Klarinet Archive - Posting 000132.txt from 2012/01

From: Tim Roberts <timr@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] community bands
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:39:17 -0500

Jhzkr@-----.com wrote:
> Many of you play in community bands so I've a few questions for you. If
> the band is giving a free concert, is there a good reason why a container
> labeled "donations may be made here" should not on the table where the band's
> CDs are being sold in the lobby of an auditorium? The directors seem to
> feel that you shouldn't ask for donations if you've advertised the concert
> is free.

All of the Tualatin Valley Community Band concerts are free, and all of
them include a donation basket in the lobby. Recently, we've positioned
volunteers at the auditorium exits with additional baskets. The
strategy has proven successful; our recent Christmas concert set a new
peak in donations (just over $1,000).

How do you manage the reproduction rights for the CDs you sell? Do you
actually negotiate a rate with the Harry Fox Agency, or do you only play
public domain music? Or do you pretend it is not a problem?

> Also, how are your bands handling the current financial crunch?
> We've lost a few well paying jobs because some organizations have
> discontinued events. We do not want to raise rates, but need to replace that income.

About half of our budget comes from an arts grant from the City of
Tigard. The other half comes from donations throughout the year. We
have not yet had to resort to dues or fund raisers, but we get our
rehearsal space for free. We have not noticed a decrease in attendance
because of the recession.

> Also, many of us do not want to change the venue for our two major
> concerts of the year, even though it's a large expense, because any location we
> change it to would cut our 1,000 plus attendance in more than half.

I understand that. It costs us $750 to throw a concert in the local
high school auditorium, but it's a nice venue and we get a good crowd.

--
Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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