Christmas Bookings

hey guys, as we all know, christmas is coming up quickly!

Just a quick question: Do you do anything special to promote your business during this time or do you just take bookings as per normal?

Thanks Guys!!

I am already receiving bookings for birthday parties and a christening in December. The only thing I plan on doing is gearing up advertising more on the corporate side as most companies do have Christmas parties for the kids of employees.

That's actually how I got started by doing my companies childrens party. I had carte blanche to get what I needed and painted 4 hours straight that first year. They were so impressed I did every event they had.

I was also able to establish a solid contact at a Major chain retailer that does the whole big Christmas production with the big red mailbox in-store for mailing letters to Santa. They called me for a previous event but I was not able to do it due to another committment.

I've ordered some postcards from vistaprint - will do a mass mailing when they get in with a 'book now, save 10%" offer on them - to all larger businesses in town and surrounding area. This will be my first Christmas painting in this town so I want to make them aware of me.

As of right now I only have one weekend day left before Christmas! 3 repeat companies (one is a golf course for 3 brunch with Santa's - potentially 4), one new company gig where I *finally* get to work with Magna and Carolyn!, and 2 new client birthdays. I have done no advertising this year - word of mouth and repeats have been very good to me, touch wood.

The thing with Christmas parties is they're all at the same dang time! 11:00-1:00 or 1:00-3:00 - and that's it. Everyone wants to serve lunch and no one wants the hassle of making people dinner, haha.

Same here. I have several Christmas bookings. One will be on a riverboat(paddle wheel style) for the electrician's union. I also do an event at the zoo every year called Noon Years Eve for kids to celebrate New Years. The malls are bringing Santa in earlier & earlier(like this weekend) & I'm working 2 of the malls this weekend.
I have a Mrs. Clause costume & break it out this time of year(I'm still trying to talk my hubby into doing Santa).

I offer a lot of Christmas designs. BTW Jack Frost is very popular w/ the boys(make him look creepy, not cute).

I've added an elf character this year

I love the elf!

That's great Perry

Perry be shopping!

Perry - love the elf look!

Thanks ladies for the encouragement about the holidays. I usually have a slow time around Christmas - but hearing how busy you are really gives me the "KICK IN THE REAR" to do some extra marketing!

I like Christmas time bookings because they book through out the week, not just weekends. Kids get out of school for about 2 weeks and my sister will be home from college so she can watch my kids all month! LOL I've already got several bookings in December.