Musicians and dancers from Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador descended on Newbury this Saturday (12th September) for a Latin American Festival in the Market Place.

In brilliant sunshine, the carnival celebrated the music, culture, food and art of the South American countries. The dancers took to the stage outside the Corn Exchange from 10am until 4pm.

There was a chance to sample some of the dishes from the region and pubs and cafes in the town centre were offering food with a Latin American twist.

The festival was organised by Newbury’s Event manager, Caroline Paus.

Quoted from Administrator

The festival was organised by Newbury’s Event manager, Caroline Paus.

Anybody wish to eat their words ?

Quoted from brian

Anybody wish to eat their words ?

I did not know this event was on until i drove by the Market Place, so perhaps some advertising would have drawn more people to the event.

I hadn't heard of it until I read this thread.

I was there... quite interesting. I just wish I got some photos. At least Newbury is trying to do something interesting. For years we've had nothing exciting happen in Newbury and now two buses come at once (or was that 5 and 10?)

Quoted from Administrator

The festival was organised by Newbury’s Event manager, Caroline Paus.

This Caroline Paus seems to be doing a good job. Give her full credit.

Quoted from blackdog

I hadn't heard of it until I read this thread.

Me neither, sadly it wasn't advertised on any of these sites for events in West Berkshire so I bet a lot of people missed it.

http://www.visitwestberkshire.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1194&Category=Community
http://www.newbury.net/events.htm
http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/newbury/events/search
http://twitter.com/NewburyEvents
http://twitter.com/WBerksWhatsOn

It was here on the official Newbury Events website http://www.newburyevents.co.uk/september.html

Quoted from user23.3

Me neither, sadly it wasn't advertised on any of these sites for events in West Berkshire so I bet a lot of people missed it.

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/newbury/events/search

Oh yes it was http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/newbury/events/204928/latin-american-festival

A shame that it was arranged for the same day of the Beer festival.  I saw a bit of it as I walked to Northcroft.

Quoted from 133

Oh yes it was http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/newbury/events/204928/latin-american-festival

Fair enough I was wrong in that case, I didn't see that on there.

It didn't appear on the other sites, including this one.

Quoted from Greenham Common

A shame that it was arranged for the same day of the Beer festival.  I saw a bit of it as I walked to Northcroft.

Very true, bit of a faux pas that, organising it on the same date as one of the biggest annual events in the Newbury town centre (well, 5 minutes walk away from it) calendar.

Quoted from user23.3

It didn't appear on the other sites, including this one.

It appeared on the scrolling news section of this forum for the preceding 4 weeks.

Perhaps you would like to know about a spectacular event in the Market Place in December. Date is still to be finalised, but it will probably be Sunday 13th December:

Quidams

Five white-clad stilted figures appear silently on the street and are followed by the audience through the streets. As they progress along their route, the mysterious characters are gradually transformed into huge, billowing, translucent creatures, playful yet otherworldly. These strange but friendly creatures perform a magical dance in and amongst a transfixed audience, playing games with the public and with each other. Their beautiful costumes, lit by internal lights, create a spectacular visual effect that can be seen by thousands of people. Dreamy and ethereal, the figures continue their journey to the Market Square, where to an uplifting soundtrack, they perform a magical dance. As they dance, a moon-like sphere rises into the night sky casting light onto the performers and public to create a beautiful finale.

http://quidams.com/Herbert-s-Dream.html

Quoted from user23.3

Fair enough I was wrong in that case, I didn't see that on there.

It is also advertised on...

http://www.visitwestberkshire.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1194&Category=Community

Event: Newbury Latin American Festival
Starting on 12 Sep at 10:00 for 7 hours
A taste of the Caribbean and South America in the heart of Newbury!
Being held in Market Street, Northbrook Street and a parade around the town. Come and get involved in mask making, street fun, and enjoy the Latin American music and food. Come and Samba, Salsa and Calypso and try delicious tortillas, guacamole and ceviche!

Any chance it was advertised anywhere other than just online?

Quoted from massifheed

Any chance it was advertised anywhere other than just online?

It is usually illegal and inserts in the local paper just go straight in the bin!  

Quoted from Greenham Common

A shame that it was arranged for the same day of the Beer festival.  I saw a bit of it as I walked to Northcroft.

Two different audiences, I would have thought. I don't really visualise the CAMRA tweed jacket and pipe brigade, nodding knowingly over a pint of beer, dancing a Salsa or a Tango.
Newbury is probably big enough for two events though

Quoted from brian

Two different audiences, I would have thought. I don't really visualise the CAMRA tweed jacket and pipe brigade, nodding knowingly over a pint of beer, dancing a Salsa or a Tango.  Newbury is probably big enough for two events though

You clearly didn't go to the Beer festival then.    Also...

Quoted from Administrator

In brilliant sunshine, the carnival celebrated the music, culture, food and art of the South American countries. The dancers took to the stage outside the Corn Exchange from 10am until 4pm.  There was a chance to sample some of the dishes from the region and pubs and cafes in the town centre were offering food with a Latin American twist.

Where do you think the people that were likely to indulge in this were in the afternoon?  

Quoted from Administrator

Perhaps you would like to know about a spectacular event in the Market Place in December. Date is still to be finalised, but it will probably be Sunday 13th December:

Plenty of notice and it looks like it will be a fantastic event. Hopefully people will go and say how good it was or will we just have comments about it clashing with something or other or it wasn't advertised in the one place certain people look. I didn't get to see the Latin event but from the pictures I've seen it looked as though it was a bloody good show  

Quoted from Greenham Common

You clearly didn't go to the Beer festival then.    Also...

Where do you think the people that were likely to indulge in this were in the afternoon?  

I'm not a beer drinker so no.....

Judging by the amount of beer sold, flat on their backs wondering if it was the first pint or the last pint that gave them the headache.

Quoted from Administrator

Perhaps you would like to know about a spectacular event in the Market Place in December. Date is still to be finalised, but it will probably be Sunday 13th December:

Plenty of notice and it looks like it will be a fantastic event. Hopefully people will go and say how good it was or will we just have comments about it clashing with something or other or it wasn't advertised in the one place certain people look. I didn't get to see the Latin event but from the pictures I've seen it looked as though it was a bloody good show  

Quoted from 133

...or it wasn't advertised in the one place certain people look...

I didn't see it advertised anywhere. That was my point. Had I known about it, I would have gone. It's incredibly lazy to just assume that registering events with a couple of "what's on" websites constitutes sufficient advertising. That misses out everyone that doesn't look at those websites.

It seems a shame to me that such a good looking event wasn't really advertised as extensivley as it could be.

Quoted from massifheed

It's incredibly lazy to just assume that registering events with a couple of "what's on" websites constitutes sufficient advertising.

Well you're just assuming that's all the advertising it got. You read this website, how come you didn't see it on the rolling news section. I noticed it every time  Where would they have to advertise for you to notice?

It certainly worked for me - I stayed in town far longer than I'd planned, and yes, did spend more thanm I'd intended!  Anyway well done who ever organised this.

Quoted from Greenham Common

It is usually illegal and inserts in the local paper just go straight in the bin!  

It would be prudent to advertise in the NWN or at least get a press release as not everyone has use of the net, or what about banners as they seem to be doing for the Newbury Show.

Quoted from 133

Well you're just assuming that's all the advertising it got. You read this website, how come you didn't see it on the rolling news section. I noticed it every time  Where would they have to advertise for you to notice?

I'm not assuming anything. What I said was that I didn't see it advertised anywhere, which I didn't. It may have been advertised elsewhere, but nowhere that I saw, and I am in town most days, and often for a large part of the day on a Saturday. If one wants to attract the kind of people that use the town, then I would think that it would make sense to make the advertising for events in the market place as high profile as possible in the town centre. You work in town, how much advertising for the event, or future events, have you seen around town? Or rather, how extensively was it advertised in KS?

Relying on "what's on" websites to advertise events is only going to work on those people that actively use those sites to find out what events are coming up, not on the general public who dont use the internet for that reason. It must be something about Newbury, as the shopkeepers that complain about a lack of trade seem to have a similar block in imagination when it comes to advertising and marketing.

Quoted from 133

Well you're just assuming that's all the advertising it got. You read this website, how come you didn't see it on the rolling news section. I noticed it every time  Where would they have to advertise for you to notice?

What rolling news section?  I come straight to the forum, rarely look at the homepage (where the news is usually more than a little out of date). I just checked to events section of the forum - its not there.

I rely on word of mouth, this forum and posters stuck up around town to tell me what's on - none of which worked in this instance.

If I have to go looking for an event it will pass me by.

Quoted from massifheed

I'm not assuming anything. What I said was that I didn't see it advertised anywhere, which I didn't. It may have been advertised elsewhere, but nowhere that I saw, and I am in town most days, and often for a large part of the day on a Saturday. If one wants to attract the kind of people that use the town, then I would think that it would make sense to make the advertising for events in the market place as high profile as possible in the town centre. You work in town, how much advertising for the event, or future events, have you seen around town? Or rather, how extensively was it advertised in KS? .

I wouldn't disagree with most of that. I'm sure, if it was possible to get the advertising coverage you suggest, it would happen. Given the resources available I think the best is being made of it.

Quoted from massifheed

Relying on "what's on" websites to advertise events is only going to work on those people that actively use those sites to find out what events are coming up, not on the general public who dont use the internet for that reason.

True but it was on the front of the NWN. I wasn't in Newbury last week so, for all I know, there may have been posters as well. Other events have appeared on posters/leaflets.

Quoted from massifheed

It must be something about Newbury, as the shopkeepers that complain about a lack of trade seem to have a similar block in imagination when it comes to advertising and marketing.

I wouldn't disagree with that either. It isn't just a Newbury thing though.

Quoted from blackdog

What rolling news section?  I come straight to the forum, rarely look at the homepage (where the news is usually more than a little out of date). I just checked to events section of the forum - its not there.

If I have to go looking for an event it will pass me by.

The rolling news section is at the top of the forum homepage. http://www.newbury.net/forum   Perhaps if they knew where you lived they could stick a leaflet through your door just in case you miss all the other stuff  

All this chatter about advertising AFTER a very successful event seems pointless.  Market Place was packed out on a Saturday afternoon - when something else was going on nearby.  Proof indded that a good wine needs no bush!  

Quoted from 133

Well you're just assuming that's all the advertising it got. You read this website, how come you didn't see it on the rolling news section. I noticed it every time  Where would they have to advertise for you to notice?

Does anyone read the "rolling news" section (in reality, some rather amateur looking Javascript)?  

Surely it would have been better to put in the Events page?

Quoted from user23.3

Does anyone read the "rolling news" section (in reality, some rather amateur looking Javascript)?  

Surely it would have been better to put in the Events page?

Yes I already mentioned that I read it, don't see what's wrong with it so there isn't really any need to be so critical is there? The events page does seem to have just the regular events and doesn't get changed which is a waste.  There is an events section on the forum but it's up to organizers to send in the details so it can be posted.

Quoted from user23.3

Does anyone read the "rolling news" section (in reality, some rather amateur looking Javascript)?  

Surely it would have been better to put in the Events page?

Yes I read it.  A simple straightforward approach is often very effective; hence blackboards with pub menus.