S.A. Ragtime Festival

Project Details

For San Antonio's 300th anniversary, I worked with the San Antonio Ragtime Society to revive the previously-annual San Antonio Ragtime Festival, if only for a year. The event coincided perfectly with the tricentennial as it shined a light on the city's musical history and culture.

The logotype was inspired by vintage typography but kept decidedly contemporary to reflect the festival's dual purpose of promoting ragtime's history and future.

Planning the Event

The core focuses of local music, history, and culture influenced every facet of the festival's planning. The venue, BRICK at Blue Star, was itself an antique building and a central part of local culture. The musical acts and volunteer musicians played not only ragtime music but also local compositions and genres. Vendors were locally-based and sold vintage goods. Exhibits displayed artifacts of not only ragtime and music history but also of local composers and publishers.

Both digital and physical marketing materials were generated to promote the event. Bright yellow Posters, flyers, and cards were distributed around town in coffee shops, record stores, and anywhere with a bulletin board. Digital ads, online articles, third-party calendars, and a promotional video helped bolster online social presence and SEO.

Setting the Scene

Populating the festival with decorations and signage proved a significant undertaking as well. In order to help visitors navigate the complex surrounding the festival, several hand-painted sandwich boards were created and posted in strategic locations.

Once inside, original posters and giant prints of antique sheet music covers adorned the walls. A film with festival sponsors and Edison films was projected on a wall. Festival programs were produced economically in black and white. Badges helped distinguish volunteers and give access to a special VIP and break area.

The final result was a blue-and-gold step back in time, complete with its own soundtrack. The final event garnered over 400 attendees and over 400 interested engagements on Facebook.