LET'S TALK ABOUT SUPPORT
Alright, you get the contact months in advance, you do a contract... now it's time
to promote the event.
You spend a lot of money on flyers, tv advertisement, magazine ads, web banners and more. You also
spend a pretty penny on getting a place to hold the event, getting the tables, sound system,
lights, dance floor, djs, equipment upon more equipment. And let's not even talk about
hotel accommodations, airplane tickets, ground transportation... food too! - for crying out loud!.
What am I coming down to? Well, let's face it... it takes a lot, and I mean a lot to organize an
event, no matter how big or little it is, it takes work. It is a lot of stress for the organizers to
put all that together, specially if you want to have a nice event with very good comments coming out
after it all happens.
The reason why we are posting this article is because we think is necessary to remind some of you
on how hard it is to organize an event, and without support they will go extinct.
Now, support is in there in half of the time. But this article is targeted to those
few who really need to know what exactly it takes to organize an event, and not just that, but
to show support... specially when it comes down to a Salsa event.
Since we started supporting, covering and advertising different events in the state, we
have been somewhat in the background of each one of them. We get to see and hear things
that most people don't really know. Below are some points that I would like to share with you
because I think is very important to get accross.
CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP
Now, I am not trying to attack anyone here, but let's be realistic. Some people are just dirt cheap!
Yeah, you know who you are! - just kidding!
Now for reals. For the most part, people always want a better deal, or even to be able to
get stuff for free!
Now, don't get me wrong, FREE stuff is the best, specially if you win it
fair and square. But when an event is happening and the price is reasonable. Purchase tickets for
it. Trust me, you will only make more events happen in your area.
Here are a couple of cases that I think are worth mentioning because they do go to
the extreme.
I remember a comment we received about an event that only happened once a year, and because of the
response from the audience they had to reduce the price to a couple of bucks. And believe me,
people still asked to be put on the list so they can get in for free... c'mon - Are you serious?
I mean, it's alright if it is once in a while at a local club, but if this event only happens
once a year, or once in a while... paying is just the fair thing to do.
ASK AND SHOW UP
Another good point to think about is how people love to ask for events. Oh some people
just love to ask for events, but when it comes down to it and pay for the ticket, they
are really nowhere to be found. That happens a lot.
STOP COMPLAINING
It is even worse when people get to complain about how NOTHING ever happens in the area, and how
they wished there were events like in other places. And when something finally happens, the
first thing they do is turn around and not come.
This is a fixable problem guys. It will take sometime but it is defintely fixable! You got
to show more support so promoters and organizers see this and will bring more events and
organize more things in the area.
If they don't see the support, of course nothing is going to happen!
THE NEVER ENDING LOOP
This is a very controversial point, but it needs to be covered as well. At one point some organizers
were asking for a lot of support. But when it came down to it, people didn't respond much
to it.
The reason? Well, it is because of the lack of support
they have shown to other people's events in the past.
Now, how can you expect for people to go to your event, when you turned your back when others were
in need of yours?
This could be a never ending loop, but there is a solution for it. Believe it or not, it is
as simple as promoters attending other events and paying full price. Scratch their back because
sooner or later, you'll need someone to scratch yours. Simple humanitarian education there.
THE PROMOTERS AND ORGANIZERS
For the most part, the audience responds to events depending on what type of event it is, the cost
of it, if they can go to it, popularity, location, etc., etc., etc. But as you can see, the first three in the list is the type of the event, cost and availability.
Believe it or not, MOST promoters and organizers take all that into consideration when organizing
an event. Well at least most should and they do things accordingly to at least break even and
not go downhill on debts. So if you are seeing a popular event that is just your type, it gets
your attention. Now the cost and availability is what has to put the final stab to make people
go to it. Now, most people don't even consider on what is taking to organize such events, and
most people just think about this:
Do I want to pay that much or not?
They don't consider that the reason why the price is that much is because of what the organizers
are thinking. Most of the time they are shooting for a specific ammount of attendance and
to at least break even and hopefully make some money out of it to bring another great event. People
don't think about that!
Now, am not going to say that most promoters are just fair. Because there is always
a black sheep in every family. But for the most part, most promoters are trying to
at least break even so they don't get into any debt.
Now, for Salsa events... if you are a Salsero or Salsera, you should be the first one in line
to buy a ticket! I mean, how often is it that a good Salsa event will happen again, and if you do
show your support, the more likely is that you will get more events coming your way.
Everything costs money, specially when organizing an event.
FINAL NOTE
I have seen people asking for support in their event, and I have seen the same people not supporting
other events. I have also seen people get bitter about their event not turning the way
they wanted, and I have seen people risk a lot on events that really turned out great.
The bottom line is, there isn't really a magical diagram that will show you how each event will
turn out. The only thing to do is to try and do the best you can!
But let's be realistic, if events don't get the support they need... trust me, you'll just keep
asking for events... and never get any.
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