| A school carnival is one of the best ways to raise | | | | SELL TICKETS FOR EVERYTHING- KEEPS CASH AT |
| money and build community spirit for your school. So | | | | A MINIMUM |
| many schools have yearly carnivals that it is easy to | | | | Take a cue from most arcades out there today, |
| fall into a familiar pattern of repetition each year. The | | | | convert cash into tokens or tickets whenever |
| following suggestions are meant to help you shake | | | | possible. This accomplishes two important purposes. |
| your event up a little and to start thinking of new | | | | 1) It prevents individual booths from having to handle |
| ways to increase your profits. | | | | and secure cash. With all the excitement and activity, |
| BUILD YOUR CARNIVAL AROUND A REALLY GOOD | | | | why take a risk on cash being lost, stolen, or |
| THEME | | | | mishandled in any way? 2) People are much more |
| By selecting a different theme for your carnival each | | | | likely to spend tokens or tickets freely than real cash |
| year, it both keeps your families interested and | | | | money. It's a psychological thing. |
| engaged, and also it forces your planning committee | | | | TAKE PLASTIC |
| to develop new ideas for games, events, costumes, | | | | Even though you may lose a few percentage points |
| food choices, etc. The selection of a theme is the | | | | for the transaction, I recommend setting your |
| foundation for the rest of your carnival planning. It is | | | | carnival up to accept debit and credit cards for |
| vital to keep your auction from becoming predictable | | | | tickets and maybe some of the higher price add-ons |
| each year. | | | | you have. This way you avoid the situation of a |
| KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE | | | | parent running out of cash, even though they still |
| It is important to know what kind of people will be | | | | want to make that last minute purchase. Don't lose |
| attending your carnival. This demographic knowledge | | | | that sale! |
| will help you in deciding what kind of a theme to | | | | PLAN SOMETHNG FOR EVERYBODY |
| choose and what kind of activities will make you the | | | | In your planning, make sure that you include activities |
| most money. Basically, make sure you are giving your | | | | for everyone. For instance, you may get lots of |
| audience what they want. If karaoke is popular, give | | | | younger siblings. It would be wise in this instance to |
| them a karaoke booth. If a football throwing | | | | set aside a safe area for them to crawl and play |
| competition would be popular, give them that. If you | | | | without having big kids risk accidentally hurting them. |
| think silly string would be a big seller, have plenty of | | | | A few gym mats, some baby toys, a fence of some |
| that on hand and mark it up. | | | | kind, and chairs for parents could be all that you |
| THINK LIKE A GUERILLA (MARKETER) | | | | need. Even if you offer this toddlers' area for free, |
| The key to making a lot of money at your carnival is | | | | you are doing a service for parents who won't have |
| to have lots of people there. Make sure you have an | | | | to spend money on babysitters or feel rushed to |
| excellent team in charge of getting the word out. | | | | leave, due to their younger children. On the other |
| First, utilize every method of free publicity: press | | | | hand, it would also be wise to provide lots of seating |
| release, road-side banners, lots of fliers in shops over | | | | areas and coffee (decaf) for grandmas and grandpas. |
| town, church bulletins, etc. Also let your school | | | | Make sure that nobody feels uncomfortable or |
| families know how important attendance is and that | | | | un-catered to. The more people through your door, |
| their efforts in bringing others to the event is | | | | the more ticket revenue you pick up. |
| encouraged and appreciated. After you have | | | | BOOK A GREAT EMCEE |
| exhausted these low or no cost means of | | | | I am a strong believer in designating someone to |
| advertising, perhaps you can consider a well-placed | | | | serve as the overall host or emcee for the event. |
| paid advertisement in the local paper or radio station. | | | | Give this guy or gal a wireless mic and let him or her |
| Only do this if you've had success in the past and | | | | use charm, humor, prodding, and enthusiasm to get |
| can afford it. There are so many means of cheap | | | | people having a great time and spending money. |
| marketing. | | | | Don't settle for a bland voice telling people the talent |
| SECURITY AT DOORS = PARENTS FEEL SAFE | | | | show starts in five minutes. Get a person who will |
| Once parents have arrived, they want to make sure | | | | have the natural ability to hype it up. The emcee can |
| their kids are safe to run around. This sense of | | | | also call attention to booths that aren't doing well and |
| security will go a long way toward making mom and | | | | need attention. Just make sure that the emcee |
| dad comfortable and willing to spend more money. I | | | | doesn't cross the line into being obnoxious. This can |
| know that if I'm constantly worried about where my | | | | be a tall order, but if you get the right person, it can |
| kids are and what they are breaking, I'll be looking at | | | | make a world of different to your event. |
| the clock and planning my exit strategy. I'm not going | | | | FOOD, FOOD, FOOD |
| to drop a lot of dough. Make sure to have volunteers | | | | Basically, forget everything else I've written. It's really |
| specifically assigned to the front doors to make sure | | | | just all about the food. People love to eat and they'll |
| no one escapes. I would also station a male and | | | | spend money to do it. Offer as many choices and |
| female adult by the bathrooms to make sure no | | | | styles as you can think of. If people like to eat it and |
| trouble happens there. Try to imagine any place | | | | it's convenient to mass produce and serve, do it! I |
| there could be trouble in your physical space and | | | | really don't think you can over-do it on the food. |
| solve the problem before it happens. | | | | This is an opportunity to really hype up a specific |
| SEEK A WIDE VARIETY OF DONATIONS | | | | item. For instance, this could be the only time all year |
| One way to make money is to not spend it in the | | | | that third grade teacher Mrs. Riley makes her |
| first place. Therefore, do everything in your power | | | | world-famous elephant ears. Your school carnival is |
| to get food and supplies donated. This process | | | | the only place on Earth to get them. "Tell your |
| should happen very early in your planning. Seek out | | | | friends and family! Don't miss this once a year |
| natural connections within your school community. | | | | chance!" |
| Who knows, one of your sudent's dad might own a | | | | (Remember to get as much of the food donated as |
| company that rents out inflatable bounce houses and | | | | you can, because it would then be 100% profit!) |
| would be willing to rent them to you for free. You | | | | OFFER LOTS OF PLACES TO SPEND MONEY |
| won't know until you check. Make sure to give out a | | | | Besides selling tickets for games and food, think |
| lot of recognition (both verbally and through | | | | about ways you can sell additional items. I know of |
| prominent signage) to all those who helped, and | | | | carnivals who have successfully sold student designed |
| make sure that a committee takes responsibility for | | | | t-shirts, school community recipe/cookbooks, family |
| sending out thank you letters to every single person | | | | photos, and raffle tickets, to name a few. Also, look |
| or business that helped you during the carnival. | | | | at the Oriental Trading Company Catalog for very |
| CHARGE FOR VENDOR BOOTHS | | | | inexpensive items that kids love to have. Silly string |
| In addition to the rides, games, and scheduled | | | | for instance is a great seller. You can even set up a |
| entertainment at the carnival, there is an opportunity | | | | little store for any of the above mentioned items. |
| to provide parents and kids with another great | | | | Don't miss any opportunity to get people to spend |
| experience: vendor booths. You can sell booth space | | | | their hard-earned dollars for your school. |
| ( can be as simple as 8' folding tables) to local | | | | LEVERAGE THE "CELEBRITY" OF TEACHERS, |
| business who want to market to your specific | | | | PRINCIPAL |
| audience. You can also require the vendors provide | | | | Kids are always amazed to see their teachers in any |
| some kind of freebie or activity to whoever visits | | | | situation out of the classroom. I remember thinking |
| their booth. Pencils, Frisbees, coloring books, etc- and | | | | that my elementary school teachers actually lived at |
| they can put their logo on everything they give | | | | school. They couldn't possibly have a life in the "real |
| away. They can pass out coupons as well. This is a | | | | world". To run into one of them at the grocery store |
| great marketing opportunity for the business and it | | | | was like running into a movie star or the President of |
| adds to the overall excitement of the event. If you | | | | the United States. You will be sure to have a hit |
| get enough vendors, you can also make some | | | | activity anytime you can put a teacher in a funny |
| decent money off of it. If you charge $100 per | | | | situation. Think dunk tank or pie throwing, etc. Maybe |
| booth and get 12 booths, you just made $1,200 pure | | | | the principal could get his head shaved if a certain |
| profit. And, $100 for such a great marketing | | | | level of money is raised that night. |
| opportunity is not out of reach for many local | | | | Conclusion |
| businesses. I have even heard of carnivals with | | | | The school carnival is a great opportunity for your |
| booths set up for health and wellness information, | | | | community to come together, develop relationships, |
| including free flu shots, blood pressure screenings, for | | | | and raise some much needed money for your school. |
| example. You can give price breaks on booths to | | | | Be as creative as you can in selecting a popular |
| non-profit groups, if you wish. The more booths = | | | | theme and planning activities that will accomplish your |
| more excitement. | | | | fundraising goals. Good luck! |