April

April Fool’s Day, Administratative Professional Week, Income Tax Day and more! Lots of ideas to generate revenue, engage with digital, and have fun on the air!

 

April is…

Alcohol Awareness Month • Couple Appreciation Month • Defeat Diabetes Month • Distracted Driving Awareness Month • Grange Month • Informed Woman Month • International Customer Loyalty Month • International Twit Award Month • Jazz Appreciation Month • Mathematics Awareness Month • National African-American Women’s Fitness Month • National Autism Awareness Month • National Cancer Control Month • National Card And Letter Writing Month (April 1-May 8) • National Child Abuse Prevention Month • National Decorating Month • National Donate Life Month • National Humor Month • National Knuckles Down Month • National Occupational Therapy Month • National Pecan Month • National Pest Management Month • National Poetry Month • National Rebuilding Month • National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month •National STD Education and Awareness Month •National Soyfoods Month • National Youth Sports Safety Month • Pet First Aid Awareness Month • Pharmacists’ War on Diabetes • Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month • Rosacea Awareness Month • School Library Month • Straw Hat Month • Stress Awareness Month • Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month • Workplace Conflict Awareness Month

 

 

 

Month-Specific Events…

 

ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

Sell series of alcohol awareness PSAs to a beer distributor. Sell a schedule to a doctors’ group or detox clinic. Talk to a state trooper/local police officer about alcohol and driving. Arrange for free taxi rides home from clubs for the month. Sell schedule to alcohol-free, family fun-type business promoting having a good time without alcohol. www.ncadd.org

 

COUPLE APPRECIATION MONTH

To show each other how much they are needed, loved, appreciated. Sell multiple clients a registration box promotion for a couple’s getaway weekend. Or hold weekend where listeners call/register to win getaway each time male-female duet plays. Alternate prizes: dinner for two at nice restaurant, two movie tickets, his and her merchandise, etc. Or have “two for the road” weekend where listeners call when they hear a “couple” of songs in a row from the same artist. Or play “famous couple trivia” where talent gives clues and listeners identify the couple; this would work great as a month-long remote or register to win event. Give prizes for couples together the longest, best story of how they met, etc.

 

DEFEAT DIABETES MONTH

A month focused on preventing diabetes and its complications. www.defeatdiabetes.org

 

DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH

Informing people on the dangers of cell phone use while driving and furthering understanding of cognitive distraction to the brain. Morning show talks to local cop about accidents where cell phones may have been a factor. www.nsc.org/DDmonth

 

GRANGE MONTH

State and local recognition for Grange’s contribution to rural/urban America. The National Grange is the oldest US rural community-service, family-oriented organization with a special interest in agriculture. www.NationalGrange.org

 

INFORMED WOMAN MONTH

Encourages women to enjoy life today while planning for the future. 630-584-9368. Sell a women’s day spa on sponsoring a guest lecturer on this subject for a lunchtime (or daylong) event. Or sell a bookstore on the idea of a lecture plus discounts on these types of subjects.

 

INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMER LOYALTY MONTH

Even though building customer loyalty is a year-round event, this month is designed for encouraging business to strategize on how they can improve customer relationships though better service. www.customerloyaltymonth.com.  Help a merchant develop a loyalty campaign with some of your ideas.

 

INTERNATIONAL TWIT AWARD MONTH

Famous people with the worst sense of humor are nominated for “Tiresome Wit (TWIT) of 2009.” Morning show solicits nominations. Info: members.aol.com/lspubs/lsindex.html

 

JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH

Highlighting the glories of Jazz as both a historical and a living treasure. www.SmithsonianJazz.org Have a local musician play jazz rendition of big country hits and let listeners try to identify them. Or, if you have access to artists, have them “scat” a few bars and let listeners guess who they are.

 

MATHEMATICS AWARENESS MONTH

Increasing public understanding of and appreciation for mathematics. www.mathaware.org/mam

 

NATIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN’S FITNESS MONTH

National event designed to encourage health awareness through physical activity for African-American women. The event will increase awareness of the health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle and promote the benefits of an active lifestyle. Interview a local doctor or fitness expert on how these ideas can benefit everybody. Sell a sponsorship or schedule to a health club. www.SheilaMadison.com

 

NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

A month designed to create special opportunity for people to educate themselves and others about autism. www.autism-society.org

 

NATIONAL CANCER CONTROL MONTH

Post an information page on your web site along with a link to the American Cancer Society that sponsor this month. www.Cancer.org

 

NATIONAL CARD AND LETTER WRITING MONTH (APRIL 1-MAY 8)

An annual effort to promote literacy and celebrate the art of letter writing.  Sell a schedule to a stationery store.

 

NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Morning show interview opportunity with counselors, survivors. www.PreventChildAbuse.com

 

NATIONAL DECORATING MONTH

Dedicated to learning more about the many aspects of home décor, while promoting the fun and creativity of DIY. Give away Home Depot, Lowe’s, or local hardware store gift certificates all month long. Have local “handyman” on air to give fix-it tips.

 

NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH

The purpose is to encourage Americans to consider organ and tissue donation and to sign donor cards when getting a driver’s license. www.OrganDonor.gov Good public affairs topic.

 

NATIONAL HUMOR MONTH

Focuses on the joy and therapeutic value of laughter and how it can reduce stress, improve job performance and enrich the quality of life. Listeners email favorite jokes to be posted on your website; ones getting most votes earn winners passes to comedy clubs. Listeners submit their favorites in various categories: TV sitcom, TV variety show, movie, book, etc. Post leaders in all categories; randomly award DVD gift certificates to those who make submissions. Sell sponsorship of the page to a video retailer that offers discounts on comedies all month. Or have a comedy club sponsor a “Have Fun Weekend” where listeners call to win tickets to a performance. www.humormonth.com

 

NATIONAL KNUCKLES DOWN MONTH

Celebrates old American tradition of playing and collecting marbles. Talk to a marble shooting expert on the air. Host a demonstration at a toy store or mall remote. Convert “Tabloid Truth or Trash” into “Did They Lose Their Marbles?” and play for a bag of marbles and gift certificate from a toy store. www.TheMarbleLady.com

 

NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH

To recognize the services and accomplishments of profession and promote benefits. Sell an informative schedule to convalescence home or other where these services are offered. www.AOTA.org

 

NATIONAL PECAN MONTH

A celebration of the great taste, versatility, and health benefits of pecans. Sell a bakery on discounting pecan buns (pies, etc.) all month, highlighting a different treat each week. Have grocer print pecan recipes for distribution at their store and on your website. Have chef or baker appear on the morning show with pecan recipes and ideas that you can post on a sponsored page of your website. Offer product sampling at every remote this month. www.ILovePecans.org

 

NATIONAL PEST MANAGEMENT MONTH

Recognizing the professional pest management industry for its role in protecting public health and property. Sell exterminator on informative series of spots about the most common pest problems and how to solve them. www.pestworld.org

 

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

To pay tribute to legacy and ongoing achievements of American poets. Sell a bookstore on discounting all works by American poets. Team with a business that would benefit from co-sponsoring a poetry writing contest for kids and display works at a mall. Host a poetry reading event at a coffee shop or a host a one-day workshop at a community college. Read and post award winning “cowboy poetry” on your website and register listeners to win a trip west for the next cowboy poetry convention. www.Poets.org

 

NATIONAL REBUILDING MONTH

Hundreds of thousands of volunteers come together this month to rehabilitate the homes of low-income, elderly or disabled people and nonprofit facilities. Sell a home improvement store on sponsoring some goodwill/awareness ads for this all month. www.rebuildingtogether.org

 

NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH

Every two and a half minutes somewhere in America another person is sexually assaulted. During this month, efforts are focused on raising awareness of sexual assault. www.RAINN.org Do a Charity of the Month? A local rape crisis center may be a logical choice this month.

 

NATIONAL SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS) EDUCATION AND AWARENESS MONTH

To educate consumers, patients, students and professionals about the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. www.PPSInc.org

 

NATIONAL SOYFOODS MONTH

To provide info on and encourage use of soy products. www.SoyFoods.org Talk to chefs about recipes for soy products and post them on your website. Hold a remote and product tasting at green grocer, vegetarian restaurant, etc.

 

NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS SAFETY MONTH

Spearhead drive for athletic equipment donations to PALs, camps for underprivileged kids, local communities. Sell co-sponsorships to sporting goods dealers, athletic shoe stores, sponsors of Little League teams, etc. Talk to youth athletic trainer/sports medicine MD about how best to avoid injuries. Offer sponsored one-sheets with tips. www.NYSSF.org

 

PET FIRST AID AWARENESS MONTH

Sell a schedule to a vet who delivers a series of tips on pet first aid while promoting his/her practice. Sell a pet store on having a vet appear at their store for several hours to answer pet health questions and demonstrate pet CPR and basic first aid. www.PetTech.net

 

PHARMACISTS’ WAR ON DIABETES

Educate consumers, patients and health care professionals about prevention of diabetes, especially focusing on screening. www.PPSInc.org Sell schedule to local pharmacies. Team up for station-sponsored diabetes screenings.

 

PREVENTION OF ANIMAL CRUELTY MONTH

Produce series of pet safety tips and sell them to a pet store or vet. Co-sponsor pet adoption drive. Vet offers tips on caring for pets in warm weather. Host a free session with vet at a mall, pet shop. Co-sponsor dog wash to benefit local ASPCA or pound. Host adopt-a-pet at your area pound or a pet store. Post info/organizations on your web site. Also consider “Go Orange for Animals” on April 10, the ASPCA’s birthday. www.ASPCA.org

 

ROSACEA AWARENESS MONTH

To increase awareness and understanding of this increasingly common facial skin condition. www.Rosacea.org

 

SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH

Celebrates the work of school library specialists in our nation’s elementary and secondary schools. www.ala.org Get parents to nominate “Librarian of the Month” from their kids’ schools. Selected winner gets station premiums and gifts from local sponsors.

 

STRAW HAT MONTH

Celebrates the month where felt hats are put away in favor of straw or fabric hats. Sell a promotion to a western wear store, hat retailer, etc, where listeners can trade-in their old felt hats and receive a discount on a new straw hat. Hold a contest for a George Strait-style straw hat.

 

STRESS AWARENESS MONTH

Promotes public awareness of what stress is, what causes it and what can be done about it. www.StressCure.com Talk to psychologist about the subject; have them reveal tips for stress control and post them on your website. Team with a resort for a “stress relief getaway weekend” contest.

 

WOMEN’S EYE HEALTH AND SAFETY MONTH

Sell a promotion to an eye care specialist offering free glaucoma screening for women. Collect used/no longer needed glasses to distribute to needy women. www.PreventBlindness.org

 

WORKPLACE CONFLICT AWARENESS MONTH

At today’s harried pace, workplace conflict is increasing. Many of us try to avoid this conflict, but instead take it home with us. www.ChacoCanyon.com Interview local counselor/mediator about workplace conflict and how to work through it.

 

APRIL FOOLS’ DAY (APRIL 1)

 

A&O&B’s April Fools’ Editorial: Nobody likes to look or feel foolish. The best April Fools’ stunts are the ones we play on ourselves or ones where listeners can have fun without risk. A prank that violates listeners’ trust or good will is never a good idea.

 

 

 

APRIL PHOTO-FOOLS DAY

Listeners are encouraged to post/Instagram “photographic proof” of something absurd and clearly photo-shopped (Martian entering local donut shop). Award prizes if you like. Also if you have someone who excels at Photoshop, post something like the above and make it a caption contest. (April Fool’s 2016)

 

TRUTH RULES OR APRIL FOOLS?

Have fun with listeners on air determining whether something people saw was real or a staged April Fools’ prank. Here’s a useful resource for pranks people believed to be real: http://hoaxes.org/aprilfool  (April Fool’s 2016)

 

APRIL FOOD DAY

Listeners are encouraged to give a treat rather than a trick (plate rather than a prank) to help the area needy. Use the day as an opportunity to do a food drive because ‘hunger is no joking matter.’ (April Fool’s 2015)

APRIL FOODIES DAY

Sell a one-day promotion to a casual restaurant, sub shop, pizza place, etc. who agrees to give away a time-appropriate meal for two each hour when the April Foodies sounder plays. (April Fool’s 2015)

APRIL FOOLS (AND THEY’RE FOOLS THE 11 OTHER MONTHS, TOO)

Sell a video retailer/big box or discount store on giving away a classic screwball comedy each hour. Trigger: ‘foolish facts’ about the movies’ stars.

 

APRIL FUELS’ DAY

Not a gag – a promotion. Give away your station’s frequency worth of gas (97 dollars, etc).

 

WE WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN

As a “public service” to keep other listeners from getting fooled, Morning Show has listeners sharing their favorite April Fools’ Pranks.

 

FOOL FOR YOU

Lift the word “fool” from as many songs as possible and make a montage. Each time the montage plays, listeners win free movie passes, movie rentals, etc. good only during the month of April.

 

LISTENERS GET EVEN

Set up dunk tank in your parking lot (or in a public area at noon) and let listeners dunk the morning show to get even for all the gags they’ve pulled all year. Proceeds to charity.

 

 

FOOL’S GOLD

Sell this to a jewelry store. Listeners stop by the store and select from hundreds of vials containing what looks like gold dust and is either Fools Gold or the real thing. They win an ounce of whichever they select.

 

APRIL FOOL OR THE REAL THING?

Version of “Truth or Tabloid” where headlines are read and listeners decide if it the real thing or an April Fools’ gag.

 

INSIDE GAG

Member of the morning crew plays a good-natured April Fools’ prank on another member of the team, letting the audience “in” on it while the other partner is “out of the room.”

 

 

 

Taxing Ideas (Good anytime through Tax Day)

 

TAX HACKS

Sell a series of informative commercials to a tax advisor. Give him a page on your website where he can answer some common questions and post his contact information. (April 2017)

CELEBRITY TAX GAME

Use a CPA’s tax table to figure out the amount of Federal Income Tax some of the highest earnings celebrities would pay. Also a fun multiple choice game on social or digital. (Income Tax 2016)

TAX CHAT

Station sells sponsored online chats where a tax expert answers questions. Also would make an interesting Periscope or YouTube series if shorter on air spots directing listeners to the online address. (Income Tax 2016) 

TAX EXEMPTION

Sell this month-long idea to a business where the business discounts the bill by the amount of the tax. (Income Tax 2015)

5 WAYS TO SAVE ON TAXES

Best as a morning show bit. Guest EXPERT reveals 5-most overlooked deductions, then answers chat questions off air. Sell to tax prep service (make sure whoever is going to be on the morning s show is a good speaker). (Income Tax 2015)

NEW TAX LOOPHOLES

Morning show bit on tax loopholes that don’t exist but ought to (ex: Grocery Store Loophole – If you’re in the 10 item lane and the person in front of you has 11 items, you shouldn’t have to pay any tax on your purchase).

 

TAX POLLS

Fun with listeners: strangest deduction they or someone they know tried to claim; things that aren’t tax deductible but should be; if you were getting a $1000 tax refund, what would you use if for; funny ways the government could save money.

 

TAX BRAKE

Sell to an auto brake specialist or auto repair business where they agree to pay the sales tax for any repair in April.

 

TAX-FREE MUSIC  

Give away free downloads of music all day on the 15th.

 

TAX TAXI

Sell a cab or limo service on giving free rides to the post office on April 15.

 

DON’T PAY YOUR TAXES

Sell a schedule to a business that will pay the sales tax for the day, week or month on any purchase.

 

UNWIND AFTER A TAXING DAY

Sell a bar/club on an all-day happy hour to celebrate your refund or bemoan your tax bill.

 

TAX BREAK

Sell to a tax preparer. Station pays 10% of a grand prize winner’s taxes or increased their refund by 10%. Set a max of say $1000.

TAX AND WAX

Sell to tax preparer, tanning/waxing salon, and car wash.  At the designated sounder, listeners qualify to win free tax prep and $1000 plus either a coupon for a tan/wax or car wax.

 

WXXX STRESS-RELIEF SQUAD

Bring tax experts and a massage team to a sponsor’s location and offer free tax advice and stress-relieving massages all day long.

 

GET A JUMP ON NEXT YEAR

It may be too late to squeeze in that last-minute charitable donation this year, but it’s a great time to make a donation to a worthy cause for next year’s taxes. Hold the event at a sponsor’s location and award prizes for anyone making a contribution.

 

H&R BLOCK PARTY WEEKEND

Host a night at a club or simply play lots of up songs through the weekend. Have a character (Mr. Henry Block-Party) offer “reason number 6 why you should listen to the Block Party Weekend,” etc. Play “blocks” of top artists. Give away Blocks of ice cream and register listeners to win a “double tax refund,” twice the amount of the refund up to a certain amount. See if the folks at H&R Block will join in the promotion.

 

FAX YOUR TAX

Listeners fax in their tax bill. Station will randomly draw and contribute up to the amount of the station frequency.

 

TAX CHALLENGE

Have 2 or 3 tax accountants in the studio to prepare the same return. See if they agree, who pays the least/gets the best refund. Alternatively prepare the same tax return using different software to see if there is a difference. Or compare the results of various software to results done manually.

 

TAX TIP OF THE DAY

Tax prep company (or bank, lending institution, etc.) sponsors a daily tip on the morning show through tax day. Post the tips on your web site and offer free printed copies, too.

 

TAX RELIEF

Listeners submit their names and amount of total tax bill or refund. Station randomly draws names and matches refund or pays tax bill up to certain amount. Sponsors also accept in-store registrations.

 

INSTANT TAX REFUND

Listeners call in and select one of several envelopes containing various amounts of cash (“instant refunds”). Promise: The station that guarantees its listeners a tax refund. Also a gimmick to use at all remotes through tax day.

 

 

 

Administrative Professionals Week

 

MBA FOR APW

Sell an education institution that offers MBA program on an APW-themed series of spots directed towards Administrative Professionals. “Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Earn more? etc.” Also works for schools offering business degrees with a slightly different slant on the copy. (Administrative Professionals Week 2016)

 

ADMINISTRATATIVE UN-PROFESSIONAL WEEK

Workplace horror stories. Camp it up by offering to disguise callers’ voices, stressing no real names, no business names, etc. Also write some stories that could have happened and have them voiced. (Administrative Professionals Week 2016)

 

ADMINISTRARATIVE VERY PROFESSIONAL WEEK

Go the opposite of “unprofessional” by inviting listeners to talk about people who are unsung heroes at work – always doing good for someone, mentoring, etc. You could also combine the two starting with the unprofessional and ending with professional. (Administrative Professionals Week 2016)

 

PRAISE IN PUBLIC

Set up the APW Hotline where those who have an Administrative Assistant can thank them. Cut them up and use for a day as part of your imaging. Sponsorable. (Administrative Professionals Week 2016)

 

 

NON-ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL WEEK

Listeners share their unique, non-administrative skills that would make them immediate hires/totally invaluable (the more bizarre, the better). (Administrative Professionals Week 2015)

 

WORKIN’ FOR THE MAN (OR WOMAN)

Morning show bit: is it easier to work for a male or female boss? (Administrative Professionals Week 2016)

 

AD-MEN-ISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS WEEK

Male AP’s (or ex-AP’s) call in to tell their story and win an invite to a post-work party at an upscale sports bar with free appetizers. (Administrative Professionals Week 2016)

 

TYPE THIS LETTER FOR ME

Sell a promotion to an antique store that gives away a manual typewriter. Make it 100% online so it can be played during at-work hours.

 

AD-MINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL WEEK

Sales promotion where each day during the week clients and prospects receive email tips from the cluster on how to buy media smartly and create even more effective ads.

 

BE A BETTER BOSS

Sell a business coach a schedule that features a 5-minute podcast/webcast or short webinar on how to be a stronger manager.

 

NEW TOOLS FOR THE TRADE

Sell an office supply or big box store a schedule where the latest at-work innovations and products to make the office more efficient/pleasurable are promoted and discounted.

 

WORKPLACE MAKE OVER

Sell a design group (or office supply store or furniture store, etc.) a promotion where workplaces register for a working area upgrade including new furniture, reception area, coffee device, etc.

 

COFFEE AND SNACK UPGRADE

Sell coffee store, breakfast restaurant or similar a promotion where a workplace a day receives a month’s supply of coffee and donuts/bagels/breakfast treats.

 

Listeners call in with stories of why their boss is the greatest boss ever. Both the boss and the employee win sponsored prizes. Or take listeners call with stories of why they have/have had the worst boss ever. Best stories win sponsored prizes.

 

“City’s Largest Administrative Professionals Salute.” Sell to a catering house/large bar. Offer free appetizers, door prizes including free manicures, smart phones, netbooks, etc.

 

Sell schedule to a restaurant that gives one-day discount to anyone who works for anyone!

 

Midday person “trades jobs” with office person for an hour during the week. Office person brings their filing or typing to the station; jock completes these tasks in the control room while the office person DJs for the hour.

 

Sell a promotion to a computer dealer or repair shop and register administrative professionals to win an instant upgrade to their computer at work and at home.

 

Sell a promotion to a learning center to give away free and discounted tuition to learn word processing and other business related software.

 

Bosses register to win free lunches, flowers, etc. for their administrative professionals, courtesy of participating sponsors.

 

Be Your Own Administrative Professional – Listeners register for complete home office.

 

Have your own administrative professional “pool” by registering listeners to win a home spa.

 

Host a “Second-Chance, We Appreciate You” lunch. Administrative professionals who didn’t get any recognition from their boss on Administrative Professionals Day win free lunch with us the next day.

 

 

 

NON-DATE-SPECIFIC IDEAS…

CAN’T WAIT FOR SUMMER

Off air, month long promotion sold to summer-related businesses.  Listeners sign up for the Can’t Wait For Summer Text Club where keywords are given then texted back to the station. Each text is sponsored and contains a sponsor discount (be sure this is made clear in the rules). Grand prize winner receives May trip for two to summer-friendly location. (Spring Summer 2017)

 

WILL IT FLOAT?

Online sponsored promotion that has listeners registering to win the use of a boat all summer. (Spring Summer 2016)

 

SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED

Sell to home improvement-type store; listeners register for a new shed and assorted outdoor tools. (Spring Summer 2016)

 

STORAGE WARS

Off air event where listeners log in for identity of latest item stored in the virtual self-storage unit then text/email item to storage unit company that will give away a rent-free, medium-size unit for 12 months via random drawing.

 

Ideas from past Lightbulbs

 

WHEN WILL IT HIT… (temperature)

Fun web contest where listeners can submit guesses as to the date, hour and minute the temperature will hit a certain  degree.  Sell this to a clothing store where winning listener receives gift certificate to buy new summer merchandise.

 

FIRST TO BE CHILLIN’ AND GRILLIN’

Invite listeners to post photos of themselves either grilling, getting their grill ready, etc. Listeners can vote for (or station can randomly select) winners who receive gift certificates from food store (or other sponsors) for their summer fun.

 

NEW SPRINGS FOR SPRING

Sell a mattress dealer on a discount promotion that lasts from the first day of spring through the end of the month.

 

SPRING BLING

Sell a jewelry store on a giveaway.

 

NEARBY SPRING BREAK

Sell an area resort or hotel on co-hosting a Spring Break weekend with live music, discount meals, etc. Have a pool party, register for break-related gifts. Other potential tie-ins: tanning salon, clothing store, travel agent, etc.

 

HOSE ME DOWN

Team with fire department to hold a car wash for firemen’s charity. Or sell to a car wash with portions of the fee going to a local charity.

 

SELL GARAGE SALE CLASSIFIED ONLINE

Take $20 cash for ads that will run all week on your website. Promote this listing on air.

 

BAR-B-Q-TO-CALL

Sell to grocery store or meat market. Listen for the sound of the steak frying on the grill to win (your frequency) dollars worth of steaks from a butcher shop or grocery store. Give away a grill as the grand prize.

 

KXXX COOKOUT

Host a barbecue at a local park (or in a sponsor’s parking lot). Get sponsors for all the stuff you’ll have there (grill, chairs, tables, tents, coolers, games, etc.). Use the items during the event and then raffle them off at the end of the party. You win it, you take it home!

 

BACKYARD BARBECUE

Now that things are warming up, listeners register to win a backyard barbecue hosted by the station. The winner gets to invite 25 of their closest friends. Sponsors include a grocery store, butcher or catering company, a barbecue store, an outdoor furniture store, a contractor (to build a deck or patio), a landscaper, a sprinkler company, etc. The winner gets to keep all of the goodies. If you can tie in an artist, get them to perform at the party.

 

GARAGE SALE GUIDED TOUR

Listeners register with female jock to be part of her escorted Garage Sale Guided Tour. Listeners ride in station van with coffee, bagels, lunch, etc. to promising garage sales and  win cash in the amount of the station’s frequency to spend. Larger markets should hold tours in a different part of the metro each week. Sponsors include restaurant and fast food places that sell breakfast and lunch, a car dealer who could supply a luxury van (with magnetic station nameplates on the sides), and newspaper with large classified section.

 

APRIL SHOWERS AND FLOWERS

Hold a remote at a nursery and offer discounts on shrubs, flowers, etc. Register those who show up to win landscaping.

 

THE BIG BRIBE

Listeners e-mail/fax their names to the station and then listen for it to be read back on the air. Those who hear their name and call back receive “bribes” for listening at work. The “bribe” – everything from free lunches to cash in the amount of the frequency – is revealed by opening a sealed envelope. Also works for mornings (bribe for waking up with us) with prizes being breakfast food related.

 

HOST A KITE FLIGHT DAY

Arrange for a day of kite flying at a local park. Sell to a toy store of vendor of hot chocolate, soups, etc.

 

TV TIE-INS

Contact TV stations for “Watch-Listen-And Win” opportunities for May TV sweeps.

 

POLLEN WASH

Sell a promotion to a car wash offering free and discounts washes.

 

SPRING CLEANING

Listeners register to win “white glove” treatment including washing screens, windows, etc.

 

YARD SPRUCE UP

Promotions where listeners win the services of a handyman company who cleans up limbs, gutters, remnants of winter.

 

READY, SET, MOW!

Sell schedule to lawnmower repair store that agrees to offer discounts and register folks to win complete spring tune-up of their lawnmower or a free mower, or free lawn service for the summer. Or hold riding lawnmower races with the winner getting to keep the mower.

 

 

 

BASEBALL’S BACK

Podder Up

Have the biggest baseball fan on the air staff do a one-hour podcast with someone who can speak authoritatively on baseball. Sell this as a sports-bar remote where the show is recorded. Structure the podcast so that it can be broken into 5 pieces with one posted each day. To stimulate attendance, invite questions from sports bar patrons, have a different baseball –themed special each week (4^th week of the season so every order of wings comes with four free, etc.). (Baseball 2017)

 

DINGERS AND WINGERS

Sell this to a wings or sports bar. For each home run the home team hits, the sports bar will add one free wing to any order. You can put a max if you like; also can apply to last night’s game for the next day’s special). (Baseball 2016)

 

GO TO BAT FOR… (charity)

Sell this to a bank, or other advertiser to whom good will is important. For each home run (or hit) the sponsor will donate $10 (or 5 or 100) to the team’s charity – or to a charitable organization that promotes baseball for youth.

 

GET A FAT CONTRACT

Play simple baseball trivia to win a fat contract (certificate for 1 pound of bacon). One randomly drawn winners fro all who called win $100 meat certificate from grocer, butcher, etc.

 

THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH

Arrange a promotion with the team where listeners can win the honor of throwing out the first pitch.

 

THE HORMONE-FREE DAY AT THE BALLPARK

Give away tickets to local baseball games, plus all-natural hot dogs, bottled water, straw hats, (organic?) cotton T-shirts, etc. No steroids, nothing artificial.

 

KIDS’ DAY AT THE PARK

Sell a promotion to local ball club on selling tickets to kids for 25-cents (or a buck).  Give first 200 kids a tour of the clubhouse, meet players, etc.

 

SPONSOR A LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL TEAM

A nice, community feel-good. Your station sponsors one baseball and one softball team every year. Give the kids jerseys, hats, etc. Maybe team up with a sporting goods store or a pizza restaurant to co-sponsor the teams, with your co-sponsor providing the gear or a meal for the kids after every game.

 

FROZEN T-SHIRT CONTEST

At the ballpark, select two (or more) contestants to come down to the field between innings and give them each a small cooler with a frozen station T-shirt inside. The first person to put their frozen T-shirt on wins.

 

SLIP ‘N SLIDE

Register kids at the ballpark to do Slip ‘n Slide bowling on the field between innings…using themselves as the bowling ball (while wearing a helmet). The first kid to knock down the most pins or the kid to knock down the pins the fastest wins.

 

CONCESSION STAND PRICE IS RIGHT

Just like The Price Is Right, listeners guess the price of various concession stand items to win tickets to a home game.

 

“BASEBALL’S BACK” DAY AT THE PARK

Host “KXXX Baseball’s Back Day At The Park” at local field or park with competition for various age groups including hitting a ball the farthest off a tee, longest/most accurate throw, base running (a dash), longest sunflower seed spit, etc. Tie in a food vendor to make hotdogs and soft drinks available. Tie in a sporting goods store as a sponsor; if possible, find an area baseball celebrity to sign autographs or a coach to talk strategy.

 

OPENING DAY/WEEK TICKETS

Hold a weekend promotion with listeners winning tickets anytime the WXXX Baseball Organ plays “Charge!”

 

Co-host an abbreviated softball game with a local TV station with proceeds going to charity. Invite TV station’s sports guy to do pre- and post-game reports. Allow a few vendors to co-sponsor, sell merchandise. Post pictures on your web site. Can be part of a daylong baseball skills camp for kids.

 

Arrange for jocks to throw out first balls of Minor League, Little League games, pass out station ball caps