Concerts For Charity

Subject: Concerts For Charity
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 07:22 PM

Looking in at the Yellowbellies cd thread I thought it might be interesting for anyone to talk on concerts they have organized or played at that were for the purpose of helping out in different ways . These kinds of events can be such an inspiration to do and give back so much to a community . I think if we share ideas in a thread this may make a useful document for anyone who NEEDS to pull together such a show ..
                            For many years I did a concert at a beautiful local church          ( only in use some Sundays in the summer ..no elitricity ) and the proceeds went to the local Visiting Nurse Ass. to help with "Meals on Wheels" . THis particular concert generated a lot of dow because the woman organizing it sent out a mailer that asked for different types of pre bought tickets ... So even with the great group that came maybe 150 say at $12 .00 each she pre sold tickets at Supporting + $50.00 and Donors at $100.00 Atlas $250.00 and so on . At any rate I think she pulled in over $2000.00 a show .She and I always thought up a theame for that years show . She got the local florish to donate flowers . She got the printers to donate the concert book . It was a very classy act . The point is with the right presetatoin some good can be done ..
                           I can think of three house fire concerts I have played in and at least half a dozon NO INSURANCE concerts. These being less organized usually brought in much less money then the VNA show..
                         A local Fire department in Roxburry Ct has run a fiddle contest for 28+ years that has been a booming sucsess . I helped write the rules and organize the direction of the thing in its early years and it has been a healthy addition to the local summer for what seems like forever . The possabilities around ideas like that are endless. Morris dance compititions , Clogging compititions ... Poca and Acordian exstrqavganzas..
Anyway do get the idea..
                         It would be great to hear of shows that we, as musicians have been a part of that have made a difference .. All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 07:30 PM

Folk For M S ( Multiple Scirrossis) has been running here in UK for YEARS ! Lots of TOP Folk acts have appeared for nowt and a lot of cash has been raised for M S research .

And there are several Swarbaid events happening at the moment to raise cash for Dave Swarbrick !

There have been various Folk events for Charity in UK - Dog Days weekends and Caversham Festival are a couple that I have been involved in !

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 11:58 PM

Doing a Swarbaid Christmas do at Market Rasen Folk Club Saturday Dec 18th

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: UB Ed
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 11:02 AM

Our group, Uisce Beatha, does a benefit each year for Freedom House in Richmond, VA. USA. Freedom House is an organization that not only takes folks off the streets providing food and shelter, but also provides programs to enable these folks to stay off the streets. This time of year the money is wearing thin and anything is appreciated.

We donate our evenings pay, play requests for donations, collect prizes and raffle them off for donations. Rare Olde Times (our host pub) and the local AOH also make contributions.

We'll be doing this again this Thursday, December 16th. Wish us luck!

Ed

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 11:59 AM

Folk for Multiple Sclerosis, (I'm still working on the Scirrossis, Leadfingers,) started as a one off event back in 1990 and has now celebrated it's fifteenth year.
We are now a registered charity and are planning an even bigger event (a day of folk) in 2005.
Find out more about us and the work we do at
Folk for M.S. Web Site
(Look who's finally mastered the blue clicky thing, Skipy)

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 12:13 PM

Sorry Bob- Posted in a hurry with brain switched off .

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: rhyzla
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 12:25 PM

Did you mean here - www.folkforms.org

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 05:48 AM

Thanks rhyzla, that was the link that I buried behind the words in the post, yours worked, mine didn't work. (That will teach me not to be so smug!)

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: rhyzla
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 08:06 AM

Thanks Bob, always remember to put in the http:// bit before the address, and it works!!

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: harvey andrews
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 10:37 AM

I've put on an annual concert in a village hall for 25 years. Profits lately have gone towards the MacMillan nurses.I find it helps greatly to work for an organisation that has a network that can sell tickets.
I've always employed top pros and made sure they were paid.Of course, paying their normal fee would take too much of the gate money, but I've always found they were happy to work, where possible,for a lesser fee because of the cause. I usually put on two acts, one semi-pro or up and coming, and one established artist. I do a spot myself every year.I also ensure that one of the acts is purely musical, and the other more humourous, thus attracting a wide ranging audience.The concert is always a sell-out. All the artists were willing to work for less than their normal fee, thus making a profit on a sell out of between £800 and £1000 pounds for the Nurses.
The local community have had some fantastic nights and have a much better opinion of what's happening on the English music scene than TV ever shows them!
I've only approached two artists who turned me down because of the money offered. No names, but not suprised!
To anyone thinking of having a charity concert I would say don't be afraid to approach your favourite artists. As long as they get something to help feed the family I think you'll find they're the most generous and helpful people.Of course they can't do charity work all the time!
It's not a way to get someone cheaply, but it is a way to bring something new to your local community, and believe me, they always find it's an eye (and ear) opener!

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: open mike
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 05:09 PM

THE TRIO I AM NOW IN FORMED IN RESPONSE TO A
benefit for a local historical society. We
also play at a crafts faire that benefits a
radio station, and at a fund-raising dinner
for a volunteer fire company. Some time we
get paid to do this, other times we get food.
I also helped organize a concert and auction
for a fellow musician with cancer.
(the benefit was successful--wish i could say the
medical treatments had totally removed all symptoms)
It is good to get some gas money or travel
expenses, at least. The big "come-on" by
events organizers is the the band will get
"exposure" well we are so exposed now we
may catch a chill! we don't want hypo thermia
now do we? (how much does it COST us to play
here? is NOT the name of the game...)
I am a perpetual voluneterr.
fire fighter, blood drive, bookmobile driver...
various boards of directoers..it seems i GIVE
a lot of time and energy...too much...
lots of good causes, but, i must sustain
myself too!
our folk society has organized some festivals
as a benefit for the society, but it seems
everyone was in "the band" and few paid to get
in--we were our own best audience...and with
all the arrangements, equipment, stages, schedules,
recording, filming, refreshements...it ended up
not being a money maker, but we had fun!

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 10:52 PM

Harvey A and Open Mike reminded me that offering the musicians to put out thier cd's for sale also helps make the evening "Possoble" for them to give up a full paying gig . One Show Lui Colins and I did a summer ago was for a family whose son was battleing cansor. He in fact passed the week of the concert and it was one of the most beautiful gatherings I have ever had the honor to play for. Anyway Lui sold her cd's and gave some % to the family but kept enough for gas back to Massachusutts ..Being local and the pottery doing well I donated my cd sales . Both worked. Lots of things are apropriate to just help the concert happen .
                           
                            The MS folk work sounds wonderful and very organized.Adding to a websight to organize an event is a very broad brush stroke indeed !
             I hope this thread will take on a life of its own . For myself the sharing of the HOW TO part of all this will hopfully do some lasting good ..and be worth checking back to .The concerts we have all played for is inspirational on its own so dont stop adding to the list either . All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: rhyzla
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 04:44 AM

I recently ran a gig for a local hospice for the terminally ill (near Lichfield, UK) and invited local artists, as well as my own band.

Apart from the issue of raising funds for a good cause, which is always pleasurable, the artists also had an opportunity to play to an audience who had never seen them before, and I also promoted the gig in local papers and on our band website. It is important that the giving is two-way, so that the artists can see that their efforts aren't wasted!

Also, they had the chance to sell CDs.

Everyone enjoyed a good night, artists were happy, audience were happy and the hospice gained £340. I received a certificate from the hospice, which is very nice, but also acts as a receipt to prove that the monies went where they were intended!

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 16 Dec 04 - 11:17 AM

Having started as a once-a-year concert event, Folk for M.S. has exspanded on occasions to take folk entertainment into hospices and to some MS Society clubs. The events are always satifying to do and go down well. The folkies get to play to different audiences and the audiences get to see a type of music that a lot of them have never experienced. Well Worth doing !!!

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 08:43 PM

refresh . This is werth re-visiting . All the best , guy

Subject: RE: Concerts For Charity
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 09:53 AM

I took part in a musical auction, it worked like this
A panel of singer's and musicians stood at the front of a hall, each in turn sang or played one song, for free, then if the audience wanted more, they had to pay.
All proceeds to charity. It was a good evening.

Gilly