Another charity enquiry

[gaza]

Hi everyone hope you are all well.

There seems to be an increase in the amount of charity event enquirys at the moment.

I have allready done 2 x charity events in the last year and i am afraid that i have to draw the line somwhere, i have had three enquirys about these sort of events in last two weeks.

The one that i had today asked if i could provide the disco for free but when i asked about the venue ( i have worked at this venue a few times and i know its not cheap) he said that they were only charging half price:confused: Which would still be about £300.
I did tell the guy that i had already done two charity events in the last year but i stil dont think that he got the point that i was making, so wished him all the best with his event.

So what would you guys have said and done.

[ppentertainments]

Explain what I could do to help raise funds if booking myself for a disco, as opposed to just booking a disco to play music. Half the time they don't listen but sometimes it works. I also mention the 2 charities I do support and that they are all I can do.

[funkymook]

I don't have a hard and fast rule - it depends on the Charity, if I know the people involved, my work load etc.

I know other people support particular charities that are close to them or their friends, or have a quota of charitable gigs per year, some donate their time for free, others charge a cheaper rate or donate part of their full fee.

I think it all depends on the individual - do what you feel comfortable with and don't feel guilty about turning any down for whatever reason.

[Nexus]

The amount of 'charity' event requests is starting to get me down to be honest. Almost weekly requsets for a disco or a quiz with the seemingly obligatory "can you do it for nothing?". Most of these 'charity' events in my area are run by quite affluent people with well paid jobs. I wonder how many of them would respond positively to every charity requset for free accountancy, free flights or catering. I really don't mind helping out but why do people always seem to assume that they can get the disco for nothing?

[Shaun]

I used to do a free gig once a year for a charity I was involved with. That aside, as a rule I don't offer discounts for charity, needless to say I don't do many of those kind of events.

[MikeW]

I did a reduced fee gig recently and at the end of the night, the barmaid from the venue came along and said, so are you doing this for nothing tonight?
I explained I had reduced my fee, but it made me think, would the barmaid work for nothing because it was for charity?

[axeman]

I picked out one particular charity that's close to home for me, and don't normally get involved with any others, but recently had an enquiry for a "help for heroes" night and in the phone conversation i asked the organiser if he had a budget for the disco, he did and it wasn't too far away from what i normally charge so I accepted the gig.

[djdave01]

usually offer a small discount off normal rates but dont end up doing very many.

[gaza]

The amount of 'charity' event requests is starting to get me down to be honest. Almost weekly requsets for a disco or a quiz with the seemingly obligatory "can you do it for nothing?". Most of these 'charity' events in my area are run by quite affluent people with well paid jobs. I wonder how many of them would respond positively to every charity requset for free accountancy, free flights or catering. I really don't mind helping out but why do people always seem to assume that they can get the disco for nothing?



I got an phone call from a young lady last month saying that the Party was for charity but i saw an enquiry for a engagement party Disco on the same date at the same Venue on the Goodparty.com site;)

[Silver Bullet]

I do two big charity jobs a year, they are both two nighters and I do two for the price of one.
If anybody else asks if I will do a discount for charity I always reply no, but if it's a job for a regular customer, or a job where I an likely to get more work out of it, I do say I have to charge full price but will give a donation.
That usually works, and of course I never say how much my donation will be ;)

[CRAZY K]

Hi everyone hope you are all well.

There seems to be an increase in the amount of charity event enquirys at the moment.



We get about 4 or 5 enquiries a week now, we try to give the best rates but rarely get the business.

My main concern is if they dont sell tickets, cancel and then you are trying to recover your cancellation fee money from some well meaning person who doesnt have two pennies to rub together:eek: :eek: :eek:

We tend to point this out at the enquiry stage--im sure a lot of organisers dont have the experience to think these things through properly, as well meaning as they might be--none of which helps us in the Entertainment business.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I offer a small discount however having recently found out my grandad is dying of cancer it might change my stance on cancer related charity gigs.

I haven't had any charity enquiries from the "new site" but did do one at the back end of last year from a friend of a friend.

[ppentertainments]

My main concern is if they dont sell tickets, cancel and then you are trying to recover your cancellation fee money from some well meaning person who doesnt have two pennies to rub together:eek: :eek: :eek:
My confusion over charity gigs is how do they expect to make money from having a disco (or indeed barn dance). Yes, you can make a little charging admission, raffle etc but unless you have A LOT of people attending any fundraising will be fairly insignificant.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

My confusion over charity gigs is how do they expect to make money from having a disco (or indeed barn dance). Yes, you can make a little charging admission, raffle etc but unless you have A LOT of people attending any fundraising will be fairly insignificant.

One I did last year was a "posh" event aimed at people with lots of throwaway cash and they raffled off all sorts of prizes which some went for crazy money. I think thats the way to go and they were happy to pay me for my services too.

[chrispeacock]

the venue and the bar staff get paid if its charity or not. I dont see why they always assume the dj will do it for nothing when infact we are doing a lot more work than anyone else there.

i have done a few free ones for charity and always in these events i feel that they act towards me as if i owe them something even though i have done it for free.

i got asked to do one a month back. i turned it down flat and it was for a mate. he had top local radio dj's doing a spot there which they were getting paid for, a comedian getting paid £250 instead of £300, the venue was an expensive venue aswel. But they wanted me to do the disco for free and that all the other acts could use my gear. I told him straight your having a laugh. sometimes people take advantage and i werent being made a mug of by a so called mate.

[chrisj]

I did a Help For Heroes disco for free in January. The RBL in Norwich provided the function room and bar but I organised everything myself with no costs involved.
I do get enquiries when I am asked if I do charity discos and will I do it for free as it is a charity. My reply is 'This is my only income and I will do it at a reduced fee as I still have bills to pay and I cannot get my food, fuel and road tax etc for free'.

[DiscosMobile]

I get about 1 a week and I have drawn a Line that they dont bring me in any business what so ever so I wont do them for nothing. I get annoyed with them phoning up about a Saturday night and then saying can you do it for free a short answer NO I CANT. Does my mortgage company let me off some money this month because I am working for free for a charity. Usually the organisers are being paid quite well or they get a commission from it for the "sales" for my free services.

errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr sorry I know its a good cause but NO

[chrisj]

i got asked to do one a month back. i turned it down flat and it was for a mate. he had top local radio dj's doing a spot there which they were getting paid for, a comedian getting paid £250 instead of £300, the venue was an expensive venue aswel. But they wanted me to do the disco for free and that all the other acts could use my gear. I told him straight your having a laugh. sometimes people take advantage and i werent being made a mug of by a so called mate.[/QUOTE]

This reminds me of a charity disco I did on a Friday with a band called Sounds Imperial, they have a website, in Norfolk. We all worked for free for this in the late 80's. I was asked if I could also do the Saturday night at the same venue as it was a friend of mine who had organised the 2 day charity gigs but I was already booked. My friend booked a local radio dj who charged £400 and would not consider a reduction when only 9 people turned up.
Most of the Friday night profit went to pay this guy who I remembered used to do youth club discos locally in the 70's.

[Cowlinn]

If I want to donate to charity, I'd donate money, or do a fundraising event. Sponsored bike ride etc, which I do fairly regularly.

I wouldn't work for free.

[axeman]

ive just had another charity fund raiser enquiry, and asked what their budget was - "no budget, we were hoping to get a free disco" i also asked what the charity was and Almost laughed when told it was for the pub football team, to buy new footy strips !

Honestly

[gaza]

ive just had another charity fund raiser enquiry, and asked what their budget was - "no budget, we were hoping to get a free disco" i also asked what the charity was and Almost laughed when told it was for the pub football team, to buy new footy strips !

Honestly




So the football shirts would have " beatroute mobile disco " on them then:)

charity! it sounds more like sponsership.

[axeman]

So the football shirts would have " beatroute mobile disco " on them then:)

charity! it sounds more like sponsership.

now there's an idea !

[DiscoMagic]

These are only worth doing if you get a decent amount of marketing and advertising in return.

For example I do a couple of school christmas fetes for zilch, but in return, I get a free advert, get to put my banners everywhere and have a few promo staff handing out my flyers... and as I am full on with mic and music they get to see me in action there and then - obviously!

[CRAZY K]

These are only worth doing if you get a decent amount of marketing and advertising in return.

For example I do a couple of school christmas fetes for zilch, but in return, I get a free advert, get to put my banners everywhere and have a few promo staff handing out my flyers... and as I am full on with mic and music they get to see me in action there and then - obviously!

Sounds useful--do you know of any valuable work gained from this?

Its rather reached the stage here when we get calls the first question now is--will you go for the cheapest quote ?

Most say yes so thats when the call ends here--which avoids a lot of timewasting for us--;)

[DiscoMagic]

Sounds useful--do you know of any valuable work gained from this?


Well as they're at Christmas time I sometimes get a few Teen discos and Adult Birthday parties in the following months - January thru March which is quiet any way:)

But I tend to look at it as brand awareness as well as the fact that because its a daytime thing it means that I can pick up quickly and still work the evening :D

[CRAZY K]

Well as they're at Christmas time I sometimes get a few Teen discos and Adult Birthday parties in the following months - January thru March which is quiet any way:)

But I tend to look at it as brand awareness as well as the fact that because its a daytime thing it means that I can pick up quickly and still work the evening :D

Glad it works---;)

It would not benefit the way we operate as we cover nationally rather than local.

[scotty]

ive just had another charity fund raiser enquiry, and asked what their budget was - "no budget, we were hoping to get a free disco" i also asked what the charity was and Almost laughed when told it was for the pub football team, to buy new footy strips !

Honestly

Had a few of these and like everyone else get a lot of requests for charity freebies. I have done a few over the years and donated my services but I have drawn a line in the sand now im giving up too much time and money, there are only so many Saturdays in a year and I need to maximise them.

[paulg]

Won't do them anymore. If the event doesn't stack up with the price of a room, DJ and bar staff, then it ain't a worthwhile fund raiser and the organisers need to vacate cloud cuckoo land and try something else.

[Digital Jack]

Charities - don't you just love them.
I've done a few gigs for such events , but what strikes me is that there's always an individual at the top of the pile of organisers that is making a mint (beit a small or large sum of greenbacks).
So I have point blank refused to do any more (since July 2009).
The same goes for large charity organisations as well.
Run by scheming , money grabbing ponces that are hiding behind the facade of a 'charity'.
It puts propper charity organisations in a bad light, and good charities get marred by simple association.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm not really sure you can generalise like that about charities.

[nisfo]

I will play gigs for my local Cancer centre, as I am very close to the founder and her family. I also loan PA equipment for local events related to charity.

My (no fee) services are always on offer to the causes that are close to my heart ;).

The charity events I avoid now (from experience) are the ones that plan everything to take place in a Public house or function room. In the end the only beneficiaries are the tills :eek:. The organisers appeared to do it purely for self gain :Censored: :(

[Digital Jack]

I'm not really sure you can generalise like that about charities.

I can and I will.
I'm certain that there are others here that will agree , weather they will state it in this thread is another matter.

I personally know people involved high up in major charitable organisations and I have seen for myself how well pockets can be lined.
Why do you think chuggers get paid as much as they do , even when they fail to meet their targets ?

[Corabar Steve]

All that proves is that you know some dishonest people.

[Digital Jack]

Are you saying that you do not ?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I can and I will.
I'm certain that there are others here that will agree , weather they will state it in this thread is another matter.

I personally know people involved high up in major charitable organisations and I have seen for myself how well pockets can be lined.
Why do you think chuggers get paid as much as they do , even when they fail to meet their targets ?

I said you can't generalise about these things and you can't possibly say it is the same for every single charity.

Because you know one or two dodgy people high up in running charities, doesn't mean they are all the same.

I've never heard such drivel.

[Corabar Steve]

Are you saying that you do not ?
I probably do, but not those that I know that are involved with charities