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Dickens Christmas Fair 2005 - Special Promotional Missive
(sent November 17, 2005)


Good Day Everyone!

This is a special "Promo Missive" …in three parts:
Top part - contains the THINGS YOU CAN DO…
Middle part - is a marketing summary FYE (for your edification)
Bottom part - is a CUT AND PASTE promotional piece for you to email

If you have any Questions please feel free to contact Kathy. In order to do so please do not hit the reply button. Write to kathy@redbarnproductions.org. (thank you)

To STAY informed, join the Holly Tree Club by clicking this link http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/thehollytreeclub
There is a fully updated calendar on the club site to keep you up on the latest promotional events.


THING (YOU CAN DO) 1: Tell people the first two weekends are the best because:
            A) It's less crowded (easier to get to the bar)
            B) The best crafts have not been bought by someone else (one of a kind means when it's gone it's gone
            C) There is still time to visit again and catch that show you missed or see 'em "do it again!" at Mad Sals


THING 2: Send an info email to your list.
See the promo piece/fact sheet at the bottom of this missive. Cut and paste it into an e-mail and send it to your friends and personal lists! (and read the fact sheet to keep to be up on ticket prices and other factoids)


THING 3: Run around in costume out in the world!
Volunteer for:
Oakland Ice Center THIS SUNDAY!
Pub Crawls!
ACT/ Macy's Holiday Stroll December 1st Starting at 4pm
Celebrity Ring out in union Square December 9, 10am-2pm

Details…

Oakland Ice Center THIS SUNDAY!

The Oakland Ice Center is expecting us this Sunday November 20th at 3pm. So Far I have confirmed 3 volunteers and I need at least 3 more. You should be strong in meet and greet and enjoy speaking with people in character. We would absolutely love to have some sweeps out there. This venue is extremely large and we will need bodies to cover it. We will reimburse Ice skating rentals - but remember that you skate at your own risk! Please e-mail kathy@redbarnproductions.org to sign up. Thank you!

Pub Crawls!

Via our Dickens Fair beer sponsors, Becks, Boddingtons, Bass, and Stella Artois, several San Francisco pubs are ready to host us in costume as we promote the Fair (and their beer). Here's how it works: individual groups and troupes go as a team! Work and play together!  As you know, our promotional budget is spent mostly in the Chronicle and other media, but this year we have allocated money to help defray costs for the first 8 groups that contact us.
 If you act quickly, your group will receive a stipend of $50 - $100 (depending on the size of the group) to pay for a round of drinks, and or help with gas and parking.  All individuals will receive 2 complimentary tickets good any one day of the Fair. Select between three areas in San Francisco with three pubs in each area.  Try to hit all three!
For those of you who belong to a group that is not participating but still want to join the fun, we are arranging two separate pub crawls for the Thursday after we open. You can be a part of the  North beach pub crawl; O'Reilly's Irish Pub and Restaurant, Northstar Café,& Shannon Arms. Or You can choose three pubs from the following list; Holy Gail, R Bar, Vertigo, Royal Oak Cresta 2211 Club, Greens Balboa City Tavern, East Means West.
The most popular arrangement will be set up and everyone who is interested will be notified. If there is enough interest there may be three crawls that night!
Contact Kathy@redbarnproductions.org in order to sign up!


ACT/ Macy's Holiday Stroll December 1st 4pm - 8 PM

We've been asked by ACT to be involved in the Union Square Holiday Stroll, we will be handing out flyers and spreading holiday cheer.  The events feature festive holiday lighting, in-store parties and special promotions with all of the participating stores. There will be a tent set up in the square at 3:00.  The Dickens Fair will have a table in the tent. We would like to have everyone meet as close to 4pm as possible. We realize that this might be difficult with people's work schedules, etc.so get there as soon as you can. There will be a shuttle that goes from Union Square to the Crocker Galleria and other areas of the Holiday Stroll.  They would love to have Dickensians on that, too.

What's in it for us?  The Dickens Fair characters will be mentioned in all of the press releases, all the ads, and on the Holiday Stroll Web site, with a link to our Web site. This is an exciting opportunity for the fair as well as for each of you because each participant (who RSVPs - in time - with Kathy) will receive a certificate good for two tickets to any ACT show (GOOD FOR ONE YEAR! $80 value), This is above and beyond the Holly Tree Club bonus of two comp tickets per person to the fair- plus with all the holiday parties it should be lots of fun anyway. Please e-mail kathy@redbarnproductions.org to sign up. We would like to have an approximate number of people who are planning on going. Once there you MUST check in with the point person to receive the ACT ticket voucher.

Celebrity Ring Out in Union Square December 9, 10am-2pm

The Salvation Army is teaming up with local celebrities and The Great Dickens Christmas Fair to bring the Celebrity Ring Out to Union Square. Local Celebrities will be taking the place of Santa for a brief time and will help to raise money for charity. Dickens Fair characters are invited to walk amongst the crowd to distribute flyers and add to the holiday atmosphere. It is a work day during work hours so please send this notice out to your friends with flexible work schedules! To sign up please contact Kathy@Redbarnproductions.org Thank you everyone!


THING 4: Toys for Tots! Bring a new unwrapped to the Fair...
 
Each and every day of the fair we will play host to the charitable organization created to send donated toys to needy children and teens each Holiday Season. There will be an officer of the United States Marines posted at the front gate collecting the toys. Tell everyone you know to bring a toy!!!

We are also looking for volunteers who will stand with the Marine during peak hours to hand out discount coupons to anyone who donates toys and to keep him or her fed and watered.  We need two people at lunch time so the Marine may go inside and eat. We are looking to fill volunteer positions starting at 10 AM and ending around 3 or 4PM. The Toy parade has already shown interest and so have some other groups. We would like to ask anyone who is willing to commit an hour any one day to please see Kathy this Saturday, or write your name in the hour slot you would like to work when you fill out the commitment sheet. It is located under the "Current Promotions" Sign in front of the admin office in the Breezeway. Thank you everyone!


Family Day for the US Armed Forces!

In conjunction with our friends at Toys for Tots, The Great Dickens Christmas Faire is extending to any Marine or military personnel a very special invitation, to come to the Dickens Fair as our guests on Friday November 25th. On that Friday, for every military I.D shown we will welcome 2 adults and unlimited children free of charge. We extend this invitation as a small token of gratitude for being the men and women who actively defend our country. Please feel free to pass this invitation on to any regiment in the bay area or surrounding areas. Every other day of the Fair, as always, Military with ID receive a $3 discount on adult tickets.

Thank you everyone! We appreciate your hard work and all the effort you put into this fun and Magical show!

The Great Dickens Fair and Holiday Party Promotional Team.


Promotions and Publicity Summary for the 27th Annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair

We are very excited about the marketing plan for the Dickens Fair this year.   Working with our new agency, Jamison McKay of San Francisco, we have increased advertising by at least 40% over last year.  Here are some highlights:

--KGO Radio #1 Station in Bay Area (new)
--KDFC Classical Radio (40% more spots)
--KQED NPR, etc, sponsor announcements (new)
--KMKY Radio Disney (new)
--SF Chronicle (20% more ads)
--Toys for Tots Bay Area wide radio PSA's (15 sec. spots) (new)
--sfgate.com (220,000 daily online readers)  (new)
--insidebayarea.com (50,000 daily readers) (new)

Also!   ...New "Dickens After Dark" Promotion
"After 4 PM tickets 1/2 price, come for Dinner, Dancing, Delicious foods...and the all new Naughty French Postcard Review!"  This will be promoted in all the above media with special ads in some publications.
For the Friday opening (an extra day of sales): 2 for 1 ticket offer on all adult  tickets on Friday 11/25 only.  This ad is running in 18 large and medium size ads during the 10 days prior to opening

A new Nostalgic look to our Posters, Flyers, & Ads will increase visibility and distinction of event. The Poster is a redesign of the 1977 Dickens Fair - at the Cow Palace! (full circle).

We have expanded the professional distribution service for Posters and Flyers from 500 locations to 1500 locations bay area wide.

We have increased street mini billboard signage from 200 to 300 locations in the following areas:
Geneva, Polk, California, Geary, Divisadero, Pine, Bush, 3rd, 4th, Harrison, Bryant and Ashby and University(in Berkeley).

We have increased the SF Yellow Cab roof top lighted billboard promotion from 15 cabs to 25 cabs for 2 full months from Nov. 1 through December.

Online presence at http://www.sfgate.com/eguide/events/
We have a "tower ad" on this, the Chronicle's web newspaper for all of November and thru December.

Press Here...  Our esteemed Director of Publicity, Phyllis with the able assistance of Denise Lamott Public Relations is working the phones every day to bring us live and recorded TV shows,  and articles in the mmore than 170 publications contacted and sent a lovely press kit. Those of you who have done interviews, thank you!

Media Sponsors, San Mateo Times are delivering 100% of their papers next week wrapped in a Dickens Fair promo piece that we designed.  Furthermore, they will be distributing our 8 page program in their home delivery papers on the day we open!

Pub Crawls plus…

Macy's in-store promotions at Union Square, the ACT/Macy's tree lighting, Ice Rink promotions, hotel partner promotions, Molly Stones markets in-store promotions, on air ticket give-aways with over 15 stations, and on and on


Promotional Verbiage for Your Emails

CUT AND PASTE (and email to your list):
(…and ask everyone on your list to send it to their list too)

_________________________________________________________________

The 27th annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair

Order tickets online today!

Don't wait!  The first two weekends are the best!  The finest selection of crafts are to be found on opening weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday November 25, 26, and 27.  Avoid the crowds on the final days before Christmas!

http://www.dickensfair.com

Advance purchase Adult tickets are $17.00 (save $3.00 each).
Regular price is still a bargain at $20.00 for a full day of theatre, dancing, and holiday delights!  Children's tickets are always discounted at only $8.00

Here's what you can expect:

Venture down winding lanes, into cozy parlors to sing, to shop, to waltz, to feast and toast the Merry Season! Here there are plays and magic, puppets and singers on 5 stages at no extra charge!

The ringing voices of street criers hawking their wares soar above the noise of the bustling crowd as they visit one hundred lamplit shops, each filled to overflowing with holiday gifts for sale: gorgeous glass, and hand carved wood, elegant clothing, fanciful hats, flowers and collectible dolls, keen metalwork, toys, games and sparkling jewelry by some of the finest craftspeople in California on display in a juried show. Talk to the artist!

The Victoria and Albert Music Halls theatre roars to life with the return of the Saucy French Postcard Review each evening at 5:00!  Children under 18 not allowed.  Join us for Dickens After Dark as London pubs glow with bright cheer. At every turn there are dance parties, plays and characters, music and merriment brought to life by hundreds of costumed performers surrounding visitors in a gigantic theatrically lighted environment.

"...sugared almonds beg to be carried home in paper bags! The blended scents of tea and coffee so grateful to the nose---the candied fruits are so caked with molten sugar as to make the coldest lookers-on feel faint!"

Feast on the savory food and drink of Victorian London: rich English roast beef, hot bangers and buttery mash, sweet and tipsy sherry trifle, luscious cakes, freshly baked cookies, hot meat pies, fish and chips, ales, stout, wine---even tea and dainty biscuits.


A DICKENS OF A GOOD TIME!


FACT SHEET:

WHO: The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is directed by the Patterson Family, creators and directors of the popular Renaissance Pleasure Faire at Black Point in Marin County for 28 years. The Dickens Christmas Fair is a treasured Bay Area tradition since 1970.

WHEN: Opens Thanksgiving Weekend, Friday, Saturday & Sunday,
November 25 - 27 and continues Saturdays and Sundays only through December 18, 2005; 11:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.

WHERE:  Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Avenue, San Francisco

PRICES:
General Admission:  $20.00 at the door
Student/Senior/Military: $17.00 at the door
Children 5-11: always discounted at only $8.00 in advance or at the door
Children under 5 are free!   
Twilight Special: 1/2 price adult and child tickets after  4:00 pm
Groups of 15 or more: Call for best price depending on size of group
Pickwick Club (fair season pass):$55.00 for adult/$25.00 for children
(available at the fair, or (800) 510-1558

Plentiful parking is available at the Cow Palace.
The Cow Palace charges $7.00 to park and $25.00 for bus or RV parking

MORE INFORMATION: and delightful details call (800) 510-1558

Or visit http://www.dickensfair.com


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