Non-Profit Event Planning Tips
How to book Entertainment?
It is not a secret that when it comes to non-profit events the event planning has to serve one purpose: raise funds to support the organization’s mission. Non-for-profit organizations are founded for the purpose of serving, helping, and promoting an important cause for the greater good of society. Their annual events are planned in the format of fundraising since nonprofit organizations finance their operations through donations. Needless to say that the entertainment part of these events is crucial.
Who is your audience?
In order to raise funds during an event, non-profit event planning must consider the audience. Based on my experience, the clientele who is invited to non-profit events, are usually an older audience, they tend to be upscale, educated, and care about social and educational values. They like to be entertained “in style”.
How to book the right entertainment for my event?
The most important thing when it comes to booking entertainment for your non-profit event is having the right artist or celeb to match the spirit of the organization and elevate your event. Non-profit organizations are all about authenticity therefore the entertainment segment needs to be aligned with the vibe, and the message carried by the organization. Remember people need to feel inspired in order to donate funds, no matter how wealthy they are. I noticed that when it comes to non-profit events, the audience, on one hand, likes to see an artistic and sophisticated performance and on the other hand, be entertained. Take Miri Ben-Ari, for example, a virtuosic violinist, who plays a classical instrument and performs commercial music from Hip Hop, African beats, to EDM music. Her performance using a classical instrument with a twist is very pleasing when it comes to the non-profit audience, who finds her not only entertaining and captivating but also inspiring. Miri Ben-Ari also happens to be a great public speaker who cares about good causes and likes to communicate that to her audience.
Budget for entertainment
Non-profit event planners often ask what budget should they allocate towards the event’s entertainment. Keep in mind that booking fees vary between artists and are also based on the length of the show, production, and travel expenses. I often recommend booking an artist that does not travel with too many people or perform with too many “extras” on stage simply because it makes the production more costly. Since the audience is coming to support the event and not to watch a show, it is ok to book an artist that can get on stage as a solo performer and give an intimate show. The entertainment budget comes from donations, to begin with, hence in my opinion, it is important not to waste it on expensive production and lavish greenrooms.
What to expect
When booking an artist, it is always helpful having a good line of communication with the artist management or representative. When artist management is friendly and professional the booking process is easier. Artist management must be able to answer questions and even accommodate special requests, such as a performance of a particular song, or having the artist saying a message on behalf of the organization. If the artist’s management is difficult to deal with I would recommend changing a direction and booking a different act. It is OK to ask the artist rep questions about the show, the choice of songs, and express concern about anything related to the booking. After all, it is your event and you are responsible for its success, measured by the amount of money that your nonprofit organization is able to raise on a said night.
I hope you find this information helpful.
