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Malls shows are an excellent tool for
building community relations. What better arena can you find? You can
have center stage at one of the most heavily populated spots in town.
You'll be able to show the non-modeling public who you are, what you do,
and how you do it. You can show them that your airplanes are beautifully
built flying machines that are sophisticated and designed for specific
purposes.
When the National Mall Show program began
in 1983, several AMA clubs were able to reap immediate benefits by being
part of it. As the number of participating clubs grew in subsequent
years, so grew our national image and overall membership. Today, the
number of mall shows has increased to an exceptional level, and each one
helps to promote the appreciation of model aircraft in that particular
geographic area.
AMA has several ways of helping your club
make a good presentation. We can send you informative brochures and
other handouts that will aid you in your conversations with the general
public. Each district vice-president has video tapes and a table top
display booth that are free for you to borrow. Also available from AMA's
Supply and Service department is an extensive selection of video tapes
to help you build a club library to explain the fun and intent of our
hobby. Hundreds |
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of clubs have found that these
professionally produced tapes entertain and stimulate aeromodeling
interest in mall show observers.
Why not have a club representative contact
AMA headquarters? Ask for Erin Dobbs. I'll be happy to talk with you and
encourage you with helpful hints on how to make your mall show a
success. This information is free, and you can only gain from using it
to improve your public image.
When you run a mall show there are many
things you can include. Of course, you want to show off your models and
please the mall management, but you also want to entertain and inform
the general public. Many mall marketing offices report that a well run
model aviation weekend brings in more foot traffic than any other event
they hold. This is a good reason to get invited back!
Let's look at what you can have:
- finished models of all types
- open framework models
- covering demonstrations
- cut away working model with radio installed
- building demonstrations
- audio-visual center (VCR and monitor)
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- club brochure or pamphlet
- ballots for viewers to vote for "Best of
Show"
- delta Dart building sessions for kids
- invite another AMA club
- invite a local RC Car group
- invite a local model train group
Normally the mall marketing office will
provide ropes and stanchions for crowd control, tables for displaying
models, and chairs for the participants. If it is possible, models can
be hung from ceilings or beams to create an illusion of flight.
The goal of mall marketing is to get
people to their mall and into their merchant's stores. Your goal is to
get the message out that the sport is great; that your club is
responsible and creative; and that you are an integral part of the
community.
Erin Dobbs,
Programs Coordinator
AMA National Newsletter
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