Review: Fundraisers - Protocol?

Subject: Review: Fundraisers - Protocol?
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 07:32 AM

My trio, Ezeduzit, has been part of various fundraising concerts from time to time. Haven't had a bad time yet; we're well treated and the audiences are great.

What I'm thinking of doing is organizing a small roster of performers and actively seeking out fundraising groups with the idea of doing a concert for a portion of the gate.

In other words, I guess this would be a quasi-commercial endeavour.

Has any of you ever been involved in something like this, and if so, is there any advice you'd care to give? What might be a fair split - 50/50?

Any ideas at all, fair folks?

Subject: RE: Review: Fundraisers - Protocol?
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 01:10 PM

In my humble opinion, all artistes involved should receive a normal fee. My reasoning is as follows: the cost of hiring the hall is the same, whether for charity or no. The printer charges full fees for printing leaflets and other publicity. If food is provided, the caterers charge full fees. If a bar is provided, the licensee makes full profits. Why should the musicians lose out when no one else does? It appears to me that a lot of people make profit out of charity events, and it seems totally unfair that only the musicians are expected to work for a reduced fee, or even no fee. And, of course, they are made to feel guilty if they don't. They shouldn't - it's the people who are shamelessly profiteering who should be made to feel guilty.

I realise the above makes me sound as though I've a chip on my shoulder. And I can't deny that I've done charity gigs where hundreds of pounds has been raised, and I've been given nothing or a pittance, when a normal fee would hardly have dented the profits. I will also admit to happily doing some charity gigs for nothing when I can see what my time and effort, and the money raised, is going towards - in these cases, small local fundraisers where every penny raised goes towards the cause. I resent helping to raise money, or making a donation, for a mega-charity where a huge chunk of the proceeds goes to the cost of administration and salaries.

No doubt others will disagree, we've all had different experiences, and it's good that you've had no bad ones so far, Jeremiah. Whatever you decide, I hope all goes well with your project.

Joan

Subject: RE: Review: Fundraisers - Protocol?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 01:23 PM

Joan,

You make some great points. Back in the 80's we used to hold annual concerts (more like a mini indoor festival) as a fund raisfer for the radio station. All the artists appeared gratis, but of course we were giving them air play.   The problems we ran into were just as you described. Programs, publicity, sound crew, food, etc. were not cheap. We were lucky to have a "free" performance space, but it was in a building on the campus of the university that did not normally hold outside events. We had a tough time drawing people to the event. At the end of the day we would raise a couple of hundred dollars which would have been a loss if we paying the artists.

A few "benefits" to consider is how much good will and other opportunities will the event create?   While we did not raise a lot of money, we did raise the consciousness of the radio station in the community and developed ties with the musicians that continue to this day.   Often a benefit concert will be an introduction to an audience about your specific cause.   Harry Chapin did a wonderful job of this when he used to talk about the hunger issue during his shows.

Subject: RE: Review: Fundraisers - Protocol?
From: GUEST,Sharon G
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 01:41 PM

I have performed at fundraisers in which we received a fee, and others in which we donated our services.

For our band, It depends on the type of event, and the scale.
Fundraisers for an individual or family in crisis, for or raising money for disaster relief are some I've participated in or would participate in for free.    Or when the St. Patrick's Day Festival was rained out and lost $$$, we played for free at the "wake" to raise money to pay the bills. It was a social event, and supports an organization that hires us annually to play, and includes a lot of community members who support and hire our band.


I highly recommend sending a "letter of understanding" to the organization chairs, stating the full value of the service being donated. Type it up like a contract or invoice, then draw a line through and write: "fee waived". The dollar amount should be your highest typical fee, not discounted.   Then write it off on your taxes.   This helps the organization appreciate that the music and time being contributed has a substantial financial value.

Once we were asked to play in a concert series to raise funds to preserve an historic building (concert held at the building). This paid off by giving us chance to have access to the building as a venue for a concert.

Generally I would say that fancy events where catering is involved and guests pay substantial amounts to attend, have an entertainment budget and the performers should be paid their normal fee.    The organizers sometimes don't respect you if you value yourself too cheaply.

I have actually thought of contacting organizers of major charity events to market our band - for cocktail hour entertainment etc. But haven't gotten that far. I think the roster is not a bad idea.

Just my thoughts...
Sharon

Subject: RE: Review: Fundraisers - Protocol?
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 02:48 PM

Sharon is correct, you are valued at what you charge. If you favour the charity and are happy with the way the event has been run then there is no reason why you shouldn't give a donation equal to your fee after the event.

My beef about charities is that they often undervalue donations in time (as in performers) or in kind. The donation effectively becomes a subsidy for the customers at the fund raiser rather than going to the charity.

Subject: RE: Review: Fundraisers - Protocol?
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 04:37 PM

Some valuable advice; thank you.

I've also heard from some performer friends who do this sort of thing on a regular basis, and their working percentage is 50% (variable as inclination and circumstances dictate). There is a clear understanding in writing as to who is responsible for which aspects of the production; i.e. promotion, sound, venue, etc. CD sales are also covered with a portion being donated back to the fundraiser.

Biggest problem now is my own personal inertia! I'll post further should I manage to get this off the ground.

Thanks again . . .

Subject: RE: Review: Fundraisers - Protocol?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 07:44 PM

I have promoted regular fund raisers and appeared in many myself.I have always employed pros and made sure they were paid.It might not have been their full regular fee, but they were working, they made a profit, added names to their mailing list, and sold cds. Peter's quote above is vital.."You are valued at what you charge". If the organisers and beneficiaries of the fund raiser don't have to pay the artists they invariably don't work their socks off to sell tickets, but if they have a target to reach before they make profit they DO work their socks off! If the artists wish to donate, that's up to them and a private matter. For most of the concerts I've arranged I've quoted a total fee for the night for the artists, but I have myself often worked for a guarantee against 50%, whichever is the greater, and have used my own mailing list and website to promote the gig alongside the efforts of the organisers. My own chosen charity is the hospice movement as well as fundraisers for local schools.
I know that the folk world has raised thousands and thousands of pounds for charity every year in Britain and a better way of helping ones fellows I don't know.
Oh, and by the way, the most frequently asked question after a concert is "Why don't we know these people, they're better than anything we see on TV!"

Subject: RE: Review: Fundraisers - Protocol?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 06:12 AM

Refresh - so I can find it again