Ringing Valentines - Handbell Musicians of America

Ringing Valentines
Provided by: Neesa Hart of the Stafford Regional Handbell Society for the Guild’s ringEr-Notes email
Two years ago, looking for a fundraising idea that would both promote our emerging community handbell
organization and raise funds, we landed on the concept of Ringing Valentines.
A Stafford Regional Handbell Society Ringing Valentine consists of a long
stem red rose, 3 valentines balloons, a card, and a 16 bar chorus of a love song
played by 4 – 5 ringers at the sender’s location of choice. Recipients are usually
very surprised when the ringers arrive at schools, businesses, restaurants, and homes toting bells, a music
stand, and a fistful of Valentine goodies.
We live in a relatively small geographic area, so we charge $20 for a delivery. If we had to drive 30 – 40
minutes between locations, we’d have to up the price. We also offer a husband friendly ‘deluxe’ edition that
includes a dozen roses. And an ‘I Want it All’ edition that includes 2 dozen roses, a
dozen balloons, a cake, a card, and at least 15 ringers ringing 3 different love songs.
We market these to lawyers, doctors, churches, realtors, and other organizations
where principals are willing to do something slightly extravagant for their support
staff. The ‘I Want it All’ package sells for $300 and we usually sell about 4 – 5 of these in a season.
Logistically, Singing Valentines seemed like a monstrous undertaking when we first conceived it, but with a
little advance planning, we were able to turn it into one of most successful projects.
Our ringers love it
It’s profitable and
It puts the bells out in the community for people to see.
Usually, our local paper runs an article about it, which is an added plus.
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The first step, for us, was the music. To stay within the bounds of copyright laws, we knew we needed
sixteen bars or less of each song. We chose Love me Tender, You are My Sunshine, and Let Me Call
You Sweetheart. Our musical director, Phillip Lanier, arranged a chorus-only version of each that uses 10
or less bells. Five ringers play 1-2 bells each and play each chorus through twice. Singing Valentine
buyers can choose which song they want, and the choice they make dictates the team that makes their
delivery. Each team memorizes one of the three songs. Every ringing team rehearses all 3 songs so they
can play from the music when we make „I Want it All‟ deliveries.
Our ringers sign up for shifts. We make deliveries in 3 windows of time:
9 am – Noon
1 pm – 4 pm
5 pm – 8 pm on Valentine‟s Day
„I Want it All‟ packages are available for specific
delivery times and we schedule them around our teams‟ other delivery schedule
We have found that in our area, each team can comfortably make 4 deliveries an hour, 5 if two are very close
together. We try to have at least 4 teams on the road during every time slot.
Teams consist of 5 ringers (which can include a ringer/director). One ringer, or the director, can serve as
driver. There is a second driver in a chase vehicle equipped with all the logistical information about the
deliveries. Addresses, phone numbers, contact information, and any other relevant information about the
location, and a pre-programmed GPS are all crucial to the driver‟s success, and, consequently, the success
of the delivery team. Also, all delivery supplies are in the second vehicle. There are teams at our rehearsal
location who prep these deliveries in advance. Each delivery‟s set of supplies is in a separate box.
(Note to the wise: 3 helium balloons in a bouquet fit nicely into a lawn and leaf garbage bag. The bag can
be cut away at the delivery site and helps segregate the balloons during transport and eliminate the tangling
that windy days bring.)
When the two vehicles arrive at a delivery site, each ringer, clad in our Ringing Valentines t-shirts and
appropriate February turtlenecks and snow shoes, carries his or her
own bells into the delivery area. The driver of the chase vehicle
carries the delivery materials, and the ringer director introduces the
Ringing Valentine to the recipient and the inevitable crowd that
gathers. Once the recipient has been prepped, and is happily
holding his or her roses, balloons and card, the ringers play the
chosen song, finish with “Happy Valentine‟s Day” in unison and are
out the door to the next location.
The cards we deliver always have the information about our handbell organization on the reverse.
Interestingly, we generally pick up a couple of new ringers after all the deliveries have been made.
It‟s a very long day, but it‟s both financially and personally rewarding. Our ringers love the fact that there‟s
something for everyone to do – from the ringers, to their family members who prep deliveries and serve lunch
and dinner to the ringing teams. Everyone gets a chance to participate. Even our youngest ringers can fill
vases with glass marbles and count roses. It‟s a great time of fellowship and music, and it serves as a catalyst
for our spring semester. We have nine different handbell ensembles, so it‟s a great chance for all our ringers
to get to know each other and contribute to the health of the organization that unites them.
Stuff that‟s important:
Get your music together. If you‟d like to use ours, contact us for copies. Other than that, there‟s no
hard, fast rule that says you have to play any particular piece. If you want to write your own, that‟s
great, but keep it short. Deliveries should last about 5 minutes.
Order your roses ahead of time! They closer to Valentine‟s Day, the more they cost. When you order
fresh flowers, you can choose the delivery date. We have ours delivered
fresh two days before we do deliveries. You have to snip the stems and put
them in water when they arrive. Five gallon buckets work nicely for this.
Buckets are available free from local grocery store bakeries. Just ask for
the „empty icing‟ buckets in advance and they‟ll give them to you as they
empty them. We order our flowers from Costco, because they are the best
deal, but if you don‟t have Costco in your area, an internet search for “wholesale bulk roses” will yield
several choices.
Nail down a delivery schedule. It‟s crucial to give your ringers plenty of notice of what is needed and
what is required.
Find someone to aggressively market “I Want it All” deliveries. These are significantly more profitable
than individual deliveries and well-worth the extra effort.
Design a logo and use it liberally. We put it on our ringers‟ t-shirts. Our logo is a Handbell that looks
like a rose standing beside the “Ringing Valentines” text. We make the shirts in pink and red and pass
them out liberally. Every time a ringer wears one, it‟s free advertising.
Get the media involved. It‟s a great photo op. If you have a small town newspaper, you‟re almost
guaranteed to get a write up. Larger markets may be a bit tougher, but papers, and even tv networks,
love themed stories for holidays, so it‟s worth a shot. Could you deliver a Ringing Valentine to your
local news anchor or morning news show crew? We delivered one in-studio to our local radio crew. They
played it on the air and put pictures all over their Facebook page.
Negotiate a deal for helium. We were able to get our tank for $75 from our local party store. If you
order balloons in bulk from internet suppliers, they are less expensive than retail and you
can find themed mylar balloons for about 10 cents each. Latex balloons are less than a
nickel.
Use every available avenue to market Ringing Valentines. Your ringers can pass out flyers to friends
and family, spread them in your community and be creative about finding customers. One of our best
flyer locations is at local health clubs. Most of our customers are men, and they will pick up the flyers at
the registration desk.
Get your drivers first. They are crucial to success and you need a firm commitment.
Start rehearsing your ringers about 3 weeks in advance. It takes a while to memorize 16 bars. You can
use a music stand, of course, if you wish, but it‟s easier to play from memory.
Have fun, and please let us know how it goes. If you have any questions, we‟re available anytime at
info@frickandfrackmusic.com
Experience the joy of sending
an unforgettable Ringing Valentine
This year, surprise your Valentine with an unforgettable experience.
Send a quintet of festively dressed young ringers and a director from
the Stafford Regional Handbell Society to deliver a romantic Ringing
Valentine with a personal message.
Available for Delivery in the Stafford, Fredericksburg and
Spotsylvania area February 12, 13 & 14, 2010
Our $19.95 package includes:
• A Sweetheart Song rung on English Handbells
• Your choice of a single Red Rose or a Valentine’s Cupcake
• 3 Valentine’s Day Helium Balloons.
 A Valentine Card inscribed with your personal message
Our $24.95 package includes:
• A Sweetheart Song rung on English Handbells
• Your choice of a single Red Rose or a Valentine’s Cupcake
 2 Valentine’s Day Helium Balloons.
 1 Custom printed Mylar Helium Balloon with the photo or message of your choice.
 A Valentine Card inscribed with your personal message

For an additional $25 dollars
send 1 dozen red roses with your order.
I WANT IT ALL $300 package includes:
• 3 Sweetheart Songs rung on English Handbells by 15 massed ringers
 1 dozen Red Roses
 1 giant cupcake — large enough to serve 15 people
 1 dozen Valentine’s Day Helium Balloons.
 3 Custom printed Mylar Helium Balloon with the photo or message of your choice.
 A Valentine Card inscribed with your personal message
Order On-Line at www.staffordregionalhandbellsociety.org
RESERVE NOW! -- Limited availability.
Call 540-850-3700
The Stafford Regional Handbell Society
Ringing Valentine Order Form
Name of Recipient __________________________________________________________
We deliver to residences, offices, restaurants, retirement communities, etc, around the Stafford/Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania Area.
Delivery Address ________________________________________________________________________
Delivery Address (2) _____________________________________________________________________
City _______________________________________ ZIP ________ Location Phone __________________
Buyer’s Name ___________________________________________________________________________
Buyer’s Primary Phone #__________________________Alt. Phone #_____________________________
Time of Delivery: (choose 1)
Friday, Feb. 12
Saturday, Feb. 13
Sunday, Feb. 14
[ ] 9 am—Noon
[ ] 9 am—Noon
[ ] 1 PM—4 PM
[ ] 1 PM—4 PM
[ ] 1 PM—4 PM
[ ] 5 PM—8 PM
[ ] 5 PM—8 PM
I am ordering:
____ Basic Ringing Valentine — $19.95 (please indicate preferences below)
Choose 1 gift: [ ] Rose [ ] Vanilla Cupcake [ ] Chocolate Cupcake
Choose 1 sweetheart song: [ ] Let Me Call you Sweetheart
[ ] Love Me Tender
[ ] You are My Sunshine
____ Deluxe Ringing Valentine — $24.95 (please indicate preferences below. We will contact you
to make arrangements for your personalized balloon)
Choose 1 gift: [ ] Rose [ ] Vanilla Cupcake [ ] Chocolate Cupcake
Choose 1 sweetheart song: [ ] Let Me Call you Sweetheart
[ ] Love Me Tender
[ ] You are My Sunshine
____ I WANT IT ALL! package — $300.00 (we will contact you to make arrangements for your
personalized balloons and cake flavor.)
____ Add 1 dozen roses to my order — $25.00
Your personal Message ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
We accept check, cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Please include payment by cash or check with
this form. Make checks payable to the Stafford Regional Handbell Society. To pay by credit card, place your order
online or call us at 540-850-3700
Provided for by Neesa Hart & the Stafford Regional Handbell Musicians of America Society
Neesa Hart is a lyricist and playwrite for Frick and Frack Music – an award winning children’s music and
drama company she co-owns with Phillip W. Lanier. Hart and Lanier are the co-founders of the Stafford
Regional Handbell Society in Stafford, Virginia. A community handbell group, the SRHS has 9 different
ensembles to meet the needs of every ringer. Neesa began ringing in 5th grade after completing her
third year of piano 1. Her mother, desperate for relief, signed her up for the children’s bell program at
church. Though she enjoys ringing, she never did make it past book 1 in piano.
Bold New Initiatives to Move the Guild into the Future
AGEHR president, John Pfeiffer’s keynote address at National Seminar 2009 indicated the need for AGEHR to move in a bold, new
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