Does anyone know anything about business contests. Say to promote used band instruments and repairs? What type of contests would you promote?What do you think would be fun, fair and worth a customer's time and lucrative enough for my business?

A poster-making contest (topic--recycling musical instruments) - name a committee of, say, three community people who will judge the posters and award prizes that can be treats from area restaurants and fast-food places, coupons for free services from area businesses (will promote those businesses too), etc.

Treasure hunt in gramma's attic (to find old instruments that maybe can still be used) - prizes for the most unusual, best condition, largest, smallest, still playable, etc. with judging committee and prizes as above

Name that Tune Contest - ask for submissions from community, then name a day for contest, ask someone to play submitted tunes on piano or other instrument, have contestants from community trying to guess, judges and prizes as above (variation, Can you name this tune in 8 notes? - or 3 notes? - or 1 note?)

Put together a weekly music and musical instrument (free) newsletter - little-known facts, current news about your business, ads from area businesses (they pay you small amount to include ads and you use money for production costs, etc.), reports on your contests, area musicians people should know, etc. Stacks of the newsletter can be given to businesses that placed ads with you, can be tacked up at area grocery store bulletin boards, can be posted at area schools after getting principals' permission. Check with post office about bulk mailing, so as your ads increase in number, you could possibly mail to households.

I don't know that I could add to this answer. It is excellent!

Wow! Once again, thanks. We already have a newsletter rough draft, but I think that the suggests above will be just as much help. (The more the merrier.) he has a few old instruments that he isn't using that he was going to use for parts.