Co-Branding a Concert With AC100
Why Would You Do This?
Added publicity for your concert. And "strength in numbers."
We know a cappella is great. YOU know a cappella is great. But the general public still is generally clueless. (About a cappella, that is)
The theory behind the AC100 "Virtual Festival" is that by banding together, thousands of a cappella groups across the globe can make an impact far greater than they can make on their own. AND, the 100th anniversary of college a cappella is enough of a milestone to attract media attention.
Of course, media attention doesn't just happen. We'll be hiring a PR firm in the fall of 2008, and crank up the publicity during the 100 day festival window. And we'll be buying ads on Google. And maybe some ads elsewhere.
In short, we'll be creating a bandwagon, and we want you to jump on!
What's Involved?
As of now we don't have every last detail worked out, but we're going to try to keep it simple - simple for you, simple for us.
If you are involved in a concert that will have two or more a cappella groups (of any style), your event can be a "Festival" participant by agreeing to:
- publish in your program one paragraph about AC100
- have your MC acknowledge the AC100 festival and web site during the concert
- add a link to www.ac100.org from your web site's description of the concert
- add a single sentence about AC100 to your concert publicity
This option is so simple, we think hundreds of concerts could reach AC100 "Festival" status.
We will be trying to sign up 95 "Featured" events that will get special recognition on the AC100 web site and in the AC100 publicity effort. In addition to commitments associated with "Festival" events, a "Featured" event may be asked to:
- donate part of the concert proceeds to the A Cappella Summer Camp Scholarship Fund
- sell AC100 produced merchandise (DVDs, and maybe other items)
- display AC100 informational posters in the lobby before and after the concert (a good suggestion by Deke Sharon, educating audiences about a cappella history)
- recognize a cappella group founders from the stage
"May be asked" is the operative phrase. We're flexible, so talk to us!
In the U.S. there will be five "Founders Events." AC100 is producing two, and the other three will be the Varsity Vocals ICCA semi-finals for the West, Midwest and South divisions. In addition to "Festival" and "Featured" event commitments,
- a cappella group founders will get free or discounted tickets
- video crews will be on hand to document the concerts and/or interview group founders
- some events will feature banquets to honor a cappella group founders
OK, so maybe it's not simple for us. But for you, it starts by emailing the AC100 Executive Director.