Campaigns book

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The RiverCenter For the Performing Arts & TicketsforTots Public Relations Campaign By

Transcript of Campaigns book

The  RiverCenter  For  the  Performing  Arts  &  

Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots                  

Public  Relations  Campaign    

                     

 By  

   

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 Columbus,  Georgia  

Est.  2002    

Mission  To  partner  with  local  performing  organizations,  provide  quality  entertainment  and  

promote  the  artistic  enrichment  of  the  Columbus  area.              

   

Mission  To  provide  students  with  free  or  reduced  admission  to  performances  to  RiverCenter  

productions  and  free  educational  institutions  from  the  added  financial  burdens  associated  with  site  visits  or  field  trips.  

   

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Table  of  Contents    Executive  Summary   Pg.  4,  5  

Research  Cover  Page     Pg.  6  

Background  &  Secondary  Research   Pg.  7,  8  

Situational  Analysis   Pg.  9  

Messages  &  Audiences    

Pg.  10  -­‐  13  

Primary  Research    

Pg.  14  -­‐  23  

Planning  Cover  Page    

Pg.  24  

Goals,  Objectives,  Strategies,  &  Tactics    

Pg.  25  -­‐  31  

Timeline    

Pg.  32  -­‐  35  

Budget    

Pg.  36  

Campaign  Materials    

Pg.  37  -­‐  42  

Evaluation  Strategy    

Pg.  44  -­‐  46  

Appendix  A    

Pg.  47  -­‐  50  

Appendix  B    

Pg.  51  

Resources      

Pg.  52  

Firm  Information    

Pg.  53  

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Executive  Summary  

     This  report  was  prepared  by  Impact  and  presents  a  PR  campaign  to  our  client,  The  RiverCenter  

of  Performing  Arts.  The  focus  of  this  campaign  is  to  promote  their  season  finale  production  of  

“The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  the  first  ever  Las  Vegas  casino  night  themed  after  party  to  benefit  

Tickets-­‐For-­‐Tots.  The  event  will  take  place  in  June  2015.  

  Provided   is   the   context   to   view   our   PR   plans   and   budgets   for   this   event.   The  

RiverCenter  expressed  three  main  goals  to  our  firm  in  initial  meetings:  1)  Attract  more  young  

adults  and  first  time  guests  while  maintaining  their  older  adult,  loyal  customer  base.  2)  Sell  out  

(2,000  tickets)  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  show.  3)  Raise  $10,000  for  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  at  the  casino  

night.  

  The  entire  campaign  spans  over  11  months.   Initial  planning  began  in  August  2014  and  

implementation  of   the  plan  will  begin   in   January  2015  by  Dr.  McCollough’s  PR  Management  

students.  The  entire  campaign  plan  will  be  completed  after  summative  evaluation  is  conducted  

after  the  event  in  June  2015.  

  Strategies   were   developed   after   secondary   and   primary   research   indicated   that  

customers  do  not  have  enough   fluid   communication  with  our   client.  This   results   in   a   lack  of  

knowledge  about  RiverCenter  productions,  knowledge  of  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots,  and  other  donation  

opportunities.  

  The   book   identifies   three   target   audiences   representing   three   major   age   groups.   A  

different  message  will  be  geared  towards  each  target:    

1. Young  Adults  (18-­‐30  years  old)    

a. Message:  “Experience  Vegas”  

2. Middle-­‐Aged  Adults  (31-­‐50  years  old)  

a. Message:  “Party  for  a  Purpose”  

3. Traditional  RiverCenter  Patrons  and  Returning  Customers  (51+  years  old)  

a. Message:  “Relive  the  Rat  Pack”  

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  Secondary  research  is  for  local  key  public  figures  to  be  identified  that  can  create  a  ‘word  

of  mouth’  campaign  and  support.  The  campaign  also  presents  key  issues  which  may  impact  the  

fundraising  process:  the  use  of  technology  based  donation  stations  and  raffles,  the  increase  in  

social  and  local  media  platforms,  and  the  use  of   impersonators  and  pre-­‐show  themed  events  

(Art  Beat)  to  increase  overall  attendance  and  participation.    

  The  report  includes  a  timeline  for  campaign  execution,  budget,  evaluation  criteria  and  

required  mockup   resources.   This   resulted   in   clear,   achievable   campaign   objectives   that   our  

firm  believes  will  help  the  team  moving  forward  achieve  its  goals.    

   

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Research  

       

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Background  &  Secondary  Research  

     The  RiverCenter  for  the  Performing  Arts     The  RiverCenter  for  the  Performing  Arts  seeks  to  provide  quality  entertainment  and  promote  artistic  enrichment  in  the  Columbus  community.    To  enrich  the  lives  of  children  in  the  Columbus  community,  the  RiverCenter  uses  its  ArtsReach  education  program.  A  branch  of  that  program,  Tickets-­‐For-­‐Tots  provides  underprivileged  children  with  free  or  reduced  admission  to  specific  shows  in  line  with  Common  Core  Curriculum  Standards.  Through  Tickets-­‐For-­‐Tots,  teachers  can  expose  their  students  to  the  arts  who  otherwise  would  not  have  the  opportunity  to  experience  such  an  invaluable  addition  to  the  classroom.         Built  in  2002,  the  RiverCenter  has  been  instrumental  in  the  revitalization  of  downtown,  (now  named,  “Uptown”)  Columbus.    Construction  of  the  RiverCenter  was  the  initial  step  in  an  effort  to  bring  Columbus  State  University  off  its  Main  Campus  location  7  miles  north  of  Uptown.    Uptown  Columbus  has  shifted  to  a  high-­‐energy,  vibrant  area,  characterized  by  the  young  people  walking  to  and  from  class  and  the  independent  coffee  shops  and  restaurants  (White,  2011).           Today,  the  RiverCenter  continues  to  serve  the  Columbus  community.  Its  state-­‐of-­‐the  art  facilities  are  the  center  a  must-­‐see  attraction  for  Georgia  tourists  and  visitors.    The  facility  boasts  three  theaters:  the  Bill  Heard  Theater  with  a  2,000-­‐seat  capacity,  Legacy  Hall  with  a  430-­‐seat  capacity  and  the  black-­‐box  Studio  Theater  with  a  150-­‐seat  capacity.    To  date,  the  RiverCenter  has  hosted  a  variety  of  performers,  entertainers  and  Broadway  shows  including,  Yo-­‐Yo  Ma,  Jessie  Norman,  Bill  Cosby,  Jerry  Seinfeld,  White,  Cats,  Rent  and  many  more.       This  spring,  the  RiverCenter  will  bring  Las  Vegas  to  the  Chattahoochee  Valley  with  its  gala  season  wrap  up  featuring  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back.”  Vegas  legends,  Frank  Sinatra,  Sammy  Davis,  Jr.,  Dean  Martin  and  Joey  Bishop  will  take  the  stage  for  an  unforgettable  show  followed  by  a  “Casino  Lobby  Experience”  after  party.  Funds  raised  at  the  after  party  will  benefit  for  the  RiverCenter’s  Tickets-­‐For-­‐Tots  initiative,  creating  an  opportunity  for  children  to  experience  the  same  magic  of  the  RiverCenter.        The  Community     Columbus  is  home  to  a  variety  of  people.  The  following  statistics  and  estimates  were  considered  in  the  development  of  this  campaign  and  should  be  revisited  during  the  campaign’s  implementation  come  spring  2015:  

• Total  Population  of  Columbus  198,413    

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• 15-­‐49  year  olds  99,397  • 50-­‐85+  year  olds  57,265  

(Governor’s  Office  of  Planning  and  Budget,  Annual  Estimates  of  the  Resident  Population,  July  1,  2010-­‐2012)  

• Muscogee  County  School  System  total  enrollment  31,885  • 16,122  are  enrolled  in  grades  PK-­‐5    

(Georgia  Department  of  Education,  Enrollment  Count,  March  6,  2014  Fiscal  Year).  

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Situational  Analysis  

     A  Season  Finale  Like  Never  Before     The  RiverCenter  for  the  Performing  Arts  wants  to  end  the  2014-­‐2015  season  with  a  bang.    Vegas  is  coming  to  Columbus  with    “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  featuring  a  “Casino  Experience.”    The  finale  will  also  double  as  a  fundraiser  for  Tickets-­‐For-­‐Tots  program.  Meetings  with  our  client  have  indicated  that  most  RiverCenter  patrons  are  returning  customers,  educated  and  relatively  affluent  (earning  $100k  or  more  annually).    Our  client  stressed  their  interest  in  expanding  the  RiverCenter’s  reach.  They  want  to  attract  more  first  time  guests,  a  younger  adult  audience  all  while  maintaining  their  steady  base  of  loyal  customers.    A  greater  turn  out  for  the  season  finale  would  also  increase  the  chances  of  a  successful  fundraiser  for  Tickets-­‐For-­‐Tots.    We  have  identified  the  following  opportunities  and  challenges  should  be  taken  into  consideration  throughout  the  campaign:  

Opportunities  • This  is  the  first  time  The  Rat  Pack  has  ever  come  to  Columbus,  GA  • This  is  the  first  time  a  Casino  Experience  has  come  to  The  RiverCenter  • The  Rat  Pack  is  a  familiar  brand,  appealing  to  the  most  financially  stable  individuals  

in  the  community  • Columbus,  Ga  has  a  growing  young  adult  population    Challenges  • Younger  generations  are  less  familiar  with  The  Rat  Pack  and  potentially  unwilling  to  

pay  for  expensive  tickets  • There  is  a  false  perception  that  the  RiverCenter  is  only  for  the  community’s  affluent  • There  is  potential  consumer  and  media  fatigue  from  constant  nonprofit  fundraising  

efforts  in  community        

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Messages  &  Audiences  

       “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  Casino  Lobby  Experience  brings  legends  Frank  Sinatra,  

Sammy  Davis,  Jr.,  Dean  Martin  and  Joey  Bishop  back  on  stage  and  the  Las  Vegas  casino  environment  to  the  Chattahoochee  Valley.    While  “when  the  moon  hits  your  eye  like  a  big  pizza  pie,  it’s  amore,”  may  sound  familiar  to  young  adults  and  older  adults,  the  latter  is  more  familiar  with  Rat  Pack  as  a  generational  symbol.  Young  adults,  while  not  necessarily  familiar  with  the  Rat  Pack,  are  likely  to  be  familiar  with  Las  Vegas  and  all  its  flashing  lights.    Recent  movies  like  21,  and  The  Hangover  all  take  place  in  Las  Vegas  and  glorify  an  action  packed,  party  lifestyle  more  attractive  to  younger  audiences.    Because  of  the  generational  differences,  our  team  will  use  different  messages  to  connect  with  each  of  these  target  audiences.      

 Target  Audience  1:  Younger  Adults       Even  though  The  RiverCenter  values  their  loyal  returning  customers  to  thrive  in  a  competitive  entertainment  market,  the  RiverCenter  must  constantly  attract  new  business  (first  time  guests).    Specifically,  the  RiverCenter  wants  to  draw  more  Columbus  State  University  students  and  students  of  surrounding  colleges  and  universities.  Our  research  findings  suggested  the  following  about  this  group:  

• Individuals  in  this  group  are  between  the  ages  of  18  and  30  o Many  young  adults  have  never,  or  rarely  attend  RiverCenter  events.  

• Many  young  individuals  seek  instant  gratification  (Bolton  et  al.,  2013)              • Many  individuals  in  this  area  value  interesting  work  • Many  young  people  are  motivated  to  contribute  to  society  (Bolton  et  al.,  2013)  

    The  season  finale  has  a  dual  purpose:  to  entertain  and  fundraise  for  the  RiverCenter’s  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  charity.  The  show  and  casino  experience  will  entertain  young  adults  and  first  timers.    While  playing  casino  games,  guests  can  also  contribute  to  their  community  by  donating  to  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots.  According  to  our  research,  young  adults  will  enjoy  this  environment,  which  is  great  news  for  our  client.      When  marketing  to  young  adults  the  key  message  will  be:  

• Experience  Vegas    Target  Audience  2:  Middle-­‐Aged  Adults  

• This  target  audience  is  between  the  ages  of  31  and  50  • Much  of  this  population  are  military    

o The  military  brings  many  families  to  Columbus  

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o Military  families  support  a  large  part  of  Columbus’  economy    • This  demographic  can  be  reached  through  a  combination  of  traditional  and  social  

media         In  Columbus,  a  large  portion  of  the  middle-­‐aged  target  is  made  up  of  the  Military  family  base  population.  Many  of  these  middle-­‐aged  adults  (Fort  Benning  connection  or  not)  are  married  with  children  and  therefore  more  family  oriented  than  the  young  adult  target  audience.    For  this  group,  it  is  important  to  communicate  how  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  helps  children  because  a  children’s  charity  will  catch  middle-­‐aged  adults’  interest.  Family  focused  adults  will  be  more  motivated  to  attend  an  event  where  they  can  be  entertained  and  help  children  –  especially  if  their  young  children  in  Columbus  schools  could  benefit  from  the  charity.  This  group  receives  information  through  social  media  and  traditional  media  platforms.  Therefore,  our  message  to  this  target  should  be  disseminated  through  both  channels.      The  key  message  to  reach  this  target  will  be:    

• Party  for  a  purpose    Target  Audience  3:  Traditional  RiverCenter  Patrons  and  Returning  Customers       The  RiverCenter  has  about  400  season  subscribers,  or  season  ticket  holders.  These  traditional  RiverCenter  patrons  and  returning  customers  are  generally  well  educated  and  affluent  making  over  $100K/annually.  Based  on  secondary  research  we  believe  the  following  about  this  group:  

• Individuals  in  this  group  are  between  the  ages  of  51  and  older  • People  in  this  group,  have  familiarity  and  appreciation  of  the  Rat  Pack    • Many  individuals  have  experience  with  philanthropy  and  service    • Most  people  in  this  group  value  education  and  the  arts  • People  in  this  age  group  tend  to  enjoy  quality  entertainment  

   We  believe  that  the  most  effective  message  for  this  group  will  be:  

• Relive  the  Rat  Pack  • Support  children’s  arts  education  

      We  know  that  older  audiences  still  enjoy  having  a  great  time.    They  value  spending  time  with  their  friends  and  making  memories  just  as  younger  adults  do.    However,  we  believe  because  they  have  stronger  ties  to  the  Rat  Pack  than  younger  audiences,  we  need  to  capitalize  on  that  niche.    In  addition,  because  the  RiverCenter  regulars  are  typically  very  educated,  they  are  likely  to  appreciate  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  which  directly  impacts  children’s  arts  education.  Their  high-­‐income  level  also  means  that  they  may  have  more  funds  available  for  philanthropy  unlike  young  adults  who  may  not  have  established  themselves  in  the  workplace  and  are  not  salaried  employees.    Reaching  Our  Audiences  

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  In  the  past,  the  RiverCenter  utilized  traditional  and  non-­‐traditional  media  platforms  to  market  RiverCenter  events  and  performances.    Our  group  will  continue  to  make  appropriate  use  of  each  platform  and  find  new  creative  ways  to  engage  with  our  client’s  audiences.      Importance  of  Online  Media  

Americans  continue  to  get  most  of  their  news  from  television  but  the  fastest-­‐growing  news  source  is  the  Internet.  Market  research  also  indicated  that  college  students  and  recent  graduates  are  best  reached  via  social  media  platforms  (Bobbitt  &  Sullivan,  2014).    Nonprofits  have  used  social  media  to  create  awareness,  disseminate  promotional  material  and  encourage  in  two-­‐way  communication  between  themselves  and  those  they  serve.    While  social  media  proved  effective  in  raising  awareness,  it  doesn’t  always  result  in  an  increase  in  funding.    However,  there  is  still  an  area  for  growth.  Scholars  have  found  that  proper  use  of  social  media  through  smartphones  and  text  messaging  will  pay  dividends  for  nonprofits  (Bobbitt  &  Sullivan,  2014).  As  of  June  2013,  the  total  U.S.  Internet  usage  was  broken  down  by  each  individual  platform.  Research  revealed  that  Americans  spend  about  906  billion  minutes  using  tablets,  smartphones  and  desktop  computers.  This  indicates  a  major  increase  from  June  2010  before  tablets  were  introduced  (Fulgoni,  2014,  p.11).  

 While  young  adults  currently  dominate  social  media,  involvement  from  other  age  groups  is  quickly  increasing.    In  fact,  older  adults  make  up  the  fastest  growing  segment  of  the  social  media  audience.  For  example,  Twitter’s  fastest  growing  demographic  is  55  to  64  year  olds.  For  these  reasons  our  team  will  use  social  media  in  addition  to  traditional  media  outlets  to  promote  the  event,  our  team  will  gain  support  and  build  relationships  with  our  client’s  returning  and  potential  customers.        The  RiverCenter’s  Current  Use  of  Online  Media    

Since  the  Internet  is  so  widely  used  and  easily  accessed  it  is  important  that  our  client  maintain  a  strong  presence  on  the  web  throughout  the  campaign  and  beyond.    The  RiverCenter  has  a  very  attractive  and  user  friendly  website  offering  quality  graphics  and  helpful  information  for  visitors.    The  main  website  however,  does  not  have  easily  visible  links  to  the  theater’s  social  media  platforms.    Despite  having  a  presence  on  two  social  media  sites,  Facebook  and  Twitter,  the  main  website  only  has  a  link  to  its  Facebook  page.            

Without  a  doubt,  the  RiverCenter’s  Facebook  page  gets  the  most  attention  with  almost  6,000  ‘likes’  and  about  6,200  visits  since  the  page’s  creation  in  2009.    Recent  posts  have  a  mix  of  content  ranging  from  photos,  video  and  text.    There  also  appears  to  be  lots  of  engagement  on  their  timeline.    Many  people  have  liked,  shared  and  commented  on  posted  content  which  is  helpful  for  “word  of  mouth”  advertising.        

Unlike  the  RiverCenter’s  Facebook  page,  the  theater’s  Twitter  account  get  far  less  activity.    Their  Twitter  page  has  just  over  1,000  followers  and  receives  little  engagement  despite  almost  identical  content  as  the  Facebook  page.  This  is  not  surprising  as  older  adults  are  more  likely  to  use  Facebook  over  Twitter  and  most  of  the  RiverCenter’s  clientele  are  older  adults.    In  addition,  failing  to  link  the  Twitter  page  to  the  main  website  could  also  contribute  to  a  smaller  Twitter  following.    

A  blog  could  also  be  useful  in  creating  more  of  an  online  buzz.    Blogs  can  be  useful  for  organizations  that  wish  to  target  specific  audiences.    In  the  case  of  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back,”  a  

13  

blog  could  be  a  useful  tool  as  the  event  approaches.    Information  about  the  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  charity,  importance  of  arts  education,  fun  facts  about  The  Rat  Pack,  “how  to”  entries  related  to  casinos  or  dancing,  or  any  number  of  other  topics  could  be  covered  to  create  hype  and  stimulate  conversation  before  the  show.    If  a  blog  is  used,  it  should  be  easily  accessed  through  the  main  webpage  and  promoted  on  all  social  media  platforms.    

   

14  

Primary  Research  

     

Survey  Questionnaire    To  fill  in  the  gaps  in  our  secondary  research,  we  used  SurveyMonkey.com  and  

developed  a  convenience  online  survey1.  The  surveys  were  distributed  using  the  Columbus  State  University  Communication  Department’s  email  list  and  Impact  team  members’  personal  social  media  accounts.  Eighty-­‐seven  individuals  responded  took  the  survey.  

The  following  is  a  series  of  graphs  illustrating  the  results  of  the  survey:  

1 See appendix for full survey.

15  

Race  of  Survey  Participants

 Figure  1.  Race  of  Survey  Participants,  fall  2014      

16  

 Figure  2.  Age  of  Survey  Participants,  fall  2014    

Gender  of  Survey  Participants  Male   Female  15   72  

Figure  3.  Gender  of  Survey  Participants,  fall  2014    

 Figure  4.  Participants’  Level  of  Formal  Education,  fall  2014    

76%

15%

9%

Age of Survey Participants

18-30

31-50

51+

Age of Participants in Years

37%

42%

10%

6% 5%

Participants' Level of Formal Education

High School

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Masters Degree

Level of Formal Education

17  

 Figure  5.  Participants’  Familiarity  with  The  RiverCenter,  fall  2014    

 Figure  6.  Frequency  that  Participants  Attend  RiverCenter  Events,  fall  2014    

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Not at all familiar

Slightly familiar Moderately familiar

Very familiar Extremely familiar

Perc

enta

ge o

f Sur

vey

Part

icip

ants

Level of Familiarity with The RiverCenter

Familiarity with The RiverCenter

49%

37%

10%

2% 1% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Not at all often Slightly often Moderately often

Very often Extremely often

Perc

enta

ge o

f Par

ticip

ants

Frequency of Attendance

Attendance Frequency of The RiverCenter Events

18  

 Figure  7.  Percentage  of  Participants  That  Are  Familiar  with  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots,  fall  2014    

 Figure  8.  Frequency  That  Participants  Make  Monetary  Donations  to  The  RiverCenter,  fall  2014    

95%

1%

35%

0% 0% 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Not at all familiar

Slightly familiar Moderately familiar

Very familiar Extremely familiar

Perc

enta

ge o

f Par

ticip

ants

Level of Familiarity with Tickets-for-Tots

Percentage of Participants

90%

10% 0% 0% 0%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

100%

Not at all often Slightly often Moderately often

Very often Extremely often

Perc

enta

ge o

f Par

ticip

ants

Frequency of Donations to The RiverCenter

Frequency of Donations to The RiverCenter

19  

20  

 Figure  9.  How  Participants  Find  Out  About  Entertainment  Events  in  Columbus,  GA,  fall  2014    

21  

22  

 Figure  10.  How  Participants  Find  Out  About  Events  at  The  RiverCenter,  fall  2014  

 

 Figure  10.  Types  of  Events  Participants  are  Most  Likely  to  Attend  at  The  RiverCenter,  fall  2014    

2

30

35

20

7

7

2

8

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Pageants

Concerts

Plays

Musicals

Dance Performance

Comedy

Children's Performances

No Preference/All Types

Number of Participants Selecting an Event

Even

t Typ

e

Events Most Likely to Attend at The RiverCenter

23  

 

 Figure  11.  Factors  That  Prevent  Participants  from  Attending  RiverCenter  Events,  fall  20142      

2  A  key  limitation  of  the  survey  was  the  majority  of  the  survey  participants  are  not  a  true  

representation  of  the  RiverCenter’s  customer  base.  Most  respondents  were  young  adult  females.  We  would  strongly  suggest  that  more  research  be  conducted  to  gain  a  more  comprehensive  representation  of  The  RiverCenter’s  clientele.    

24  

Planning  

       

25  

Goals,  Objectives,  Strategies  &  Tactics  

     

Goals  1. Sell  2,000  tickets  to  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  raise  $10,000  for  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots.  

 2. Appear  on  three  traditional  local  media  platforms.  

 3. Influence  at  least  50  tweets  with  hashtag,  #RatPackIsBack  and  #Tix4Tots  

 Goal  1  Objective:       Mix  of  paid  and  earned  media  on  traditional  (print,  billboards,  television,  radio)  and  non-­‐traditional  (digital,  online)  platforms  to  reach  the  RiverCenter’s  target  audiences  and  motivate  2,000  attendees  at  the  season  finale.    

Goal  1:  Sell  out  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  raise  $10,000  for  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  Strategy  1:  Consistent  promotional  messaging  through  traditional  and  nontraditional  platforms.  

Strategy  2:  Make  donating  easy  online  and  at  the  Finale.    

Strategy  3:  Reward  donors  for  attendance  and  donation.    

Tactic  1:  Advertise  the  finale  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  through  RiverCenter  and  RiverCenter  sponsors  social  media  platforms.      Tactic  2:  Advertise  the  finale  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  via  PSAs.    Tactic  3:  Advertise  the  finale  at  Art  Beat  2015.        Tactic  4:  Use  printed  ads  in  local  media.      Tactic  5:  Use  local  billboards.    

Tactic  1:  Use  a  banner  on  The  RiverCenter  website  that  directly  takes  visitors  to  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  information.      Tactic  2:  Promote  the  link  through  all  advertising  tactics  (see  strategy  1).    Tactic  3:  Use  donation  stations  with  pit  bosses  at  the  Finale  to  make  giving  efficient  and  easy.  

Tactic  1:  Provide  an  incentive  to  donating  to  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots.    Tactic  2:  Provide  donors  with  raffle  ticket  for  drawing  at  the  end  of  the  show  and  casino  night.      Tactic  3:  Collect  raffle  prizes  from  local  vendors,  event  sponsors  and  discount  codes  for  The  RiverCenter  2015-­‐2016  shows.    

Strategy  1  

26  

  For  this  campaign,  the  only  social  media  platforms  used  will  be  Facebook  and  Twitter  because  they  are  the  most  frequented  RiverCenter  social  media  sites.  This  platform  will  specifically  reach  the  younger  adults  but  also  has  potential  to  reach  many  middle-­‐aged  adults  and  some  traditional  RiverCenter  patrons  who  are  typically  older.     There  will  be  two  PSA  scripts  used  during  this  campaign  (see  appendix  for  additional  examples).    Segments  will  be  between  15  and  60  seconds  and  played  during  radio  stations  peak  hours  in  an  effort  to  quickly  pump  a  message  to  the  masses.     Art  Beat  is  an  annual  celebration  of  the  arts  that  takes  place  in  Uptown,  Columbus.  Because  Art  Beat  occurs  roughly  a  month  before  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  Casino  Night  Finale,  Art  Beat  is  a  convenient  cross  advertising  opportunity.  Art  Beat  typically  consists  of  many  themed  events,  community  involvement  and  garners  much  media  attention.  Therefore  promotions  for  the  finale  can  piggyback  off  Art  Beat  events.    To  leverage  this,  Chris  Robinson3  of  NPACE,  is  willing  to  facilitate  deals  with  Art  Beat  organizers  to  plan  a  ‘Casino’  night  themed  event  that  can  cross  advertise  with  Art  Beat  activities  and  attract  all  age  demographics  (18-­‐30,  31-­‐50,  51+).  

• Young  adults:  Attract  CSU  students  –  proximity  of  RiverPark  and  Main  Campus’,  student  Art  Beat  volunteers.    

• Middle-­‐aged  adults:  mostly  parents  attending  Art  Beat  because  of  family  friendly  environment  and  many  children  activities.    

• Traditional  RiverCenter  patrons/Older  adults:  Interested  in  supporting  their  community  through  Art  Beat,  attracted  to  activities  that  help  them  “relive  the  Rat  Pack.”  This  could  be  a  chance  to  gain  free  media  attention  in  the  weeks  preceding  the  show  

and  spark  public  interest.  The  Rat  Pack  Art  Beat  event  could  include  an  impersonator  that  engages  with  the  crowd.  There  could  be  an  opportunity  for  Art  Beat  goers  to  win  prizes,  tickets,  or  deals  for  the  upcoming  Rat-­‐Pack-­‐Is-­‐Pack.  Should  Art  Beat’s  organizers  feel  uncomfortable  with  a  cross  advertisement  partnership  event,  then  perhaps  try  to  still  gain  a  ‘Casino’  theme  on  a  night  of  their  events  and  pass  out  flyers,  etc.       Traditional  print  media,  ads  will  be  run  in  The  Ledger-­‐Enquirer.  The  Ledger-­‐Enquirer  is  the  most  recognized  local  newspaper  in  the  Chattahoochee  Valley.    The  paper  reaches  Muscogee,  Harris,  Troup  Talbot  and  Chattahoochee  counties  in  Georgia  and  Russell  and  Lee  counties  in  East  Alabama.  According  to  the  Audit  Bureau  of  Circulations  report  (March  31,  2013),  The  Ledger-­‐Enquirer  has  a  daily  circulation  of  29,565  and  Sunday  circulation  of  37,995  (Columbus  Ledger  Enquirer,  2014).  Additionally,  The  RiverCenter  has  access  to  a  couple  billboards  in  high-­‐traffic  areas  of  Columbus.    These  billboards  will  also  be  used  because  they  are  useful  for  informing  the  masses.    Strategy  2     Using  the  advertising  tactics  listed  in  strategy  1,  including  the  link  on  social  media  platforms  as  well  as  inviting  listeners  or  readers  to  connect  with  the  RiverCenter  online  are  ways  to  continually  direct  people  to  the  RiverCenter  website  and  social  media  pages.     To  increase  interactivity  and  convenience,  donation  stations  will  be  available  at  the  Casino  Night.  Each  station  will  be  staffed  by  a  pit  boss  that  will  ensure  donations  are  made  

3  See  appendix  B    

27  

securely  while  adding  an  element  of  fun  to  the  process.  The  donation  stations  can  be  decorated  to  fit  the  casino  theme  and  pit  bosses  should  be  in  casino  themed  costume.    Strategy  3     When  guests  donate  at  the  event  they  will  receive  a  raffle  ticket.  The  raffle  drawing  will  take  place  at  the  end  of  the  evening.  Event  sponsors  and  local  businesses  will  donate  raffle  prizes  that  will  encourage  guests  to  make  donations  and  reward  them  for  their  contributions.    Building  off  relationships  with  local  vendors  keeps  the  community  involved  in  the  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  charity.    Additionally,  sponsors  can  be  advertised  at  the  event  for  their  contributions  (prizes  or  charitable  donations).      Goal  2  Objective:         Reach  local  and  regional  audiences  with  press  opportunities  and  media  preview  to  generate  coverage  of  the  event.    

Goal  2:  Appearance  on  3  traditional  local  media  platforms  Strategy  1:  Exclusive  Rat  Pack  cast  appearance  on  The  Dee  Armstrong  Show.  

Strategy  2:  Advertise  the  season  finale  via  public  service  announcements  (PSAs)  on  local  radio  stations  highlighting  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots.  

Strategy  3:  Advertise  the  season  finale  in  the  local  newspaper,  The  Ledger  Enquire.  

Tactic  1:  Leverage  Chris  Robinson’s  relationships  with  WLTZ  to  land  a  segment  on  The  Dee  Armstrong  Show    Tactic  2:  Advertise  the  exclusive  on  the  RiverCenter  social  media  accounts  and  website.        Tactic  3:  Use  the  social  media  accounts  of  Finale  sponsors,  Georgia  Power,  and  past  sponsors  Aflac,  TSYS  and  Synovus  to  promote  the  segment.      

Tactic  1:  Leverage  NPACE  relationships  with  PMB  Broadcasting  to  land  free  air  time  on  Columbus  radio  stations.    Tactic  2:  Run  PSAs  during  peak  hours.    

Tactic  1:  Supply  The  Ledger  Enquirer  with  “ready  made  news  content”—Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  casino  night  news  releases.    Tactic  2:  Paid  advertising  in  the  Ledger  Enquirer.    

Strategy  1     The  WRBL  and  WLTZ  segment  on  The  Dee  Armstrong  Show  are  a  local  news  channels  that  connect  to  the  local  community  and  resonate  with  two  of  The  RiverCenter’s  target  audiences:  middle-­‐aged  adults  and  traditional  RiverCenter  patrons/older  adults  (age  demographics  31-­‐50,  and  51+).  Contact  Arthur  Shipp4,    Marketing  Director  &  Production  Manager  at  WRBL  and  Chris  Robinson  at  NPACE  for  WLTXZ  contacts.    

Television,  another  traditional  platform  will  help  connect  the  RiverCenter  with  the  middle-­‐aged  adults  and  traditional  RiverCenter  patrons.  These  groups  watch  local  television   4  See  appendix  B    

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more  than  young  adults  and  receive  most  of  their  news  from  television  over  other  news  sources.    WRBL’s  morning  news  and  WLTZ’s  Dee  Armstrong  Show  are  both  popular  shows  in  the  Chattahoochee  Valley  and  a  platform  to  market  the  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  Casino  Night.  This  opportunity  allows  WRBL  and  WLTZ  to  appear  philanthropic  because  of  the  finale’s  charitable  purpose.  The  partnership  also  gives  the  media  an  opportunity  to  interview  any  talent  from  the  event  prior  to  the  show.  Exclusives  like  this  are  beneficial  for  the  news  networks  as  well  as  it  gives  them  an  opportunity  to  “be  first”  on  a  story.       The  RiverCenter  website  should  heavily  market  the  finale  on  its  main  website  one  month  prior  to  the  event  by  formatting  header  photos  and  sidebar  images  with  the  casino  night  content.  Repetition  is  key  to  increasing  public  awareness.  Counting  down  the  days  to  the  event  by  posting  photos,  releasing  talent  interviews,  status  updates,  and  promotional  videos  are  particularly  interesting  to  the  young  adult  and  middle-­‐aged  adult  target  (18-­‐30  years  old  and  31-­‐50  years  old).  Lauren  Minter5,  RiverCenter  Director  of  Advancement  can  be  contacted  to  make  these  adjustments  to  the  website  and  other  social  media  pages.       To  get  a  broader  reach  on  social  media  platforms,  finale  sponsor  Georgia  Power  and  past  RiverCenter  sponsors  Aflac,  TSYS  and  Synovus  could  also  be  used  to  promote  the  casino  night.  Leveraging  these  relationships  could  allow  the  sponsors  to  maintain  a  positive  civic  image  in  the  community  while  also  increasing  the  amount  of  eyeballs  that  see  casino  night  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  content.  By  posting  original  content  or  sharing  The  RiverCenter’s  content  this  tactic  would  continue  to  engage  with  the  young  adult  and  middle-­‐aged  adult  targets  (18-­‐30  years  old  and  31-­‐50  years  old).  Strategy  2    

Radio,  the  last  traditional  platform  will  help  reach  all  three  target  audiences.  Radio  is  a  necessary  promotion  platform  because  it  is  so  widely  used  by  the  masses.    Not  all  three  targets  rely  on  radio  equally  for  information  however;  all  three  targets  listen  to  radio  making  the  medium  necessary  to  this  campaign.  By  negotiating  the  free  airtime  as  an  opportunity  for  PMB  stations  to  conduct  exclusive  interviews  with  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  cast  or  other  key  personalities  involved  with  the  casino  night  relationships  can  be  further  built  between  The  RiverCenter,  PMB,  and  CSU.  Ideally,  these  PSAs6  should  be  played  during  peak  hours.  Strategy  3     To  increase  the  likelihood  of  gaining  free  media  coverage,  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  casino  night  news  releases  will  be  sent  to  local  media  outlet  (specifically  The  Ledger-­‐Enquirer).  By  supplying  news  organizations  with  “ready  made  content”  our  team  will  create  more  opportunities  for  free  media  coverage  and  help  our  client  save  advertising  dollars.    News  releases  should  be  submitted  to  the  paper  a  few  weeks  prior  to  the  event  and  in  AP  format  (see  campaign  materials).  The  Ledger-­‐Enquirer  publishes  their  paper  online  and  in  their  app,  additionally  increasing  message  reach  and  the  likelihood  that  our  message  will  reach  all  three  target  audiences.  The  online  paper  format  also  permits  readers  to  easily  share,  comment  and  like  the  event  advertisements  and  quickly  directs  them  to  TheRiverCenter.org,  or  RiverCenter  social  media  pages.    

5  See  appendix  B    

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  For  information  on  The  Ledger-­‐Enquirer  and  the  reasoning  behind  use  of  traditional  print  media,  see  Goal  1  Objective,  Strategy  1.      Goal  3  Objective    

Influence  social  and  traditional  media  platforms  for  public  coverage  and  exposure  by  trending  through  visual  graphics  and  hashtags.    

Goal  3:  Influence  at  least  50  tweets  with  hashtag,  #RatPackIsBack  or  #Tickets4Tots  Strategy  1:  Feature  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  hashtags  on  The  RiverCenter  website.    

Strategy  2:  Feature  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  hashtags  primarily  on  The  RiverCenter  social  media  platforms.  

Strategy  3:  Feature  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  hashtags  in  traditional  media.    

Tactic  1:  Develop  banner  for  The  RiverCenter  website  advertising  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots.      Tactic  2:  Place  banner  on  The  RiverCenter  Home  page  and  all  subsequent  pages.  Feature  hashtag  and  Twitter  handle  on  banner.      Tactic  3:  Feature  the  custom  banner  on  The  RiverCenter  website  from  April  2015  to  the  night  of  the  event.    

Tactic  1:  Develop  banner  for  The  RiverCenter  social  media  platforms  advertising  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots.      Tactic  2:  Place  banner  on  The  RiverCenter  Facebook  Cover  Photo  and  Twitter  Header  Photo.    Feature  hashtag  and  Twitter  handle  on  banner.      Tactic  3:  Feature  the  custom  banner  on  The  RiverCenter’s  social  media  platforms  from  April  2015  to  the  night  of  the  event.          

Tactic  1:  Integrate  hashtag  and  Twitter  handle  into  all  printed  media.      Tactic  2:  Integrate  hashtag  and  Twitter  handle  into  PSAs.        

Strategy  1     The  RiverCenter  home  page  layout  features  a  large  space  with  scrolling  to  images  to  showcase  upcoming  events.    Similar  to  a  timeline  photo  on  a  Facebook  page  or  header  photo  on  Twitter,  this  space  can  leave  an  instant  impression  on  visitors.  We  want  to  encourage  the  RiverCenter  to  continue  posting  upcoming  events  in  this  space,  specifically  the  “Rat  Pack  is  Back”  finale  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  benefit.  This  banner  will  feature  the  Twitter  handle  (@rivercenter)  and  hashtags  (#RatPackIsBack  and  #Tickets4Tots)  to  help  start  a  conversation  between  our  client  and  its  potential  customers.           Currently,  subsequent  pages  on  the  RiverCenter  website  are  not  being  use  to  promote  upcoming  shows  as  much  as  possible.    We  recommend  that  our  client  make  better  use  of  this  

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blank  space  by  using  the  Rat  Pack  is  Back  and  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  graphics.  This  will  keep  emphasizing  the  importance  of  the  Finale  and  hopefully  encourage  more  site  visitors  to  purchase  tickets  and  donate.    These  spaces  are  indicated  on  the  images  below  by  the  blue  circles.      

 Figure  12.  Blue  circle  indicates  the  area  that  will  be  tailored  to  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  prior  to  the  event.       The  banner  should  be  featured  on  the  RiverCenter  website  April  25,  six  weeks  prior  to  the  event.    This  increases  the  amount  of  visitors  that  will  come  in  contact  with  the  hashtags  and  twitter  handle  before  the  event  and  increases  engagement.    

 Figure  13.  Blue  circles  indicate  areas  where  links  to  RiverCenter  social  media  pages  could  be  placed  prior  to  the  event.    Strategy  2     In  the  same  way  we  will  use  the  RiverCenter  website  to  market  the  Finale,  the  RiverCenter’s  Facebook  and  Twitter  pages  should  feature  “The  Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  Tickets-­‐

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for-­‐Tots  in  the  weeks  prior  to  the  event.  The  image  on  Facebook  and  Twitter  should  match  the  banner  on  the  website  to  create  one  clear  voice  and  brand  for  the  event.  Of  course  the  image  should  feature  the  Twitter  handle  (@rivercenter)  and  hashtags  (#RatPackIsBack  and  #Tickets4Tots)  to  help  start  a  conversation  between  our  client  and  its  potential  customers.           The  banner  should  be  featured  on  the  RiverCenter’s  social  media  platforms  April  25,  six  weeks  prior  to  the  event.    This  increases  the  amount  of  visitors  that  will  come  in  contact  with  the  hashtags  and  twitter  handle  before  the  event  and  increases  engagement.    Strategy  3     The  graphics  featured  in  online  platforms  can  also,  and  should  also  be  used  in  printed  advertisements.    We  recommend  advertising  the  RiverCenter’s  Twitter  handle  and  event  hashtags  in  all  news  releases,  newspaper  and  magazine  ads  and  billboards.         Public  service  announcements  can  also  be  leveraged  to  direct  consumers  to  the  RiverCenter’s  website,  Facebook  and  Twitter.    Including  verbiage  like,  follow  us  on  Twitter,  ‘Like’  us  on  Facebook,  and  join  the  conversation  with  #TheRatPackIsBack  or  #Tickets4Tots  are  all  possibilities.    In  addition,  the  on  screen  caption  during  TV  media  appearances  should  feature  the  RiverCenter  handle  and  hashtags.    TV  viewers  typically  “double  screen,”  and  are  likely  to  be  near  a  phone  or  laptop  where  they  can  instantly  access  the  RiverCenter’s  website  or  social  media  pages.            

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Timeline  

     

Fall  2014  Start  Date   End  Date   Event   Notes  

9/5/2014   9/5/2014  First  Group  Meeting  

Initial  meeting;  members  shared  their  strengths  and  weakness'.  Began  developing  ideas  for  a  logo  and  PR  firm  name.  

9/5/2014   9/7/2014  PowerPoint  Building   Firm  members  built  first  pitch  presentation.    

9/8/2014   9/8/2014   First  Pitch  Presented  a  PowerPoint  that  illustrated  Impact's  logo,  morals,  mission,  and  culture.  

9/8/2014   9/8/2014   Assigned  Client   Client:  The  RiverCenter  for  the  Performing  Arts    

9/22/2014   9/22/2014  First  meeting  with  Client  

Met  with  RiverCenter  staff  to  discuss  ideas  and  necessities  for  upcoming  event.  Began  primary  research.  

9/23/2014   9/28/2014  Goal  Development  

Used  primary  and  secondary  research  to  brainstorm  goals  and  objectives.  Additionally  discussed  what  strategies  would  be  used.    

10/8/2014   10/8/2014  Goals  and  Objectives  

Established  goals  and  objectives  that  would  meet  our  client's  needs  and  produce  the  best  product  for  their  customers.    

10/9/2014   10/16/2014   Survey  Building  Crafted  a  online  survey  using  SurveyMonkey.com  to  gather  primary  research.      

10/17/2014   10/23/2014  

Survey  Question  Revising  

Brought  together  all  potential  survey  questions.  Selected  10  questions  for  survey  and  discussed  dissemination  tactics.    

10/24/2014   10/24/2014   Survey  Sent  Surveys  are  disseminated  via  email  lists  and  social  media.  

10/19/2014   10/27/2014  

Strategies,  Tactics,  Budget  and  Timeline  Development  

Impact  met  to  solidify  strategies  and  tactics.  Brainstormed  potential  budget  and  timeline  layouts  and  looked  for  ways  to  execute  the  campaign.    Our  firm  considered  what  resources  would  be  needed  and  began  developing  a  reasonable  timeline.    

10/27/2014   10/27/2014  Strategies  and  Tactics  

List  of  all  the  strategies  of  promotion  and  ways  to  effectivly  put  those  strategies  to  work.  

10/29/2014   10/29/2014   Budget    Identified  the  cost  for  all  resources  (time,  money,  people)  including  donations.    

11/3/2014   11/3/2014   Timeline  

Created  a  chart,  which  explains  when  tactics  should  be  implemented  and  highlights  big  milestones  in  the  campaign  process.  

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11/5/2014   11/5/2014  Evaluation  Report  

A  detailed  list  of  questions  and  tools  that  validate  the  campaign  incrementally  and  summative.    

11/5/2014   11/5/2014  Meeting  with  Client  

Second  meeting  with  Rivercenter  staff  to  present  our  updated  ideas  and  listened  to  their  recommendations/concerns.    

11/10/2014   11/10/2014  

Received  RiverCenter  Logo  Material  and  Began  Developing  Promotional  Content  

Collected  Photoshop  and  jpeg  files  from  the  client  to  avoid  creating  the  same  style  material  and  also  brainstorm  new  ideas.  

11/11/2014   11/16/2014  

Firm  Meeting:  Book  Construction  Delegation  

Impact  met  to  delegate  final  responsibilities  including,  creation  of  mock-­‐ups,  development  of  PSAs,  timeline,  budget  and  editing.  

11/17/2014   11/21/2014  

Firm  Meeting:  Sharing  updates,  continuing  edits  

Impact  met  to  share  developments  and  exchanged  feedback.  Continued  with  jobs  and  continued  editing  the  book.    

11/24/2014   11/28/2014  Firm  Meeting:  Book  Additions  

Impact  met  to  conglomerate  all  mock-­‐ups  and  additions  to  book  and  continue  editing.  

11/24/2014   11/28/2014  Presentation  Building  

Impact  began  work  on  final  pitch  to  RiverCenter.  This  is  to  be  done  on  PowerPoint  and  to  reveal  the  final  product  offered  to  the  RiverCenter  for  their  product  

11/26/2014   11/29/2014   Final  Edits     Finish  editing  book.    12/1/2014   12/1/2014   Print  Book   Send  book  to  printing  service.    

12/3/2014   12/3/2014  Pitch  and  Book  Reveal  

Impact  pitches  their  idea  to  client,  and  also  gives  them  the  book  of  their  plans  and  ideas.    

Figure  14.  Past  Timeline  of  Events,  fall  2014      

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Spring  2015  Start  Date   End  Date   Event   Notes  

1/13/2015   1/13/2015   Groups  Assigned  

Team  is  assigned  in  class  to  fulfill  Impact's  Campaign.  New  Impact  team  should  familiarize  themselves  with  the  campaign's  content.    

1/20/2015   1/20/2015   Client  Pitches  Clients  Pitch  their  ideas.  Cross-­‐reference  their  ideas  with  campaigns  from  fall  2014  semester.  

1/22/2015   1/22/2015   Client  Meeting  New  firm  members  meet  with  client  to  pick  up  where  old  firm  members  left  off.  Begin  work  on  campaign.    

1/29/2015   1/29/2015  Project  Implementation  

Team  meets  to  implement  project  and  to  designate  roles.  

2/3/2015   2/5/2015   Primary  Research     Firm  conducts  any  outstanding  primary  research.    

2/17/2015   2/24/2015  Incremental  Evaluation  

How  are  things  going?  Take  a  moment  to  evaluate.  See  incremental  evaluation  tactics.    

2/17/2015   2/24/2015  

Primary  Research  Survey's  and  Focus  Groups  

Primary  research  is  conducted  in  order  to  gain  best  results  before  event  promotion.  This  shall  be  done  by  surveys  and  focus  groups.    

3/12/2015   3/12/2015  Execute  Campaign   Firm  should  begin  promotions  as  listed  in  book.  

3/12/2015   3/24/2015   ArtBeat  The  firm  will  begin  promoting  with  impersonators,  posters,  and  casino  themed  Art  Beat  event.  

3/13/2015   3/13/2015  Incremental  Evaluation  

How  are  things  going?  Take  a  moment  to  evaluate  the  first  week  of  Art  Beat  promotions.  See  incremental  evaluation  tactics.    

3/15/2015   3/15/2015   PSAs  

Does  the  premade  PSA  still  cater  to  the  client's  audience?  Should  changes  be  made  -­‐-­‐  if  not,  arrange  to  air  PSAs.  If  changes  should  be  made,  implement  them  and  air  new  PSA.    

4/2/2015   4/2/2015  Incremental  Evaluation  

Team  shall  meet  to  establish  their  evaluation  and  also  see  how  ArtBeat  helped  or  hurt.  This  is  important  because  it  allows  for  any  changes  to  be  made  before  true  promotion  begins.  

4/13/2015   4/18/2015   Begin  Promotion    

Firm  will  execute  other  promotion  tactics:  digital  media,  radio,  television,  social  media  (continue  impersonators  at  Saturday  markets).  

4/18/2015   6/6/2015  Unleash  the  Information  

For  six  weeks  all  promotion  should  be  entering  into  the  public.  This  also  includes  the  changes  by  week  for  Billboards,  ledger  ad,  and  digital  graphics.  

4/18/2015   6/6/2015   Evaluation    

Firm  evaluates  success  of  promotion:  how  are  tickets  selling,  any  donations  made  to  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots?  What  changes  can  still  be  made?  

6/6/2015   6/6/2015   Event  Night  Attend  "The  Rat  Pack  is  Back"  and  Casino  night.  Evaluate  success  of  the  event  and  mingle.    

6/7/2015   6/7/2015  Post  Event  Evaluation  

Firm  should  evaluate  the  success  of  the  campaign  by  using  the  summative  evaluation  methods  listed  in  the  campaign  book.    

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Figure  15.  Projected  Timeline  of  Events  for  Spring  2015,  fall  2014.  

     

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Budget  

     

 Figure  16.  Budget  for  Impact  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  Casino  Night  PR  Campaign,  fall  2014      

37  

 

Campaign  Materials  

   

 Figure  16.  Billboard  Mock  Sample,  fall  2014              

38  

   Figure  17.  Casting  Call  Poster,  fall  2014          

39  

 Figure  18.  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  Casino  Night  Poster,  fall  2014    

40  

 Figure  19.  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  Casino  Night  Logo,  fall  2014  

 

 Figure  20.  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  logo,  fall  2014      PUBLIC  SERVICE  ANNOUNCEMENT  1  #  SECONDS:  26  START  DATE:  STOP  DATE:  CONTACT:  (Name,  area  code/telephone  number,  and  e-­‐mail  address  of  primary  contact  person  and  organization)  

READY  FOR  A  NIGHT  ON  THE  TOWN?  COME  OUT  THIS  JUNE  6TH  TO  THE  RIVERCENTER  AT  

7:30  AND  EXPERIENCE  THE  SHINE  AND  GLAMOUR  OF  VEGAS’S  VERY  OWN  THE  RAT  PACK  

WITH  GUEST  APPEARANCES  BY  FRANK  SINATRA,  SAMMY  DAVIS  JR.,  DEAN  MARTIN,  AND  

JOEY  BISHOP.  AND  DON’T  FORGET  TO  WALK  THE  RED  CARPET  TO  CASINO  AFTERPARTY.  

41  

WHERE  WHAT  HAPPENS  IN  VEGAS  STAYS  AT  THE  RIVERCENTER.  GET  YOUR  TICKETS  

NOW  AND  VISIT  THE  RIVERCENTER.ORG  FOR  MORE  INFORMATION.  

–  END  –  

Figure  21.  PSA  1      PUBLIC  SERVICE  ANNOUNCEMENT  2  #  SECONDS:  22  START  DATE:  STOP  DATE:  CONTACT:  (Name,  area  code/telephone  number,  and  e-­‐mail  address  of  primary  contact  person  and  organization)  

   

RELIVE  THE  RAT  PACK  WITH  VEGAS’S  VERY  OWN,  FRANK  SINATRA,  SAMMY  DAVIS  JR.,  

DEAN  MARTIN,  AND  JOEY  BISHOP  FOR  AN  AMAZING  PERFORMANCE  AT  THE  

RIVERCENTER  THIS  JUNE  6TH  AT  7:30.  ALL  PROCEEDS  GO  TO  TICKETS-­‐FOR-­‐TOTS  IN  

SUPPORT  OF  THE  ARTS  EDUCATION  SO  GET  YOUR  TICKETS  NOW  AND  VISIT  THE  

RIVERCENTER.ORG  FOR  MORE  INFORMATION.  

–  END  –  

Figure  22.  PSA  27        

7  See  appendix  for  extended  lists  of  PSA  samples.    

42  

Figure  23.  Mock  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  Casino  Night  News  Release      

HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL [May 1, 1015] 900 Broadway Lauren Minter Columbus, GA 31901 (706) 256-3653 www.RiverCenter.org RiverCenter Lobby Turns Casino to Benefit Arts’ Education in the Chattahoochee Valley COLUMBUS, Ga.—On Saturday, June 6 two thousand people will have the chance to relive the Rat Pack and party for a purpose at The RiverCenter, Columbus’ centerpiece for arts and entertainment. Immediately following the 2014-2015 season finale of “The Rat Pack is Back,” the RiverCenter will transform into a Las Vegas casino to benefit Tickets-for-Tots, part of center’s ArtReach program. Tickets-for-Tots provides students with reduced admission to RiverCenter performances. Through Tickets-for-Tots financial burdens typically associated with field trips are eliminated or significantly reduced. Thanks to Tickets-for-Tots, teachers are able to expose their students to the arts, and enhance their students’ learning experience. This year’s fundraising goal is $10,000. “It’s particularly important for students to be exposed to the arts at an early age,” teacher Shirley Johnson said. “My students really enjoy the experience outside the classroom and benefit immensely from the kid-friendly productions.” Partygoers can expect great food and drink from local restaurants, music from the show and exciting casino games. Guests are encouraged to party for a purpose and go “all in” by purchasing playing chips for casino games. All purchases and donations will go directly to Tickets-for-Tots. You can reserve your ticket for “The Rat Pack is Back” and Tickets-for-Tots Casino Night by visiting RiverCenter.org or calling (706) 256-3632. Tickets can also be purchased at The RiverCenter ticket office located at 900 Broadway in Uptown, Columbus.

###

43  

 Figure  24.  Mock  Ledger-­‐Enquirer  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  Casino  Night  Newspaper  Advertisement      

44  

Evaluation  Strategy  

     An  evaluation  of  this  campaign  is  essential  as  it  validates  the  strategies  that  will  be  used  

and  indicates  whether  or  not  the  campaign  proved  successful  at  the  project’s  end.  Impact  believes  that  its  clients  should  know  that  our  methods  are  justified  and  cost  effective.    Evaluating  provides  Impact  with  an  opportunity  to  build  trust  between  our  firm  and  our  clients.  By  gathering  summative  and  incremental  information,  Impact  can  identify  effective  practices  and  continue  to  implement  those  elements  in  future  projects.    

Incremental  evaluation  will  ensure  that  the  campaign  in  on  track  and  allow  Impact  to  make  changes  to  as  need  be.  Summative  evaluation  will  show  whether  or  not  the  campaign  completed  the  goals  objectives  and  to  what  extent.    Sell  2,000  tickets  for  the  “Rat  Pack  is  Back”  and  raise  $10,000  for  Tickets-­‐For-­‐Tots  at  the  Casino  Night  after  party.  (Motivational)  Incremental  Evaluation  Questions  

1. How  many  “Rat  Pack  is  Back”  tickets  have  been  sold  so  far?  § Tool:  Contact  Lauren  Minter,  RiverCenter  Advancement  Director.  

2. How  many  ticket  holders  plan  to  attend  the  Casino  Night  after  party?  § Tool:  When  people  purchase  tickets  for  “The  Rat  Pack,”  ask  them  if  they  would  

like  a  pass  to  the  after  party.  The  pass  is  free  and  hopefully  will  give  a  gauge  for  how  many  people  plan  to  attend.      

3. How  much  has  been  collected  in  donations  to  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  since  event  promotion  began?  

§ Tool:  Contact  Lauren  Minter,  RiverCenter  Advancement  Director.    Summative  Evaluation  Questions  

1. How  many  tickets  were  sold?  § Tool:  Contact  Lauren  Minter,  RiverCenter  Advancement  Director.    § Note:  Past  RiverCenter  shows  have  sold  about  1,200  tickets  (Lauren  Minter,  

2014).    2. How  many  guests  attended  the  Season  Finale?  

§ Tool:  Contact  Lauren  Minter,  RiverCenter  Advancement  Director  3. How  many  guests  attended  the  Casino  Night  after  party?  

§ Tool:  Collect  Casino  Night  party  passes  and  tally  after  the  event.  Contact  Lauren  Minter,  RiverCenter  Advancement  Director  

4. How  much  was  donated  to  Tickets-­‐for-­‐Tots  between  April  1  and  June  7?  § Contact  Lauren  Minter,  RiverCenter  Advancement  Director  

 

45  

Appear  on  3  traditional  local  media  platforms.  (Informal)    Incremental  Evaluation  Questions  

1. How  many  news  releases  were  disseminated?  § Tool:  Contact  Carla  Gridley8,  promoting  &  booking  coordinator.    

2. When  were  new  releases  for  the  event  submitted?  § Contact  Carla  Gridley,  promoting  &  booking  coordinator.  

 Summative  Evaluation  Questions  

1. How  many  conduits  ran  the  stories?  § Tool:  Google  Alerts,  clip  collecting.  

2. When  were  stories  related  to  the  event  covered?    § Tool:  Google  Alerts,  clip  collecting.    

3. How  many  paid  advertisements  were  produced?  § Tool:  Contact  Carla  Gridley,  promoting  &  booking  coordinator.  

4. Which  regions  were  covered?  § Tool:  Google  Alerts.  See  The  Ledger-­‐Enquirer’s  possible  reach  (Goal  1  Objective,  

Strategy  1).        Influence  at  least  50  tweets  with  the  hashtag  #RatPackIsBack  and  #Tix4Tots.  (Motivational)  Incremental  Evaluation  Questions  

1. Is  the  audience  receiving  the  message?  § Tool:  Tweetdeck  and  Facebook  Analytics  for  views,  see  Andy  Luker9.    

2. Are  the  RiverCenter  website  and  RiverCenter  social  media  platforms  featuring  The  Rat  Pack  is  Back  and  Casino  Night  graphics?  

§ Tool:  Contact  Andy  Luker,  RiverCenter  social  media  and  website  manager.    3. Is  the  RiverCenter  engaging  with  their  followers  on  social  media  daily?  

§ Tool:  Monitor  social  media  pages,  Hootsuite,  Tweetdeck  or  other  preferred  social  media  aggregators.  

4. How  many  people  ‘liked’  the  RiverCenter  on  Facebook  before  campaign  execution?  § Tool:  RiverCenter  Facebook  

5. How  many  people  follow  the  RiverCenter  on  Twitter  before  campaign  execution?  § Tool:  RiverCenter  Twitter  

 Summative  Evaluation  Questions  

1. How  many  people  were  contacted  through  the  email  mailing  list?  § Tool:  Contact  Carla  Gridley,  promoting  &  booking  coordinator.  

2. How  many  hits  did  the  RiverCenter  website  take  between  April  1  and  June  7?  § Tool:  Contact  Andy  Luker,  social  media  and  website  manager.  

3. How  many  people  mentioned  the  RiverCenter  (@rivercenter)  between  April  1  and  June  7?  

8, 9 See appendix B

46  

§ Tool:  Tweetdeck  or  other  preferred  social  media  aggregator  4. How  many  times  was  #RatPackIsBack  used  between  April  1  and  June  7?  

§ Tool:  Tweetdeck  or  other  preferred  social  media  aggregator.  5. How  many  times  was  #Tix4Tots  used  between  April  1  and  June  7?  

§ Tool:  Tweetdeck  or  other  preferred  social  media  aggregator.  

47  

Appendix  A  Primary  Research    

Survey  Questionnaire    Q1)  What  is  your  race?  (Check  all  that  apply)  

§ White  § Black  or  African  American  § Hispanic  § Asian  or  Pacific  Islander  § Native  American  § Prefer  not  to  answer  

 Q2)  What  is  your:  

1. Age?  2. Gender?  3. Highest  level  of  education  completed?  

 Q3)  How  familiar  are  you  with  the  RiverCenter  for  the  Performing  Arts?    (1  –  not  familiar  at  all,  2  –  slightly  familiar,  3  –  moderately  familiar,  4  –  very  familiar,  5  –  extremely  familiar)  

1   2   3   4   5      

Q4)  How  often  do  you  attend  events  at  the  RiverCenter?  (1  –  not  at  all  often,  2  –  slightly  often,  3  –  moderately  often,  4  –  very  often,  5  –  extremely  often)  

1   2   3   4   5    

Q5)  How  familiar  are  you  with  Tickets-­‐For-­‐Tots?    (1  –  not  familiar  at  all,  2  –  slightly  familiar,  3  –  moderately  familiar,  4  –  very  familiar,  5  –  extremely  familiar)     1   2   3   4   5    Q6)  How  often  do  you  make  monetary  contributions  to  The  RiverCenter?  (1  –  not  at  all  often,  2  –  slightly  often,  3  –  moderately  often,  4  –  very  often,  5  –  extremely  often)  

1   2   3   4   5    

   Q7)  How  do  you  find  out  about  entertainment  events  in  Columbus?  (Check  all  that  apply)  

Internet  Search  

48  

Social  Media  Ticketmaster  Friends  Family  Flyers  Billboards  TV  Commercials  Radio  Other  

 Q8)  How  do  you  find  out  about  events  at  the  RiverCenter?  (Check  all  that  apply)  

Internet  Search  Social  Media  Ticketmaster  Friends  Family  Flyers  Billboards  TV  Commercials  Radio  Other  

 Q9)  What  types  of  events  are  you  most  likely  to  attend  at  the  RiverCenter?  

 Q10)  What  prevents  you  from  attending  shows  at  the  RiverCenter?  (Check  all  that  apply)       Interest     Time     Cost     Transportation     Knowledge  of  shows     Other  

 Goals,  Objectives,  Strategies  &  Tactics    

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 3 # SECONDS: 13 START DATE: STOP DATE: CONTACT: (Name, area code/telephone number, and e-mail address of primary contact person and organization)

IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTS EDUCATION THROUGH TICKETS FOR TOTS,

GO BEYOND THE STAGE AND INTO THE CLASSROOM WITH THE

49  

RIVERCENTER THIS JUNE 6TH AT 7:30. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AND

VISIT THE RIVERCENTER.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.

– END –

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 4 # SECONDS: 19 START DATE: STOP DATE: CONTACT: (Name, area code/telephone number, and e-mail address of primary contact person and organization)

DID YOU KNOW GETTING YOUR CHILD INVOLVED WITH THE ARTS HELPS

THEIR ACADEMICS, BEHAVIOR, AND SUCCESS? JOIN THE RIVERCENTER

THIS JUNE 6TH AT 7:30 FOR THEIR VEGAS CHARITY EVENT WITH

TICKETS-FOR-TOTS. GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND MAKE AN

IMPACT. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AND VISIT THE RIVERCENTER.ORG

FOR MORE INFORMATION..

– END –

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 5 # SECONDS: 23 START DATE: STOP DATE: CONTACT: (Name, area code/telephone number, and e-mail address of primary contact person and organization)

DID YOU KNOW GETTING YOUR CHILD INVOLVED WITH THE ARTS HELPS

THEIR ACADEMICS, BEHAVIOR, AND SUCCESS? THE RIVERCENTER

50  

GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND WANTS TO HELP MAKE THAT

IMPACT ON FUTURE GENERATIONS BY HOSTING THEIR VEGAS CHARITY

EVENT WITH TICKETS-FOR-TOTS THIS JUNE 6TH AT 7:30. GET YOUR

TICKETS NOW AND VISIT THE RIVERCENTER.ORG FOR MORE

INFORMATION. DONATE TODAY FOR A CREATIVE TOMORROW.

– END –

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 6 # SECONDS: 22 START DATE: STOP DATE: CONTACT: (Name, area code/telephone number, and e-mail address of primary contact person and organization)

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS STAYS AT THE RIVERCENTER. THIS JUNE 6TH

AT 7:30 DON’T MISS THE AMAZING PERFORMANCE FROM THE RAT PACK.

AND GET READY TO GAMBLE IT ALL AT THE CASINO AFTERPARTY. ALL

PROCEEDS GO TO TICKETS-FOR-TOTS IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTS

EDUCATION SO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AND VISIT THE

RIVERCENTER.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.

– END –

   

51  

Appendix  B    Campaign  Contacts  

     Name Contact*Info Company Company*Info Position Purpose Media*Type

Lauren'Minter 706.256.3653' The'RiverCenter900'Broadway'

Columbus,'GA'31901'Director'of'

AdvancementAdvertising'via'social'

mediaSocial'Media

[email protected]:'706.256.3653'Fax:'706.653.8664

Derrick'Greene [email protected]'Channel'Radio''''''''''''''''''''''

98.3'The'Beat

1501'13th'Avenue'Columbus,'GA''

P:706.576.3000''''''''''''F:'706.576.3010

Program'DirectorAdvertising'via'PSA's'

or'radio'shows'RADIO

706.576.3000

Henry'Holt [email protected]'''''''''''''''''' Sales'Department706.527.8731

Chuck'Thompson [email protected] Sales'Manager

Dave'Arwood [email protected]'PMB'BROADCASTING'

LLC'

1820'Wynnton'Road'Columbus,'

Georgia'31906'(P)706.327.1217'(F)706.596.

4600 Operations'Manager

Advertising'via'PSA's'or'radio'shows

RADIO

706.327.1217Robert'Grantham [email protected] Promotions'ManagerAl'Haynes [email protected] PSA'InquiriesAmanda'Baker [email protected] SecretaryHelen'Neal [email protected] Director'of'Sales

Arthur'Shipp [email protected] WRBL1350'13th'AvenueColumbus,'GA'31901

Marketing'Director'&'Production'Manager

Advertising'through'news'and'cover'

TELEVISION

Chris'Robinson [email protected] WLTZ6140'Buena'Vista'RoadColumbus,'GA'31907Main'Number:'(706)'

561.3838

Director'of'NPACEAdvertising'through'news'and'cover'

storiesTELEVISION

Helen'Johnson (706)649.4804 CB&T6401'Whittlesey'Boulevard'

Bank'Representative/''Director'of'ArtBeat

ArtBeat Not'Applicable

Columbus,'GA'31909

Hannah'Israel [email protected]'State'

UniversityYancey'Center'226

Associate'Professor'and'Gallery'Director

Art'Dept.ArtBeat Not'Applicable

706.507.8312

Kimberly'Garcia

[email protected]

Riverside'Theatre'Complex'212

Costume'Shop'Supervisor

Theatre'Dept.

Costumes'for'Impersonators

Not'Applicable

706.507.8406'

Dr.'Lawrence'[email protected]

Yancey'Center'257Department'Chair'/'Associate'Professor

Theatre

Contact'theatre'students

Not'Applicable

706.507.8402'

52  

Resources  Bolton,  R.  N.,  Parasuraman,  A.  A.,  Hoefnagels,  A.,  Migchels,  N.,  Kabadayi,  S.,  Gruber,  T.,  &  ...  

Solnet,  D.  (2013).  Understanding  Generation  Y  and  their  use  of  social  media:  a  review  and  research  agenda.  Journal  Of  Service  Management,  24(3),  245-­‐267.  doi:10.1108/09564231311326987  

Fulgoni,  G.,  &  Lipsman,  A.  (2014).  Digital  Game  Changers:  How  Social  Media  Will  Help  Usher  in  The  Era  of  Mobile  and  Multi-­‐Platform  Campaign-­‐Effectiveness  Measurement.  Journal  Of  Advertising  Research,  54(1),  11-­‐16.  doi:10.2501/JAR-­‐54-­‐1-­‐011-­‐016  

Georgia  Department  of  Education.  (n.d.).  Georgia  Department  of  Education.  Retrieved  October  13,  2014,  from  http://www.gadoe.org/Pages/Home.aspx  

Lauren  Minter  et.  al,  personal  communication,  September  22,  2014  Population  Estimates.  (n.d.).  Governor's  Office  of  Planning  and  Budget.  Retrieved  October  14,  

2014,  from  http://opb.georgia.gov/population-­‐estimates  White,  O.  (n.d.).  Urban  Revival.  Features.  Retrieved  October  14,  2014,  from  

http://www.georgiatrend.com/March-­‐2011/Urban-­‐Revival/      

53  

         

Firm  Information    To  provide  our  clients  with  public  relations  strategies,  equipping  them  with  valuable  tools  to  

grow  their  brand,  and  a  satisfied  customer  base  that  will  share  their  experiences  with  others  to  create  a  positive  impact  on  the  community.  

                     

 Est.  2014  

 William  Ginn  

Chelsea  Anne  Person  Jasmin  Santiago  Kayla  Stubbs