10000 Views: From Jersey to Niagara

The blog crested 10000 views this past weekend. Cool, I guess. However, with a site bounce rate of about 35% (the rate of viewers who leave the entry page, presumably because it's not what they were searching for), I recognize that some people wind up at Ask John Regan when they were in fact looking for the famous rock bassist John Regan, or the Irish accordian hero John Regan, or Fr. John Regan, the Illinois priest convicted of embezzling funds from his parishioners to feed a gambling habit.

I am not those men.

And while I don't intentionally mislead readers with  my blog entry titles, I am aware that I can generate loads of traffic by using a generic title. For instance, a year ago we had an incredibly busy month of March, performing 12 times in seven different cities. I called that blog entry 'March Madness, Musically Speaking". Of course any NCAA hoops fan looking for tips on the tournament could have wound up at my blog by searching "March Madness". (In fact, according to my stat counter that entry still gets visitors.)

There are other means of getting hits on the site: put "Beatles" or"U2" or "Naked News" in the title and be assured of lots of traffic (though I've never tried the "Naked News" tact).

So 10000 hits on the 'ol blog doesn't really impress me. Looking through my stats over time, there are some entries that have been read by only two or three visitors. And I thought I was so witty...



Jean Meilleur and Don Paulton in the dressing room



Still, there are folks who happen by Ask John Regan to find about recent goings-on, and I am pleased for that. Freckles (the late dog of the blog) and I will continue to keep in touch with those whose web meanderings bring them to Ask John Regan.

Musically, this past weekend saw Jeans 'n Classics perform with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra at Brock University in St. Catherines On. The show was "It Came From the Jersey Shore: the Music of the Boss, Bon Jovi and Frankie Valli". This particular show includes not only great songs (Born To Run, Bed of Roses, Sherry...), but wonderful vocal work by Jean Meilleur, Neil Donell, David Blamires, Katalin Kiss and Rique Franks.

The Sean O'Sullivan Theatre was sold out for the show, filled with enthusiastic patrons who sang and clapped along throughout...

John,

We were at the Brock show last night and it was GREAT. You guys NAILED IT!!!!

Thank You for keeping us all young!!!!

Cheers,

Tim & Karen