2010 Air Show Business Basics Event Marketing

We take a look at how a number of leading air shows throughout North America recognize veterans. By Timothy Gaffney

(This power point document was used in the following break-out education session at the 2008 ICAS Convention.) During this one-hour session, we’ll not only share the preliminary results of the 2008 air show spectator survey; we’ll also give you specific suggestions and ideas on how to put this huge body of information to work for your air show organization. A hard copy of the preliminary results of the survey will be made available to all participants in the session.

More and more air show event organizers are using a new type of marketing strategy that emphasizes creative and cost-efficient use of a show's available resources in new ways to get increased marketing exposure.

96 Marketing Tips... and More (2000, 2Q)

Many air shows also include ground-based entertainment, ranging from kid zones and carnival rides to major static displays and a wide variety of vendors.

Air Shows Magazine interviewed a representative cross-section of nine civilian event organizers to get some idea of how air shows are attracting the fans and spectators that come to their events. As expected, there is no marketing "silver bullet" for event organizers, but the current state-of-the-art is changing and there is broad consensus on a number of important lessons.

Children under 18 account for nearly one-third of the 10 million people who visit air shows each year in North America, and many organizers have learned that incorporating educational activities for their pint-sized patrons not only helps to increase revenue, but supports the long-term growth of the industry.

A collection of air show-related marketing tips gleaned from past articles, education sessions and informal conversations with ICAS members (2000, 2Q)

Using historic correspondence to provide insight on how air show performers have marketed their services over the years.