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Action Tips: Organize a Benefit Concert for Your Cause
Rock out to rock your cause! Hosting a benefit concert to raise money for your cause guarantees you'll have fun while doing good. Here are some tips to get you there:
Build your team
Put together a host committee. Planning an event is stressful, so don't think you have to do it alone! Make a Facebook status announcing your plan to host the concert and ask anyone who's interested in helping to message you for more info.
Come up with a cool theme
Since many organizations do benefits, your show needs to stand apart from the others. Maybe if you're raising money to fight AIDS, your show is a red-only theme. Check out our fundraising ideas to get you started.
Important! Find a band!
Find a band that is willing to perform, preferably for a small fee or for free. If the benefit is for a music organization or a school or church with a choir, then finding performers will be relatively easy.
- If the organization isn't an artistic one, finding a band can be harder but not impossible with the right connections. Does someone on the board of a like-minded organization have connections with a band? Do you have friends in the music industry or do you know someone who runs a music venue? Or maybe there's a cool band at your school that wants some publicity? It's all about who you know.
- If you can't find a band through your contacts, it's time to research and cold call. Research can be done through the local papers and the Internet. Make calls to the managers of the performing acts you want. See if you can reach a deal. Many people will perform at a lower rate or free for charity, as it is a tax write-off.
- Music is great but poetry and other performance art is awesome too. Don’t hesitate to include spoken word, dance acts, monologues, etc. in your benefit. Just be sure to audition people to make sure they’re on their game.
Find a place
Book a venue. Use connections, do your research and make cold calls. Talk to your principal and see if you can use the auditorium. Is there an outdoor space in your neighborhood that would serve as a cool spot? Contact your local city hall and see what you have to do to get a permit (you’ll probably need one).
When and where
Set a date and time. Check the local papers to make sure that your event isn't on a date where a lot of things are scheduled.
How much dough
Set a price. Find out what other organizations charge for similar events in your area. Survey your colleagues and find out how much they'd want to pay.
Who's coming?
- Make fliers for your event and post them in popular places in town like the supermarket, phone booths, kiosks, local bars and coffee shops, etc.
- Tweet about it and make a Facebook event so your friends can spread the word.
- Send an evite to your entire contact list and ask them to forward it on.
Get out the word
- Send press releases to the local newspapers, websites, radio stations and television stations (including the local cable access channel) for the community calendar.
- See if your local paper will give you a newspaper ad for free or a nominal fee, after all this is a benefit…
Write it down
You’re having multiple performances, so create a program. This will also give you an opportunity to tell people (briefly) some facts on the cause, why it’s important to you, and where funds raised will go.
Freebies
Find a company to donate something to give people at the door, like a t-shirt, a food or drink item, a coupon for a free item, etc. Surprisingly, small touches like these attract more people to your event.
Getting down to the details
Hire a sound technician if one does not come along with the venue. Ask the drama department at your school to help out.
Make your friends be ushers
Find volunteers to take tickets and lead people to their seats. High school students are a good target for this, since they often need community service hours in order to graduate.
Day of
Prepare the venue the day of. You may want to put up decorations. You don’t have to overdo it but you don’t want it to be plain either.
Tips:
- Be courteous at all times. People won't give money to people who are rude to them.
- Make sure you have all the right information and that everything you send is properly written and spelled. People don't fund incompetency.
- If this is an outdoor concert, rent a tent or have one donated. It also might be a good idea to set a rain-date.
- If you know someone who can do graphics, have them make the invitation. They could get a tax write-off for their services.
- Find a meticulous proofreader for all the invitations and PR material you send out.
- Selling food and drinks at the event is a good way to raise more money for your cause. Often you can get these items donated from local restaurants, supermarkets and food companies.
- You may want to hold a raffle or auction in conjunction with the concert. Get the prize donated.
- Make sure all posters, invites, etc. have clear directions on how to get to your venue.
- In all your literature and requests, make sure you clearly and concisely state what the cause is.
- Know your audience. Do research on your local area so you know what kind of events people attend and more importantly, avoid.
- Volunteers make a big difference. If you can't guilt your friends into helping you, you can always post on sites like VolunteerMatch for help.
- Try to find a local or corporate sponsor. It will give you a bigger budget to work with, attract more people to the event and will ultimately make you more money.
- Remember: Unless your best friend runs a record company, do not expect a big name celebrity to play your concert.
- Make sure you clearly state what it is you want from donors, but be open to what they have to offer.
Sources:
WikiHow
Associated Content
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Comments
My brother and his band can help me out with this and i have a nice sized backyard and a pool soo people can come and hang out and me and my friends can sell tickets for a good price for the cause and drinks and food and stuff this is an amazing idea i love it.
anon located in the area? and want to so something like this?
I want to do something like this but can't do a concert. What other idea could i do.
If anyone wants to hold a concert but can't find a band, my dad is in an amazing one called 'Brett Mitchell and the Giant Ghost' (or simply Brett Mitchell). Jan, their manager, is always looking for new cool places to have them play, because they are really hoping to make it big. So far they've played at places such as Chicago, Indiana, New York, Mackinaw Island, and countless bars and such. Brett Mitchell and the Giant Ghost plays all types of music, but it mostly revovlves around a kindof country, folkish feel, with alot of modern mixed in. If anyone's interested and wants to get a taste of the band, check them out on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXrcLxcXkWs
or search: I was born too late/ Brett Mitchell
If you're interested, or would like to hear more of the band's music, contact me at- [removed personal information -Admin]
I life near Fort Worth Texas, does any one want to try this?
[removed personal information -Admin]
is anon any
hi, if any live in calif near los angeles, riverside, redlands, san bernardino, etc. and want to do this tell me
If any one lives near Petoskey Michigan were having a concert for hunger
If anyone wants to help us with a concert for hunger in Petoskey Michigan [removed personal information -Admin]
I recently just held a Benefit Concert. It was only open to students from my high school due to insurance reasons; and we still raised $850 in one night.
My organization, the War Ate My Heart Organization, is currently organizing a benefit concert. We have gotten into contact with artists such as Lady Gaga, Alexz Johnson, Adrienne Pierce, JoJo and they have shown interest in performing at the event. We are looking to possibly have it somewhere like the Kodak Theatre, Sony Studios, or the Hollywood & Highland Center, but we are still looking at other potential locations. In order for us to be able to coordinate an amazing awareness spreading and major fundraising event to help out with our cause we need a ton of help. If anyone is interested in being part of helping us out with the concert's production please feel free to email us at info@waratemyheart.org we would hugely appreciate the help. Hope to hear from some awesome potential helpers soon!
Paulino Cervantes
CEO, Founder
War Ate My Heart Organization
www.waratemyheart.org
I really look forward to setting something up to raise money for the YPAC. Any little bit will help, and I know PLENTY of musicians, both aspiring and seasoned. Glory be to GOD. Cool beans for Jesus!
Chris J. Burris
This is such a qreat format && me and my oqranziation [ Team INCREDIBLE ] would love to this around halloween time towards a safe trick a treat && to stop violence. Bands.. we qot B5 and much more so we're all up in it!!
if any one would like to co host w/ us or spread the word please contact me asap.
We're an orqanization willinq to help other orqanizations.
email: TeamINC@ymail.com
-Every Second of every minute of every hour of everyday in a year somethinq INCREDIBLE can happen.
I have many friends that have Christian bands that is perfect for my cause!! I have been planning this with my Mom and Church.
Hopefully, through this concert, many youth will take part in improving education due to the power of music in triggering our creativity which can support the advance in education
I'm probably going to hold a benefit concert at my school. Do you think people would come bcuz the band I have is amazing.
this sounds like a fantastic thing to do! Does anyone know about how much it would cost to organize something like this?
this is a really good idea most people would not think of this . i have recently talked to a teacher of a different culture than me and she has agreed to helpwith this we also have a lot of bands with in our school and they also have agreed to play as well i will post again during this process to let you guys know how well it goes
I absolutly love this idea!
My organization is called Shoes for Smiles, and we want to enable kids and teens to be able to make a difference! The objective of it is simple; Collect new or slightly used shoes to bring to children all over the world! We also write cards and notes with every pair of shoes we send.
We also allow a select few teenagers the opportunity to fly with the Shoes for Smiles team to South America or Africa!
I am interested in this benefit, if there are any bands in the Dallas/FW area that would like to play, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! (Especially teenagers!)
Hello! This organization for War ate my Heart sounds so fun and it looks like it goes to a great cause! Please tell me when you plan on doing this event, and if you can get those artist to perform and possibly sign autographs to "high payers" that would be awesome.
Thanks. Write back and tell me how I can help out! I can gather a few friends to help me and we can do some volunteer work at the concert! Talk to You Later!
This would really get the community involved! We're going to have Hip Hop Club perform a real moving performance dedicated to the displacement in Darfur, and Environmental Club will be throwing an Eco-Friendly all ORGANIC clothing auction off! The money is being donated to the ENOUGH project.
How did you get such big people to perform at the event??! I know you live in Hollywood but still, I wanna hold a benefit concert for Darfur and it'd be really great if you could help me out!
Hi!!! i would actually love to put together a concert! just dont really know where to start?? I live in the oc!
my band and i were planning on doing some concerts in my familyts backyard this summer, this is really helpful, now we have an idea of what were doing!
Hey my name is Hanna. I live in Kentucky and I am REALLY intrested in having a benefit concert for kids with Diabetes. If anyone is intrested please please PLEASE let me know! I already have some bands in mind that I think might be able to help us out! If you are as intrested in this as I am, please email me @ HannaDeloren@yahoo.com Thanks! and I hope to hear from you!
I can't wait to do this in the summer!!
I am friends with a local country band and I know they would help me out I just need to figure out a place to hold it at. I raise money for the leukemia & lymphoma societys Light the Night walk because Im a 11 year Hodgkin's disease survivor. I have a website for my fundraising but want to raise more!
http://pages.lightthenight.org/wpa/Pttsbrgh10/lml403
Lisa
Pgh PA
great idea il be holding mine at coffe shops that hold open mic nights!
ecot12345-
You could put on a play of sorts or a puppet show or a fashion show. I think anything that entertains would work for this project
hey! I live in the area and I'm really looking into doing this and even something bigger than just a benefit concert. I already contacted a school I had in mind... If your still intereseted I'd love to discuss some plans.
hey, im from chatsworth in LA. im planning a benefit concert for Stand Up For Kids homeless shelter. Can you help?
hey does anyone kno a place to hold a benefit concert in Virginia beach? its to help adopt/save shelter dogs! i need performers too!
hey does anyone kno a place to hold a benefit concert in Virginia beach? its to help adopt/save shelter dogs! i need performers too!
I live in Oregon and I want to do a benefit concert with all proceeds going to the Jonas Brothers Change For The Children Foundation. I am friends with a band called Sunderland and it is a possibility that I could get All-Star Weekend to perform too. There would also be auditions for anyone who would want to perform. If you live in Oregon or Washington, and are interested, email me at kelsea.mcnaughton@yahoo.com. Or follow me on twitter and ask questions @IloveBieberFFE
Thanks,
Kelsea.
www.changeforthechildren.org
I have been working on putting my concert together but its not exactly a concert. Its a showcase with dance acts, music acts, poetry performances and acting performances. october 22nd ! I cant wait.
I am in the process of putting together a benefit concert for the mj fox foundation for a cure for parkinsons. the only problem im having is that i live in connect:[ so im having a hard time thinking/find bands to perform. im in the process of getting a venue. if you have ANY contact info for bands that might like to do this or contact info for bigger names like all star weekend or never shout never[those bands are really loved over here] feel free to email me at catchinnovember@yahoo.com thank you SO much everything helps alot :]
connecticut sorry :[
Hi,
I'm wanting to hold a benefit concert and am trying to some insight on figures. How much did you charge? We have 3 no name bands - very talented mind you but not commonly known. Also, what times did you hold it?
It seems like you were very successful so any tips you could give me would be awesome!
Lys
if anyone in mobile, al is interested in doing one with me let me know:)
We are putting together a concert to bennefit VH1 Save The Music Foundation. We are looking for sponsors or if you live in the MA, RI area, and would like to be a part of the event please get in touch with us: WorthItRecords@aol.com
Hey!
Last year I held a benefit concert for Haiti at my high school and I raised over $7,000.00 for a group called Missionaries of the Poor. I had two professional bands known in my area and many high school bands playing. So as long as you have music people will come :)
I am actually doing another benefit concert for Japan this year. I am hoping to raise even more with my efforts. Benefit concerts truly are a lot of fun to put on just make sure you are up for the challenge and good luck to everyone out there doing one! I know it will be a success.
Hey were in the process of putting together a benefit concert, if you would to be involved contact us at sixonesixmusic@gmail.com
LOS ANGELES AREA
Thank you
Hi missmeliss
We might be able to help!
Contact us at sixonesixmusic@gmail.com
make sure to reference this post in the subject
Line
Thanks!
Ref our previous comment:
In regards to our benefit concert, if ANYBODY in the LA/OC area would like to be part of the coordination team please contact us at
Sixonesixmusic@gmail.com
For current information on the event like us on Facebook to stay up to date:
WWW.Facebook.com/sixonesixmusic
Thanks!
I wanna do something like this. If anyone knows any good bands in the MA area please email me at faboulosity7@yahoo.com
Right now I'm trying to raise money for people with mental problems and such. I'm really excited and I can't wait to start planning this concert.
If anyone nows a great venue or such in the area. It would be relly helpful. Thank you.
Great band willing to participate in an event like this in the Rochester, New York Area is Vanity Strikes.
Contact them at facebook.com/vanitystrikes
or comment back on this