How to Plan, Pay for and Put on a Wildly Successful Fair
Without Losing Your Mind, Your Family or Your Friends!
Millennials To Surpass Baby Boomer Population In 2015
In 2015, the Millennial generation population will surpass the Baby Boom generation as the largest living generation in the US (per the US Census Bureau). The Millennials are between 18 and 34 years old in 2015. The Millennial population is projected to reach it’s highest in 2036. Many of the Millennials are immigrants or children of immigrants who arrived in the US starting in the 1940s. (Whitehouse.gov report Oct 2014 on Millennials). As a result, the Millennials are an extremely diverse generation. In addition Millennials are very tech savvy, and value community, family and creativity in their work. More information on Millenials: How...
Creating Eye Catching Signage
While visiting the Ventura County Fair, I saw this eye catching use of rope lights to create a sign. Very creative!
STEM/STEAM At Your Fair
Want to attract new customers to your Fair? Every Fair can showcase STEM/STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math) programming and activities. Look at what you currently offer and identify ways to pull out the STEAM elements. Many of these activities that are already created, or, with a little adjustments, can be easily transformed into STEM/STEAM activities. As a result of the STEAM programming at the Alameda County Fair, a major medical provider agreed to become a sponsor of a weekend of activities that were health and fitness themed. The sponsor provided staff and equipment to conduct health checks, fitness testing etc. It is a...
Creating A Branded Photo Op At Your Fair
It's important to provide photo ops for your fairgoers - throughout the fairgrounds. Make sure to brand the photo op someway. Either use your logo, hashtag (#ABCFair) or use your current Fair theme. Whatever you use, make sure it's sized in relation to the "frame" so it will show up in the photos easily. Took this last year at the Calgary Stampede. What a great way to brand a photo opportunity for your guests and give them enough space for the entire family! How else can you incorporate this concept?
SWOT Analysis Can Provide a Roadmap for the Future of Your Fair
SWOT, which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, is an analytical framework that can help your company face its greatest challenges and find its most promising new markets. (en.wikipedia.org). Start with your Management Team, compile the information and share with your employees. Encourage the Fair Team to also conduct SWOT Analysis in their areas. You can use this process to guide your organization in all areas including budgeting, booking entertainment, making decisions, etc.
New Skill Every Fair CEO Needs
Resource Development is the new skill every Fair CEO should have. Many Fairs, especially those with ties to Government, have created their own non-profit as a way to raise funds for building repair, infrastructure upgrades and vehicle replacement. Does your Fair have a separate non-profit? What is the purpose and role of that separate non-profit? If you're new to resource development or currently have a non-profit separate from your Fair, check out the Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/ . Their website has alot of useful information and training for grant writing, grant applications, and they have an online foundation...
Fairs Need To Change and Evolve
The Fair Industry continues to evolve and change. Nothing will doom a Fair to oblivion faster than “doing the same thing” each and every year. Today’s fairgoers are more sophisticated, more demanding for quality entertainment and more selective in where they spend their discretionary money. Those Fairs who continue doing business as they did 5, 10 and even 15 years ago, will find their attendance, and revenues, declining. The successful Fairs are those that dare to “change it up”. Consider changing your Fair each year in some way. Maybe you choose 5%, 10% or even 20% to change. Whatever that amount is, carry the change through all...
#1 Best Seller – Wildly Successful Fair Book reaches #1 Best Seller Status in US and the World!
The book How to Plan, Pay For and Put On A Wildly Successful Fair achieved #1 sales in multiple categories and multiple countries. Thank you to everyone who purchased it!
Wildly Successful Fair Book Available For Purchase
The book "How To Plan, Pay For and Put On A Wildly Successful Fair" is now available at Amazon. Purchase here: http://amzn.to/1HbcpYG. This book is a compiliation of interviews with 10 Fair Industry Experts. From Fair CEO's to entertainment, marketing and finances. This book will provide some great insight into successes and areas for improvements at Fairs across the globe.
Learn why every Fair and every Fair CEO should be actively participating in industry trade organizations and the benefits those organizations can provide to any Fair.
My upcoming book is a compilation of conversations with 10 Fair Industry professionals. From Fair CEO’s to entertainers, you will gain insight into what works and what doesn’t work. These candid conversations include discussions about entertainment, layout, finances, marketing, and more.
Enjoy these conversations! And start some of your own in your organization!