Songfight Live 2011 Musician Exchange

[JonPorobil]

I would gladly chip in for a drum set. In fact, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find that you could fundraise enough for a full-size kit, if that were the drummer's preference.

nyjm, I'm messaging you shortly.

[fluffy]

I need ideas, folks.

ok, first thing you do is set up a dedicated paypal account to pay for the drums. then you need to create a funny, heartfelt plea/fundraising campaign to the online community for spare change or a bit more to help pay for the drums at SFLNYC. It's alot easier to collect a few bucks from hundreds than hundreds from a few. Add this info to the webpage/SFLNYC homepage once Spud builds it. Also add it to the news on the SF homepage. Set a deadline ( a few weeks before the show) and then somebody (Niveous I assume) buys a cheap used drumkit off of craigslist NYC with whatever is raised.

After the show, Niveous can sell the kit and any $ made gets funneled back to the organizers for any out of pocket costs they incurred.

I mean, even I'd give you guys a buck or 2.

I like that idea.

[Lunkhead]

Maybe a Kickstarter campaign? I know they take a cut, and so does Amazon, but it can be an effective fundraising tool.

[JonPorobil]

I don't want to overstep the bounds of the organizer, but I don't think we'd be needing so much money that it couldn't all come from within the Songfight community. Plus, if we start a Kickstarter campaign for it, but don't hit the goal, then we get no money at all, which in this case is much worse than almost-but-not-quite-enough.

Niv, how much money are we talking here, anyway?

[fluffy]

I don't think it will be a problem.

[Niveous]

Thanks for the good ideas! I am going to set up a paypal account.

Niv, how much money are we talking here, anyway?

The space on Saturday- $320
The drumset- $120 and up
Someone to play doorman on Saturday- $50

(Spaceonwhite says that we need someone to play doorman for the 5 hours we have the place rented out).

[fluffy]

Will there be a cover on Saturday, or will the doorman just be "$0! or suggested donation" or what?

[Niveous]

The doorman is just there to let people in. Space on White isn't like a rock club. It's an open venue that puts on everything from art shows to us. I figure we get someone to run the door. Give them 10 bucks an hour (in other words $50). They sit there in the lobby and let people in and probably enjoy a free brew on us while doing it.

[jack]

You could probably find volunteers willing to work the door in shorter intervals for free.

At SF Live Santa Cruz, we had Bjam's mom working the door at one point, with Amber's kids working the sidewalk trying to get people inside. I worked the door when I wasn't playing. And one of the phunt guys worked the swag table, selling other peoples shirts and CDs (I think Marcus helped with this too). There are usually plenty of people onsite willing to help if they are asked nicely.

Just needs to be organized.

[JonPorobil]

The doorman is just there to let people in. Space on White isn't like a rock club. It's an open venue that puts on everything from art shows to us. I figure we get someone to run the door. Give them 10 bucks an hour (in other words $50). They sit there in the lobby and let people in and probably enjoy a free brew on us while doing it.

What does the doorman need to do? I'd take a shift for free, probably.

[jack]

here's another fun idea to help get the drum drive promotion kick started.....

typically, with fund raisers, they kick something back to the donor (think PBS and a DVD of whatever they interrupt with a pledge drive), at the very least a public declaration of thanks. there's a bunch of ways you guys could do this but a fun way would be to create what I'd call the "drum circle", which is just a funny way of saying these are patrons of SFLNYC, and they could be named somewhere on the SFLNYC website, maybe in fine print on a poster, and thanked by the MC at the show from a list of names between sets. All of this stuff costs nothing, but it's a fun way to at least acknowledge anyone that donated. you don't have to say how much, that's not as important as the fact they did.

plus, it lets those that can't attend feel involved!

[JonPorobil]

here's another fun idea to help get the drum drive promotion kick started.....

typically, with fund raisers, they kick something back to the donor (think PBS and a DVD of whatever they interrupt with a pledge drive), at the very least a public declaration of thanks....

Maybe I'm just the weirdo here, but my kickback is that we (and I) get a drum set to use for the shows.

[jack]

here's another fun idea to help get the drum drive promotion kick started.....

typically, with fund raisers, they kick something back to the donor (think PBS and a DVD of whatever they interrupt with a pledge drive), at the very least a public declaration of thanks....

Maybe I'm just the weirdo here, but my kickback is that we (and I) get a drum set to use for the shows.

i wouldn't call you a weirdo, but if that's your attitude, you don't need a fundraiser. you just need to collect $50 each from 5 or 6 people that will use the kit once at the show. Good luck!

[JonPorobil]

Well, YOUR kickback is that you get to hear awesome bands playing with a full drum kit!

Wait, are you even coming?

[Niveous]

The paypal is set up and linked to niveous.devilchild @ gmail.com

Send away.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?c ... aNonHosted

And if you aren't coming but contribute, you will at the very least get a shout out at the Sidewalk Cafe show.

[ken]

Will there be a cover on Saturday, or will the doorman just be "$0! or suggested donation" or what?

I like to charge a $5 cover just so people understand they are contributing to the event. This helps to defray costs and keep the riff raff out. This is also why you need a doorman. In my experience, having put on a lot of Songfight shows, songfighters are usually more than happy to contribute to the expense of the show if asked.

Ken

[Paco Del Stinko]

Hey Niv - Can you keep and store the drum kit? You could keep it around for other SF! events. Also, is it too goofy to have Songfighters! autograph it? Keep adding to it over the years? Black kit/silver Sharpie, white w/black or blue,etc. Too cheesy?

Anyway, I'll put up a couple of bucks.

[Niveous]

Hey Niv - Can you keep and store the drum kit? You could keep it around for other SF! events. Also, is it too goofy to have Songfighters! autograph it? Keep adding to it over the years? Black kit/silver Sharpie, white w/black or blue,etc. Too cheesy?

Anyway, I'll put up a couple of bucks.

Yes- i'll can keep and store
No- that's not a goofy idea. That's a great idea.

[nyjm]

This thread is so full of win that it makes me weep. I'm getting so psyched about this and it's not even May yet!

Also: donated. 4E633456KS416714T

[inevitableguy]

Thanks for the good ideas! I am going to set up a paypal account.

The space on Saturday- $320
The drumset- $120 and up
Someone to play doorman on Saturday- $50

I meant to chime in on this sooner, but I've been a bit scatterbrained the last couple of weeks.

Just to put some perspective on this - by the time all is said and done, I will be spending more than twice this amount just to get to NY and stay for the gig. To me, it doesn't seem out of line to suggest that the locals take on a larger share of this cost than those of us crossing the continent. I believe that there is precedent for this (at least, that's how the two SF Live events I've been to seemed to run).

Just my $0.02.

[fluffy]

Traditionally, the organizer ends up without much in the way of a financial burden at all when all is said and done, but that's more than made up for with the sheer amount of work they have to do to make things happen. It's something that you can't really appreciate until you've gone through it yourself.

[Niveous]

If I could flip for all the costs for the show, I would. But I am nowhere near the financial shape in which to do that. So that's why I asked for help. I know that people are spending a lot to go across the country for the show. I know that because I haven't been able to go to those shows on the other coast. Couldn't afford it. I can't put a lot in financially but I'm doing what I can.

I'd like to thank all those who have donated so far. We've got Space on White nearly all paid off. Now to work on getting the drum set.