Writing a proposal

Subject: Writing a proposal
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 09:57 PM

I'm in something of a pickle. I have an oppoortunity to pitch a yodeling workshop to a folk festival. I've finally made enough connections to get through to the decision making people. Given that it all happened rather suddenly, I've been caught unawares. I have never had to make such a proposal before and, as a result, have absolutely no idea how to go about doing so. Teaching the yodeling itself isn't a problem. I've been doing that, in formally, for years. It's the formal proposal to a festival which has me stumped. Could someone, please, help.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Writing a proposal
From: Amos
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 10:54 PM

Stephen:

Proposals vary with the audience -- the ones I am familiar with are four boks long!! But for something like this, just imagine you had to make the decision and write the check and figure out what you would want to see in a proposal -- benefits to the festival, versus cost.

WYSIWYG has done a good deal of grant pitch writing so ask her for advice, also.

A

Subject: RE: Writing a proposal
From: Helen
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 06:42 AM

do you have any guidelines on what the organisers are looking for? Often there is some sort of information package which can be obtained before you write the proposal.

One really important thing to remember is to look at it from the organisers' point of view in terms of the benefits you can offer them, e.g. it will bring in money through sales, and/or lots of happy customers (customer satisfaction) through learning new skills and enjoyment, and/or it will bring prestige to the festival or great publicity etc etc.

To develop the list of benefits think about your previous workshops or events and work out what the benefits were from them. What sort of feedback have you had from other workshop participants or concert goers or organisers.

Also, your credibility can be important, so some sort of "credentials" may need to be included. By that I mean, maybe a list of the other events you have conducted or been a part of, the other festivals you have performed at, your prowess as a musician e.g. how long you have been singing and/or playing instruments, a list of your recordings, video tapes, books or publications, or media coverage you have received.   

Once you have the guidelines, or have spoken to someone who knows what they are looking for it is just a matter of putting it all down in writing and seeing if it flies.

Good luck
Helen

Subject: RE: Writing a proposal
From: greg stephens
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 07:51 AM

Dear Sir/Madam
I want to come and do a yodelling workshop at your festival. it will last 1 hour and cost you X dollars. if you do not hire me to do this, I will come to the festival and walk about yodelling the entire time.
Yours etc
Stephen L Rich

Subject: RE: Writing a proposal
From: Grab
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 08:24 AM

Amos, after Gordon, who are the other three boks? ;-)

Subject: RE: Writing a proposal
From: momnopp
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 08:58 AM

You can get lots of information about Grantwriting in general here and here and some additional information for new grant-writers at the following sites:

The Foundation Center's Proposal Writing Short Course http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html

Writing Winning Grants Booklet http://www.anovember.com/grants.html

CFDA Developing and Writing Grant Proposals http://www.cfda.gov/public/cat-writing.htm

Knowledge Transfer System's Grant Proposal Self-Assessment Tool and Writing Winning Grant Proposals http://www.t2ed.com/cgi-bin/selection.pl

Writing a Successful Grant Proposal http://www.mcf.org/mcf/grant/writing.htm

Best of luck,

JudyO

Subject: RE: Writing a proposal
From: Willie-O
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 09:11 AM

See if you can find out who else will be at the fest who will have something to add to a yodelling workshop. I think that's the biggest challenge for the organizers--they want the creative ideas, the harder part is picking the performers and scheduling it all. For example, my friends the Toasted Westerns (kind of retro feminist cowgirl band from Ottawa, it makes tons of sense) did a yodelling workshop at Winnipeg fest last time I was there--it was a lot of fun specially cause they got Peter and Lou Berryman to sit in--they don't actually yodel but have a funny song about "cheating yodelling", done by a male/female duo where he does the low notes and she the high ones.   

The proposal shouldn't be a problem for you really--just tell them what you can do, how participatory it is, and see who else might be able to support you...and I expect they will tell you what they pay for workshops, it's not a competitive process on the financial front usually--you just need an idea that appeals to them.

Good luck.
W-O