Anyone ever put on a fundraising show? Could use your advice/opinions...

[Dave Muscato]

Heyo everybody,

My band is considering putting together a fundraiser show for our local Humane Society. We are looking for creative ways to bring attention to this show and make it a success for the shelter. Aside from finding other good bands with draws and securing a good date, what are some ways to make sure that you get a lot of people there (or at least a lot of people to donate money?)

We had a few ideas... One of them was approaching area businesses to see if they would match donations (up to a certain dollar amount) in exchange for being listed as a sponsor on the posters, flyers, website, etc.

Of course, we would ask the HS to solicit ticket sales to people who come into the shelter to play with the animals or to adopt them.

We would also see about getting the local newspapers & TV stations to run stories on the fundraiser.

I don't know how practical this is, but we'd love to have an all-ages show with some of the more docile dogs & cats available at the venue for people to play with, even if it's only for part of it.

We will probably have 4 or 5 groups playing - a few acoustic acts earlier in the evening, say, 6 PM, and then later into the night, two or three full-out bands. I thought we might try to have the animals there during the acoustic part of the show.

We thought we might try to get some of the local elementary, middle, and high-schools, and also local churches, to put up posters or announce that we are holding this all-ages fundraiser to benefit a local charity.

Any ideas, opinions, links, etc are very much appreciated.

Thank you, guys,

[four2oh]

My bluegrass band does quite a few fundraisers per year (next one is in Oct., trying to raise $1.3M to purchase land earmarked for clearcutting, in the hopes to create a new hiking trail system in the Cascades Mts)..

I suggest talking to local businesses and asking for donations (merchandise, services, ect) for a raffle at the show. It gets the businesses some promotion, and hopefully adds additional money for the cause.

[superjesus]

Years ago, my band did an AIDS benefit concert. The show was scheduled to coincide with a fairly popular local AIDS Awareness Benefit Walk. We didn't really do anything out of the ordinary to promote the show, but we were fortunate enough to play to a crowd that was out supporting the cause anyway. My band was able to donate a pretty good sum of money to the charity organizers through the tips we received. Actually, we made more money for the AIDS benefit than we did for ourselves at our regular shows.

My limited advice is to contact local club owners/ venues who might be interested in donating their space/time for such an event. You never know who might be an animal lover.

More than that, here in the St. Louis area, many of the suburban townships hold their own weekend charity events. See if your local City Councils, Humane Societies, or Arts Centers have a similar (or similar enough) event planned. You might be able to benefit from their additional planning and expertise.

Good luck. I'm always a fan of charity gigs.

[JKT]

One word: Woofstock

That;s right, Woofstock. The concert for peace love and dogs

Your welcome.


JKT

[topper]

Get the local media on board as media sponsors. It doesn't cost them anything in real dollars, but they'll promote the hell out of your event much more than simply sending them a PSA.

[Dave Muscato]

Oo, a raffle. Good idea! Thanks.

Woofstock is taken, JKT I have another idea for a name but I need to register it before I post it on the Internet. I'll let you guys know.

Thanks for the ideas; please keep them coming!

We will definitely try to get local media on board. A friend of ours works for the local TV news station, so we can probably get a remote out at the show... That would be very cool!

[Dave Muscato]

How about "Some Of My Best Friends Are Furry?"

haha