Keys to a Successful Event

We’re proud to have been a part of making the first (and now annual) KC July Jazz Jam a rousing success. It was standing room only at a fantastic concert. The keys to success:

1. Great talent. The concert had performers people would pay hard-earned money to see.
2. The right price. For only $10 a ticket (with free parking and free child care!), the audience saw artists they would have to pay at least five or even ten times as much to see at separate venues. (Check out this review!)
3. Strong volunteer organization. This concert was hosted by by Community Christian Church of Kansas City. Senior minister Rev. Bob Hill and committee chair Jeanne Martin worked tirelessly with church staff to make the logistics run smoothly for a successful event.
4. The word was spread. We worked to get the word out online, basing much of our message on the multimedia aspects of a PitchEngine social media release. The release was pushed out via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, email and many other ways. The PitchEngine release garnered more than 4,500 hits in less than five weeks. We listed the event on community calendars, Yelp and similar sites. We also pitched local media and were fortunate to get a great article by the Kansas City Star Jazz columnist and an interview (below) with the concert’s presenter on our local Fox affiliate.

Certainly not every concert or event will sell out the first time around. However, if you keep an eye on organization, understand your market (and the price it will bear), and then buttress your efforts with good promotion your odds of success improve dramatically.