What a surreal notion, that Michael Jackson's young life would come to an end yesterday. In London, a flash mob celebrates his life. The power of events. Embedded video from CNN Video
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If you're heading to the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies (ANSA)/National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) conference in Atlanta, don't miss my session tomorrow afternoon, entitled Partnering with Corporations: Five Strategies to Increase Sponsorship Income.
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If you've been following the news in recent months or participated in my May teleseminar, Bailouts & Politics: The Effects on Sponsorship and What it Means for You, you know that TARP participant Northern Trust Bank's sponsorship of a PGA Golf Tournament in February (unfortunately timed in the middle of economic mayhem) set off a firestorm politically and in the media. As an update, you may want to take a look at this article about the effects on golf sponsorship. My forthcoming guidebook, How to Jump-start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times, provides an overview of the Northern Trust event...
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In my forthcoming monograph, entitled How to Jump-start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times, available next month, I recommend cultivating small and medium-sized businesses – among other ideas – as sponsorship prospects. Smaller businesses have just as much to gain from marketing-driven corporate sponsorship as Fortune 500 companies, and smarter sponsorship strategists will understand the benefit of educating and cultivating these potential partners. Take a look at which companies festivals in Milwaukee are working with. Does this give you any ideas?
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Strive to integrate your two brands into your sponsorship opportunities. Here's a great example of what I mean. Lincoln Center has partnered with The Wall Street Journal to present Summer Scoops Live with The Wall Street Journal. It works extremely well because: The name of the series relates to both brands' strengths. The visual identity of this series incorporates The Wall Street Journal's trademark use of line drawings, rather than photos, to illustrate the text. Most importantly, the series enriches the audience members' experiences of either Lincoln Center's programming – several events preview upcoming events at Lincoln Center – or...
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Whether you're on the buying or selling side of the sponsorship table, it is in your best interest to negotiate your sponsorship program based on value. Otherwise, this is how your discussion goes.
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It worked for Radiohead. And apparently it's working for Ireland's Street Performance World Championship. That is the pay-what-you-can business model. Is this a recommended business model or strategy for your event or festival? I can't say. But, I will say that now is the time for more creativity, not less. To be more resourceful. To let your imagination run free to see what it comes up with. Look what this economy is doing for artists.
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Sponsorship Strategist Gail Bower
Organizations hire Gail Bower as their revenue strategist. She works with nonprofit organizations to put more money in their missions and with mid-market and larger firms to put more mission in their money.
An expert on nonprofit-corporate partnerships, she is the author of "How to Jump-start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times." Gail is a a professional consultant, coach, writer, and speaker, with more than 25 years’ experience in marketing and managing some of the country’s most important events, festivals, and sponsorships. A trusted media source, Gail’s been interviewed about her work for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Marketplace, and Time magazine.
For more information, visit GailBower.com.
Gail Bower's Guidebook: How to Jump-start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times
Does the recent economic upheaval that sent seismic shifts through our culture have you wondering what to do next with your sponsorship development efforts?
Marketing and sponsorship strategist Gail Bower wrote this short guidebook for you. Get the confidence, perspective, and techniques you need to jump-start your sponsorship strategy today.
“A professional GPS system to keep you on a successful track.”
- Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE,
President & CEO
International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA
World)