Paperfest’s 6th Annual Tour de Fest bike tour is just around the corner. Have you signed up? If biking 18 – 100 miles, beginning at Kimberly, Wisconsin’s Sunset Beach is your idea of an awesome work out, then this tour is for you. There are four different routes to choose from: 18,40,70 or 100 miles. And when you’re done, you and your family can enjoy the Paperfest Festival at Sunset Park. There will even be a shuttle to take you to showers when you’re finished, so there’s no need to be self conscious about relaxing with them when you get back.

IF you get back …

No worries! Rest stops will be available along the way, offering food, drink and restrooms. If you do experience any mechanical or physical trouble, SAG wagons will be patrolling nearby to rescue you safely out of harm’s way.

Early registration has begun, and lasts until July 4. Race participation costs increase by $5.00 if you delay sign up till then.

So, why are we biking?

Proceeds from Tour de Fest pledges, jersey and t-shirt sales benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and improving the quality of life of patients and their families.

Zero To Sixty Marketing LLC is the official Web site sponsor for Paperfest’s Tour de Fest annual bike tour, and would like to encourage your participation. Rain or shine, this event is a can’t miss for avid bike riders across the region – sign up today!

Tour de Fest Sign-up

I love my job! I was commissioned to create 11 large-scale illustrations featuring Winged Monkeys for the Performing Arts Center’s “Wonderfully Wicked” Gala on Feb. 6, 2009. The Wizard of Oz-themed musical “Wicked” ran in Appleton, Wisconsin through Feb. 28th. Steve Quinn, the Tour’s Company Manager, actually asked to meet the Artist, and later offered this generous endorsement:

“Scott – After three years on the road of attending Wicked themed parties across the country, nothing quite caught my eye like your flying monkey pieces did at the Appleton gala of Wicked.  The images captured a nice playfulness about our show, and immediately struck my eye as being reminiscent of some of the characters Maurice Sendak created in “Where the Wild Things Are.”  Our entire company loved them!  Keep up the good work!” – Steve Quinn, Company Manager, Wicked Tour

While the displays were only up for the single-evening event, much like the Lion statues from 2007′s Lion King events, the Monkeys are being “adopted” by businesses and institutions around Appleton. Most of the pieces are 8 feet wide or larger, created at “normal” size (18-inches wide) and printed to canvas banners at Exhibit Resource of De Pere.

It was a privilege and a great opportunity to be included in the project along with some of the best artists in the area.

- Scott Alberts

This post was originally published on Scott Albert’s Freelance Artist blog with a follow-up post “Wicked” continued: The Two Glindas

Throughout the year, I receive requests from groups and organizations seeking product donations and sponsorships for events. These events are primarily related to the hobby industry, more specifically to scale modeling. I support as many events as possible, but there are times I simply toss the request in the trash because the request was written by a boob.

Some authors come across as simply begging. Others don’t know the name of their own organization or how to spell it properly. A word of advice: If you’re running a first-class event, take the time and effort to send out first-class marketing materials, even if all you’re sending is simply a well-worded letter.

I produce quality products, therefore I want them represented in like fashion. Any event that has a well-documented history, is represented by a reputable organization or promises to promote my products will get consideration of my support. If the request for support is of poor quality, what does that say about the event itself? If you are going to invest the time and effort … Do It Right! Don’t send out materials that won’t paint you in the best light. Have several sets of eyes review the materials for flaws…especially the spelling of your organization’s name!

Many an event has failed to launch because of amateur promotional materials. Even when operating on a budget of nothing but good will, those willing to spend the time to do the work can do a first class job. If they aren’t willing or able, then find those who will and can.

Bottom line: if your event marketing materials are of poor quality, the perception conveyed is that your event is not worth supporting. After all, your potential sponsor is also looking for something in return…brand awareness and new customers.

It is a cold and blustery Saturday morning, so it is a good time to catch up on some of the things I’ve been meaning to get done. One such item is catching up on reading through a few of the trade publications that came in this week’s mail.

As I was thumbing through one particular publication something familiar struck me. On a recent trip to somewhere we needed to go, my wife and partner commented about a billboard advertisement. It created a little conversation about how much has changed in the past few weeks, but after looking through a few trade publications and magazines it suddenly sparked an important thought.

Is it Time-Sensitive?

Many messages we wish to convey to our customers are time-sensitive. Our business environment is always changing and lately it changes with each blink of an eye. Let’s look at the one that sparked this particular post…gasoline prices.

Current Events are … Current!

The billboard and the ads in the magazines were centered on gasoline prices being at all time highs. In a print media there is a lead time between when the ad is conceived and when it is presented to the consumer. The same thing goes for billboards.

Factor In Lag Time For Print Media

In this particular case, both are touting the high price of gasoline. Although this was a major concern just a few weeks ago, in the blink of an eye prices are nearing record lows by comparison. Gas was over four dollars a gallon; now it is just under two dollars (in Neenah, Wisconsin) so the message has lost a great portion of its intended impact. Sure, it serves as a reminder of what the prices were, but for the most part consumers live in the present. If the message wasn’t written to be a reminder, it too will lose its impact towards the market it was intended to reach.

Timing is everything. Remember that print media of any kind has a lag factor associated with it. Broadcast media is nearly instant. New media (Twitter, Facebook, all forms of social media) message can be updated with just a few keystrokes or even by cell phone. Make sure you consider the timeliness of your message before selecting your media venue.