Buzz flies media flag for South Wales comedy

Out now ... a splendid new edition of South Wales ents and leisure mag Buzz. Catch it electronically by clicking here.
Comedian Paul Merton appears on the cover. That's convenient as the Media Master will be taking in his forthcoming improv show at the Grand Theatre, Swansea. Shame it clashes with the Taliesin showing of Ian Dury biopic Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll ... but you can't have it all ways.
Illustrating how live comedy is doing remarkably good business at the moment, there are also features on the likes of Reginald D Hunter, Katy Brand, Rhod Gilbert and the Machynlleth Comedy Festival.
In other fields, there's a healthy preview for the annual Mumbles Mostly Blues and Jazz Festival, an exceptionally tempting ad inviting us all to see modmeisters The Lambrettas in The Rhondda and - thanks to an Andy Pearson Publicity press release - a pleasing mention of The Storys' final gig in Swansea this summer.
Buzz is a beacon of quality in the South Wales ents market. Keep up the good work, all concerned!

Swansea Bay leisure market gets media savvy

Free glossy What’s On In Swansea is a colourful fixture in the area’s media scene these days.
With the sales line of “Your essential leisure guide”, it features advertising from tourism, theatre, music, culture, events, dining and sport.
Its impressive 20,000 print-run means good visibility in places such as tourist information centres, libraries, council buildings, theatres, museums and galleries.
The March/April edition is just out and includes a number of good examples of publicising an enterprise through this journal which is helmed by Sketty’s John Hughes.
Immediately noticeable is a vibrant front cover treatment for a four-night show at the Taliesin. The marketing team there have got in with plenty of time to spare – the production’s not until the end of May – so have done well to trigger early excitement.
On the inside cover is an exemplary ad for the LC. It’s good for a number of reasons: bright images of people having fun, a slogan targeted straight at the What’s On market - “Spend some quality time with the family!” - and a confidence to keep the whole page utterly uncluttered. Da iawn, LC.
The Swansea Philharmonic Choir remain one of the city’s understated gems so it’s good to see them getting some publicity in well ahead of schedule. They host a Brahms Requiem concert with Pontrhydyfen soprano Rebecca Evans on March 27 so it’s good to see them making the most of an outside right-hand half-page.
A number of advertisers have secured a second bite of this issue’s cherry by offering prizes in the magazine’s wordsearch competition. They include Fairyhill, SoCocoa, the Gower Wildflower and Local Produce Centre and Castellamare. Well done, all.
John Hughes is an open-minded individual who’s always willing to listen to good ideas on how to make the most of advertising. Don’t be slow in going to him with ideas.