Promoting MBC
The FiftyPlus Expo Experience
by Jim Watson, Mid-Ohio Boogie Club
The Mid-Ohio Boogie Club was looking for a new way to promote our dance club. In early January we saw a small ad for a FiftyPlus Expo to be held on Saturday and Sunday the 29th and 30th of January. We thought this might be a great way to meet more people. Some folks told us it would probably be a waste of time and money. However, the Mid-Ohio Boogie Club decided to take a chance if a booth was still available.
View of our booth
After inquiring about booth rental, we were shocked at the costs! However after some discussions with the event coordinator, we were offered a reduction in the price if the Mid-Ohio Boogie Club would do a couple of dance demos. We said yes and then the work began.
First on the agenda was what should we have at the booth and how would we attract people. We had some videos of our “Beat the Heat” events, so we borrowed a small TV with a built-in VCR. This turned out to be a great attention getter. Next, we created various flyers. The first offered free entry into one of our dances. The second was a printout of Frequently Asked Questions section that we have on our web site. And our third flyer was an article found supporting the idea that dancing improves the brain functions of those who dance, and that helps to prevent dementia. Finally, we made some copies of the ABA cruise flyer with our club’s name on it. Interestingly, we found that no one item attracted people more than another.
You had better believe it!”
The main way we got to talk with people was to be very active in asking people if they like to dance. In most case this brought them closer and we handed them some of the flyers. We were surprised at how many people were from other areas. Many of them even asked about dance clubs in these areas, including Canada. Some folks had a real interest in the ABA Dance Cruise and took flyers.
Georgia and Jim
giving the lesson
We then thought about the dance demo that we committed to do. After seeing a dance studio perform a demo, we decided we wanted to do something different. So, we came up with an idea of teaching a beginning basic East Coast Swing lesson. — Wow, what a great idea! We had some people sit and watch while several people who had never danced before give it a try. Some of our club members took the lesson as well so they could help the other people. We gave the lesson just as we would at our regular club dances. This really worked. A few people dropped out, however they stayed around and asked for some additional help. There were people who stayed outside the main stage area and watched. Several of them were trying the basic steps by themselves as we taught.
It was fun being next to a funeral home booth. We kept telling people if they would come and dance with us, then it they would not need the services of our neighboring booth as soon. The booth across from us had scooters for the handicapped, and we said similar things like staying active would help them delay the need to make such purchase.
All in all it was great fun, we met a lot of people who have never danced and always wanted to; some people who used to dance many years ago and were looking to return to dance, did not know where to go; people who wanted to know about dance clubs in other parts of the country; and several folks who knew of friends that were looking for places to dance.
Our biggest challenge maybe accommodating a large influx of new people all at once who decide to come out to our club dance. Ah, but what an opportunity!
This was a lot of work – more than we expected!
Would we do it again?
You had better believe it!