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www.blog.joytroupe.com
Please join us there for further adventures in Joy Makin' Mama-hood.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
"But I don't have a car..."
One of the toughest obstacles for a new SAHM to surmount is lack of transportation. Whether your second car is in the shop, the family has only one car, or mama is not allowed to drive for a while after baby comes, the inability to get out and join friends can seem very isolating at a time when you most want to share your experiences. I have a few suggestions for our members without wheels.
The first step is to appoint yourself the Minister of No Transportation for your area. Information is our tool, and you are the best source of that info! Now that the responsibilities of the office are weighing heavily upon you, let's outline a rudimentary course of action.
1. Invite, invite, invite.
Perhaps you are not blessed with a home that serves the purpose of entertaining. That's okay! You know better than anyone what is within walking distance of your home. If there is a local library, coffee shop, or park that is close by, invite others to join you there. You'll get the most response if you announce your plans at least one week in advance- most of our Joy Troupe groups have members who are only too happy to hop in and have fun. Library meeting rooms can be reserved during open times without charge- there are other public spaces like this too. Or arrange a meeting point for a stroller walk or jog, weather permitting.
2. Rail & Bus
You'd be surprised how well developed the public transportation system is in the area. If you've got no wheels, scope out the WMATA and use their trip planner. Once you've plotted a course, send the info to the event coordinator and ask her to add it to the event for the benefit of other car-free folks.
3. Hitchhike.
Okay, not really- but do RSVP "maybe" and say you'd love to come if anyone is going your way. There's no guarantee that you can catch a ride, but it's worth a shot!
4. ZIP Car
Zipcar is a "car sharing" service. For those who only need a car (or a second car) occasionally, this service can save the day. Although there is a fee to join the service, hourly rental rates on weekdays start just above $9/hour for no commitment plans. You can get a lower rate if you know you'll use the car more often by opting for an "extra value plan."
5. Network
New to the area? Put a post on the forum for our local chapter titled "fun things to do in {Neighborhood Name}." But don't just wait for others to post... Go out and walk. Do a little web surfing. Add your best finds to the thread and soon others will want to check out the cool spots you've seen, which brings us back to option 1: Invite, invite, invite...
The first step is to appoint yourself the Minister of No Transportation for your area. Information is our tool, and you are the best source of that info! Now that the responsibilities of the office are weighing heavily upon you, let's outline a rudimentary course of action.
1. Invite, invite, invite.
Perhaps you are not blessed with a home that serves the purpose of entertaining. That's okay! You know better than anyone what is within walking distance of your home. If there is a local library, coffee shop, or park that is close by, invite others to join you there. You'll get the most response if you announce your plans at least one week in advance- most of our Joy Troupe groups have members who are only too happy to hop in and have fun. Library meeting rooms can be reserved during open times without charge- there are other public spaces like this too. Or arrange a meeting point for a stroller walk or jog, weather permitting.
2. Rail & Bus
You'd be surprised how well developed the public transportation system is in the area. If you've got no wheels, scope out the WMATA and use their trip planner. Once you've plotted a course, send the info to the event coordinator and ask her to add it to the event for the benefit of other car-free folks.
3. Hitchhike.
Okay, not really- but do RSVP "maybe" and say you'd love to come if anyone is going your way. There's no guarantee that you can catch a ride, but it's worth a shot!
4. ZIP Car
Zipcar is a "car sharing" service. For those who only need a car (or a second car) occasionally, this service can save the day. Although there is a fee to join the service, hourly rental rates on weekdays start just above $9/hour for no commitment plans. You can get a lower rate if you know you'll use the car more often by opting for an "extra value plan."
5. Network
New to the area? Put a post on the forum for our local chapter titled "fun things to do in {Neighborhood Name}." But don't just wait for others to post... Go out and walk. Do a little web surfing. Add your best finds to the thread and soon others will want to check out the cool spots you've seen, which brings us back to option 1: Invite, invite, invite...
Joy Troupe Saves!
You already know that the Joy Troupe is FUN for you and your little ones.
What you may not realize is that being part of our community of families can help you fatten your savings account! Everyone wants a good nest egg in uncertain economic times. Check out all the ways our members are using our group to save, save, save! Got your own ways you're using our community to save money? Be sure to add them in our "comments" section.
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Thursday, February 5, 2009
Promoting your Business to the Joy Troupe
So, you are just starting out on your own in a business that appeals to families or women and you'd like to reach the Joy Troupe members to start promoting your product or services. We'd love to get in on the ground floor of your business! My best suggestions for good results, based on my experience and feedback from previous photography events, would be as follows:
1. Set aside some time to do some (say, three, depending on your location) Joy Troupe events. If there will be any waiting, combine them with a social activity, so the families will be having fun even while they are waiting for you. (We have lots of playdate and Mom Time ideas that would work for this- just talk to one of our organizers for help.)
2. It's tempting if you are just getting started to give away your time in an effort to promote your business. However, if you have a familiar product or service, people are more likely to take you seriously if you do charge something for your time, however modest. (If people have probably not tried your service before, by all means offer a free trial to make it more approachable.)
For us to post a group event which has a fee, we do require that you give a portion of the money back to the group, but on the whole, it's a win-win. A 20% commission is typical for our fundraisers. Choose a price that's within most families budgets, and you'll find that people love a bargain. I'm the last to complain about anything that's free! But this is your time away from your kid/home/dog/other job, whatever- you should walk away with something in your pocket.
3. Set up your website, even if it is very simple and only has pictures of your own child, so we can link to it when we promote these events. Establishing your web presence now will pay off down the road. (Check out the Joy Troupe package. You can download free templates and design software, too.)
4. Once you create your introductory offer, offer a coupon toward future services to all members, whether they participate or not. We normally do an after-event email with pictures, etc- be sure to ask the photographer if you can use some of the nicest ones on your site! Once folks see others having fun at your events, they will be interested, and a coupon will help "close the deal."
5. Once we post the events, let us offer one or two free spots in the events as prizes. We'll tie them in with something else we are promoting to build awareness and excitement for your events.
6. Last but not least, if you are charging for your event, require each RSVP to pay a non-refundable deposit up front to hold their spot. This will cut down on no-shows. I suggest 50%.
The suggestions I've outlined above would offer value to both you and the JT members, and help you take the next step toward starting your own business. For further reading and more ideas, I highly reccommend the books by Jeff Gitomer for anyone who is considering self-employment- they are easy and fun to read, and very insightful about marketing and sales.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Rock & Roll Baby Dance Floor Details (DJ/MC volunteer needed)
To expand a bit upon our general call for volunteers:
We will have a dance floor at the Rock & Roll Baby event. We need volunteers to keep the dance floor Rockin'! We will, of course, take advantage of the miracle of recorded music to help make this happen, but we would also love to open up opportunities for a few of our many, talented area children's music professionals to "book" a part of the dance floor time. Music Together has already requested that we feature some kids' favorites from their excellent program, and we are looking forward to sharing these tunes with the children!
As always, for more information please visit the Rock & Roll Baby Website.
We are happy to turn the floor over to anyone with the appropriate background for some part of our event time. As with all our other sponsors, if you volunteer to provide interactive, musical entertainment to our RRB attendees, you will be eligible for free and discounted tickets to this event, and you will be mentioned in all our promotional materials and be permitted to distribute your information at the event. Please let us know if you are interested in a block of time (like a "set") or in shorter, 5-10 minute segments periodically during the event. Be sure to add a link to your performance calendar in the "we need your links" thread in our RRB Sponsors group so we can link to you from our main site!
Our volunteer DJ/MC(s) will help keep the program moving. We'd be happy to see one volunteer for the entire event, or we can split the time among two or three volunteers.
We look forward to working with you all to create a Rockin' good time for area kiddos and their parents, raise some money for a great cause, and spread the word about great ways for area families to shop local and enrich their kids lives.
We reserve the right to decline any generous offer, with thanks, for time reasons or if we feel it's not a good fit for our event.
As always, for more information please visit the Rock & Roll Baby Website.
We are happy to turn the floor over to anyone with the appropriate background for some part of our event time. As with all our other sponsors, if you volunteer to provide interactive, musical entertainment to our RRB attendees, you will be eligible for free and discounted tickets to this event, and you will be mentioned in all our promotional materials and be permitted to distribute your information at the event. Please let us know if you are interested in a block of time (like a "set") or in shorter, 5-10 minute segments periodically during the event. Be sure to add a link to your performance calendar in the "we need your links" thread in our RRB Sponsors group so we can link to you from our main site!
Our volunteer DJ/MC(s) will help keep the program moving. We'd be happy to see one volunteer for the entire event, or we can split the time among two or three volunteers.
We look forward to working with you all to create a Rockin' good time for area kiddos and their parents, raise some money for a great cause, and spread the word about great ways for area families to shop local and enrich their kids lives.
We reserve the right to decline any generous offer, with thanks, for time reasons or if we feel it's not a good fit for our event.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Baby Dance Party Event in February
Please feel free to forward this post to other area groups and any contacts
you think might be interested.
The Joy Troupe is partnering with the MVUC to create a fun baby dance party
event (Rock and Roll Baby!) in February. We will get to boogie away the winter
Blahs in a safe, clean environment, share a love of music with our kids, and
have fun with other parents and kids, too!
There's one teeny, tiny catch: We need volunteers and sponsors to make
this event happen!
We plan to create a fully-featured event that allows some of our area
family-friendly businesses to promote themselves by sponsoring activities at
this event. If you (or someone you know) would like to be a part of this event,
please have them contact me to work out the details. Our primary target is
families with children ages 0-5, but we hope to attract families with older sibs
up to age 7, too.
So far we have lined up sponsors for:
Other, similar events have had sponsors provide:
We're open to ideas, so if you have a child-focused business and an
activity you'd like to sponsor, please speak up! We'll also need
volunteers for setup, cleanup, ticket taking, etc. Volunteers and sponsors will
be eligible for discounted tickets, and sponsors will be mentioned in our PR
materials.
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please visit http://www.rockandroll.joytroupe.com for more information.
Learn more about the MVUC.
www.joytroupe.com
Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the MVUC Natural Playground Project.
you think might be interested.
The Joy Troupe is partnering with the MVUC to create a fun baby dance party
event (Rock and Roll Baby!) in February. We will get to boogie away the winter
Blahs in a safe, clean environment, share a love of music with our kids, and
have fun with other parents and kids, too!
There's one teeny, tiny catch: We need volunteers and sponsors to make
this event happen!
We plan to create a fully-featured event that allows some of our area
family-friendly businesses to promote themselves by sponsoring activities at
this event. If you (or someone you know) would like to be a part of this event,
please have them contact me to work out the details. Our primary target is
families with children ages 0-5, but we hope to attract families with older sibs
up to age 7, too.
So far we have lined up sponsors for:
- Story Reading (Usborne Books)
- Muscal Play Area (Music Together)
Other, similar events have had sponsors provide:
- Bounce House (might not work since it's February)
- On site photography (a photographer could take pix during the event, upload
- them, and have a digital viewing station in the lobby where they could take
- orders)
- DJ*
- Bubble machine*
- Food & Beverages- some combination of "included" and "for sale"*
- "Discovery" educational learning area sponsored by a toy company
We're open to ideas, so if you have a child-focused business and an
activity you'd like to sponsor, please speak up! We'll also need
volunteers for setup, cleanup, ticket taking, etc. Volunteers and sponsors will
be eligible for discounted tickets, and sponsors will be mentioned in our PR
materials.
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please visit http://www.rockandroll.joytroupe.com for more information.
Learn more about the MVUC.
www.joytroupe.com
Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the MVUC Natural Playground Project.
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