When To Conduct Seminars
Timing, as you know, is important. There are times that are not good for seminars, such as holidays, after the first week of December, etc.
Timing, as you know, is important. There are times that are not good for seminars, such as holidays, after the first week of December, etc.
There are also other times that are important to consider. . .planting and harvest in farm areas, Spring break from school, summer vacations, etc.
And you must consider weather conditions. . .you certainly do not want to conduct a Saturday seminar during the first couple weeks of spring in the north, or during the fall color season in areas that are known for that.
There are also areas of the country where seniors spend time away during the winter months, traveling to Florida, South Texas, Arizona, etc. You should consider gearing seminars in those areas for the time when you would have visibility to the maximum number of people.
And on the local level, you want to make sure that you have checked major events in the community, such as church events, and other special events that are peculiar to local communities.
Timing is also important when you consider which day of the week to conduct a seminar. The first decision is based upon whether to conduct the seminar during the day or in the evening.
A seniors'' group, consisting of retirees, may be your only opportunity for a daytime seminar on a weekday. Other daytime options are Saturday morning, or Sunday afternoon in a local church or during your mid-week service. We have found these to be very productive.
Saturday seminars are usually conducted in the morning. When you avoid the first days of spring, church outings, and fall color tours, they have proven to be very productive.
Many times senior groups meet for lunch, with a seminar afterwards or for mid-morning coffee with a seminar following. Or a portion of the seminar can be conducted, with a lunch break and then the remainder of the seminar, slowing the pace slightly for the older group.
In many areas, a seminar at four o''clock in the afternoon may be workable. It is good for retired individuals, and others who are not retired can often leave work by that time.
For evening seminars, the best days have proven to be Tuesday and Thursday, with Monday being the third choice. The exception to this rule is a seminar conducted in a local church, where a Wednesday evening or other mid-week service can be very successful.
If you choose a Wednesday evening or other mid-week service to conduct a seminar in a church, be sure to consider other activities that may take away people who should attend (i.e., adult choir rehearsals, children''s programs, etc.).
When conducting mid-week evening seminars in a church, pay close attention to the normal youth routine. If there are no children€s activities, you might want to consider making arrangements for care of the children (if you want young families to attend).
Also, when conducting mid-week evening seminars, it needs to be made clear it is a seminar and not a regular church service, so as not to upset anyone coming expecting it to be a regular service.
