Black Friday Bowling: The Safe & Fun alternative to Shopping

Total Black Friday sales and shoppers may be on the rise but some Americans are opting for lower key Black Friday activities that don't involve large crowds, long lines and deep holes in their wallets. With the recent advent of violent Black Friday acts and concerns about the tarnishing of Thanksgiving, it's not hard to see why.

Appeal to the non-shoppers this Black Friday and offer "doorcrashing" Black Friday specials on bowling. With more and more consumers scouting Black Friday deals online and on social media sites, be sure to get the word out on your website, Facebook and Twitter pages and utilize the hashtag #blackfriday. Take it one step further by making bowling deals sweeter for your valued customers: provide exclusive discounts to e-mail subscribers.

Be sure to market in-center too. Visit the Infotainment menu of your Bowling Music Player and play our Audio + Video 'Black Friday' promotion today:

Visit http://blog.intuit.com/marketing/11-black-friday-marketing-tips-for-your-small-business/ for more Black Friday Marketing tips.

Happy Hour: A Bowling Center Must-Have

As a Music, Music Video and Marketing service built entirely upon the needs of bowling centers, we recognize the importance of staying on top of the latest and greatest bowling industry trends. We have always found the educational seminars at Bowl Expo to be a great resource. One such seminar, "Bar Trends and Your Bowling Business", was presented by Rick Heim from BPAA's Bowling University who touched on some promising statistics and tips for Happy Hour.

Why host a Happy Hour? Heim explains that not only does it appeal to value-oriented consumers but it is also on trend with a shift from eating full meals to grabbing snacks and appetizers. In one survey, 98% of guests said that they prefer to eat during Happy Hour. While Friday was the most popular choice for Happy Hour, 64% of surveyed guests said they would attend a Saturday Happy Hour if offered. Heim recommends considering new Happy Hour times to accommodate a shift from traditional work schedules and eating habits. Consider hosting your Happy Hour later into the evening and even on weekends as opposed to just weekdays. Unsure what specials to offer? 50% off any drink, 2-for-1 drinks and classic cocktails offered at the same price point were among the most appealing.

If you already have a Happy Hour or will be introducing one soon, use our Audio + Video promotion to tell your bowlers to make a visit to your bar or lounge area today:


For more Bar Trends from BPAA's Bowling University, please visit: http://www.bowlinguniversity.net/getmedia/37bd5185-619a-42f4-be5b-10ae3bf25c49/Heim-Bar-Trends-Bowl-Expo-2013.aspx

Turkey, stuffing, pie and bowling?

We've all been there. The whole family is over for Thanksgiving weekend and aside from the main feature, the big turkey dinner, you're left wondering what to do with all of your loved ones. Not surprisingly, in my searches of suggested Thanksgiving activities, bowling often appeared on the list. After all, it is one of few activities that doesn't depend on the weather and it's the perfect outlet for some friendly competition among relatives. I also came across stories of families who have made bowling a tradition every Thanksgiving weekend - a tradition that for some goes back 50 years and for others includes up to 40 people making a visit to their local bowling center. What does this mean for bowling proprietors? An opportunity to provide the venue for family bonding experiences.

If you plan on keeping your doors open on Thanksgiving, be sure to let your bowlers know and perhaps they'll start a family tradition of their own. Make it more interesting by introducing a Thanksgiving weekend special. Head to the Infotainment menu of your Bowling Music Player and use our all new Audio + Video promotion today:

Mid-October means Mid-South Bowling Conference 2013!

We're packing up and heading down to Tunica, MS for the Mid-South Bowling Conference 2013. Each year we have the pleasure of meeting with numerous bowling proprietors, fellow exhibitors and reconnecting with familiar faces in the industry. We're also always eager to take in the conference's selection of educational seminars. On deck this year are informational sessions such as 'Social Bowling Clubs' presented by Trainertainment and 'Bowling 2.0' with Bart Burger. If you already run Bowling 2.0 or will be introducing Bowling 2.0 at your bowling center, visit your Infotainment menu to take advantage of our Audio + Video promotion and tell your bowlers about your upcoming Bowling 2.0 classes:

Are you planning on attending this year? If so, we encourage you to stop by and say hello to Account Manager Josh Doub to discuss your bowling center's entertainment and marketing plans. Josh will be demonstrating Version 9 of the Bowling Music Player and our new HQ Music Video Library. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

For more information on the Mid-South Bowling Conference, please visit www.arkansasbca.com

Bowling Music hits the Boardwalk for ECBCC 2013!

Every Fall, the Bowling Music Network looks forward to attending the East Coast Bowling Centers Convention in Atlantic City, NJ. As the largest American Regional Bowling Convention, the ECBCC is a unique networking opportunity for Industry Service Providers and Bowling Proprietors alike that cannot be missed!

Highlights to look forward to at this year's show include a great selection of Seminars and Workshops including 'Using Technology, WiFi and Apps in your Centers' presented by Joe LaSpina and Frank Wilkinson and 'Making Open Play a Bigger Contributor to your Bottom Line' by Bruce Davis as well as an all new ECBCC App for iPhone and Android devices!

Come stop by Booth #53 and say hello to Account Manager Andy Sparks for a Demo of our industry leading Music, Music-Video and Marketing Services designed for the business of Bowling! This year, we're eager to showcase Version 9 of the Bowling Music Player, our new HQ Library and much more. See you there!

For more information the East Coast Bowling Centers Convention, please visit www.eastcoastbowl.com

Welcome your League bowlers back to the 2013 Fall Season!

 With the 2013 Fall Season on the approach and under way for some in the bowling industry, we have always felt it to be best practice to give Fall League bowlers a warm welcome back. Every year, we produce a new Audio + Video promotion for Bowling Music Network subscribers to do just this. Visit the 'Leagues' category of your Infotainment menu and show your customer appreciation and best wishes for the season today! Looking to schedule the message to automatically play? Watch our all new Player Version 9 Tutorial Video for some scheduling guidance: http://vimeo.com/71361314

Halloween Entertainment and Marketing for Bowling Centers

 Aren’t holidays great? Not only are they a lot of fun, but they also present unique marketing opportunities for your business. Since many bowling centers cater specifically to kids and their families, Halloween is the perfect occasion to generate traffic and sales. Need ideas on how to get started? Make your bowling center a spooktacular venue with tips from the ASG Bowl Blog: http://www.asgbowl.com/blog/bid/70872/Celebrate-Halloween-at-your-Bowling-Center Whether you’re hosting a Halloween event or putting a Halloween twist on your open bowling times, the Bowling Music Network makes it easy for you to garner the Halloween spirit with Halloween-themed Music and Music-Video channels that roll out every year in mid-October. Play Novelty Dance tracks like ‘Monster Mash’ and ‘Thriller’ to increase participation and take it a step further by hosting dance-offs among bowlers. And don’t forget to tell your bowlers about your Halloween event ahead of time! Share about your upcoming Halloween Party using our all new Audio + Video promotion (above) right from your Infotainment menu! Don't let your bowling center be a ghost this Halloween; give your bowlers a reason to visit your center this October for a ghoulishly good time!