how to put on a benefit concert

How to Throw a Benefit Concert in 4 Simple Steps

• Step 1: Choosing Your Show. Before you start calling every musician you know and selling tickets, you need to have a...
• Step 2: Setting the Lineup. Now it’s time to get some rock stars on the bill. Ok, you probably won’t be asking Bono to...
• Step 3: Promoting the Concert. If you’re holding a benefit concert to tap into new...

Full Answer

How to plan a benefit concert?

The great thing is that you can make your benefit concert as small or as big as you want. Once you know the scale of your event, think about whether there will be a specific genre or style of music on display. You can have an entirely acoustic folk concert or loud battle of the bands.

Should you host a benefit concert for your next fundraising event?

But with everyone and their mother’s charity hosting a 5K, you may want to go in a different direction for your next fundraising event. If you want to try something new while still following a long-standing fundraising model, a benefit concert might be just what you’re looking for. You may have seen some of the big shows on TV.

How do I choose a benefit for my event?

Benefits come in a variety of forms. Try to pick a benefit that's doable for you given your resources and is appropriate for your cause. Smaller events usually come in the form of bake sales, car washes, craft fairs, beauty pageants, karaoke contests, and other low stakes competitions.

Who are some famous people that do benefit concerts?

Just in the past few years, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Jack Johnson, and Stevie Wonder have lent their time and their voices to causes ranging from Hurricane Sandy relief to helping family farmers to the fight against AIDS. But benefit concerts aren’t just for the famous and wealthy.

How do you set up a charity concert?

How to Throw a Benefit Concert in 4 Simple StepsStep 1: Choosing Your Show. First, ask yourself, “What kind of show do you want to put on?” ... Step 2: Setting the Lineup. Now it's time to get some rock stars on the bill. ... Step 3: Promoting the Concert. ... Step 4: What You Do for the Money, Honey. ... Ready to Rock.

How do you put together a benefit?

People will want to help you organize the benefit or attend it in order to help make it a success, so be sure to ask for volunteers and to spread the word about the benefit in your community. Communicate with the person or family for which you want to raise money. Tell them you would like to hold a benefit.

What does benefit concert means?

(ˈbɛnɪfɪt ˈkɒnsət ) a concert to raise money for charity.

How do you host a benefit?

Tips on Holding a Benefit to Raise Money for SomeoneHow to Begin. Before any fund-raising or benefit activity, identify the needs of the recipient. ... Go Viral. Use the power of the Internet to publicize your benefit and invite the community. ... Communication is Key. ... Thank You.

How do you hold a successful benefit fundraiser?

6 Steps for a Successful Fundraising EventSet a goal that makes sense: Set ONE goal and focus on that goal only. ... Choose the right type of event: ... Secure corporate sponsors: ... Design a dynamic experience for your supporters: ... Promote the heck out of your event: ... Assess your results and cultivate your relationships:

How do I host a benefit fundraiser?

Determine your fundraising event goals. ... Select the Right Type of Event Fundraiser. ... Establish your fundraising event budget. ... Devise a leadership team for fundraising event planning. ... Set a date and time for your fundraising event. ... Market your fundraising event efficiently. ... Sell tickets to your fundraising event.More items...

What was the first benefit concert?

Concert For Bangladesh 50th Anniversary: The Original Celebrity Benefit Event : Goats and Soda 50 years ago, on August 1, 1971, the Concert for Bangladesh, led by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, raised funds — and awareness — for Bengali refugees.

Was Live Aid the biggest concert?

It was the biggest concert event the world had ever seen: Live Aid. An event so massive that 36 years on, people still remember where they were when they tuned in with the rest of the world to watch the biggest names in music perform to raise funds for the starving people of Africa.

How many Aid concerts were there?

The concerts were a series of "8" concerts that took place during the 20th Anniversary of Live Aid. The events were held to raise money for Make Poverty History campaign and the Global Call for Action Against Poverty.

How can I raise money for personal causes?

Often, the most effective method to raise funds quickly is to ask for help from the community. First, figure out a way to accept gifts, either at a bank, credit union, or a website like PayPal. Then, spread the word about the person's or family's need.

How can I raise money for an event?

Ten Ways to Raise Extra Money During Your Special EventAdd a Raffle. ... Set Up Sales Booths. ... Offer a Signature Drink. ... Hold a Dessert Auction. ... Have a Balloon Pop. ... Double Up on Big-Ticket Auction Items. ... Hold a "Last Person Standing" Contest. ... Arrange for a Challenge Gift.More items...

Finding entertainment for your fundraiser

Once you pick the cause that your raising money for, reach out to as many acts as you can. If you don’t have a big headliner that’s totally fine. Having a concert comprised of lots of different performers can be just as entertaining, and the more acts you have, the more likely they are to invite their friends and family to your fundraising event.

Sponsorship for your fundraiser

Put together a sponsorship package for your fundraising event. When you approach local businesses in your community, make sure they know what they will be receiving when they sponsor your cause. A benefit concert is great because there are so many things that your supporters can sponsor.

Marketing for your fundraiser

Print flyers for your benefit concert event and make sure they are visible in places that your supporters frequent. Create a Facebook event for your fundraiser and send out an email to your community members so they can save the date.

Cost of your fundraiser

Create a budget for your fundraising event that includes the venue, talent, equipment, set up and take down, and miscellaneous items like food and drinks. Aggregate all of these costs and divide them by how many people you expect to attend, and you have your ticket price.

Day-of planning for your fundraiser

Your volunteers should be well aware of day-of expectations for your event. Make sure that you have volunteers tasked with set up and take down, as well as someone who is responsible for handling the talent that is performing at your event.

Bonus cash back for your fundraiser

If you have a FlipGive fundraising page, you can direct your supporters there in case they want to make additional donations, you could also earn up to 25% cash back on items you need for your event.

How to make a concert a success?

The most important skill that you are going to need when planning a concert to make it a true success is that of communication. When you speak with people, always be prepared. Demonstrate your passion to the cause, be able to illustrate why your cause is in need, and show people how THEY will benefit from being a part of your event. People are not just going to give themselves to you. You have to demonstrate value, and there is no better way of doing that than genuine, face-to-face communication.

How to start a nonprofit fundraising?

1. Building a Team: The Basics. The first thing you should realize when you are planning a concert or coming up with any nonprofit fundraising ideas is that you can't do it alone. You must have a team in place of like-minded individuals who you can trust. It does not have to be a big team.

Why is it important to remember why you are doing this in the first place?

The most important thing is to always remember why you are doing this in the first place: to raise money and awareness for a great cause and to create an amazing event that people will enjoy. Stay positive and never let anyone tell you that you won't succeed.

Is it easy to plan a concert?

In the end, it's all up to you. Believe me, organizing any kind of grassroots event will not be easy, planning a concert is no exception. But if you really devote yourself to it and work hard, then it will be one of the best experiences of your life. I know it was for me. And don't forget to take lots of pictures. When it's all over, the memories will be all that you have left.

How to organize a team meeting?

Check the local papers to make sure that your events aren't on dates where a lot of other events are scheduled. Be sure to give your team plenty of time to organize. You should begin working on the details of your event at least two months in advance.

Do you need to book someone to play a concert?

This is the most important part of any concert, but also the most difficult to organize. You don't need to (and likely won't be able to) book anyone famous. Local musicians are always looking to market themselves and will be able to pull in more attendees to your concert.

Scheduling

If you can get pretty close to David’s usual fees, it’s possible to book shows farther in advance and on “on” nights (generally speaking, weekends).

Fundraising and Payment strategy

Of course it’s good to be able to tell the public that you will donate all of the admission charges to the cause, so the ideal scenario is to find a source to pay David that doesn’t rely on admission revenue. This sort of scenario has been successfully organized by many venues booking David for a concert.

Promotion

Publicize to the organization’s constituency. Draw on the organization’s mailing list, press connections and presence in the community. If the benefit is for Habitat for Humanity, for instance, make sure you get an article about the concert in their newsletter, preferably before the show rather than after.

Press

Again, be in touch with the publicist for the organization in your town, region, or even the national office to see if they have tips or connections for getting good articles in your local media. We can provide press releases and we will happily schedule a phone interview with David.

What to do if a charity is throwing a benefit concert?

If a charity is throwing a benefit concert around the same time you were planning your event, you might want to pick a different event type to avoid competition. Keep the values of the organization you're hosting in mind before making a decision.

What is a benefit event?

A benefit is an event that helps raise money for a charity. Organizing a fundraising benefit requires a lot of planning time and deliberation. If implemented successfully, you can secure donors for the event and future events. To organize an event, spend time making basic decisions about the event, plan well ahead of time, ...

What is digital fundraising?

Digital Fundraising & Crowdfunding Expert. The options for fundraisers are nearly endless. There are traditional fundraising benefits, like gala s, as well as activity-focused events like runs and races. There are also charity events, like golf marathons, as well as online fundraising events and challenges.

Can you run a benefit on your own?

You cannot run a benefit on your own. Once you've made a decision about the event type, build a team to get your idea off the ground. Consider how many volunteers will be needed. A small, simple event like a raffle really only needs a handful of workers. However, bigger events will require more help.

Can you host a wine tasting at an addiction center?

If you're hosting a benefit for a local addiction center, you probably don't want to host a wine tasting. If you're running a benefit for an animal welfare organization, a steak dinner might not be a great idea. Rob Wu is the CEO of CauseVox, a digital fundraising platform designed for nonprofits.

How to raise money for a benefit?

Communicate with the person or family for which you want to raise money. Tell them you would like to hold a benefit. If they are not receptive, do not force the issue. Gather a team of volunteers who are willing to help you with the benefit.

What is holding a benefit?

Holding a benefit is a way to help when someone you know is in need of financial assistance due to an unexpected hardship or tragedy. Some ideas for benefits include dinners, auctions, garage sales and concerts. Put some twists on these ideas as you think of ways to raise money. People will want to help you organize the benefit or attend it in ...

What are some events that are easily organized?

Events that are easily organized such as community picnics and barbecues can be held in public parks, and they generally attract large numbers of people. Ask an up-and-coming local band to perform free of charge in return for exposure to their talent. Organizers can sell tickets to the event.

Why is it important to have a date set and what type of benefit it will be as early in the process as

It is important to have a date set and what type of benefit it will be as early in the process as possible so that local media can be informed. Specific details can be supplied to the media closer to the event. Secure a location for the benefit.

Who can donate air time?

Newspapers, radio and television stations may be willing to donate some air time or a more significant print space than just the community calendar when you have more details to offer about the event. Contact local businesses to sponsor your event.

Do something action tips?

Do Something: Action Tips: Organize a Benefit Concert for Your Cause. Writer Bio. Leyla Norman has been a writer since 2008 and is a certified English as a second language teacher. She also has a master's degree in development studies and a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology.

What was the biggest benefit concert in 1985?

Live Aid rocked the world via satellite on July 13, 1985. Bob Geldof, lead singer of the Irish band the Boomtown Rats, put on one of the most well-known benefit concerts to date. At least 70 acts performed for about 162,000 fans at stadiums in London and Philadelphia. The worldwide TV audience was estimated at 1.5 billion. Artist Phil Collins flew on the Concord, a British supersonic jet, to play at both Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. The event reportedly raised $245 million to fight widespread famine in Ethiopia.

Why do celebrities take center stage?

When tragedy strikes, celebrities take center stage to bring attention to worthwhile causes. Using their status as icons and well-known figures, A-listers leverage their star power to solicit donations to benefit disease research, natural disaster recovery, and aid after tragedies around the world.

Who is the lead singer of Queen?

Lead guitarist Brian May -- who now holds a doctorate in astrophysics -- is shown here in 2015. The band's current lead singer, Adam Lambert, stands in for the late Freddie Mercury who died in 1991.

Does Billy Joel still tour?

Billy Joel still tours and has booked monthly gigs at New York's Madison Square Garden. After "We Are the World," he had a No. 1 single with 1989's "We Didn't Start the Fire" and hit the top with his albums "Storm Front" and "River of Dreams." However, his only album of new material since "Dreams" has been a classical record, "Fantasies & Delusions," from 2001.

Did Bruce Springsteen retire?

After "We Are the World," Bruce Springsteen retired from music. Just kidding! The peripatetic guitarist and singer still puts on marathon live shows and releases best-selling albums, including 2014's "High Hopes," which became his 11th No. 1. His pre-1985 albums were recently remastered and reissued in a boxed set.

The Benefits of Benefits

See all 8 steps on www.wikihow.com

The Costs of Benefits

Scheduling

Fundraising and Payment Strategy

Promotion

Press