My first fundraising effort for TBACT was in May 2011 when i threw a charity ball ' A night for freedom'.
It was a ticketed party, my sister and i sang in the reception with the piano where people were greeted with champagne and canapes. I hired a fantastic band that did a 2 hour set, whilst there were also casino tables to entertain people that didn't fancy the dance floor!
I had canapes going around all evening, with special cocktails on that i would gain 50% of the profit and lastly a raffle with prizes that i had begged local businesses for such as bootcamp places, boutique vouchers and even valets for cars - something for everyone.
My whole idea and selling point was that people go out every night of the week to a club, bar or pub and spend £30 plus on drinks and food - why not do exactly the same but raise money for charity in the process?
The night was a great success, everyone danced until the music stopped, drank until they could no longer stand and brought tickets and chips to the casino as if they were going out of fashion!
It was one of the most gratifying feelings i have ever had... that feeling of ' I DID IT!!' i actually threw a great party, broke even and raised a shed load of cash for the charity.
I learnt a lot from holding this event, you have put it out there that you want to raise money for a cause... you have put all your own money upfront to pay for something that you don't know if you will even see a profit on - all you can do is hope that people support you and understand the level of commitment you have put in to help others.
At first your mind has all these huge figures of the amount you want to raise... then a few weeks in when the band are booked and people have said they are coming but others have dropped out... you start thinking ok well as long as i break even its not a total disaster... then when the date actually comes you think.. it doesn't matter that much if i loose a bit of money as long as people come and have a great time - maybe they will come again to the next one... if i ever do one...
I'm sure the above sounds ridiculous to some but it really is a roller coaster of emotions and something that takes a great deal of time and balls to hold.
I learnt so much about setting events up, the best way to get people engaged in the event and even the charity - because people aren't always that interested in the giving part.. more what they are going to gain from coming... and now i understand that that is actually ok... not eveyone is going to care about why or what you are doing it for but as long as you can engage them on some level - indirectly there money is helping and that when it comes down to is what matters - i can do the caring part...
I think as the person trying to push a movement of change, its your responsibility to find ways of engaging all different types of people into helping you cause - knowing what i know from this event i will definitely hold another one that will be bigger and brighter then the last.
Hells
x
