How Do I Publicize This?

Your publicity effort must start early and must be aggressive. Your turnout is dependent on it. Do not try to do it all alone. You (or your Publicity Officer) will need help, especially with passing out flyers at other cruise-in events. Your time and effort will be limited, so concentrate your greatest effort on getting car owners to bring out their cars. Here is what I recommend for your publicity blitz:

Flyers: The most effective way by far to publicize your event is by visiting other car events during the season and passing out flyers to everyone that has a car on display. This is because you’re meeting people who have already demonstrated that they (1) own a classic car and (2) that they take it out to car shows. Plus, you get to have fun visiting car shows while passing out flyers. Try to find out how many cars last year’s event drew before you go so that you bring enough flyers with you. You may easily pass out 5,000 flyers up to the date of your event. Normally, cars on display will have their windows rolled down and the owner is nearby, often sitting in a lawn chair behind the car. It is customary to walk through and drop a 8 ½” x 11” flyer with the pertinent details through the window and on the front seat. There will likely be other people dropping in flyers for other events. Be careful not to touch the cars! Often, the owners will ask you about the event on your flyers. Your flyers should have the basic details. Simply list music if you have not yet decided on live band or music CDs. Simply list various awards if you have not yet determined award categories if you are doing a judged car show. I recommend having your flyers on 81/2” x 11” colored paper with some car related clip art. A professional looking flyer is not hard to create and you can find clip art on the Internet. Update your flyers as additional details get sorted out. To get ideas for details, graphics, fonts, colors, etc., go to: www.rocknrod.com or search the Internet for “car show”, “cruise-in”, and “car show flyer.” You can expect a 5%-10% turnout from those who receive a flyer at an earlier event. That might sound like a low rate but it is the most effective way to reach car owners about your event and indicates how early and aggressive your publicity effort needs to be.

More Flyers: Hang up flyers (with the manager’s permission) at gas stations, auto parts stores, paint and body shops, car restoration shops, car dealerships, custom motorcycle shops, motorcylcle bars, sports bars, BBQ and chicken wing restaurants, root beer stands, 50’s style diners, etc. Some restaurants have a car theme (such as the Quaker Steak and Lube chain) that makes them a natural place to put a flyer on a wall or leave a stack on a counter corner. Of course, always ask the staff if you can post a flyer and/or leave a stack. Your local grocery store might have a community bulletin board near where the free real estate and other free publications are located. Periodically check stacks left on counters and tables to see if they need replenishing. If you’re really ambitious, you can even have people carry around a few flyers as they are out and about. When they see a classic car in a parking lot, they can put a rolled up flyer in the door handle or put one under the windshield wiper as a semi-personal invitation. I’ve even knocked on homeowners’ doors and given them a flyer if I saw a classic car in their driveway or garage. One wife wished I was there to offer to buy any or all of her husband’s collection of 1960s Ford Thunderbirds.

Find and Invite Classic Car Clubs: There are likely to be local clubs and local or regional chapters of national clubs in your area. They usually have websites which list their events or they might publish a newsletter to their members listing events. Get your event on their calendars and you’ll increase your turnout. See Appendix 5 for car club websites.

Local Newspaper: Your local newspaper probably has an automotive section (mostly ads) that comes out on Saturdays or Sundays. It probably lists car related events for free if you send in the details. You can also advertise in your newspaper’s classics/antiques car for sale section. Folks who are looking for what’s for sale might want to check out a show. People who have a classic for sale might want to bring it out to your event and put a for sale sign in the window while it’s on display. Your community might have a weekly Penny Saver (or similar) publication that you could put an ad in for your event.

The Internet: Start with your own church website. List your event on all the sites listed below. Check back on each site after a few days to a couple of weeks to confirm your listing and send in any corrections if necessary. The listing doesn’t always get added instantly, nor does it always get listed correctly.

Your own church property: Use existing electronic or letterboard signs, put up banners, put up homemade sandwich board signs, etc.

Other sign boards: Maybe a local business such as a gas station or restaurant has an electronic or letterboard sign that they wouldn’t mind putting up a short message for you such as “Car Show at St Luke’s Saturday 11-3.”

Radio and Community Television: Local radio stations and community television stations might announce your event as a public service announcement.

Use these websites to:

· Find other events in your area in order to deconflict the date for your event

· Visit other events to get ideas for your event

· Visit other events to pass out flyers about your event

· Advertise your event by listing them on these sites

Note: Check these sites often, especially after the “season” gets underway, as new events are added frequently and individual event information can change. This is not an exhaustive list. Google or Yahoo for other events that may be advertised on other websites. Your local newspaper may also have a website that will allow you to post this in a community events section.

http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ (searchable by state, free to list event, lots of car photos)

http://www.noneckschevelle.com/shows.htm (searchable by state, free to list event)

http://www.carshownews.com/ (searchable by state, free to list event)

http://www.oldride.com/events/index.html (searchable by state, free to list event)

http://www.ohiocarclubs.com/index.html (lists car clubs and events in Ohio)

http://www.hemmings.com/calendar/ (list your event on-line and in print in Hemmings Motor News up to 50 words free. Hemmings Motor News is a premier collector and classic car resource).

http://www.rocknrod.com/ (searchable by state, free to list event, $5 to include a printable flyer about your event; look at flyers of other events to get ideas about designing your flyer)

http://www.auto-roundup.com/ (newsstand and subscription publication; free to list events on website)

http://www.carshowguide.com/ (searchable by state, free to list event)

http://www.driveonline.com/ (searchable by region, free to list event on-line and in magazine)

http://www.fossilcars.com/ (click on events link under Extras menu; searchable by state and date, free to list event)

http://www.bigalslist.com/ (covers Ohio and surrounding area; free to list event; Big Al is a great guy and can include you on his free e-mail list for updates)

http://www.car-shows.com/Calendar/index.html (searchable by region, free to list event)

http://www.sfxperformance.com/events-clubs/shows_and_events.asp (parts vendor, free to list events)

http://www.meguiars.com/events/ (car care product company, sponsored events listed)

http://www.countrycruiser.com/ (for Ohio events - photos taken and posted by Tom Midlam; calendar of events for Ohio)

Printed Calendars:

Note: These calendars are purchased by classic car owners and enthusiasts and list car related events, primarily cruise-ins and classic car shows. They can make good door prizes or awards, especially if your event is fairly early in the “season.”

http://www.kroozincalendar.com/list.html Note: Free to list your event. Calendar cost is $9 each and event information is required by the end of January each year. See website for updated information.

http://www.showandshinecalendar.com/ Note: $10 to list an event. The calendar covers six states: Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Michigan. Calendar cost is $19 and event information is due in mid-March each year. Ask them about donating a trophy to your event. See website for updated information.

Motorcycle Websites:

If your show is open to motorcycles, remember to say so in your advertising. Most motorcycle events feature a ride but some motorcylists don’t mind parking it for a car show. You might get an old Indian, classic Harley, or an amazing custom out there. Your best bets are to post flyers at motorcycle friendly bars/sports bars, motorcycle shops, and custom motorcycle shops. You may also be able to find a Christian motorcycle club that will make a showing. With that being said, here are a couple of motorcycle websites:

http://www.motorcycleevents.com/calendar.php (free to list event)

http://www.motorcyclemonster.com/Events/Events.html (free to list event)