Your 2013 Calendar

My first question for this morning: DO YOU HAVE A 2013 CALENDAR YET?

My second: IF NOT - WHY NOT?

I personally use 18 month calendars (I do not like online, computer or phone apps. I want to see the months laid out so I can plan) and buy them in the summer so I can begin to plan for the next year early.  I often schedule a year in advance, so I do need the calendar for next year for that reason.

The other reason is that we need to be blocking your calendar and planning your marketing ahead of time.  If you haven't started yet... GET ONE AND START NOW!!!

What do I mean by that?  Take a look at your calendar, at holidays and seasons and begin to think of programming for those dates and seasons.  October is a good example.  Many storytellers have a full calendar of scary stories, right?  Well, maybe weekends, but what about weekdays?  Are there opportunities you might be missing?  I try to actually promote scary stories for a 6 week period from September 15th through all of October.

How about stories of love and romance for February, Celtic/Irish stories for March or patriotic stories for June/July and Veteran's Day?  

Summer Reading Program is June and July mostly.  However, many libraries book programs in the fall for the next year!  Yep, I am already booking for June and July for Summer Reading Programs

In my particular case I block November 15th through Christmas Eve for Storytelling Santa (and I also know I need to start bleaching my mustache no later than November 1st so I will be ready for gigs by November 15th)

So you do see that your calendar is one of your most important marketing tools?  By looking at a few dates, holidays and seasons with me you have already started your marketing plan for 2013!

Now finish up with your calendar and get busy!