Bishop, however, is the site of organization, coordinating artists and managing promotion, shows, and local marketing. Most importantly, he furnishes the cohesive, understated design that is Origin s stamp. I want them to look like a family, he says, cupping his hands. Matthew Jorgenson, Bishop s one time student, is Origin s webmaster, and compliments Bishop s design with web presence. Matt has a lot of ideas, says Bishop, and a lot of balls.
Little money goes to advertising or independent promotion.
You could easily sink thousands of dollars into radio promotion and not see an increased return, he says. Instead he works with local stations himself, cultivating his own relationships with DJs and managers. NorthCountry Records of Redwood, New York handles Origin s national distribution. Though Bishop compliments NorthCountry for the work that they do, he recognizes their limitations. Because they only handle independent jazz labels, which are precarious by nature, they deal in lower volumes that are not usually carried by larger stores such as Border s and Barnes and Noble.