• Camping Trips
• Picnics
• Swim Parties
• Summer Fairs

If you simply can’t decide, your smart option is to let your fans, customers, or guests decide for you. Make the process as formal or as informal as you like. For instance, you can open your next meeting up to a vote by the general assembly. You can create an online poll on your website, where interested parties can anonymously vote for their favourite choice. You can ask a select group of members to make the decision, or you can ring up some influential voices and let those popular members lead the crowd.

Once you’ve made the decision, it’s time to book the venue (if necessary) and start printing Event Kits. Determine what type of pre-event publicity you will require. Will you advertise with Posters, or only send Invitations to a select group? When you print your Event Tickets online, you can create matching documents for VIP passes, Drink Tickets (which can also be customised for other food sales, so that those in charge of concessions need not worry about counting money and making change while a queue of hungry guests forms), and, of course, Raffle Tickets, if you’d like to earn a little extra money before the day is over.

Whatever you choose, start planning now! Make this summer the most successful summer yet for your organisation.

They very idea is enough to strike fear into the hearts of some idealists. But you need not compromise yourself, your organisation, or your principles, simply because a larger company has offered you money in return for slapping their logo on some of your publicity materials. Schools do it; sports teams do it; and you can do it without hassle, if your cause is a worthy one.

Many corporations are already looking for charitable organisations to support. It looks good for them: they appear to be giving back to the community, acting with a social consciousness, and redistributing their wealth. So, if your group has long hosted a fundraising event, or if you are only testing the waters, consider finding a successful, for-profit company to help you along. They may be willing to make a sizable donation to your cause, and they ask very little in return.

If you have accepted corporate sponsorship, you will have to make some small concessions, but it amounts to little more than passing along a word from your sponsor. When you print your publicity materials, you will want to add your sponsor’s logo. Many Event Tickets allow you to add sponsor logos right on the ticket template; the same goes for certain pre-designed publicity Posters. You can write your thanks in any programme or other printed materials to be distributed to your guests. You can thank them out loud when you make announcements at the event itself.

Even if your sponsor wants a bigger hand in branding the event, you still come out ahead. Many companies will be eager to offer you hundreds of pounds of free merchandise to be distributed however you see fit. Items such as T-shirts or water bottles imprinted with the sponsor logo will be coveted by your guests as favours. If your sponsor offers free products, you can pass them on to your guests knowing that everyone wins: your sponsor receives positive publicity, you create a bigger budget, and your guests go home will all kinds of valuable, and free, prizes!

There are those lucky organisations among us with dedicated sales team, active membership rosters, and, in some cases, easily accessible box offices. We may have dedicated volunteer teams, active word-of-mouth campaigns, or popular and navigable websites. Some groups even have extra cash on hand, saved solely for the purpose of publicity campaigns: Posters, Flyers, TV or radio spots, and print advertisements in newspaper or magazine.

The cleverest sales campaigns seem to take on a life of their own: music promotions where Stickers or graffiti-style ads pique the curiosity of those in the know, Internet marketing that goes viral and is passed around the Internet through links and reposts.

In the 21st century, groups seeking to increase their Event Ticket sales ignore virtual marketing at their own peril. It’s the rare event that attracts crowds of younger people without making use of blogs, home pages, social networking, forums, and other online spaces. When you want to sell more Event Tickets, Internet marketing provides you with publicity that costs almost nothing (or, possibly, nothing at all) and can be reproduced and disseminated with the click of a button.

The best part is that, with a properly mounted campaign, your message spreads with no further effort on your part. If it’s smart, compelling, or entertaining, potential customers will pass it on to new potential customers, creating a wonderful chain of publicity for you. So don’t fear the Internet. Put your bravest, most colorful promotions out there and see what transpires.

Sports parties are the perfect experience: a chance for kids and adults to bond together while cheering aloud and sampling a wide range of foods that can be eaten with one hand and no utensils. What do you need? A large telly and a comfortable couch!

Make it a formal or informal as you choose. Send out Invitations or ring up your besties and let them know that you’ll be hosting. Then, focus on the food: chips and dips, barbecue, or pizza. Most hosts will carefully take stock of their friends to determine how much beer will be needed to carry you through to the end of the match. As for decorations, your home décor will suffice. Or, add a few Posters of your favourite athlete or team.

The greatest element of the sports party is that the entertainment is covered. The true fans will show up before the match begins. They will appreciate whatever refreshments you provide, and will need no encouragement to participate. Whether you’ve started a pool or just want a few pals to start screaming at appropriate times, your sports party needs nothing more. Once you’ve gathered your crowd and laid out the snacks, your job is done.

Just as long as your team wins.

Like all our Event Kits, it provides you the full range of print materials to give your event that complete, put-together look, including several different types of tickets (Event, Drink, Raffle, VIP), along with advance publicity materials (Invitations, Posters, and Flyers).

As you can see, this Poster, like most publicity posters, allows you to upload a number of thumbnail images. This is useful in publicising groups and individuals participating in your event, such as speakers, musicians, or artists. If your event is sponsored, you may choose to add your sponsors’ logos. It’s a wonderful way to provide extra incentive for other groups to help you out.

We’re expecting plenty of new designs in the near future, so keep checking back!

Your advance publicity materials, including your Event Ticket, are visual cues to your guests. A proper image helps define your group, your mission, and the theme of your gathering both to returning supporters as well as potential new members.

Are your guests interested in design? The environment? Beauty? Appeal to them on the appropriate level by choosing imagery that speaks to their desires. Choose from 100s of Event Ticket templates and find the one that is most likely to capture the imagination of those who are considering attending your event, supporting your efforts, and aligning themselves with your cause.

There exists a wide gulf between a simple printed messages and a brilliant design. Even the most staid academics will appreciate the draw of a stunning calligraphic font on a coloured background. Athletes prefer athletic themes.

Don’t settle for something plain and unremarkable. When you’re hosting an event, you want supporters to remark upon your Event Tickets and other advance print publicity. Consider your audience. Make it special. Make it lovely.

• Research online markets

What kind of presence does your organisation have online? These days, its not enough to have your own web page. Without a weekly blog, or email newsletter, no one will know what you’re up to. Creating a FaceBook or Twitter account is another excellent way to reach out to your audience.

• View the competition

What is everyone else doing? Don’t just research! Get off your bum and attend performances and events. Visit other venues and make lists of changes, improvements, and innovations others have implemented. Consider whether you can top your rivals and do them one better.

• A fresh coat of pain

Even if you’re doing everything right, don’t rest on your laurels. Update your home page or logo. When you print your own Event Tickets, you can showcase your new look by adding personalised details to the ticket. If you’ve never seriously considered branding your organisation, now is the time, and if your branding starts to look old and worn-out, consider updating it for a modern appearance.

Your logo–a distinct design that encapsulates both the name and mission of your group–is an instant way to achieve brand recognition. The image should be striking, memorable, and often amusing. Think of it this way: have you ever seen a small child, one who has not yet learned to read, decode the McDonald’s or Coca-Cola logo (and then beg for the product)? While we can’t all hope for this degree of success, we can all develop a logo that is easily recognisable and visually describes something about our mission.

Have you any amateur artists on your staff? People who doodle in the margins of their memos? Perhaps they already have some ideas for you. If not, you may want to hire a professional artist or graphic designer. Prices will vary, but if you haven’t much money, perhaps you can barter goods or services, or else find a young artist just starting out. Perhaps you know an art student, or a colleague’s teenager with a talent for art.

Once you have your logo, you can add it to everything. Fortunately, many Event Kits allow you to upload your logo onto predesigned ticket templates, so you can customise everything associated with your organisation and your event. With proper use, your logo will soon become well-known, perhaps even popular. With the proper logo, you may even develop a side business, selling stickers of your clever logo!

If you have a logo, its easy to print it on your own Event Kits, branding all your events. Everyone will know your group is sponsoring the big event. You’ll look smart, and your print products will shine!

New Year’s Eve

Indeed, the future is very nearly upon us, and if you anticipate it the way I do, may I suggest to you that a 2010 Event Kit is a brilliant way to start the future off right? The 2010 Classic Event Kit features a lovely design in an engraved style, and it’s available in your choice of five colours:

• Red
• Gold
• Green
• Blue
• Purple

Choose your favourite, or mix and match. You can even colour-code your event, so that different colours stand for different levels of participation. Simplify your bartender’s night by selling Drink Tickets in advance: let different colours stand from different amounts of money. Or hold multiple raffles, choosing different colour Raffle Tickets for different prizes.

Brighten the night with colourful, customised Event Ticket printing. Are your prepared for a bright future? Share your optimism with your guests by choosing brightly coloured 2010 Classic Event Kits to keep the mood light and the party going.

Simply stunning!

Last Friday, ticket in hand, I found my way to the hotel where the event was to be held, and indeed, it was an intimate event. The tree was trimmed, drinks flowed freely, and a table of delicious appetizers was refreshed every few minutes. I was fortunate to mingle with the president of the organisation, along with the founder, and other ranking members of the group, all of whom were happy to see me and welcomed me warmly into the fold.

After the introductions, we all sat down for a delicious meal, our choice of chicken, fish, or steak, followed by ice cream and cookies. The president made his speeches, thanking all of us for our contributions. The drinks continued to flow, and before I knew it, we were all singing Christmas carols with our arms around each other. I can only imagine what the other hotel guests thought of our gathering, but the spirit moved us, and a good time was had by all.

It truly was a memorable event. And it’s not too late for your organisation to create the same spirit of goodwill. Just print your own Event Tickets online and start gathering a crowd for your own Christmas party!