Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Fundraising ideas?

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breccad
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Joined: 11/08/05
Location: United States
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Topic: Fundraising ideas?
Posted: 11/08/05 at 5:45pm

Hello everyone! I stumbled upon this board while doing some research
on fundraising. I have a new theater company in LA, and we just finished
our 3rd production in our first 8 months of existance. We were lucky
enough to get a seed grant to start off, but now we need to do some
major fundraising.

We're having a big brainstorming meeting soon, but I'm curious as to
what other companies have tried that have been successfull or what have
you tried that has been a disaster?

Thanks so much and feel free to contact me here or off list.

Rebecca
rebecca@latensemble.org

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k8tt
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Joined: 4/05/05
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 73

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:37am

Our latest disaster was hiring an incompetent General Manager to get butts in the seats. She bluffed her way through the interview and no one checked her references as we were in awe of her interview 'performance'. We lost money on our last performance as she didn't follow the media release agenda and we didn't even have a third of a house the first two nights. The Board had to take up the slack and do a 2 for 1 coupon for the second weekend to entice patrons.

We had volunteers beat the bushes for sponsors (they did a fantastic job going business to business in our small community). We have been unsucessful with government grants so go from show to show hoping for enough sponsors to take us through.

In LA there must be tons of businesses that would like to support live theatre. Do you have a Sponsorship committee on your Board of Directors? Even just one season sponsor who will donate a large amount will make it easier. Are you a non-profit? That helps too.

Put together a sponsor 'package' (outlining what the sponsor will get for their donation - like 2 free tickets, a sign in the lobby or in the program) and have some outgoing volunteers tackle the local businesses. Don't overlook the smaller businesses as they can contribute $50 for a business card in the program.

Good luck!

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Tallsor
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Joined: 2/24/04
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Posts: 63

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:19am

The thing about any fundraising plan (and marketing plan) is to not expect 'immediate' results. In other words, any good fundraising/marketing plan is something gradual - as those people will more likely stick around as opposed to 'overnight' ticket sales.

Look to your local colleges (especially community colleges) and work out deals with their theatre departments. College students are poor, but if you get them to like your shows now, if they stick around the area, they're more likely to be audience members when they have the money. The college I volunteer with has just started a 'buy one, get one free' coupon deal sent out to the other colleges in the area, and we are tracking to see how successful it is.

You might also want to see about partnering with arts councils or other art organizations for a 'ticket combo' (i.e., ballet and the theatre) or a ticket package, and cross promoting the programs.

A good book to read is "Don't Just Applaud - Send Money!" by Alvin H. Reiss.

I know this isn't specifically what you wanted, but hopefully it still helps.

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neale
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Joined: 4/05/06
Location: United States
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Posted: 4/05/06 at 10:44pm

Our CT is about to start into a fund raising situation as well. I am interested in the seed grant you got. Can you give me any details?

N5EBA

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Redbeard
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Joined: 4/11/06
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Posted: 4/12/06 at 12:02am

Our CT found the best fundraiser was to do what we did best--theatre. We sell our "final dress rehearsal" at a reasonable rate to an outside group. Usually these are small non-profits who in turn sell tickets to raise money themselves. Often these groups get a sponsor to cover the cost so they can't lose any money. Not only does the theatre raise money, but we reach audience members we might not otherwise see.

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jcorkran
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Joined: 4/13/06
Location: United States
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Posted: 4/13/06 at 9:49am

What we have done in past seasons (but not this year) is to get a business to sponsor a specific show. We usually get $1500 for a non-musical and $2000 for a musical, which really isn't enough. In any case, we offer the sponsor one performance just for their employees or friends or whoever they want to give the tickets to. Spmetimes this worked well, sometimes it did not. The hard part is beating the bushes to get the sponsors in the first place.

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stephane.riopel
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Joined: 7/30/06
Location: Canada
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Posted: 7/30/06 at 3:46pm

If you have costumes, props or sets, you could rent them.
It's a bit of a long term solution, meaning that it takes some time to setup everything, and build a customer base but it can be worth it in the long run.

Of course, it depends on you costume, props or sets catalog, but it can work.

Most of the people I know who do it are in figure skating clubs, but it still brings them almost 10 000$ a year. It's especially interesting if you are a non for profit organization.

Just my two cents.

St?phane Riopel
Ar-Byte Software

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RichardTYoung
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Joined: 10/31/06
Location: United States
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Posted: 11/01/06 at 12:31am

We send out a spring fund raising letter to about 300 people and it usually nets around 6 grand. The real key in our letter is humor. We make it funny, very funny. The funnier the better. As an example, one year we used blatant subliminal suggestions in the letter putting bold requests for money in very small print through out the letter. Frequently we'll use a $ in$tead of an "S" in the whole letter. One year we sent an anti-fundraising letter encouraging everyone not to send money. Of course they sent a lot anyway. Make it fun. People get hit up for all kinds of stuff and most of it is a serious appeal. Keep em laughing and bring in $ome buck$.

Live well, be safe
Richard T. Young

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jenniz
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Joined: 11/15/06
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
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Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:50am

We once auctioned off our cast in full costume to wait on a dinner party. We even had soloists and minstrels for entertainment. It was a huge success and we would do it more often but the pressing demands of our students' agendas has not allowed us a reprise of the event.

"Best seat in the house" is something we are looking into. It can be organized a variety of ways (ie-draw, silent auction etc). Provided is a small couch in the front row and some wine (or juice if the lucky winner is a minor) served at intermission by one of our actors.

Jenn

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terrys
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Joined: 7/24/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
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Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:52am

We're a Community Theatre Company beginning our 5th year. We do 2 large musicals, several small shows and a Cabaret each year. We've tried many ways to raise money. Our big musicals barely break even. We ran a Producers' Campaign with levels of donations that raised about $3,800. We've done a promotion with a local department store (Macys) that had us "selling" discount coupons for a set sale date for $5 each and we kept the money raised. Most recently we stage a "Disney Review" using younger performers (ages 14 - 27). They did most of the choreography, staging, etc. We handled tickets and concessions. Keeping costs for things like magic wands, crowns, pirate bandanas, etc. down (between $1 and $4) and selling pizza and hot dogs between Saturday afternoon (3:30) and Saturday evening (7 pm) performances, we netted $2,300. Not bad for a weekend show.
Sorry for rambling. Let me know if you want more details.
Terry

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Money Talk
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Theater Administration :Money Talk

Author	Message
breccad Walk-On Joined: 11/08/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Fundraising ideas? Posted: 11/08/05 at 5:45pm
	Hello everyone! I stumbled upon this board while doing some research on fundraising. I have a new theater company in LA, and we just finished our 3rd production in our first 8 months of existance. We were lucky enough to get a seed grant to start off, but now we need to do some major fundraising. We're having a big brainstorming meeting soon, but I'm curious as to what other companies have tried that have been successfull or what have you tried that has been a disaster? Thanks so much and feel free to contact me here or off list. Rebecca rebecca@latensemble.org

	IP Logged

k8tt Star Joined: 4/05/05 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 73	Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:37am
	Our latest disaster was hiring an incompetent General Manager to get butts in the seats. She bluffed her way through the interview and no one checked her references as we were in awe of her interview 'performance'. We lost money on our last performance as she didn't follow the media release agenda and we didn't even have a third of a house the first two nights. The Board had to take up the slack and do a 2 for 1 coupon for the second weekend to entice patrons. We had volunteers beat the bushes for sponsors (they did a fantastic job going business to business in our small community). We have been unsucessful with government grants so go from show to show hoping for enough sponsors to take us through. In LA there must be tons of businesses that would like to support live theatre. Do you have a Sponsorship committee on your Board of Directors? Even just one season sponsor who will donate a large amount will make it easier. Are you a non-profit? That helps too. Put together a sponsor 'package' (outlining what the sponsor will get for their donation - like 2 free tickets, a sign in the lobby or in the program) and have some outgoing volunteers tackle the local businesses. Don't overlook the smaller businesses as they can contribute $50 for a business card in the program. Good luck!
	IP Logged

Tallsor Star Joined: 2/24/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 63	Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:19am
	The thing about any fundraising plan (and marketing plan) is to not expect 'immediate' results. In other words, any good fundraising/marketing plan is something gradual - as those people will more likely stick around as opposed to 'overnight' ticket sales. Look to your local colleges (especially community colleges) and work out deals with their theatre departments. College students are poor, but if you get them to like your shows now, if they stick around the area, they're more likely to be audience members when they have the money. The college I volunteer with has just started a 'buy one, get one free' coupon deal sent out to the other colleges in the area, and we are tracking to see how successful it is. You might also want to see about partnering with arts councils or other art organizations for a 'ticket combo' (i.e., ballet and the theatre) or a ticket package, and cross promoting the programs. A good book to read is "Don't Just Applaud - Send Money!" by Alvin H. Reiss. I know this isn't specifically what you wanted, but hopefully it still helps.
	IP Logged

neale Walk-On Joined: 4/05/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/05/06 at 10:44pm
	Our CT is about to start into a fund raising situation as well. I am interested in the seed grant you got. Can you give me any details?
	N5EBA
	IP Logged

Redbeard Walk-On Joined: 4/11/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/12/06 at 12:02am
	Our CT found the best fundraiser was to do what we did best--theatre. We sell our "final dress rehearsal" at a reasonable rate to an outside group. Usually these are small non-profits who in turn sell tickets to raise money themselves. Often these groups get a sponsor to cover the cost so they can't lose any money. Not only does the theatre raise money, but we reach audience members we might not otherwise see.
	IP Logged

jcorkran Walk-On Joined: 4/13/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/13/06 at 9:49am
	What we have done in past seasons (but not this year) is to get a business to sponsor a specific show. We usually get $1500 for a non-musical and $2000 for a musical, which really isn't enough. In any case, we offer the sponsor one performance just for their employees or friends or whoever they want to give the tickets to. Spmetimes this worked well, sometimes it did not. The hard part is beating the bushes to get the sponsors in the first place.
	IP Logged

stephane.riopel Walk-On Joined: 7/30/06 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/30/06 at 3:46pm
	If you have costumes, props or sets, you could rent them. It's a bit of a long term solution, meaning that it takes some time to setup everything, and build a customer base but it can be worth it in the long run. Of course, it depends on you costume, props or sets catalog, but it can work. Most of the people I know who do it are in figure skating clubs, but it still brings them almost 10 000$ a year. It's especially interesting if you are a non for profit organization. Just my two cents.
	St?phane Riopel Ar-Byte Software
	IP Logged

RichardTYoung Walk-On Joined: 10/31/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 11/01/06 at 12:31am
	We send out a spring fund raising letter to about 300 people and it usually nets around 6 grand. The real key in our letter is humor. We make it funny, very funny. The funnier the better. As an example, one year we used blatant subliminal suggestions in the letter putting bold requests for money in very small print through out the letter. Frequently we'll use a $ in$tead of an "S" in the whole letter. One year we sent an anti-fundraising letter encouraging everyone not to send money. Of course they sent a lot anyway. Make it fun. People get hit up for all kinds of stuff and most of it is a serious appeal. Keep em laughing and bring in $ome buck$.
	Live well, be safe Richard T. Young
	IP Logged

jenniz Walk-On Joined: 11/15/06 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:50am
	We once auctioned off our cast in full costume to wait on a dinner party. We even had soloists and minstrels for entertainment. It was a huge success and we would do it more often but the pressing demands of our students' agendas has not allowed us a reprise of the event. "Best seat in the house" is something we are looking into. It can be organized a variety of ways (ie-draw, silent auction etc). Provided is a small couch in the front row and some wine (or juice if the lucky winner is a minor) served at intermission by one of our actors. Jenn
	IP Logged

terrys Walk-On Joined: 7/24/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:52am
	We're a Community Theatre Company beginning our 5th year. We do 2 large musicals, several small shows and a Cabaret each year. We've tried many ways to raise money. Our big musicals barely break even. We ran a Producers' Campaign with levels of donations that raised about $3,800. We've done a promotion with a local department store (Macys) that had us "selling" discount coupons for a set sale date for $5 each and we kept the money raised. Most recently we stage a "Disney Review" using younger performers (ages 14 - 27). They did most of the choreography, staging, etc. We handled tickets and concessions. Keeping costs for things like magic wands, crowns, pirate bandanas, etc. down (between $1 and $4) and selling pizza and hot dogs between Saturday afternoon (3:30) and Saturday evening (7 pm) performances, we netted $2,300. Not bad for a weekend show. Sorry for rambling. Let me know if you want more details. Terry
	IP Logged

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