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Sweet marketing music

Tanner Montague came to town from Seattle having never owned his own music venue before. He’s a musician himself, so he has a pretty good sense of good music, but he also wandered into a crowded music scene filled with concert venues large and small.But the owner of Green Room thinks he found a void in the market. It’s lacking, he says, in places serving between 200 and 500 people, a sweet spot he thinks could be a draw for both some national acts not quite big enough yet for arena gigs and local acts looking for a launching pad.“I felt that size would do well in the city to offer more options,” he says. “My goal was to A, bring another option for national acts but then, B, have a great spot for local bands to start.”Right or wrong, something seems to be working, he says. He’s got a full calendar of concerts booked out several months. How did he, as a newcomer to the market in an industry filled with competition, get the attention of the local concertgoer?

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by John Schroeder
November 2002

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Choosing a banker

Quick tips
for choosing
a banker

WHETHER YOU’VE JUST started your business or are looking for a new partner to meet your growing financial needs, the key to any successful partnership is a solid banking relationship. Strong relationships help to build powerful businesses by covering all financial aspects of your organization.

From the simplicity of borrowing to get new office equipment to the complexity of accurate bookkeeping and tax filing, the right business banker can help make the biggest difference in your company’s future.

There are several key components to look for when selecting your business banker. Consider these four tactics before you start your search.

Consider growth.

The products and services offered to you by your business banker should be ones that not only meet your current needs, but those of your future. For example, some banks may have a checking account that suits your business’s needs today but will quickly be outmoded when your sales volumes take off. If you want your business to grow painlessly, make sure your bank’s product line has the flexibility to grow along with your needs.

Contact is key In the midst of your busy day, spending time waiting through a phone service menu to reach your banker is one more thing you don’t have the time to do. Choose a banker who can give you access to his or her time and resources by dialing one direct phone number.

See the big picture.

A solid checking account with good benefits is important, but don’t let it dictate your final decision. When it comes to the care of your financial services, consider the components beyond the products, including relationships, comfort and trust.

Calculate convenience.

Running a business is an around-the clock effort. Just because the bank is closed doesn’t mean you’ve stopped working for the day. Consider selecting an institution with business bankers that can give you personal service throughout your long week and weekends to more closely mirror your own operating hours.

Long-term benefit.

Of course there are many other considerations to ponder in your situation. Above all, remember that the long-term benefit of working with a financial institution upon which you can depend provides your business with another strong partnership.

The biggest mistake many business owners make is letting their business banker become just another name in the Rolodex. Instead, put your business banker to work and make him or her a member of your growing business team.

[contact] John Schroeder is executive vice president of business banking for TCF Bank in Minneapolis, a Minnesota- based financial holding company with $11.5 billion in assets: 612.661.8814; jschroe1@tcfbank.com; www.tcfexpress.com