One of the hardest things about doing community service art programs is getting the community to show up. We need people in the audience, people in galleries, people showing up for art. These are 5 tips and tricks I’ve used to promote and advertise my events to get people to show up for the show.
1. Contact schools and other volunteer services in town
In all of the community events I’ve worked on, I’ve had the most success promoting the event by contacting local schools, art programs, and non-profit clubs in the area.
It’s a good idea to come up with a flyer that can be faxed or emailed with all the details—some important phrases that tend to encourage participation are “free event” or
“Artistic Experience”. At the very least, people
will talk about your event or print your poster.
2. Approach malls and businesses
Similar to contacting schools and clubs, actually get out in your community. Small business owners usually have a deep connection with other businesses and the community, making them the perfect place to plant the seed of your event.
I’ve also found that many local businesses are happy to tape flyers on their doors and send a “representative” to participate in the event. Dress nice, go inside, and talk to them about their business and yours.
3. Speak to your local chamber of commerce
If the event will be staged in a town park, center green, civic center, or any other local government property, then your local Chamber of Commerce can be notified to help with promotion. This can sometimes be a bit of a stretch, but it’s worth a visit.
4. Send Press Releases and Ads to local advertising hot spots
Have a local paper, radio station, or bulletin board that the entire community uses? Use it too. Take advantage of knowing your community intimately. Local news outlets like radio stations, tv, and newspapers are always on the lookout for community stories.
Whenever possible, write the story yourself and send it in—make it easy for them to simply copy and paste your words wherever necessary. Don’t forget to include your phone number and email address so potential volunteers know how to get a hold of you.
5. Most importantly, use word of mouth advertising
Get your cast and volunteers to talk about your show! Post on their social media calls from the top of telephone polls, TALK! Word spreads fast in small communities. Get local groups and individuals talking, and get your word out. Do this by giving them good pictures, graphics, and captions to post, and even discount codes for tickets!
The more you get volunteers and participating artists engaged, the greater the scope of your promotional reach. Remember to enlist other fine art groups if possible, like dancers, musicians, and drama clubs. There are so many options available that it’s easy to see why assigning volunteers to promote the event is crucial, and why you simply can not do this alone.
The great thing about promoting a free, fun, community event is that it usually doesn’t take long for word to get out—and in my experience, as long as people know about the event, they won’t want to miss it.
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