Music Festivals for Charity
Successful charitable events provide incentives through entertainment. By enlisting popular local bands to come together for a good cause, you are encouraging the people from your neighborhoods to give their attention to a local charity in need of funding. When all proceeds are going to the charity in question, local grocery stores, restaurants, bands and community centers are likely to donate their time or products to your event. The total revenue made from ticket prices can then go directly to your charity.
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Permits
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Depending on your state and local laws, you may have to obtain a one-day permit to host a fundraiser for a charity. Where a permit is required, the head of the event fills out basic information about the event, including location, name of the charity, dates of the activity, responsible persons, what games, prizes and entertainment will take place and how revenue will be earned. For example, if you are not only having musical acts at your event, but also selling food and t-shirts for revenue, you must list each item and the price. Temporary food and drink vendors must also obtain the appropriate permits from the local city hall.
Budget
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Throwing a music festival takes concentrated effort from the event committee, guests, vendors and musicians. Your event committee is a collection of individuals that will volunteer to help make your festival a success. To qualify as a charitable event, you and your committee may not make money from the revenue earned - all proceeds must go to the charity. When figuring out your budget for the event, you must take into account guest invitations, costs of renting the festival space, costs of having bands perform, costs of booths for games or food vendors and costs of attaining permits, if any. If you plan well ahead of time, you may be able to ask for donations for your event. Grocery stores and restaurants may donate food and drinks if they are allowed to advertise at your event. Musicians may volunteer to play for free. A school or community center may allow you to use the gym, yard or theater for free.
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Revenue
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To earn revenue at your music festival, charge guests for tickets to enter the event. Ticket prices can be kept moderate if guests have a chance to buy food, t-shirts or other items inside the festival. Once you calculate your budget to host the event, create a ticket price that will help you at least break even if you plan on selling things at the festival. If you are not selling other items inside of the festival, your ticket prices are your only form of revenue unless you place donation baskets throughout the festival space.
Follow Up
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To have a chance to follow up with your guests, have a guest book at the festival entrance where each guest must write his name, address and phone number. Send a post card to each guest explaining where her money is going, including the total amount raised and the detailed uses of the money. For example, instead of saying "$3,000 was raised for a local cause," say, "$3,000 was raised for the Children's Hospital and will help young cancer survivors buy toys and games to occupy their recovery time." Following up with each guest gives her a sense of peace, and makes it more likely that she will attend another charitable event of yours in the future.
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References
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