Good Neighbor Podcast: Orange County

From Musician to Promoter: Roy Temkin's Journey with Moondog Productions

• Rachel Fyffe & Roy Temkin

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Ever wondered what happens when a frustrated musician decides to take matters into their own hands? Meet Roy Temkin, the creative mind behind Moondog Productions, who transformed his musical disappointments into entrepreneurial triumph. 

Roy's journey from performer to promoter began when he grew tired of unsatisfactory bookings and decided to create opportunities rather than wait for them. Today, his production company brings together tribute bands celebrating rock legends across Orange County and beyond. His flagship productions include "Together Again for the First Time," featuring George Harrison and Eric Clapton tribute bands performing at the Coach House on October 16th, and "The Day the Music Didn't Die," an imaginative show that reimagines what might have been if the plane crash that took Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper had never occurred.

What makes Roy's approach particularly refreshing is his commitment to old-school promotion in our digital age. While acknowledging the importance of online presence, he continues to believe in the power of printed flyers, posters in local businesses, and face-to-face connections. This hands-on approach reflects his observation that the music industry has become increasingly impersonal, making genuine connections more valuable than ever. His background as a visual artist—having attended prestigious art schools—gives him an edge in creating compelling promotional materials that capture the essence of each production.

Perhaps most remarkable is Roy's dedication to creating musical experiences that bridge generational gaps. "I always love playing for audiences that have the grandparents and the parents and the kids," he shares, highlighting how classic rock and roll can bring families together through shared appreciation of timeless music. Experience the magic yourself at one of Moondog Productions' and discover why Roy's passion for music continues to resonate with audiences of all ages! 

Upcoming Shows: The Day the Music Didn't Die on November 28th at the Bornemann in San Marcos and December 19th at the Bay Theatre in Seal Beach. https://www.facebook.com/moondogmillerband/

Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Rachel Fyfe.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Now, do you have an upcoming event or need some promotional help? Well, this resource is closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Roy, our team Moondog Tempkin, with Moondog Productions. Now, Roy, how's it going today?

Speaker 3:

I couldn't be better.

Speaker 2:

Well, we are excited to learn all about your business. Now tell us about your company.

Speaker 3:

Well, I started out as a musician and as time moved along, I really wasn't satisfied with the bookings that I was getting where we were, and so on and so forth. So I started looking farther afield and one thing led to another and I wound up becoming the promoter and the producer of shows myself. For example, I met another musician and he had a George Harrison tribute band and I have an Eric Clapton tribute band and I thought, well, these two might really be a good duo duet act together. And we are right now promoting a show on October 16th, promoting a show on October 16th that is entitled Together Again for the First Time George Harrison and Eric Clapton. The George Harrison Band is known as by George and the Eric Clapton Band is Slow Hand. We've got a gig on October 16th at the same Coach House place, which is right on the border of Dana Point and what's that other town?

Speaker 2:

I'm so terrible with it. San Juan, san Juan, capistrano, san Juan.

Speaker 3:

Capistrano. Thank you, rachel. What would I do without you?

Speaker 2:

Well, listen, I want to ask you like how did you get into this business?

Speaker 3:

As I said, I started out as a musician and I wasn't happy with the gigs that were coming my way through my band in one way or another. So I started looking farther afield and people that I met along the way. I met another promoter and she's doing tribute shows with Elvis and the Beatle tribute bands and Cher tribute. And I had put together a rock and roll show called the Day the Music Didn't Die, based on the song that came out in 1984 about the tragic plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper and Richie Valens. And well, I added to the show from the experience that I had as a kid going to rock and roll shows in Brooklyn. And so we now have this big rock and roll show called the Day the Music Didn't Die.

Speaker 3:

That features great, great performers from all over Orange County, san Diego County, l County, and we've got a featured female group that sings the girl group songs from the late 50s and we've got Buddy Holly, ritchie Bowens and the Big Bopper. We've got Dion and the Belmonts and another strange, strange group I don't know where this one came from called Rachel and Roy. They're doing some famous duets from the 50s um, love is Strange and a couple of other Everly Brothers tunes and that's, uh, just a couple of the shows that I'm doing. I'm still promoting my rock and roll band called Moondog Miller that's a dance band as well as my Eric Clapton tribute band, as well as a I'll call it a mellow music trio called Minaj. So I'm a busy guy lately.

Speaker 2:

You sure are. Now, do you think there's any myths or misconceptions in your industry?

Speaker 3:

Can you think of any that? So much is done online or in an impersonal methodology. When a musician wants to play someplace or record someplace, there's very little interaction between people. To try and get someone on the phone today is practically impossible, so you're stuck with dealing through all kinds of internet interfaces that may work, that may not work. So it's tough. It is tough.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, well, you know, we know, marketing is really the heart of every business. So how are you targeting your customers or attracting them? Yeah well, you know, we know, marketing is really the heart of every business.

Speaker 3:

So how are you targeting your customers or attracting them? Well, I'm old school, so, in addition to any social media that we do, I do rely on mailings and posters that I place in local businesses. Uh, I'm working largely in orange county. Not that orange county is such a small place, but, say, compared to other markets like la, it is small, but we are playing in venues all over orange county. One of our shows is in Alameda and we played in San Diego County, and so we're pretty diversified in so far as where we go and how we promote. There's a lot of different ways of promoting, but you cannot forget the old school printing up a bunch of flyers and putting them on car windows and putting up posters in retail stores and handing out cards.

Speaker 2:

All, right, now, I'm kind of interested. Have you ever thought of doing your own podcast? I'm doing it right now, babe. Okay, now, outside of work, what do you like to do for fun, roy?

Speaker 3:

Let's see, let's see. Truth be told, I'm one of those people who, if I ever tried to have a hobby, the hobby always turned into something that I was doing for real, which is exactly how my music career went along. And when I was a kid and you know every kid they put crayons in your hand and you've got to draw, and I was a good drawer. I drew well, and so I went to the High School of Music and Art, which is a specialized high school which I have to audition to get into, and then I went to the School of Visual Arts, which is one of the best art schools in the country. So I'm a creative type.

Speaker 3:

So really, when I'm not doing my music, I'm working to promote my music or create something else to do in my music and, of course, I use my, my design skills, my art skills, to put together the, the posters that you see behind me here. This is the poster for the day the music didn't die and this is the poster for um, the uh clapton harrison show uh together again for the first time, and again let me plug that we're at the coach house on october 16th and that will be the first gig that's coming up, so I'm promoting this one in a big way wonderful.

Speaker 2:

Well now, roy, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about Moondog Productions.

Speaker 3:

That we are a diversified company. We're in the music business I guess we're largely involved in rock and roll but it's music for all kinds of people to enjoy, young to old. I always love playing for audiences that have the grandparents and the parents and the kids. So that's it. We keep our shows so that everyone loves them. And so far, so good.

Speaker 2:

Wonderful. How can our listeners learn more about Moondog Productions?

Speaker 3:

Well, moondog Productions is actually so new I am in the process of putting together my website. It's not there, but in the meantime we've got these shows going on and we've got videos streaming on YouTube. And call me. I'll give you my number and you can call me and I'll tell you where we're playing and who's playing. Oh, and we're doing a free concert on Thursday, which is Patriots Day. That's two days from now. No, I'm sorry, that's tomorrow, on 9-11. The Moondog Miller Band is playing in Veterans Memorial Park in Newport, right on the bay, and we'll be doing a show there from 1130 until three, so everyone can come on out and see and hear and dance to some great rock and roll.

Speaker 2:

Wonderful Well, Roy, I really appreciate you being on the show and we wish you and your business the best moving forward.

Speaker 3:

Thank you, Rachel. Thank you for having me. It was a pleasure being had.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNP OrangeCountycom. That's GNPOrangeCountycom, or call 714-941-8862.