How To Make Rodeo Big. Marketing tips. -

Let’s Make Rodeo Big Again.

You may like it or not - but I’ll leave it here.

I’ll start by saying I have a degree in marketing. So while everything I say is my personal opinion, it's based on both education and real-world experience.

What are the key points in marketing?

Know Your Audience (age, gender, occupation, interests etc.)
Clear Branding (name, logo, colors, everything should be recognizable and consistent. Branding builds trust and awareness)
Strong Message (what are you offering)
Right Channels (Choose platforms where your audience spends time: social media, email, radio, posters, local papers, websites, etc.)
Visuals Matter (Good design, high-quality images, clean layouts, and readable fonts.Your ad or post should pass the "scroll test" in 2 seconds)
Promotion
Strategy
Consistency
Feedback and Improvement
Community Engagement
Call to Action (like “come and join”, “order now” etc.)

Everything can be sold: products, ideas, services - and yes, events. Promoting an event is hard work, even when you know what you're doing. And it’s 100 times harder when you don’t. I'm here to offer some advice, because I truly believe rodeo has so much potential that’s just not being tapped into.

Let’s look at a great example: PBR. Those three letters now carry huge brand awareness. The name alone sells the event. Why? Because a strong PR campaign built that brand.

Brand awareness is the foundation of success.

So, what’s going wrong? Let’s break it down.

Naming

Your event or association name should stand out. It must be easy to read, remember, and recognize. Names like “Little B…,” “Running C…,” “Easy G…,” or “Bucking Z…” are too similar to one another and hard to recall. Make your event name unique, bold, and memorable.

Location Details

Believe it or not, 74.3% of rodeo ads either don’t list an address or forget to include the state.If you say, “Great Circle Arena, 7 PM,” you assume everyone knows where that is —but someone from a different state has no idea. Always list the state, city, venue name, and full address. Write like you're inviting a complete stranger who's never heard of the rodeo world.

Audience Awareness

I’ve had neighbors and friends ask:

“We have rodeos in Florida? Or Colorado?”

When I ask if they’ve been to a rodeo, the answer is usually:

“Never,” or “Once, as a kid.” 

“Would you go again?” – “Sure!”

That’s an opportunity! But they don’t even know these events exist nearby.

Advertising = In the Circle Only

When I started photographing rodeos, I struggled to find info on upcoming events. You need to be in the “circle of trust” - know someone in the scene - to hear about them.Which means the same people are attending over and over: contestants, contractors, committee, friends, and family. The audience isn’t growing. This must change.

Ads & Materials

Let’s be honest. Most rodeo promo materials are… terrible.

Poor design
Blurry or stolen photos
Little to no info
Unreadable text
No posters or banners in town

You can’t grow your event if your materials don’t look legit.

Social Support is Dead

People aren’t talking. No sharing, no comments, no pictures, no real-life buzz. And that’s hurting the industry more than we realize.

Sharing isn’t “boasting” - it’s inviting. It’s how you show the world what you love. You never know who’s watching and wishing they could be part of it.

By the way, I run a 9.4K follower rodeo group, and every day people ask how they can start riding. That tells you how much interest is out there - just waiting for someone to guide them.

(Shameless plug: Join our Florida and Georgia Rough Stock Events Group on Facebook!)

So What Can You Do?

1. Create a Great Name & Concept

Think of an original name that’s easy to read and remember. Your event name should stand out. Great examples from the past include: bull riding at the beach, a PBR event on an aircraft carrier, or the Premier Bull Tours event inside a church in Atlanta, GA. These days, it's not enough just to “sell an event” - you need to sell a unique and interesting concept to really grab attention and stand out.

Memorable name
Creative concept
Make your event more than a show—make it a story.

2. Don’t Overlap With Other Events

Make sure your planned event doesn’t overlap with another nearby event. This helps avoid conflicts of interest and ensures a good turnout—more contestants, bullfighters, and spectators. Be cooperative with others in the rodeo world. You’re all working toward the same goal. Help each other out.

Coordinate with nearby events to avoid date conflicts.
This ensures better turnout, more contestants, and stronger community ties.
Support each other!

3. Stick to a Schedule

If you’re starting a new event, try to stick to the same place and the same time.  It could be once a year in the same month, once a month on the same weekend, or even weekly on the same day. That way, contestants and spectators get used to the schedule and can plan ahead. With time, your event will start to grow.

Start small. Keep ticket prices low at the beginning. Build your audience, then gradually increase prices as your event gains popularity.

Same location + same time = familiarity = habit.
Weekly, monthly, or yearly—just be consistent.
Start small with low ticket prices. Let it grow naturally.

4. Build Partnerships

If you’re trying to start an association, consider teaming up with existing popular events. Add your own contest or feature within their event to gain exposure and grow your following.

Launch your event within a larger one to gain exposure.
Partner with already successful shows.

Partner with already successful shows.

5. Attract New People

Attract new people from outside the rodeo circle. You can do this through your church community, youth groups, local Cattlemen’s associations, and even local radio or newspapers.

Invite a school choir to sing the national anthem - they’ll bring friends, parents, teachers, and help spread the word through the school.

Add your event to the county events calendar. Collaborate with local schools or school districts to organize exhibitions, contests, volunteering, or educational programs about rodeo, animal care, sportsmanship, and western values.  Teach them young.

Work with city government, fire departments, and police for community promotion.

Partner with western wear stores or any western-themed shops - ask them to promote your event to their customers. In return, offer advertising space or vendor discounts. (Don’t be greedy!)

Reach out to local clubs like the Rotary Club, Elks, Lions, or Shriners. You never know what kind of collaboration you can create.

Tap into schools, churches, youth groups, and community clubs.
Collaborate with local media and officials (Police, Fire Dept., Ag Associations).
Host student contests, volunteer programs, or educational exhibitions.
Invite school choirs, clubs, and local vendors. Get families involved.

6. Spread the Word - For Real

Participants, it starts with you.Spread the word in real life - on your job site, at church, with your neighbors, friends, and family.

Then do the same on social media. The more people you invite, the better the turnout - and that leads to bigger prize money and better-quality events.

Contestants and fans: share in real life and online.
Your word of mouth grows prize money and event quality.
Talk about it everywhere - job sites, churches, grocery stores.

7. Create Professional Ads

Do proper advertising. A good poster should include the most important info:  State, City, Full Address, Date, and Time.  Put up big or small banners around the area. Drop off mini flyers at hotels, gas stations, feed stores, restaurants, etc.

Post your flyer on social media and in every possible rodeo-related group. Do it with the same energy and consistency as people who sell knives online.  Start as soon as you have your confirmed dates. Then keep posting updates at least once a week.

Think outside the box: 

How can your event reach someone in the middle of your city who’s never even heard of rodeo or the western lifestyle?

Clear poster: State, City, Address, Date, Time, Ticket Price, Added Money, Stock Contractor
Use real photos. Clean design. Big, bold info.
Print banners and flyers - place them in hotels, shops, gas stations, schools.

Think like a knife-seller on Facebook: post everywhere and often!

8. Collaborate with Influencers

Team up with someone well-known or influential to help promote your event.It’s not always about money - it’s about shared passion and mutual support.

No, not about money - about shared passion.
Find someone with a following who cares and wants to help.

9. Vendors also Make Events Memorable

Invite more vendors and offer them discounts.  Spectators want a good variety of food, family-friendly fun, great memories and all of that at an affordable price - especially for large families.

Some rodeos organized with local agriculture associations even include a free meal with every ticket. People remember that—and they come back.

Give vendor discounts. Prioritize family-friendly food and activities.
Offer value. Some events include a free meal with the ticket. People remember that.

Final Thoughts

There’s so much more that can be done - but this is a solid start to hit key points in marketing

At the heart of it, this isn’t even about money. It’s about stronger communication and better relationships. It’s about reviving a piece of culture and helping it thrive in a new era.

Think wide. Dream big. And everything will come.  Let’s make rodeo big again.

Tatiana Kozlovsky