POST-VIHC FEST 7 FUNDRAISING IDEAS

[PaulyHC]

Okay Folks, so I'm putting it out there, what do you feel would be the best way for us to recover our losses from VIHC FEST 7?

an artshow like we have had in the past?

bakesale / "garage/yard" sale ?

an all local $5 [sliding scale/donation] based show?

Legandary Castle "back to school dance"

lets get some ideas going. because even though the society is made up of 5 members, and the costs are split - we still wound up losing a pile of moolah putting on this awesome fest for you all.

[tylerp]

how much money was lost? how much money went to each band? is there a budget breakdown of the fest?

some ideas...
-silent auction
-selling something (chocolates? cookies? ...meat?)
-...bottle drive?

the Legendary Castle dances have historically been twice a year, to benefit the house, which is fair since it costs a ton to heat that place, Troy is working two almost-minimum wage jobs, and a year of shows and dances really wears down on the place. things that have broken as a result of events... bbq shelf, bbq handle, a chair or two, a bookshelf, a record shelf, countless glasses, the bathroom lock, the toilet seat, and I'm sure the list goes on. but I don't live there so I don't know why I'm bringing this up.

[Crucified]

i like the artshow/record spinning/keg idea.

an all ages all local show would be great too. 5 or 6 bands, 5$ minimum, more if they can, get more than just metal/hardcore. get a couple of the deathcore young kid bands to play. bring out a new crowd. Alexis knows some of those kids does he not?

Alexis. DEATHCORE YOUNG KIDS, ASSEMBLE.

[grind/bro]

what about a dance at a place that isn't troys? like a small hall or something?

[Andrew]

One thing you might look at doing is seeing if you can borrow a decent backline or look into rental cost and see if it isn't feasible to bring a couple bands over in one vehicle.

Mouse Ear and Book of Caverns traveled over together in one van because Watcher loaned us drums and a guitar cab. That saved about $212 over driving two vans.

If you could get a couple bands that are a good draw and get them to Vic in one van, you could potentially charge $10 for the show and not have to put more back into band hands to pay ferry costs twice. Get bands who are onboard to help VIHC Fest and you should be able to make a bit for the society.

[Andrew]

I'd suggest you also make a list of your free or nearly free resources and see how they can be used to your advantage.

ie. free place to do a show, free access to a photocopier, friends who can silk screen, etc.

[PaulyHC]

yeah, i didnt mean to "volunteer" the legendary castle as a venue, i know how people tend to jump down people's throat who do such a thing, but as a group we [the society] had already discussed that scenario, so thats why i included that, haha.

yeah, pretty much every band we bring here we encourage to either share gear and van, hide people, anything they can do to save costs - maybe half of the bands take note and listen to this advice. we had a close to a full backline this year [granted, it wasn't primo equipment or anything], yet multiple bands came with all their gear and im fairly certain we made mention of the backline and to try and save as much on the ferry costs as possible, as we didnt "guarantee" any band, any specific number this year - it was essentially, come to the island at your own risk.

as far as what we lost and what we paid bands, not exactly appropriate to publicly post, i think the fact that we "lost alot of money" should speak for itself, also, we paid bands what we could, and obviously it wasn't very much [local bands didnt even get paid, as you probably know already]

alll great ideas so far, thanks folks!

also, as far as budget breakdown etc, again, not gonna post it on the forums. but when we look at the presale and door numbers, we had 16-20 $30 passes sold on day 1, about another 50-60 people paid the $15-18 at the door for 1 day passes, 5 2 day passes sold presale, and on day 2 a WHOPPING 18 people came out for the single day.

A rough estimate before the fest I came up with these numbers for us to break even [i.e covering travelling bands ferry, our venue, advertising, etc]

2 day passes - 100

saturday pass - 50

sunday pass - 50

now, if you refer to the breakdown of what actually came through the door, you will start to realize the kind of numbers we lost as a group.

every travelling band got paid the exact same amount, so if you were in a band that traveled over, you know how much we paid you.

[tylerp]

I can sort of imagine the money loss, based on that. damn. I asked about the money only because it's a non-profit society and budget transparency is usually key in situations where funding comes in part from donations and businesses. you say it's not appropriate, and it might not be appropriate to casually post on a message board, but will it be presented at a VIHC meeting as a printed budget for members to view? especially if the society starts getting bigger, the board switches members over time, etc, it'll be important to log this information accurately and make it available to everyone who has signed up as a member. my member input remains being that fewer bands in future fests might make it both more enjoyable and financially easier but I know that it's just an opinion among many. I think it's fine for locals to not be paid and I'm super into the fact that all travelling bands got paid equal amounts, that's super fair and awesome. would the fest have been much less of a financial burden if, say six travelling bands were cut but the amount of people who paid remained the same?

maybe these are stupid details to bring up considering each volunteer busted his/her ass to make this go smoothly and simultaneously lost their own money. I know the work that got put into this!

more bands should have used the backline. it especially sucks for drummers because playing on a different kit is way different than just using another cab or something. I think most bass dudes opted to use their own cab because the backline one was a little small. the backline cabs were great though. I used them. and playing on the stage after the previous band played on the floor made for a quick transition (for me... maybe not certain other members of my band).

hey, how about a VIHC members' appreciation keg party? $10-15 to get in and have keg access, tiemen could dj, it'd be awesome!

[canon.docre]

One thing you might look at doing is seeing if you can borrow a decent backline or look into rental cost and see if it isn't feasible to bring a couple bands over in one vehicle.

As far as this raising funds, doubtful at best. We try and do this anyways when bands come over anyways, and we're not breaking even on any of our shows anymore. As illustrated by your last show out here, that was paid out of pocket (not VIHC) and that show didn't even have venue costs.

[Andrew]

One thing you might look at doing is seeing if you can borrow a decent backline or look into rental cost and see if it isn't feasible to bring a couple bands over in one vehicle.

As far as this raising funds, doubtful at best. We try and do this anyways when bands come over anyways, and we're not breaking even on any of our shows anymore. As illustrated by your last show out here, that was paid out of pocket (not VIHC) and that show didn't even have venue costs.

You'd know best what will work, but my suggestion was for bands that draw, which Mouse Ear on it's third show is not.

[Andrew]

... hunky men of VIHC calendar?

[Human-Demise]

I'm unsure of how things are with the whole kenny, no eulogy thing, but, unicron would play a show for free, big draw.

not sure what kind draw they have but scimitar would probably do a show to.

[Andrew]

I'm unsure of how things are with the whole kenny, no eulogy thing

Huh?

[Human-Demise]

I'm unsure of how things are with the whole kenny, no eulogy thing

Huh?

its not my place to discuss it I'm sure someone closer to the whole thing could enlighten you. suffice to say: drama.

[tylerp]

and we should probably stop talking about it on the board, especially since those of us talking about it weren't directly involved.

how about guys and girls of vihc calendar? keep it inclusive!

[Fish]

not sure what kind draw they have but scimitar would probably do a show to.

I'd say they have a good draw, but I don't know how likely they'd be to agree to a show.

[Human-Demise]

not sure what kind draw they have but scimitar would probably do a show to.

I'd say they have a good draw, but I don't know how likely they'd be to agree to a show.

they should do it, or else be proclaimed wieners.

[stumped.]

... hunky men of VIHC calendar.

[stumped.]

when school rolls around and i have free access to exposing equipment i'd be glad to donate some prints of photos i took at this years fest for an art auction. there are a few i think would make bad ass posters if i made them on large photopaper. (i haven't gotten prints made yet, just a contact sheet)

i'll have access to screen printing equipment+free black and white ink for the year until summer as well, and if i take a summer course in printmaking, probably until then. if that helps at all.

[PaulyHC]

yeah, save the Drama for elsewhere haha.

I like the calendar Idea, although somehow, there will invariably be a photo of Willa in it, and since he's no longer here to defend himself, who the FUCK wants to see that guy in a "hunky" pose..... ??????????? ........ awk-werd

as far as overhead costs and potential for revenue, I think the artshow is our best bet, but it takes a few months of planning, and being able to get the artists enough time to come up with new pieces to show, so it will likely be a Fall thing. but it WILL be awesome, just like our previous ones!

as far as bringing bands over that have a "draw" i can honestly say i have no confidence that any bands have a draw on the island - in the past year or two we have seen a drastic drop in attendance across the board, i have been speaking with promoters in all genres and i get the same story, less and less turnout no matter what band comes. i think my prime example is the show we did last year, or even longer ago - Comeback Kid with living with lions etc. we did it all ages, and for $10 presale, and we still only had 180 kids turn out, now, that is a big turnout, but not really for the kind of turnout we expected, seeing as they are a hype band [maybe past the hype stage?] with a name behind them, and kids go bananas for them. even for $10 we couldnt sell the place out [225ish]

In handbilling for the fest i have realized that kids just dont give a fuck about going to shows. I would approach groups of kids, all wearing "scene" t shirts, bands associated with hardcore, pop-punk, metal etc and tried to give them handbills, they almost always refused them saying "oh, we dont go to shows" "we arent into seeing bands live" "thanks but no thanks" "no booze? sorry we're into partying" or they'd take them, and as i would skate away id look back and they'd be be-lining it for the garbage, or just toss it on the ground.

i wish more kids were into live music, like i was at that age, which is predominantly why now, at 31 - i find myself working so hard to nurture an all-ages scene and make sure there are safe, fun places for kids to go and let loose.