The Ideal Publicity Manager at Bemidji Community Theater
The Publicity Manager ensures that information is distributed in a way which will result in getting the largest possible audience to attend the show.
THE IDEAL PUBLICITY MANAGER SHOULD:
- Have the ability to communicate effectively.
- Have excellent organizational skills.
- Have knowledge of the publicity outlets in the area.
- Have an eye for detail.
- Have some artistic ability.
What is a Publicity Manager?
- Talk with the Production Manager to determine what the publicity budget is. (Recent plays have cost $400 to $750 for Ads and Posters).
- Obtain information from the Production Manager regarding the basic facts of the show such as dates, times, location, ticket prices, sales outlets.
- Publicity for Bemidji Community Theater
Obtain information from the Artistic Director on the playwright, synopsis of the play, actors etc. for PSAs and news releases. - Determine what methods of publicity are appropriate to use.
- Develop a timeline as to when to contact the various publicity outlets.
- Decide if you will run Audition Ads in the local papers.
- Contact the Pioneer and/or Buy-Line Ad Sales Representative for Audition Ads 2 weeks prior to when you want the Ad to appear.
- Send Audition Notification emails to people on the BCT Contact List.
- Update the BCT Website Webmaster with audition information.
Prior To Tech Week...
- Work with the Production Manager and Artistic Director to develop a PSA and news release.
- Determine who will develop tickets, posters, and programs and when they must be delivered to the printer. (Posters should be available for distribution 4-6 weeks prior to the show's opening Tickets should be available at the outlets 3 weeks prior to opening.
- The printer will need the program at least 3 weeks before opening).
- Arrange for help for such activities as poster distribution, getting PSAs to various publicity contacts etc. (Communicate it clearly to your workers, so they know what and when it is needed. BCT has a poster distribution list that we use.)
- Create PSAs for distribution to the various publicity outlets.
- Update the BCT Website Webmaster with the show information.
- Send PSAs 2 to 4 weeks before opening to RP Broadcasting (KKBJ-1360, MIX 103.7, Real Country 98.3, The River 92.1), Paul Bunyan Broadcasting (KB101, KZY 95.5, Z99, KBUN 1450, True Oldies 104.5), Northern Community Radio (KAXE), MPR (KCRB), Lakeland Public TV, the Pioneer and Buy-Line. (Consider sending PSAs to newspapers in Blackduck, Cass Lake, Park Rapids, Bagley, and Fosston. It's a good idea to follow up with each contact a week later to verify that they received and will use the PSA).
- Contact the Pioneer and/or Buy-Line Sales Representative to arrange for Show Ads. (Ads should be run 1 and/or 2 weeks before the show – usually Sundays in the Pioneer).
- Place show information on the Chamber of Commerce and Visit Bemidji websites.
Arrange for the show information to be displayed on the Marquee at the Paul Bunyan Playhouse as soon as the previous show closes. (If the show is at BSU, arrange for the show info to be put on the BSU Electronic Billboard 7-10 days before opening). - Arrange for a display in the glass showcase at Paul Bunyan Playhouse.
- Arrange for a radio interview with Paul Bunyan Broadcasting's Kelly Stone on "Chat- A- Bout" the week before or during the week the show opens. (She typically needs at least a 3–4-week lead time. Select a couple of people connected with the show who are also familiar with BCT for the interview).
- Contact Lakeland Public TV a week or two before the show opens to arrange for an interview with the director and cast members and a video recording segment of the show for the Evening News.
- Contact the Pioneer to arrange for a photo of the show to appear in the paper several days before the show opens. The photo should be scheduled to appear either the Sunday before opening, or on Tues. or Wed. before the opening.
- Work with the BCT Treasurer to get the bills paid on a timely basis.