5 Free Ways to Market Your Next Event

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Events don’t always come with the luxury of a large marketing budget. If that describes your event, here is a list of some ways that you can quickly and easily market the event without spending a penny.

  • Create a Facebook event page

This is an easy way to publicize your event to all your followers, who can in turn share with all their friends. Guests can comment about the event, creating even more hype.

  • Posting on your local community calendar

This may often get overlooked, however we have found it’s a great source. It’s easily searchable and all the major events are posted there.

  • Ask for an interview spot on local television station

It’s worth a shot and many times local news stations are looking for hot happenings in the city.

  • Tweet about the event on Twitter

Twitter has such a huge following that posting your event instantly reaches millions. Also, keep updating your followers as the planning continues as to what they can expect, such as an interactive photo booth or a great new band. This keeps people intrigued and urges them to spread the word.

  • Include it in your email signature

This is a unique way to quickly get the event out there; I mean think how many emails you send a day. People can’t help but see it!

Venue Selection: Important AV Factors

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Venue Selection: Important AV FactorsMost venues will have an in-house Audio Visual provider. This can be a great support, but also present challenges. Here are some insights to consider when choosing your venue:

  • Rigging- Venues that allow you to hang objects from specified rigging points usually charge a fee per point. Your AV needs will dictate how many points you require. Some venues will specify that you use their in house AV Company to rig or at least supervise. They will charge for either of these services.
  • Power- Power is not always included. This is especially true in convention centers and hotel properties. The power will be charged based on your usage during the event and setup. You will also want to make sure that the venue has all the power capabilities you require and that additional generators won’t be required.
  • Entrances and Freight Elevators- Load in specs should be carefully considered with an extensive décor or AV setup. Large pieces of truss or stage sets will need to fit in the entrances or elevators. Check with your venue to secure the freight elevator if they have one.
  • Trucks- If you have a large AV setup your crew is going to arrive in a large truck possibly multiple trucks or even a semi truck. You will want to check that they will fit in the dock. If you are in an urban venue or venue with limited parking you will want to research ahead of time where these trucks can be stored or parked. Negotiating a parking rate in advance can save you money on larger vehicles. 
  • Union and Labor- Venues have the option to be a union or a non-union facility. A union facility will have additional rules and regulations that must be followed for your event. You will want to ask the facility for their policies and procedures to see how this will affect your event budget. A union facility will have specific labor rates, break times, call minimums and overtime charges. Even if you bring in your own AV or operators, you will still have to use the union labor.