Setting up a benefit show

[BATCAT]

I have decided to set up a benefit show for Amnesty International. (http://www.amnesty.org) We will donate all profits to AI.

 

I wanted to see what words of wisdom anyone experienced with organizing befefits might have for me. My plan was to just write AI and let them know what we were doing and see if they wanted to send any materials... and we'd set up a table at the door with info. At the end of the night I guess we'd just get a check or MO with all the cash and send it.

 

I dunno... any other suggestions? We'll of course promote it throught the usual channels.

 

We were also thinking maybe an auction or something...

 

[Beachbum]

Noble cause, congrats on your idea to do a benefit.

 

Good luck with it, let us know all about it.

[srsfallriver]

You may have read this already, but if not, there's some stuff in this thread worth considering.

 

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1190479

[BATCAT]

 

Originally posted by srsfallriver You may have read this already, but if not, there's some stuff in this thread worth considering. http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1190479

 

 

Thanks for the link!

 

But... It's going to be 3 or 4 acts, and it's a small venue, so it's probably not worth claiming as a deduction (who would even get to claim it?)

 

It won't be THAT much cash, I suspect.

[BlueStrat]

Originally posted by Actionsquid I have decided to set up a benefit show for Amnesty International. ( http://www.amnesty.org ) We will donate all profits to AI. I wanted to see what words of wisdom anyone experienced with organizing befefits might have for me. My plan was to just write AI and let them know what we were doing and see if they wanted to send any materials... and we'd set up a table at the door with info. At the end of the night I guess we'd just get a check or MO with all the cash and send it. I dunno... any other suggestions? We'll of course promote it throught the usual channels. We were also thinking maybe an auction or something...

 

You may want to check with your local regulations about being an organizer for non-profit shows: whether you have to have an NPO certificate, open a bank account for the NPO, file for tax status, etc. Too many 'charity" gigs have been done where none of the money made it to the charity, which is why so many charities are leery of unauthorized people raising money in their name.

 

We did one for the local food bank, through St Vincent de Paul; basically, we approached them with the idea and we were 'hired' by them to organize musicians, get a stage, coordinate food pickup at the venue, get the city to agree to extra police and park workers, get advertising on radio, TV and the press, get posters donated, get a sound company to donate, and so on.

 

It was a lot of work, but it was successful, for three years, anyway. After the first one, we had more bands want to volunteer (it was a blues show, we called it "Blues for Food"). The first two years, we couldn't get the local blues society involved, the third year, they agreed to help out, the fourth year, they approached St Vinnies and took it over before we knew anything about it, they started bringing in regional acts for money, set up a beer garden, got rid of the local talent, and ended up turning it into a pay event that fizzled out. After 5 years, it died, and now no one is doing it. What started out as a free show of local musicians giving back to their community became this big ego driven cluster{censored}. But still, the idea was great, and if you do it right, you can really make a nice event. Just don't let anyone usurp the reason you're doing it and turn it into a talent showcase for self-promotion.