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"89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases"
Thanks to Melvin E. Taylor for sending this press release that promotes a summer festival in New York City. This is a case of trying to fit 10 pounds of copy into a 5-pound container. When I first read the press release, my eyes didn't know where to look because there's no major headline in larger type. Also, italics are very difficult to read on a computer screen. In-depth background on the performers and the event sponsor is the type of information you can provide at a website, then link to it from the press release. I called Melvin for some additional details to add to my rewritten version. I was surprised to see that his version included information on how to get to the center--very helpful, especially in a big city like New York that attracts lots of summer tourists. BEFORE For Immediate Release The Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute Celebrates 30th Anniversary Honoring Cultural Icon Cheryl Byron Rapso Queen & Pioneer 11th Annual Day Long FREE Event ‘Carnival in New York’ Sunday, August 13th, 2006 At Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors Festival Summer Series
The Mighty Sparrow Calypso King of The World Performance 8pm New York, NY – July, 17th - The Caribbean Cultural Center/African Diaspora Institute is hosting their 'Carnival in New York' festival at prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. ‘Carnival in New York’ is part of the Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors Festival Summer Series and this year will be its 11th ‘Carnival’ with Lincoln Center. Our festival is one of the Lincoln Center’s most popular events with attendance normally reaching over 10,000 people. This is a free event for the public that aims to reflect the cultural traditions of Carnival throughout the African Diaspora. For more information: www.cccadi.org . ‘Carnival in New York’ will be a day-long out of door festival with artist workshops, food, vendors and musical and dance performances from 12noon to 3pm at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park Band Shell. The festival will conclude with a performance by the The Mighty Sparrow at 8:00pm with a special tribute performance dedicated to Cultural Icon Cheryl Bryon by the Something Positive Dance Troupe Day Performances – Time: 12noon-3pm NY Daily News Caribbeat C.A.S.Y.M Steelpan Orchestra - Trinidad Pan Music Garifuna - Afro-Caribbean Punta Music Kongo - Haitian Rara Music Puntilla y Su Nueva Generacion- Cuban Comparsas Music Rajkumari Cultural Center - Chutney Indo-Caribbean Dance Ologunde - Brazilian Samba Music The Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center/African Diaspora Institute, commonly known as the Caribbean Cultural Center, was conceived in 1976 by Marta Moreno Vega with the vision to create an international organization promoting and linking communities of African descendants wherever our communities are alive. Currently, the Center is celebrating its 30th Anniversary year 2006 which includes a year of extraordinary programs that reflect and improve on its past successes. For complete information on the Center, its year-long 30th Anniversary or its Xenobia exhibit (more) or ‘Carnival in New York’ at Lincoln Center call 212.307.7420 ext 3006 or go online to www. cccadi.org. By Subway: The closet station is 59th Street – Columbus Circle. You can use the 1,A,B,C & D all stop at this station. By Car: The Westside Highway to the 57th Street exit. Continue on 57th Street & 10th Avenue & Amsterdam Avenue
About Cheryl Byron
-
A true Pan-Caribbean woman, an
Africanist, feminist, educator, performer, pioneer and activist
Ms. Byron was a woman of many firsts. The first to perform her
brand of poetry in a Calypso tent to the sound of drums; the Mother
of Rapso she was composing and performing Rap (Dub) poetry before it
was christened Rapso she called them “poem songs.” She not only
believed in the validity of the cultural and artistic expressions
that came out of
Trinidad and the Caribbean, but she advocated on its behalf.
As an educator she taught at all levels
from Pre-K to the University to senior citizens infusing her lessons
with humor and real life examples that endeared her to all that were
in her range of influence. “Passing on the Tradition” a
program founded by Ms. Byron was the first program devoted to
ensuring that urban youth knew all they could about the phenomenon
called Carnival and the Global masquerade legacy so often
neglected in this society and considered trivial and simple revelry
by many. She also co-founded the annual Youth Pan Festival
which is devoted to music literacy. Many of whom have gone on to
become musicians and scholars as a result of scholarships and
opportunities afforded them by participation in the Festival.
Perhaps her most significant contribution was the founding of
Something Positive, Inc. -
www.angelfire.com/art/SomethingPostive.com a performing
arts and education company dedicated to the art and culture of the
African Diaspora and its cross –cultural influences through art and
education. Something Positive has a repertoire of original
works, most of which were written and composed by Ms. Byron,
and a growing repertoire of new work influenced by Ms. Byron and the
mission of the institution. AFTER
‘Carnival in New York’ will
celebrate Caribbean culture
Free daylong
festival features art, New York, N.Y. – July 17, 2006 -- The streets around Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will come alive with music, food and art from the Caribbean when the Caribbean Culture Center sponsors its 11th Annual “Carnival in New York” August 13. The free daylong festival, part of the Lincoln Center’s Summer Out of Doors Festival Series, attracts more than 10,000 people each year. It will feature vendors selling artwork and traditional Caribbean food like roti, a bread rolled in chickpeas, and a variety of island drinks, from sweet sorrel to bitter mauby. Caribbean musicians and dancers will perform from noon to 3 p.m. at the Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park and Band Shell. Festival-goers can dance in the streets to the sweet sounds of music from Trinidad, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, and islands in the Caribbean. Vendors will sell T-shirts, crafts and flags from Caribbean countries. Children can play games and have their faces painted. At 8 p.m., The Mighty Sparrow, known as “The Quintessential Calypsonian,” will perform. The Something Positive Dance Troup will dedicate its performance to cultural icon Cheryl Byron, a Pan-Caribbean feminist, educator and author. For more information about the Caribbean Cultural Center and its 30th anniversary celebration, call 212-307-7420, Ext. 3006 or visit www.ccadi.org. Directions to the Lincoln Center: By subway, the closest station is 59th Street-Columbus Circle. You can use the 1, A, B, C and D trains. By car, take the Westside Highway to the 57th Street exit and continue on 57th Street to Tenth Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue. Note to Editors: You can download colorful photos of the entertainers and past carnivals at www.XXXXXXXX.com... ###
It gives you dozens of creative ideas on how to make your event a smashing success and how to generate thousands of dollars in free publicity before, during and after the event. It comes with 15 can't-do-without checklists that will keep you organized and on track. In fact, we'll let you download three of them for free, so you can see the kind of valuable information that will help you plan your next event from start to finish.
Are you moving? If so, it's an
opportunity to change your address not only with the post office,
but in a press release.
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Lesson #45: An event
If you're planning any kind of a major
event, from a summer street festival to a winter charity ball, don't
spend sleepless nights wondering how to attract participants and the
media.