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Back Road BearsWe've beat the show topic to death... the changes... the decline.... blah.... blah.....
And we've talked about things artists can do to help revive bear shows.... and spread the word about artist bears.
But what I haven't seen us discuss to any detail is:
As a promoter what can I do? As an artist what can you do?
Advertising ideas? Marketing suggestions? People, places, groups to target/contact?
Would free admission make a difference in whether someone attended or not?
Does the show need to offer something more to attract more people?
How do we reach non-collectors?
Here's what I've done that doesn't seem to be making a bit of difference:
large (postcard sized) ads w/admission coupons in the big newspapers throughout the state
ads in bear magazines
ads in local interest magazines
calendar listings on tv and radio websites that have been mentioned on air
postcards and posters put in area businesses a few weeks before the show
The only thing that does bring people in are the postcards I send out to participating artists to send to their mailing list and the ones I send to my mailing list. Those are current collectors and thank God for them..... but how do we attract the general public?
I'm completely open to ideas and I know I'm not the only promoter here who would love to hear your suggestions!
I don't want to just target bear shows either... I'm hearing more and more about how general craft shows are also suffering in attendance and artist participation. Its every where and I know it... just not ready to give up!
Help!
Strange BearsHI Daphne
One idea that I have used with some success is.......I have made a bear and donated it to the local radio station and then given them 10 free tickets to the show as well. Every morning the announcer run something that they made up.....phone in with your best teddy story or describe your best buddy........why does your spouse look like a teddy bear ( I heard that one was really popular. The best story of the day won the two free tickets and then at the end of the week the announcer decided which of the best 5 won the bear.
This worked for me as the show I hold is in Mittagong an hour and half from Sydney and the station is a smaller regional one as is Mittagong and the station was willing to deal with me and give me a better advertising deal along with the promotion.....it was a win for win for both of us. Of the 10 tickets won 6 were used and the number of people who attended the show and told me they were in stitches with the stories told me that it did reach a large number of people and the show details stuck in their heads. They ran the competition in the morning peak period when people would be in their cars going to work.
However the station will only do this deal every two years or so. I can't get it every year.
bearhugs
Chaska, MinnesotaDaphne: One idea is to find a local news station that is up for an interesting story. I notice here they always have some kind of feel good news item towards the end of the show. I think it would be nice to see if a local news station would do an interview with some of the artist and show their bears as they say "come on over folks to _____, times of the show are from ___ to ___". What do you think?
Another thought is to pair up you show with another type of show that will pull people in for both. Meaning find a promoter for an antique show and share expenses for advertising for both shows. People are more apt to go to both because the other is next door and it is a afternoon of fun....
See if you could team up with the local zoo and have a show inside. Send out a discount for the zoo admission via the newspaper or cards so that the admission price is no more or less than a zoo admission. The zoo does not lose anything but will perhaps gain more visitors and you have the audience of a normal attendance to a bear show. Everybody is happy. And if you get the news stations out there, the zoo and your show get great publicity. What a fun afternoon for everybody.
Here we have a local morning television program, Good Day Oregon. Do you have something similar in your area that would do a piece the day before the show?
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
For several weeks prior to the event, I always promote any shows I am attending on my website utilising a 'show preview' page, via email updates to my mailing list and by keeping it very much a theme on my blog, so that readers interest is kept focused. I also keep my internet chat group well informed.
I really think it helps if artists do their bit to keep the show profile high.
Hi Daphne,
All great suggestions - especially about using the local press, as they are always up for a light-hearted, quirky story. So, if you can find an angle, contact your newspaper/radio or tv station, etc. Could you haul in a local celebrity to open the show or present an award?? (Thinking off the top of my head here!).
The thing about the general public is that, unless they know about artist bears, they are going to see teddies in terms of children's toys so may be a bit mystified as to what an artist bear show actually is. You may be better off pushing the 'art' angle - could you put up flyers in local galleries, for instance? Think of where your likely potential collector base might hang out and advertise there - local coffee shop, wine bar, bookstore? Maybe the local library might be a possibility - loan them a bear or two for an eye-catching display, with your show and contact details in a prominent place. But don't target the children's section, as I think thay would probably be a waste of time.
Being logical and hard-headed, you need to get as much of the right kind of publicity, in the right places, as you can - preferably for free, or for a small donation. Whether that be a donation of a bear, reciprical advertising, or hard cash, will depend on the circumstance, I guess. Oh, and what about other fairs - swap meets, antique fairs, craft shows? They may have a policy of allowing you to put out flyers for your show for a small fee - at least you would be reaching the kind of people who collect things and understand the concept of specialist shows.
Could you offer to give talks to local groups? I do this from time to time (although I am not sure it has raised teddy bear consciousness yet!!).
Well, I hope this helps - I feel quite fired up myself, now! 
Hugs,
Chris
Canna Bear PaintIf I recall correctly, TBAI actually did arrange for a local television station to broadcast something about the show last year. I seem to recall Cindy looking for an artist to be interviewed by them.
Something else... one of the biggest arts/crafts show promoters in the country does a special arrangement for a local food pantry. They have people bring in canned goods to the show, which gets you a discount off admission. I can't help but think that linking into a charity like that is good all the way around, including that more TV/radio stations in the area may be willing to give the show a mention that way.
My $0.02
Kelly
hmmm...really interesting thread. This is an issue really close to my heart at the moment, as I now have less than three weeks to get as many people to the event I am organising as possible.
I can't really add much more than what has been said. I have linked the TBAE with a charity, and I think people are often more willing to give you free publicity if you do this. I went to the town where the event is being held yesterday and left some leaflets in the tourist information. You should have seen their face when they read the leaflets - you could just see the question marks appear in their eyes at the words 'teddy bear artist'. I got the same response when I took some into the local British Heart Foundation shop (this is the charity the event is supporting). Unfortunately this is the response most members of the public would give, and I'm not sure if this will ever change. I know my brother-in-law is still wondering when I am going to open my toy-making factory - to him that is what teddy bears are - mass produced toys!!
I've really concentrated on the 'target population' for this years event, handing out leaflets at other shows, advertising in specialist magazines, sending out leaflets to known collectors and bear shops. If there are not enough people through the door this year, I will certainly have to look at extending where I advertise for 2009.
I'm definitely interested in any more ideas!!
Back Road BearsYou all have such marvelous suggestions! 
I hit dead ends with both the local TV station AND the radio station. The TV station didn't want to come and cover the event on the weekend... hard to get a crew.... and then it would be aired on the 5 or 11 o'clock news after the event so wouldn't bring people in. I even tried the charity angle and apparently my local fame as "Mimzy's Mom" is now history even though it's THIS TV station that called me right up and had me on the 5 o'clock news when the movie opened! Unless I want to PAY for a 10 second ad ($300) they won't mention it the day before. They'll run it once in their calendar of weekend events on air as part of a list of events that scrolls across the screen... if there is room and my event is deemed worthy enough by the producer that's it. I talked to said producer..... pushed the "feel good" story thing and the charity thing, offered to give away their promotional stuff at the show, etc. No go.
Radio.... they wanted $1000 of advertising in order for me to do any give aways... tickets, bears, gift certificates, etc.... didn't matter... if I wasn't going to spend that minimum on advertising they weren't going to do additional promoting with give aways. They'd come broadcast live IF someone was available AND I paid them $5000! This isn't New York or Chicago or San Francisco folks.... this is little ol' New England.... which is apparently money hungry! And each state has ONE major/popular station so there aren't a lot to choose from, negotiate with. In other areas I bet this would be a great way to spread the word to a wide audience for a reasonable cost.
TV & Radio I can only do if I increase the table fees at my shows..... which will then result in fewer artists so I STILL won't have more money to put in the advertising budget. 
Unless I don't do newpaper ads.... which aren't doing much anyway... perhaps I go with radio & TV only next time. Hmmmm......
Love the food pantry idea.
Posters I put up in local businesses are indeed targeted places like the ones Christine mentioned. The library did a display for me a couple of years ago. Wonder if I could work something out with the big craft stores for advertising.... those customers certainly would appreciate "handmade".
Postcards/signs at other trade shows is a great idea. I've found a simple phone call to the promoter and offering to put their postcards at my next event if they'll put mine at their show is all it takes and I can just mail them off. Many I've talked to in other industries are just as desparate to get more people in the door so are more than willing to swap and network for advertising.
Combining a bear show with another event or attraction is another fantastic idea! Again, with the way things are going, other promoters/business might welcome the opportunity to combine efforts and money to get more people to come.
Keep those ideas coming!!! You guys are coming up with some great ones!! Getting my gears turning too!! :dance:
LuxembearsGosh Daph, I wish I had something to add but I don't. All I can say is that perhaps this is just a big pendulum swinging and things will come back, get better, and a renewed birth of bear collectors and show attendees and exhibitors will blossom. 
Busser BearsAre there any really cool shops that we fellow artists and collectors would be interested in visiting in the area? I'd go into their shop with a few of the teddies to show them what kind of show it would be, not dime store stuff, something that will peak their interest...ask them if they'd like to offer some kind of discount or map or something to advertise their place. The map would be great so that you could find the place.
Also, a great restaurant, maybe they could advertise the show and you could advertise the restaurant...maybe a dinner for 2 or 1 give-away.
The shops I think would bring some customers who might be really interested in another cool venue to attend....and the artists could find a really neat place to shop. I know when I used to travel, I would have LOVED to find some really cool shops or visit a really nice restaurant.
hugs,
Leeann Krikau
Busser Bears
Posts: 1,836This idea would take a chunk of time, but may bring in more of the general public. You could get involved with as many local events as possible, promoting your shows/the industry that way (??) If having a table with display during local fairs is too expensive maybe just enjoy the day by walking around and handing out your informational flyer with coupon attached. Make the coupon specific to where you're handing out and then track those coupons that come back to you at the door. We've got tons of heavily trafficed outdoor fairs, festivals, concerts and all around here so this idea might work in those situations. Work it the whole year long whenever you're able, in addition to those weeks before the show.
(I'm not talking about heading into a car show and handing out your info Just those casual events where you can chat it up with those who want to and simply hand out a coupon flyer to others.)
:hug:
~Chrissi
Posts: 8,574This sounds taky-but: How about bear giveaways at the children's hospital-and when the stations hear you are going to do this they it they want in on the story and you could say BTW Tomarrow at .......there will be a bear show at.......
Maybe chinese knockoffs for all but one child who gets your artist bear?
gosh I was impressed with everyones ideas....sorry that its such a hard sell, but i think Judi has a good point.....the only reason the president gets away with saying we aren't in a recession is because they do not count fuel/energy nor food in the recession inflation index. If they did we would have been concidered in one months ago.
That doesn't help the lack of enthusiasm, but it might help to understand why.
Which is why you have to get more creative, is that possible???, and come up with a gimmick ,catch, idea that will grabs someone in the media to give you the attention you need.
How about free passes for all the cancer kids that are strong enough to go?
oh dear, this is getting cheesier and cheesier.....sorry :redface:
