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