IN ADVANCE

Set goals – what do you want to achieve with this event?
Determine a nominal fee to create stronger commitments from your participants – asking them to register in advance also ensures you have their contact information to reach out after the event.
Rehearse your demo and make a sample of the project to display. Be prepared to tailor your demo to the audience (beginners, enthusiasts, professionals.)
Promote 4-6 weeks in advance on social media, NextDoor.com, and local event calendars, using the assets provided by Royal Talens.
Print and post in-store signage provided.
Share a supply list if participants are required to bring any of their own.
Make sure to have inventory ready to sell after the event.

DAY OF

Create enough room for everyone to work.
Make sure you can be heard by everyone (use a mic if needed.)
Introduce yourself first and share something about your art experience.
Engage your audience with a quick ice-breaker – ask them each to share why they joined and what they want to learn (works best with smaller groups.)
Share a brief agenda with the group.
As you describe product or technique details, include something anecdotal to create more interest and enhance the experience.
Pay attention to how each participant is doing throughout the demo so you can anticipate questions and celebrate their progress.
Allow for some improvisation – you may need to adapt to unpredictable results with a technique.
Repeat participants’ questions before answering so everyone can hear.
Leave time at the end for everyone to review their work and ask final questions. Remember it’s okay if you don’t always know everything, just follow up with inquiries as needed to ensure they get accurate answers.
Be available after the event ends for additional questions (some people feel shy about speaking up in front of a group.)
Take lots of pictures and/or videos that you can share later and archive for future reference. Consider having a staffer broadcast part of the event live on social media. Be sure to let people know upfront in case they prefer not to be seen on social media.

Clean up your work area thoroughly, especially if you’re a guest in the space.
Post images from the event on your community bulletin board and on social media.
Send a brief survey to participants along with your thanks for attending – this helps you evaluate your event, make improvements, and capitalize on successes.
Schedule a follow-up meeting with staff involved to review your survey results and brainstorm improvements for next time.
Schedule your next Royal Tales Experience Event!

Schedule multiple posts starting 4-6 weeks in advance, leading up to the time of the event. Consider short video teasers like an Experience box opening, a tour through the aisles with the supply list, or sneak peeks from making your demo sample.
Post with hashtag #createwithroyaltalens and tag @royaltalensna to get more engagement.
Make sure your social media settings allow for others to share your posts.
Ask participants to share, tag, invite etc. to get a chance to win a prize from Royal Talens.
Create an event on Facebook. Add Royal Talens and the Instructor as co-hosts for extra cross-promotion. The instructor and staff can invite their FB friends and post updates and teasers in the discussion section of the event, which will alert the invitees and encourage Q&A. Consider boosting the event to reach more people in your area.
Create a countdown on Instagram.
Personalize your posts to make a more meaningful connection.