Advertising Your Planetarium

Posted by: mrgare5050 Dec 18 2014, 04:53 AM

Well maybe its like money - once you have SOME money, you use that to make MORE money... once you have SOME people, you can leverage them for MORE. I know a couple I've had out here have said they looked me up on the web, because they'd vaguely heard of me. I sortof like that romantic aspect of it - the 'stumble upon' concept, where some random person comes your way out of the vast sea. I dont think I ever want volume - I dont know what I want exactly. But I do want a website, perhaps more as another creative outlet, which this seems to be more for me than a public venue. I havent seen any of your emails lately, are they still coming? i think my filters may be whacked ...

yes, planetarium, in all its glorious 5 syllables, needs to be in the title.

Posted by: moonmagic Dec 23 2014, 06:38 PM
Gare and Ron.

Ron- your email announcements are reaching all the way to the "moon." Even though I know I can't attend, I still like getting them, so please keep me on the list!

Gare- Thanks for the Christmas Card greeting. They are becoming a rare thing these days. I only got 5 cards this year, so far. Odd, huh? That is just 5 more than I sent out to others???

Since I am never afraid to add my .02 worth...(do you hear the stress sounds of the diving board yet?)

As far as web-site vs. email...I think I would be tempted to DO BOTH. Does not one feed the other nicely?

Include reference to your website (what-ever you decide to call it)with every email. (If you include as many terms and words within the text of your website you are bound to have your site get hits under many searched topics and categories, certainly including "planetarium").

Keep emails short and to the point and elaborate to the max on the website. As you contemplate this "hobby vs. public" aspect you may eventually need to revisit the issue of firming up infrastructure to accommodate shows during all types of weather conditions (hot, cold, wet). It is hard (for you OR the "public") to schedule far in advance if the basics of weather can cause you to potentially need to cancel previously-reserved shows dates and times.

As cost is ALWAYS a limiting factor in everything we do, it may well become the deciding factor of the hobby vs. public dilemma. Yet, there is always a compromise by limiting the public shows to only certain months of the year, which leans to being more hobby-like. In that way you can more or less eliminate the cold vs. hot issue, with only rain becoming the single limiting unknown variable.

IMHO.....In order to offer something (even something for free) to the public you must be reasonably confident that it is available, accessible, and dependable on a regular basis. Even if it becomes more "public" keep everything on a "donation" basis to avoid the pitfalls of increasing ones liability beyond anything normally covered by typical home-owners insurance. On your website and emails you may always want to note that there are no "public" restroom facilities "on site." (Also don't laugh on this one, but you could also consider constructing an old-fashioned "out-house" for "emergencies." I seem to recall it is a country setting after all. While I note that you have stated this has not become an issue in the past with the shows you have hosted, none the less, it will become an issue at some point). In this way you avoid having people going through your house AND it allows you to potentially host shows as a "one man band" without needing additional help from family or friends.

The reality is that for "friends and family" we can get by without a whole lot of extras, but once you cross into becoming more "public" and less "hobbyist" then you force yourself into a more expensive and time consuming endeavor.

I too STILL feel hampered by similar circumstance. I know what I want and need to do, but still can't justify the cost, or either I am just too darned scared of the potential economic hardships ignoring more pragmatic thought might lead to. Either way, as 2014 draws to a close, I continue to feel almost paralyzed over the issues here. That's about 7 years now spent vacillating on how best to finance building a space to hold the "collections." (aka "my toys")

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. mm

I really should warn people about the "Star Barn" is really a barn in that it is not heated. Things are usually not so bad as my first show isn't until 1 pm usually. If I have a 60 + degree day, I can just open both doors for an hour or so and the inside cold air will be replaced with the warmer outside air. The Sun will also pour into the southern door and help with the warming. But like the shows I'm giving next Saturday, the high is only crawling up to the mid 50's. That is kind of chilly. The problem with heating a dome is that all of the warm air goes to the top of the dome. I guess I must do something if I plan to continue these winter shows. February is yet to come.

A bathroom is another thing. I really haven't had much call until this month (perhaps the cold takes its toll on one) during which five people have requested the use. Perhaps an outhouse would work but it would be cold in there as well. These are both something I must look into.

I really want to get through the first year before any more large expenditures to see if the interest remains, then I will think about expanded facilities.

The slogan, "Just Do It" comes to mind and that is all the advice I can give you. I had a very hard time getting started but I knew I wanted it and with support from my family I did it. If I had waited till now, I'm not sure I could have dome it again. Only you know how much you want something. This project will indeed keep me motivated till the end of my days, so it was so worth it for me. JUST DO IT!!!

Merry Christmas to you all and don't eat too much.

Posted by: Ron Walker Dec 26 2014, 11:04 AM
QUOTE(mrgare5050 @ Dec 25 2014, 05:54 PM) *
Ive got the flu so all Im eating too much of are pills!

Ive actually considered handing out blankets to people in the winter! Also may shorter shows in the winter might be good, or canned ones.

Sorry about the flu. Had that last year and it is no fun.

Actually at the last show Julie brought out some blankets for people and I think they were appreciated. Tomorrows shows will be more interesting as a high of 53 after a low of 32 if forecast. The last thing I want is frost on the star ball so I must check it in the early morning. If there is, then I will need to leave a bulb burning under the machine to prevent any further occurrence.

The radiation of heat is great during the warmer months but not so great during the winter. I would think that with the slab floor in contact with the ground the heat transfer from the Earth would tend to hold the air temperature above freezing but who knows. I did add a broadcast temperature gauge to the dome so I can check the inside temperature and humidity from the warm confines of the house so checking it for temperature should not be a problem. I need to look up information on when moisture actually condenses on an object and thus becomes harmful.

I actually think I will experiment today with an electric oil heater as it works without any visible light. It's the kind that looks like a small radiator. I will then place a slow speed fan behind it and see if it will take the chill off of the room.

Posted by: Ron Walker Dec 26 2014, 05:55 PM
QUOTE(mrgare5050 @ Dec 26 2014, 03:57 PM) *
actually though, bodies in there alone will probably raise the temp 20 degrees dont you think?

im taking a stab at some new marketing this weekend, will post here if i get something

That so depends on how many bodies show up for any given show. As long as the temperature is at least 62 then I am happy, and since I'm bordering on cold blooded, if I can survive then anyone can survive. I have one of those electric heaters that look like a radiator and do a good job without giving off any light. I did some experimenting this afternoon and it helped considerably especially with a small fan blowing through. Since I have two air conditioners I thought it would be a good balance to have two heaters. So I took some of the donation money and got another similar unit. They plug into the same supply as the air conditioners (each one is on a separate circuit) as they will never be on at the same time.

I also picked up a thermometer with a memory for lowest and highest temperature. That way I can see if the inside does get down to freezing or below. Since I have two shows tomorrow and the high was only going to be in the low 50's like today, I felt that I needed to do something to make it at least somewhat comfortable for people. I don't want anyone saying that they froze to death and will never come again.

I had a private show set up for 4 pm for some time on the 27th. and decided that a run through is always worth the trouble so I added a 1:30. Just added last Monday, I now have 13 people signed up and eight are new by word of mouth. The remaining five have been to shows before and one was here just last week but so liked the show he wanted to see it again.

One of the new people sent this,"Fabulous, If available, I need 4 tickets. How much are they and yes, I will need directions.

Thank you for this great opportunity. A friend saw it last weekend and raved about it."

I returned a note saying that the show is free but there is a donation jar if anyone is so inclined.

This will probably the last show for the year and the last one on the Christmas Star. It will be interesting to see how the totals come out.

Love to hear about any marketing attempt. If it works or not it is all helpful.

Posted by: Ron Walker Dec 28 2014, 10:42 AM
QUOTE(mrgare5050 @ Dec 27 2014, 04:20 PM) *
hope the shows go well!
well, Ive created a 2 cent free website advertiser, check it out

mrgare5050.wix.com/gallatinplanetarium

You can add your location here: find.mapmuse.com/directory/planetarium/tn

You might want to change the connection here: www.superdirectories.com/search.asp?Search=planetarium&Format=All&Filter=Websites&Branch_ID=1651546

It's a start but how do you get people to find it?

Looks good by the way, but I think the pictures change much to quickly.