Hey all,
 
          Musical in aid of charity, eh? Well, in theory, it's a really worthwhile idea, i.e. student's working for the sake of others, etc. It is admirable if a little idealistic. Firstly, the musical is going to cost LOTS and LOTS of money. Even if we secure sponsorship for it, you have to plan for a worst case scenario (think last year and all the sponsors who WERE going to come on board). This leaves us with a potential show that'll make a loss or, an this is at best, break-even. As Susan said, this is a week long event and not a once-off like Style Soc's Fashion Show. In order to make a profit, we need 'X' amount of people coming to see us for every performance and, once again, we'll have to err on the side of caution regarding this matter after what happened with Guys and Dolls.
        
         Secondly, I don't see why we have to tell people we're a DRAMA society who'll donate their profits to charity at the end of the year. In my eyes, we ARE a charity at the moment and have no money. I really can't see anything wrong in asking people to donate money to as seeing as we have none. Anyway, I have seen loads of youth groups and community groups collect money for themselves and there's nothing wrong with that. Instead if putting others first, I think, especially starting off the year 8K in debt, we should put ourselves first for a change.
        
         I don't agree with the society having to give our profits away at the end of a year. All the money that is left over at the end of the year is put back into the society anyway and it should stay like that. Throwing OUR money at charities isn't the greatest way of endearing ourselves to the SPC, especially the following year when we tell them that we want to apply for certain equipment and we need a grant to pay for it.
 
         I may sound like a certain Mr. Ebenezor Scrooge here but to be honest, I think doing a musical in aid of charity is a bad idea. However, I see no reason why we can't get into bed with    

 
On 7/10/06, Susan <suz143@gmail.com> wrote:
Hey Guys!
 
Here's my stance on the prospect of doing the musical for charity. Im not against it - because I really do think that we need to do more as a society (and a college) for a worthwhile cause and hey! if people are more likely to buy tickets to a charity event -  bring on the cause! But I thought i'd bring up a few negatives.....just to play devils advocate (....steve...dont hurt me...lol)
 
1. In order for it to be a successful musical, we need to kinda break even or come pretty close am I right? If all our takings are going to charity, how do we cover our asses as far as costs go? I'd like to think that we can fund the musical purely from sponsorship (cuz thats the optimistic view of a sponsorship officer dontcha know!) and Grant Aps but it might not be possible. I dont wanna leave next years committee in anywhere near the financial situation we're in now - just because we feel like upping our promotions and image with the use of a charity organisation. (Im curious to know Joey's views on this...) Plus - with the Helix already booked as the venue - this years musical is gonna be pretty tight financially!! Grant Aps taken into consideration...we're still gonna need a bit more.
 
2. Do you think people at a bag-pack are gonna listen to how we're gonna be donating money to charity - NEXT APRIL? They might just wanna know about right now.
 
3. The Fashion Show (which did brilliantly...wish all our events could mirror that success)lets face it, it was a one night event - it was style socs BIG EVENT of the year and they spent alot of time planning it. The musical is a 4 night & one matinee event - even if we do donate all the money to charity - can we guarentee a big audience every night? I'd like to think that the musical requires ALL our attention....but truthfully...we have alot of other stuff planned too!
 
Okay those are my three main concerns. As co-producer, I realise alot of this is gonna fall on my head if the musical puts us in another rut financially - but I do believe that this is the year for change n' if the committee feels that charity is the way to go - then Im willing go with that.
 
Im also gonna hold off on voting until I hear everyones arguments...hehe suspenseful eh?
 
*Steve - if u get votes by text and phone - will you please keep me updated??
 
Ok- thanks for reading that novel guys!
Good luck bag-packing this weekend - score one for the home team! .....ok this is what happens when Im in America for too long....sorry guys....
 
xoxo
Suz

 
On 7/10/06, Stephen Grimes < stephen.grimes5@gmail.com> wrote:
Hey guys,

I was trying to think of some selling points for the bag pack, because from my experience of bagpacking (three years... grrr...) it is ALWAYS necessary to seem like your doing it for a really justified cause.

So I was thinking, (and I've discussed this with a few of you already), that perhaps  we should do the musical this year in aid of some charity. There are a few reasons for this.

1.) We are non-profit making society, so why not give all our remaining cash/funds away at the end of the year?
2.) Last year's musical lost money, but I think we've learned from these mistakes and if we follow Style Soc's footsteps of a charity event, I think we will sell more tickets and thus make profit and therein 'raise money for charity.'
3.) In terms of bagpacking, we can say (honestly) 'Well, yes we are a student organization, but at the end of the year we hold a charity fundraiser show and donate all our funds to charity... blah blah blah.' Realistically, this goes a long way in getting people to give more money at a bag pack.
4.) To emphisize, we are a non-profit organization and I see no reason why not to do the musical in aid of charity, because 'in fairness' it will most likely be the last thing we do next year (like it was this year) and thus the 'best time' to donate to charity.
5.) It will be ALOT easier for the PRO to sell the musical if its a charity fundraiser.
6.) Lastly, after being on committee last year and hearing all the talk of a charity fundraiser for 'this and that,' I was disappointed when we failed to deliver and I think its something that this years committee could work to improve/explore/whatever...

Anyway, to sum up...

Charity = Bums on seats + More Donations = Better show

So in my thinking... we get a bigger better musical and the charity make money... it is a win-win situation.

Anyway, I wanted to open this up to discussion, and if people are in favour/against to vote on it via e-mail. I would ask people to try and limit they're e-mails (cus we know how that turns out!)

Anyway, my vote doesn't count (unless its a deciding vote) so...

I'm opening it to discussion, by wednesday I would like to have the votes in (bag pack is thursday)

E-mail me with your votes:
Yes = Musical as charity fundraiser
No = Musical is NOT charity fundraiser
Spoil = Undecided in the matter

Thanks,
Steve

P.S. You may text me or call me with your vote too.

--
Stephen Grimes
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DCU Drama Chair
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085 7079768

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Peter: "That doesn't mean he can't hear. Kick Joe, kick!" - Family Guy

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Susan Doyle
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