Promotion, Promotion, Promotion!!! You Have to Get It Right!

Yesterday I went to a Civil War re-enactment to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War.  Connecticut has been working on this weekend of Civil War history for over three years and I can honestly say it was pretty impressive.  Too bad there were more “soldiers” there than spectators.  It’s a shame too because they had really great people involved that not only knew their history but also were passionate about it and answered any questions you had.  The re-enactors had different companies set up throughout the park with a pond in the middle of it separating the Union forces from the Confederates.  They camped all weekend like their ancestors would have during the Civil War.  If you don’t know, but Saturday was very cold, rainy and pretty nasty at night and these “soldiers” still camped and acted as if they were fighting a real war with the forces across the pond.  Speaking to these people, you can just see how passionate they are and how much they really love this hobby.  Some came all the way from Florida just to be a part of this event.

So where the hell were the spectators?  The event started at 10 a.m. with a cool Vintage Baseball Game with also demonstrations of camp life during the Civil War from both the Union forces and Confederates.  I arrived with my son and father and about 30 other people.  Yup, that’s right, 30 of us.  It was a disgrace.  After a couple hours, the event did get a little busier but even at the start of the re-enactment there were probably only 100-150 people.  Just a real shame because the event was not only cool to watch and participate in but these people gave 110% to put it on.  They slept through the nasty wind and rain, on the cold ground and lived as if they were really in 1865.  They deserved better!  They deserved crowds the crowds that probably went out and supported a shitty ass movie like Hop or Arthur.

So who’s to blame?  It certainly isn’t the re-enactors, I lay most of the blame on whomever was responsible in promoting this event.  The only reason I knew anything about it is because they had a banner hanging at the Old State House in downtown Hartford (by the way, the event was held at Central CT State University – in another town).  Where were the advertisements on the radio, television or newspapers?  My buddy said he heard 1 advertisement on a radio station the entire week leading up to the event.  Where were the news stations to broadcast from the event to give it a little extra attention?  I didn’t see any on either day (the event was Saturday and Sunday).  Promotion for this event really was not existent and it truly is a shame because not only was it informative but it was also a really fun time.

Maybe it’s me but with the right promotion this event could have been a real crowd gatherer.  Who doesn’t like to see cannons blasted off that echo throughout the park and rumble the ground?  Who doesn’t like to see a 150 year old battle play out right in front of them, rifle smoke in the air and bodies everywhere?

My biggest problem is that the state is trying to re-vitalize Hartford and generate a buzz in the state’s capital.  So why not have this even in Bushnell Park?  Why not promote the hell out of it and have a huge event right in the capital city?  Get people down to Hartford with a cool event like this.  It could’ve worked Hartford.  Bushnell Park is plenty big enough and it really could’ve been a cool event for people to come to.

Maybe it’s me, but those “soldiers” deserved better than that.  They were informative, passionate and energized in their hobby and more people SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!  Shame on you promoters, you really missed the boat!