Dan is a writer living in Shanghai, China.
September 17 07
That's Shanghai's ridiculous event listings policy
So, Shanghaiist is having a Halloween party at Shanghai Studio (the bar in a bomb shelter) again this year: Saturday, October 27, 9 pm "until the last demon is exorcised." More than 500 people showed up last year, and I think most left happy. Halloween is my favorite holiday (it is also my birthday) and we try to do the party right. You can see some photos from last year's party here and here.
We started publicizing this year's party early, emailing all the local magazines. All were happy to include the party in their listings ... except for for one: That's Shanghai.
Here is their initial response to our email request (they sent it on Friday):
Thanks. Not sure if I can include since we have reached the deadline yesterday.
Fair enough. Monthly magazines do have early deadlines, although Shanghai Talk was able to include us without a problem.
Here was my reply:
It's too bad we ran up against your deadline. Could you please include our party listing on your website and in your email newsletters? I imagine there wouldn't be any deadline conflicts regarding those outlets, right?
And then their response to that:
Hi Dan, sorry about this, but we’ve got a few parties of our own and our marketing dept doesn’t want us to help you advertise your party. In the future if you have events please send them. If they don’t’ conflict with ours then I’ll gladly put them in the mag.
And my final words:
I am sure you are aware that this is a very strange policy. Is That's Shanghai only going to list one Halloween party in all of Shanghai? I would have thought that a local events magazine would want readers to know they can expect a complete or at least extensive listing of what is going on in the city — not just the events that don't conflict with the magazine's own agenda. This is Shanghai Studio's party, too, and I am sure they also will be confused why they are not allowed to list their event.Please tell your marketing department that they are more than welcome to post listings for That's Shanghai parties on the Shanghaiist website. The link to do so is http://upcoming.org/add/event/355/.
That last part was a little catty. I apologize.
Visit the Shanghaiist Halloween Party on Facebook, Upcoming and City Weekend.
If you are in Shanghai in late October, dress up and join us. Should be a good time. Bring all your friends (even if they work for That's Shanghai's marketing department).