How to Brainstorm return to top
Brainstorming is often one of the best ways for a group to come up with ideas for general programming, fundraisers, and publicity gimmicks. The essential features of brainstorming are few and simple.

• The number of participants is not important, but the group should be large enough so that there are many sources of ideas. Brainstorming groups may be anywhere from 5 to perhaps 25 in number.
• Criticism is ruled out. Judgment is suspended until a later screening allowing all members to feel comfortable putting forth their ideas and ability to be creative. They should be seated facing each other to help facilitate effective communication.
• One of the participants should take minutes of the meeting, writing down every suggestion made. Then, after the problem had been stated, and made it clear what ground rules are to be observed, the brainstorming begins.

After the session is over, it is essential that someone evaluate, condense, and bring together the ideas that were brought up by the participants. Those ideas that are obviously not workable can then be discarded, and a list can be prepared of those, which are worthy of further consideration.

The Mechanics of Producing a Program return to top
Here are some suggestions to assist you with organizing programs and events.
A few questions to ask yourself before the event . . .
WHAT do you want to accomplish through this program?
HOW can you develop it to reach the greatest number of people?
CAN you create the correct environment for this program?
WHAT resources are available for your use (books, people, movies. etc)?
LIST the possibilities and be creative!
AFTER deciding the who and what of the program, you need to think about budgets, room reservations and contracts.

Event Development
1. Hold a meeting with your organization and advisor.
2. Determine how much money you have in your budget for this event.
3. Write an outline for the event and include funding, location, publicity, personal needed and anything else you may think is important.
4. Before you confirm any entertainment or guest, make sure that there is a room available. Rooms are reserved through Campus Reservations, D1 level of the Parkside Student Center.
5. Contact the Student Activities office to begin contract negotiations if you are paying for a presenter or performer.
6. Make sure members take responsibility for other important tasks. Including check requests, ticket orders, personnel needs, hospitality, marketing, etc.
7. Promotion and publicity is a key factor of a successful event. Decide whom you want to reach and how to best reach them. Publicity is important because it creates interest and involvement, and it stimulates awareness of the event.
8. On the day of the event, everything should come together smoothly if the preparation was done efficiently. You should have all of the event personnel confirmed pick up items such as tickets, checks, and cash box. You will also need to make sure that all hospitality requirements have been taken care of.
9. Make sure that somebody will be present to greet the guest(s) and to introduce him/her when the event begins. You’ll need to monitor the program, keeping track of break times and making sure that the program goes on as scheduled. After the performance is over, pay the performer as arranged for in the contract.
10. Most importantly enjoy the event!

Post-Event Follow Up
Just because the event is over doesn’t mean that the work is completed. An event evaluation should be done, including a budget review, audience attendance, audience reaction, artist/guest cooperation, agent relations, and publicity quality and quantity. Also include whether or not the goals of the event were met. Review what worked well and what you would do different. This is very helpful in planning future events.

Make sure to send out thank you notes after the event. These should be sent out to the volunteers that helped with the event, as well as the artist or guest. Volunteers are more likely to help out again if they feel they are valued, and guests will remember UW-Parkside in a positive way.

Publicity Pointers return to top
Remember the Four W’s and the Big H in your publicity:
WHO: The name of the sponsoring group.
WHERE: The location of the event.
WHEN: Include the day, date, and time of event.
WHAT: The name of the event or a brief description highlighting specific details.
HOW MUCH: Include the price/cost, if any. If it’s free, let people know!

This could determine whether or not they come to your program.

Keep your publicity neat and organized - people will not take the time to decipher unorganized publicity.

Make sure that all publicity conforms to the Campus Policy on Posting Promotional Material.

Promotion Resources return to top
The Student Activities Office has more resources and ideas for effective promotions and publicity. Stop by and checkout the resources available for you.

Window Painting is a great way to announce your event! Reserve windows on the Bridge through the Reservations Office and pick up your window painting kit in the Student Activities Office.

A helium tank is available to student organization for balloons. The cost is $5 per use and reservations to use the tank can be made through the Reservations office.

The Poster Room is also available to assist you with developing publicity materials.
Display cases are available to promote your organization or event in a 3-dimensional way.

• See the Services and Resources section of this handbook for more information about these!

How to Brainstorm | Mechanics of Producing a Program | Publicity Pointers | Promotion Resources