Fund raising is a touchy subject with many who have not yet had much experience. Many singers, when it comes to raising money for their careers, have merely brushed the surface—but fund raising is a lovely craft to perfect, and a necessity for any person or organization involved in the arts.
First things first: We must give ourselves plenty of time to raise money. It rarely comes all at once, so we must accept the fact that we will be adding small portions for a long time. Twenty dollars here, $50 there, maybe $100: Pretty soon, the amount we need to reach our large goal has shrunk to what seems a more attainable sum of money.
The sooner we can start the better. Now then, how do we get the money?
For starters, plenty of Web sites feature creative ways to produce a profitable outcome for anyone needing to raise money. A simple search at www.google.com should provide plenty of links. Just find the one that best suits the person needing to raise funds. What makes it even easier for performers is the fact that most people are more willing to give their donation to the person it will directly affect (especially with a little sample of what we have to offer).
I have a recent recording of a recital I performed at my alma mater: one complete hour of me! This sounds grueling when I think about it, but people who don’t have our gift love to listen to our recordings. I would give people a free copy, and almost everyone would offer to pay me for it. I would say something to the effect of, “Oh heavens Mrs. Smith, I wouldn’t dare take your money.”
This isn’t a complete lie: I really wouldn’t take their money. I would however, let them donate money to an education trip overseas for the future of a promising young star! Cheesy? Yes, but effective.
Singers can use this approach with almost anyone: Old school teachers, church members, your friends and their parents, the salesman you always buy stuff from, your landlord, etc. The list is limited only by your imagination.
I think most everyone in our profession, despite what they admit, likes to feel important, and wants to succeed. More importantly, people who can have a hand in helping the “next big thing,” the next “star,” will help!
People who make donations like to make a difference. People who make a difference, feel good about themselves, and their cause. They see it as an investment—an investment they are happy to make. Of course, a lot of them ask if they will get front-row tickets to my performances when I do prove to be the next “star.” Aha! Another key in successful fundraising.
Up to this point, my perspective has been completely positive: I have high hopes. I’m happy to give away copies of my CD. I’m thankful for the people’s donations. I make the donors feel important—they are! We must all remember we will probably be coming back to these people again in the future; therefore, we must follow through with everything we say, and continue to work hard towards our goals.
We cannot be too proud to ask for help. At a car-wash fund-raiser, I’ll ask people driving through the intersection for the change from their ashtray. They usually laugh—and then give it to me. There is nothing wrong with simply asking. This approach is fairly bold, straightforward and sometimes humbling, but I have received my largest donations simply by asking for them.
It is vital that we have all of our information available for questioning, so we must make sure we understand why we are asking for money. These questions can range from, “How long will you be gone?” to “What will your classes consist of?” to “Is my donation tax-exempt?” And yes, we must know the answers. Cover every base—we must let them know we are serious.
Another approach to fund raising is trading a donation for services. In my case, I accepted a donation in an agreement to sing the national anthem at one of a local organization’s functions. This tactic works two ways: We get even more exposure from the people who attend and get to see us at our best—and some of them may be willing to donate as well. Don’t be shy.
Many schools have scholarships set aside for trips, seminars, and odd functions. We can use our voice teachers to find out if these funds exist, and whether we are eligible to receive any of them. Ask! Sometimes fraternities and sororities have money for these purposes as well, especially if you are a brother or sister. Alumni of schools and organizations I participated in were usually very happy to help. Local organizations love donating and possibly helping to raise money for people in the community: Lion’s clubs, Rotary clubs, Chambers of Commerce, etc., may be willing to make a trade as mentioned above. All of these have proved to be successful for me.
Most importantly, we have to believe in ourselves. It is hard to sell something we don’t believe in. Donors usually know, by our presentation, if we are worth their investment. After all, if we don’t believe we will succeed, why should they? Be strong in those times of discomfort when being blunt about our needs. In the end, it pays off.
Of course, you can do many other things to raise money. The classics seem to be bake sales, car washes, raffles, etc. None of these seem to fit my personality, so I came up with my own tactics, as listed above. They proved to be successful because I aimed above and beyond my goals. Every awkward moment I had while asking for money was well worth it, after all was said and done.
