mixed with Music (2:10)

  • inQ: "To encourage you to join this station, we've put together thank you packages at two exciting contribution levels..."
  • outQ: "Please, call now and show your support for public radio. Thanks."
  • Music Credit: Djole, "Jazzy Jig," Indiscretion / Independent

Premium Pitch 2 — Vox Only (2:03)

  • inQ: "To encourage you to join this station, we've put together thank you packages at two exciting contribution levels..."
  • outQ: "Please, call now and show your support for public radio. Thank You."

Premium Pitch 2 — Mixed with Music (2:10)

  • inQ: (Music) "To encourage you to join this station, we've put together thank you packages at two exciting contribution levels..."
  • outQ: "Please, call now and show your support for public radio. Thank You."
  • Music Credit: Jean-Luc Ponty, "In Spiritual Love," Individual Choice / Atlantic

Premium Pitch 3 — Vox Only (0:31)

  • inQ: "To encourage you to join this station, we've put together thank you packages at two exciting contribution levels..."
  • outQ: "Please, call now and show your support for public radio. Thank You."

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Download Public Radio Fundraiser Segments

.MP3 files .MP2 files .WAV files
Billboard — Hour 1 (1:00) hr1_billboard.mp3 hr1_billboard.mp2 hr1_billboard.wav
Segment 1 A (10:09) seg1a.mp3 seg1a.mp2 seg1a.wav
Segment 1 B (14:35) seg1b.mp3 seg1b.mp2 seg1b.wav
Segment 1 C (8:32) seg1c.mp3 seg1c.mp2 seg1c.wav
Segment 1 D (9:21) seg1d.mp3 seg1d.mp2 seg1d.wav
       
Billboard — Hour 2 (1:00) hr2_billboard.mp3 hr2_billboard.mp2 hr2_billboard.wav
Segment 2 A (11:23) seg2a.mp3 seg2a.mp2 seg2a.wav
Segment 2 B (8:56) seg2b.mp3 seg2b.mp2 seg2b.wav
Segment 2 C (9:40) seg2c.mp3 seg2c.mp2 seg2c.wav
Segment 2 D (14:24) seg2d.mp3 seg2d.mp2 seg2d.wav
       
Premium Pitch 1 — Vox (2:08) pitch1_vox.mp3 pitch1_vox.mp2 pitch1_vox.wav
Premium Pitch 1 — Mixed (2:10) pitch1_mixed.mp3 pitch1_mixed.mp2 pitch1_mixed.wav
Premium Pitch 2 — Vox (2:03) pitch2_vox.mp3 pitch2_vox.mp2 pitch2_vox.wav
Premium Pitch 2 — Mixed (2:10) pitch2_mixed.mp3 pitch2_mixed.mp2 pitch2_mixed.wav
Premium Pitch 3 — Vox (0:31) pitch3_vox.mp3 pitch3_vox.mp2 pitch3_vox.wav

 


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