For Susan Wairimu, posters are the first thing that draw her to an event, or push her away from it. She admits that if a poster looks dull, cluttered, or lacks creativity, she hardly gives it a second glance.

“I always judge an event by how its poster looks. If it’s just plain text and no effort, I assume the event won’t be any better," she says.

Her view is shared by Muthoni Wanjiku, a Nakuru-based entertainment journalist, who says the creativity and quality of posters often determine which events she chooses to attend and report on.

“Some posters make you question whether an event is even genuine or not. Attending an event to report on it means I invest my time, effort, and equipment. I wouldn’t want to commit to something only to find out it’s not happening," she notes.

Wanjiku adds that when a poster looks non-creative or poorly done, she often skips the event altogether. However, if she knows the event planner, she sometimes reaches out for more information.

“It’s the entertainment industry for a reason. Event planners need to be creative in how they package information. It has to be appealing to the audience and offer information on the event. A few events in Nakuru are doing great with their posters, but quite a number are still struggling,” she remarks.

She believes uncreative posters are partly to blame for the low turnout seen at some local events.

“It might explain why we keep seeing the same familiar faces, with only a few new attendees each time,” she adds.

Sammy Gito, an event organizer in Nakuru, agrees that posters play a key role in marketing and shaping audience turnout. He says a well-designed poster can make a significant difference in how people perceive an event.

“A poster helps the audience get a feel of who you’re attracting and what the event is about before they attend,” he explains.

Gito notes that many event organizers in Nakuru have begun investing in professional designers.

“A poster can cost anywhere between Sh500 and Sh1,000, though it’s cheaper when done in bulk. It plays a critical role in promoting an event, but it’s not the ultimate measure of success,” Gito says.

Samuel Njoroge, popularly known as Priest the Poet, also agrees, noting that both design and content matter.

“Striking a balance on a poster is a must. You might have a creative poster but lack someone who can influence an audience. A blend of opinion shapers in the entertainment industry can help turn creativity into actual audience turnout,” he explains.

Priest adds that he has seen more intentionality in poster design in Nakuru compared to before.

“Posters do have the power to influence numbers. But they work best when combined with credibility and proper planning,” he explains.

Priest , a poet and event organizer in Nakuru adds that as Nakuru’s entertainment scene continues to grow, one thing is clear a poster is more than just an announcement.

It’s the face of an event, and often, the deciding factor between half-filled halls and a full house in some cases .

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