Support for local concerts

It seems that things have changed since I last applied for funding to support a concert series in Timaru.  Way back, I organised a concert for Martin Setchell in Timaru and it was an incredible success.  Radio, newspaper and poster advertising around Timaru - it took some big money but was more than paid for by the ticket sales.  As well, a free concert for Primary School children filled the basilica and every child got to go up to the organ and play on the manuals as they slipped across the organ bench in a long line, blew in a organ pipe and returned downstairs to their buses.

That concert was supported with a "guarantee against loss" from Creative New Zealand, and that allowed us to be confident that our risk in advertising would not cause personal financial disaster!  Twenty years later and now the requirement is that I apply to Creative Communities - supported now by regional councils.  Guarantee Against Loss no longer exists - you can only apply for cash.  


So, I duly prepare my budget and get quotations for modest advertising, assuming that the best option is to run a SERIES of concerts - surely advertising 4 concerts together can be more effective than advertising only one.  Turns out that, with the possible disaster of only getting 60 people for each concert, the budget suggests a shortfall of $1710 for the series!  Creative Communities offer $700 ($166 per concert).  This is just over half of the normal $300 per concert they've given others recently.

A $1000 personal risk remains.  I think it's better to apply for individual concerts in the future...

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