- Cash in your hands in return for some wisely invested time? Yes.money makes money image by Andrey Andreev from Fotolia.com
Whether your band is a 400-person marching organization rallying funds for the next competition, or you have a four-person tribute band playing out of a garage, living in a world of music requires a world of money. Until your band reaches a big breakthrough, funds may be hard to come by, but with a few powerful fund-raising techniques, you can cash in and move on up to the next best thing. - Forget that $5 a car business, that has no toll on this souped-up version of the car wash. Ask friends and family for donations in the form of washing supplies. Contact your local elementary school and ask to use their basketball courts or empty parking lots (when school is not in session). If you can't do that, contact a church. You'll need space for this one.
Once you have your place, ask for pledges from friends, families and strangers. Ask for 10 cents per car washed, or a quarter. Have them sign a pledge sheet, so they know it's serious.
Advertise a free car wash and wash car after car. Have a donation bucket if the people really want to donate money.
Tally the cars you wash and call up your pledges. You can realistically expect to wash many cars because it's free and it'll add up in the end. - Putting on a show to make money to put on a show? Sounds ironic. Cabarets, however, still serve as fantastic money-makers, especially when in a place of eating and relaxing. In fact, many small restaurants or coffee shops will host artists for free, on the off-chance that the music will attract extra revenue. Once you found your host, advertise.
If your establishment is fine with ticket sales, offer tickets at a cheap price. Make sure to keep an open case or donation jar near the stage (but not too close to the performers), so people can drop in donations without feeling awkward. Proximity is key. - Remember how a garage sale worked well? If the idea of standing on your lawn for an extended period of time with last year's junk doesn't sound appealing, turn to online auction sites. Take pictures of your old stuff and post it. Make sure to stay honest. This method of fundraising takes more time than others, but can provide steady revenue. This is a critical one to run concurrently with other fundraisers.
- Finally, the prototypical bake sale is important. Never underestimate the power of sweets, especially when sold at school or local events. Ask permission, whip out the whisks, and get baking. Cupcakes, scones, cakes, candies, and drinks are yours to sell, and if you make them a deal (buy three, get one free), you're sure to boost sales.
If you make the cupcakes especially attractive, you can raise the prices, as most people pick sweets based on how aesthetically pleasing or succulent they appear.
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