Organizers

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Re: [Organizers] Dance pricing, communicating about pricing and more

by Don Veino via Organizers

Here's what we've done with our dance. It was a calculated risk/leap of faith. We gave notice verbally by announcements at the dance for a few weeks before it started, plus email and Facebook notices. Facebook comments were very positive and several folks said this would make the dance available to them once more. http://mondaycontras.com/pages/you-pick-admission.php Attendance is up so far vs. prior periods and pay for performers is up significantly, on average. Limited sample to date - we began just this calendar year. Anecdotally approximately 60% pay the suggested amount, 30% pay the higher figure and 10% or fewer lower. We don't turn away people at any amount (anything over cost is gravy). Some people are also giving us donations when they have it - with the knowledge it is all going to the talent. We're a unique dance - running 45-90 people weekly - a sort of weekly-community dance hybrid, where folks value the connection and are invested in keeping it going. This approach makes the door sitter job pretty easy/finite and we're getting better statistics than before (I'll share a later post on how that's been achieved - once I find some time to write it up). -Don On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 3:42 PM, Emily Addison via Organizers < organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi fellow organizers, > > Following up from some discussion in December about low attendance, here > in Ottawa we're working on 'recovering' from a surprising attendance drop > this year. We're having a major strategy session later in the month which > includes talking publicity, programming, finances etc. > > I'd love to hear about any ****innovative ideas you have for door > pricing**** > > Our current system: > $12 regular, $10 members and students, 16 and under free > Membership is $30 start of year, $20 in January. People who want to be > generous and buy a sustaining membership can pay $50. > > Possible options currently on the table: > The easiest solution which would be the default is to raise the price for > all by $2 which some feel is a fair price compared to a movie. However, > others think paying $12-$14 every two weeks will be not only hard on those > with low incomes but also a psychological be a turn off for others. > > Ideas I'm wondering about: > > - $10/12 base, adding sliding scale up to $15... hopeful that people > would contribute more. > - Also communicating effectively (we don't do this at all now) on the > cost of running a dance. This would mean exposing what the average cost of > talent and sound but I think if people knew where money was going and how > little talent actually get paid for their efforts, they'd be more generous. > > Your ideas?????? > Any thoughts on the ideas above and in particular, anyone doing a great > job of communicating costs to their dancers? > Any other brilliant thoughts? Maybe different donor levels? Donation jars > (but how to do well)? > Other? > > With much thanks! > Emily Addison in Ottawa > > _______________________________________________ > Organizers mailing list > Organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net > >

8 years, 2 months

Dance pricing

by Greg Allan via Organizers

This might be a crazy idea, Emily, but the by-donation pay model works wonders in many different areas, in particular, here in Winnipeg, and could work for social gatherings as well. For those of you who may not know, "by-donation" means being admitted, receiving a product, or getting whatever you normally get for an established cost, for the cost of any amount of money the patron chooses. It works extremely well in fundraisers utilized by students. I have heard that makes way more money than with itemized cost-list bake-sales. It works extremely well in community shops around the city, for learning how to fix your bike. The only other detail that tends to vary from model to model is the accompanying list of so-called "suggested donations". This is a list of what the organization might hope you to donate for a particular items, and is usually given as a range, with, of course, the option to get the item for free or for whatever pocket change you happen to have on at the time still on the table. This *could *take the form of a list of expenses your business incurs for the night, or an average donations that you think would suffice if everyone paid it, or a mathematical equation which brings it all together with an estimation of how many people are going to show up. It *could *take the form different amounts depending on who you are, like 0-12 years old: $0-1; 12-17 year old: $1-5; etc. etc., or how you have arrived, like with partner, with costume, with family, with new dancer friends, etc. It also should be obvious where the money is going, like to the musicians, or back into the organization, etc. The shift here is less about money and more about psychology. Lots of different theories out there, but for me, it's about autonomy, feeling included and feeling important, filling a need, etc. rather than just being a paying customer to fill the seats. After all... how can patrons not feel like a cog when organizers and producers go on and on about "getting people out". The focus there is about all the people that aren't there, rather than being grateful for the people that ARE there. It will give you so much more of a reason to say "Thank you" to people at the end of the night, and really mean it. I will be implementing this cost structure for a dance on March 31st here in Winnipeg. I'll keep you updated, if you wish. On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 3:08 PM, via Organizers < organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Send Organizers mailing list submissions to > organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers- > sharedweight.net > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > organizers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > organizers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Organizers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Dance pricing, communicating about pricing and more > (Emily Addison via Organizers) > 2. Fw: Dance pricing, communicating about pricing and more > (Mac Mckeever via Organizers) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2017 15:42:35 -0500 > From: Emily Addison via Organizers <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Shared Weight Organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Organizers] Dance pricing, communicating about pricing and > more > Message-ID: > <CAD7WKUX+dADRd4-8Nc=qj+t9Y-cSg5vzfwg+uiDq0nwG0JRLvA@mail. > gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Hi fellow organizers, > > Following up from some discussion in December about low attendance, here in > Ottawa we're working on 'recovering' from a surprising attendance drop this > year. We're having a major strategy session later in the month which > includes talking publicity, programming, finances etc. > > I'd love to hear about any ****innovative ideas you have for door > pricing**** > > Our current system: > $12 regular, $10 members and students, 16 and under free > Membership is $30 start of year, $20 in January. People who want to be > generous and buy a sustaining membership can pay $50. > > Possible options currently on the table: > The easiest solution which would be the default is to raise the price for > all by $2 which some feel is a fair price compared to a movie. However, > others think paying $12-$14 every two weeks will be not only hard on those > with low incomes but also a psychological be a turn off for others. > > Ideas I'm wondering about: > > - $10/12 base, adding sliding scale up to $15... hopeful that people > would contribute more. > - Also communicating effectively (we don't do this at all now) on the > cost of running a dance. This would mean exposing what the average > cost of > talent and sound but I think if people knew where money was going and > how > little talent actually get paid for their efforts, they'd be more > generous. > > Your ideas?????? > Any thoughts on the ideas above and in particular, anyone doing a great job > of communicating costs to their dancers? > Any other brilliant thoughts? Maybe different donor levels? Donation jars > (but how to do well)? > Other? > > With much thanks! > Emily Addison in Ottawa >

8 years, 2 months

Dance pricing, communicating about pricing and more

by Emily Addison via Organizers

Hi fellow organizers, Following up from some discussion in December about low attendance, here in Ottawa we're working on 'recovering' from a surprising attendance drop this year. We're having a major strategy session later in the month which includes talking publicity, programming, finances etc. I'd love to hear about any ****innovative ideas you have for door pricing**** Our current system: $12 regular, $10 members and students, 16 and under free Membership is $30 start of year, $20 in January. People who want to be generous and buy a sustaining membership can pay $50. Possible options currently on the table: The easiest solution which would be the default is to raise the price for all by $2 which some feel is a fair price compared to a movie. However, others think paying $12-$14 every two weeks will be not only hard on those with low incomes but also a psychological be a turn off for others. Ideas I'm wondering about: - $10/12 base, adding sliding scale up to $15... hopeful that people would contribute more. - Also communicating effectively (we don't do this at all now) on the cost of running a dance. This would mean exposing what the average cost of talent and sound but I think if people knew where money was going and how little talent actually get paid for their efforts, they'd be more generous. Your ideas?????? Any thoughts on the ideas above and in particular, anyone doing a great job of communicating costs to their dancers? Any other brilliant thoughts? Maybe different donor levels? Donation jars (but how to do well)? Other? With much thanks! Emily Addison in Ottawa

8 years, 2 months

Re: [Organizers] Sustaining your dance

by Mark R Dobyns Jones via Organizers

Just in case any organizer is wondering: Yes, you may use these particular words and ideas in your efforts to sustain and grow your community. Here's a liberal copyright license: I hereby place the text in the public domain, though I appreciate knowing if any person makes use of the text or ideas. Regards, Mark Jones ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mark R Dobyns Jones <markrdjones(a)gmail.com> Date: Sat, Dec 17, 2016 at 11:07 PM Subject: Sustaining your dance To: A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net> How did you start dancing? I asked that question of many people, in my role as a dance producer, in hope of learning better how to introduce more people to our dances. It turns out that nearly everyone I quizzed did not first arrive through their own initiative, to participate in something they had never done before. (Nor did they first participate merely by seeing a flyer, nor by viewing a web page - these are usually for the already interested or initiated.) Rather, most describe some one, or several people in their life that made the occasion of going to a dance inviting, interesting or fun, and they wanted to find out more, and see what the experience might be like. And to have the experience again. And again. That inviting person often was a friend, sometimes a family member, sometimes part a group of friends, or a teacher or co-worker, and sometimes it was someone that they did not know, who directly asked them to come to a dance or festival for the first time. I think each of underestimates the persuasive social influence we may have, and that our friends and fellow dancers have, in inviting people we know, and people we do not know--to the pleasures of dancing regularly to live music, and to join our community. Anyone organizing any group of people knows that no matter how many there are involved, over time, people depart, for a variety of innocent and benign reasons. Perhaps their work life has changed, or they have moved; perhaps their family life has changed, or they have become parents, or their lift to the event does something else that evening. My favorite metaphor for this is filling a bathtub with the drain open. To sustain our dances and our communities (and any cooperative human activity, for that matter), it is beyond desirable for us to invite and welcome new people to our activities: it is necessary. It is necessary to personally invite people who may never have danced before. To invite people often, graciously, enthusiastically and with welcoming tone. And invite people you don't know, too. And to welcome them back. Again and Again. I welcome you to invite several people this year to join you at a dance. And to invite your entire dance community to do the same. It is nearly the only way to sustain your dance. To have a community that understands that it is crucial for the community to continue to invite newcomers to come, and to treat them well after they arrive. The total population of people participating in our favorite forms of social dance is less than one tenth of a percent of the surrounding population (except perhaps for some rather active rural areas, where it may be higher). I believe thinking about attracting and retaining the next tenth of a percent of the population is the means to sustain and grow our social activity. There is no scarcity of potential dancers. ~Mark Jones Boston

8 years, 3 months

Keyboards

by Larry Koplik via Organizers

Princeton Country Dancers has happily used a Roland keyboard for our contra and English dances for many years, but it's finally wearing out and needs to be replaced. We are considering replacing it with one of the following: Kawai ES100 Yamaha P-255 Roland RD-300NX Kurzweil SPS4-8 Does your dance group use any of these (or different models by the same manufacturer) and, if so, what do your pianists think of the sound and feel? Also, how durable have the keyboards been, ie how often have they needed to be repaired? Thanks for your help. Larry Koplik

8 years, 3 months

Cancellation Policies

by via Organizers

Hi all, In Rochester NY we are often blessed with unpredictably significant quantities of snow over a short time. Generally speaking, it is known by 3pm if the evening dance will cancelled due to weather. We are reviewing our procedures for canceling the dance, and wondered what other communities do to: 0) Decide if a dance should be cancelled? We are thinking of basing it off Winter Storm Warning by National Weather Service 1) Let the community know the dance is cancelled Easier if everyone knows to check for a Winter Storm Warning... But post on website, and facebook event page are also done here 2) Compensate performers who have arrived or are en-route when the dance is cancelled. In particular, touring performers who may be in the city on their way to the next gig... Any thoughts are appreciated. Bob Fabinski

8 years, 3 months

Cancellation Policies

by Mark Jones via Organizers

Here's an after-the-event musician perspective, on a non-snow, but icy-post-midnight travel, with high humidity (dew point) at altitude and declining temperature, just below freezing 25+ miles away from the dance. ~Mark Jones (Concord Massachusetts) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mark Jones <markjones(a)busybusy.org> Date: Sun, Dec 11, 2016 at 9:22 PM Subject: Fwd: [pvcd] OT - Gofundme for Ann Percival's medical expenses To: Boston Area Contra Community <BostonAreaContraCommunity(a)yahoogroups.com> Greetings, Ann Percival and David Canteini were in a car accident in which their car rolled over several times, on the way home to western Massachusetts after the Wild Asparagus dance at the Concord Scout House dance on Friday night, December 2nd. News and link below, for the Gofundme page for raising funds for Anne Percival's medical and home-care expenses. ~Mark Jones ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ted Soulos soulost(a)arps.org [pvcd] <pvcd(a)yahoogroups.com> Date: Sun, Dec 11, 2016 at 12:33 PM Subject: [pvcd] OT - Gofundme for Ann Percival's medical expenses To: "Orin Nisenson orin@nisen." <pvcd(a)yahoogroups.com> Hi all, I'm sharing the link to a Gofundme page raising funds for Anne Percival's medical expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/ann- percivals-medical-expenses?ssid=835523030&pos=1 She was in a car accident recently and had some fairly serious injuries. I know musicians are often self insured and that their medical expenses are often higher than those for people covered by workplace insurance. Ann is the guitar, keyboard, vocalist for perhaps my very favorite dance band, Wild Asparagus. I contributed this morning. See you on the dance floor. TED __._,_.___ ------------------------------ Posted by: Ted Soulos <soulost(a)arps.org> ------------------------------ Visit Your Group <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/pvcd/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJlaHIydGk3BF9TAzk3…> - New Members <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/pvcd/members/all;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZzhiZ25hB…> 1 [image: Yahoo! Groups] <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJkb2pwc3BwBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkA…> • Privacy <https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html> • Unsubscribe <pvcd-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe> • Terms of Use <https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/> __,_._,___

8 years, 3 months

Catapult 2017 looking for bands and callers

by Rob Harper via Organizers

Catapult is built to bring the best ready-to-be-discovered contra talent together for one fantastic festival over Memorial Day Weekend. Have any favorite bands or callers on stage in your local haunts that are ready to break onto the national circuit? Let them know. Let me know. For all the details check out www.catapultshowcase.com. ciao, rah -- Rob Harper thatrobharper(a)gmail.com (404) 307-3444

8 years, 3 months

word clouds attached

by Emily Addison via Organizers

Here are a few examples of possibilities.... just starting to play with forms and fonts. I hope they come through. Emily

8 years, 3 months

contra word clouds - thanks and update!

by Emily Addison via Organizers

Hi fellow organizers! Thanks for all the help brainstorming words.... wow... there were some grand ideas. 'Tis much appreciated. :) I've started playing with word clouds in wordle.net and wanted to share my progress as it's pretty darn cool. I'll attach a few jpgs of the word clouds in a follow-up email as I think they may get removed from my message. In case you want to try making dance clouds too, here's what I did: - I couldn't run wordle in chrome so had to pull out explorer and update java - I used one of the 'advanced' options where you could select size and hex coding. The list of words with coding is below. (I used the following website for the colour/greyscale choices http://htmlcolorcodes.com/) The following text seemed to be best outside of the word cloud itself so that it was really clear. - All dances taught - No partner needed - No experience needed - All are welcome - absolutely no lessons required! (there's a beginner lesson at 7:30 which helps but is not necessary) The words and coding I used are below. :) Emily CONTRA~DANCE:500:000000 always~live~music:300:000000 living~tradition:300:000000 vibrant:100:000000 welcoming!:300:000000 try~it!:300:000000 all~ages:200:000000 joy:300:000000 smiles:200:000000 super~fun:300:5E5E5E community-spirited:200:5E5E5E participatory:200:5E5E5E very~simple~footwork:100:5E5E5E social~dance:300:A1A1A1 trad~fiddle~tunes:200:A1A1A1 inclusive:100:A1A1A1 lively:300:A1A1A1 all levels dance together:100:A1A1A1 delight:300:A1A1A1 connection:100:A1A1A1 move:300:A1A1A1 celebrate:100:A1A1A1

8 years, 3 months

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