Dance pricing - Organizers

5 Feb 2017

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&gt; wrote:

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 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)

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 Message: 1
 Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2017 15:42:35 -0500
 From: Emily Addison via Organizers &lt;organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt;
 To: Shared Weight Organizers &lt;organizers(a)sharedweight.net&gt;
 Subject: [Organizers] Dance pricing, communicating about pricing and
         more
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 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