If you’re new around here, first of all, welcome. And I bet you’re observant enough to see that there are 2 previous posts to this topic so here is Part 1 and Part 2 for your reading pleasure.
Now, we come to part 3 in this 6 part series and these are the questions you should be asking.
Does This Conflict with Community Events?
Local Calendar
Check your local community calendars for any events that might draw your students’ attention. Is Taylor Swift in town the weekend of the girls retreat you want to plan? Is there a sporting event that will interfere with your middle school boys night out? Our students have choices and they may choose another event over yours if you plan it on the same day. You have to get used to that or figure out how to integrate it into your plans.
You may want to check parent’s calendars as well. Are you planning camp the week that group of parents all go on vacation together? What about cheer camp or football camp? And yes, they will choose those over your events, for good or for ill so choose wisely.
Avoid Competition
But be competitive. It’s one thing if you’re competing against big event that have millions of dollars in their budget, but if kids are going to another church event or a local event, it might be because they have better execution.
Yes, check the calendar and avoid major events but you also have to take stock of how you plan your event. Just because it’s a church event does not automatically entitle you to kids showing up you have to promote and market well but you also have to deliver on they hype. Over promise and over deliver.
If no other date is possible, then do your best to make this event the best it can be.
Potential Partnerships
Is there a church having an event the same weekend as your event? Give them a call and see how you might be able to work together, especially if you both have smaller youth groups.
in one church I served, the big church in town would do 5th quarters, a fun night after football games. The only way we could participate was to go to their event. That was fine, they had a bigger budget and executed it well. That is until the rest of got an ideas.
Being that “the big church” was a bit hawkish when it came to their event, they always wanted it at their church, the rest of us decided to team up together, rent out the community center and call it The End Zone. We drew hundreds of kids.
Look for who you can partner with because you can do more together than alone.
If you’d like articles like this in your inbox, be sure to sign up for my newsletter and every week you will receive articles, videos and encouragement.