Friday, February 14, 2014

As With Natural Disasters, People Prefer to Give Concrete Things, Not Money

The following is an excerpt of an email sent from Art to Will on 15 September 2013 on the subject of funding The Concert for Iceland.

I'm not sure when this show would occur (baby #7 due in November) or if you're even interested in having a hand in this anymore. 

It sounds like we're looking to do Apotheosis with another drummer, but your talents would certainly be welcome as a writer, promoter, actor again.  If we do look into doing this again, I'd like to take a different fiscal approach.

Firstly, I want to address the issue of being resource poor before the show. 

I'd like to have the money up front to purchase things for the show, not hoping that we make enough to recoup our losses.  Here's my idea, one I've expressed before: I'd like to get the personnel and story squared away first.  Then I'd like to brainstorm and price out all all the accoutrements necessary for the show's production and get each member's picture taken with the desired outfits.  Then, fundraise on the front end of things. 

Inside a wedding registry-type paradigm, benefactors could purchase the clothing of one or more characters.  Perhaps we could set something up with your vintage clothes lady.  As with natural disasters, people prefer to give concrete things, not money.  We may want to have some prizes or recognition associated with each level of support.

Secondly, I want us to make money on the show.  Here's an idea for that: at the door, in addition to someone collecting money and/or tickets, there would be someone asking whose guest they are.  This person would tally the number of guests of mine, of yours, etc. etc.  Then, after the show, there would be some agreed-upon algorithm for divvying up the money. 

I like the idea of a little friendly competition between stakeholders, which would doubtless lead to a larger take.  Once everyone has his or her money in hand, we can individually decide if we want to collectively reinvest any of it back into the project.

No comments: