Thread: Funds

Okay

So where do you get your funds for bringing in really big talent for a weekend seminar. Where do you start?

You start out with the money you have in your pocket as a deposit. Then you start selling tickets, vendor space, advertisement. You need to know what your break even point is and when you are willing to pull out if there is a lack of attendance. And how much money you are willing to lose either to proceed or to pull out.

{{{HUGS}}}

Aiwa, and in addition to the practicalities:

Faith, Hope, Luck, and Love.

Faith that it will all work out for you. Hope and vision and doing what it takes to make that vision a reality. Luck -- that another major local dance event doesn't occur on the same weekend/s as yours and that enough people have the time, funds and energy to hop in. Love, lots of love, of people and all that you do and it will all come easy :)


Khalidah

Everything Khalidah said...

Hmm I need to dig in other people's pockets ha ha

Originally Posted by sblanck

Hmm I need to dig in other people's pockets ha ha

You can raise money by hosting local haflas or having a community garage sale.

Another thing you might want to look into is sponsoring workshops with semi-local dancers as opposed to dancers who have to travel. Then build your bank account from there.

{{{HUGS}}}

This is how we do it, really the only viable option for us:

You start on a college campus in a college town. Have some kind of connection -- be part of a student group or an employee.

You get different departments and entities on campus to co-sponsor subsidize the event, provide free or highly reduced spaces for the workshops and show.

Choosing someone who is of broader interest than just as a belly dance instructor helps alot (e.g. someone who can give a lecture, or give some kind of cultural presentation).

Put together a show that is strong enough with professional dancers that the general public will come and form a repeat customer base. The show is entertainment for the paying public, not a reward for the dancers that come to the workshop.

And we still just break even.

Yeah, I'm a big advocate of starting small and then building your customer base. The Vegas Intensive started as a weekend of local teachers all getting together at the dance studio I worked at. Free space and a pay scale based on attendance. Next year we are moving to the Flamingo on the Strip and can afford multiple headliners. But it has taken a lot of dedication and years of fine tuning.

I've seen first hand what happens if you throw a lot of money at an event the first time out of the gate (anyone remember the IBDC?). And I recommend you start with something manageable that you know you can afford.

If you can get 30 people in a semi-local workshop all paying $80 for two 3-hour workshops on a Saturday, then you'll know you have a $1500 base to work with. (which isn't enough for a headliner, but it's something to start with).

I generally start with what I'd like to make in terms of profit for my time. Then I roughly calculate what I need to for expenses. Then I add a safe cushion. Once I have the magic number, I divide it by the number of people I think I can safely have sign up. If the final number is a reasonable number...then I take the risk. LOL. That's my formula anyway.

Thanks ladies

I think our area is just to swamped with shows and sponsors. I am thinking it will be nicer to just save money and travel to where the pros are I want to take from. I mean that was my real drive behind it to get to the teachers I want to take from.

Originally Posted by sblanck

Thanks ladies

I think our area is just to swamped with shows and sponsors. I am thinking it will be nicer to just save money and travel to where the pros are I want to take from. I mean that was my real drive behind it to get to the teachers I want to take from.

If your sole motivation is just to study with the people you like...then I agree, it's much more fun to travel to a destination and work with them than to take on the business end of things. I don't even get to take workshops at my own event these days because I have too much to do while it is happening. LOL.