Never miss a chance

Grandma and I took our three grandsons to a circus yesterday and, despite the fact there are no longer elephants, lions, tigers, camels, monkeys, and the rest of those long gone circus animals, they (and us!) thoroughly enjoyed it.

Under the big top was a great place on a pleasant Sunday afternoon although the crowd was a little sparse. They had vacant seats that could have been filled and, in my view, it’s always a great idea that you do your best to fill them.

Now, in theory, the performance we were at was the last of the season in our area. But, although it had not been publicised, a recent decision meant the season was being extended for another week. If we enjoyed the show, the Ringmaster asked, could we tell our friends?

And we did enjoy it and we will tell our friends.

But, in my opinion they made one basic mistake… they told us that, under no circumstances, were we to take photos of any part of the performance. Should we fail to observe that rule we would be clapped in irons, locked up forever and fed on bread and water! No idle threat I can tell you!

Now, if it had been me I would’ve been saying please take all the photos you like and send them to your friends, post them on social media and show your next door neighbours. I would want them to publicise our extended season so that we filled them there seats.

Now, sure, they may have been worried that flashes of cameras may have disturbed the animals or put the artists off at the top of the trapeze so they could simply have said “In the interests of safety to animals and artists please switch off your flash now.”

Circuses and kids make great photographs and, who knows, they may even get in the local newspaper. And filled a few seats for the extended season.

You see, it’s amazing how people can grab publicity for events in their life if they really get serious about it.

Just like a bagpiper and a house!

In yesterday’s paper I discovered the connection between a bagpiper and a home. Well, really there’s no connection unless you’ve got your home up for sale and you have some story that links the house and the bagpipes. On a slow news day, the editor of the newspaper may reckon there’s news value in it!

Here’s a piece an editor loved and ran as a human interest story for heaven’s sake.

You’ll never go broke by getting your picture and your story in the newspaper! Remember, there is no such thing as bad publicity… unless they get your name wrong!