Event Sponsorship

HELLO ALL!

It’s been quite some time since I wrote a blog here, shame on me!!

EVENT SPONSORSHIP is the topic today.  Each time I meet with new clients they always want to go straight to the tickets and think that this is where the money will be coming from, even people I think would be experienced enough to know better still think they are making money off the ticket sales from their event.  WRONG!! STOP!!!  *BRAKE SCREECHING*!!!!!  Phew, I think we nearly avoided catastrophe.  They are correct to think you will make money from ticket sales, because you do.  HOWEVER, the money made from ticket sales is minimal and barely covers costs.  This is where sponsorships come in to save the day, kind of like insurance in a car accident.

Where to start?  Well, first of all you need to know what sponsors want.  They want advertising, let me say it again loudly ADVERTISING.  Here is an example of what I’m offering to my sponsors for a small local music festival.

GOLD Sponsorship 2000.00

Gold sponsors will receive:

v  A listing as Gold Sponsor on printed promotional material such as flyers, programs and on pre-event advertising material.  Promotional plugs for your business or organization in PSA’s as sponsoring the event, plugs at any pre-events, as well as a promotional plug the evening of the festival.  A Gold Sponsor will also have the opportunity to hand out promotional favors, and literature.

v  Your company or organization will have a complimentary vendor booth with prime visibility.

v   A full page ad in the Spirit Celebration Fest program.

v  Name and Logo as a Gold Sponsor on looped DVD during performances.

v  Your company name and sponsor level recognition displayed on reserved seats.

v  Access to the VIP Lounge where you can meet band members.

v  VIP Center Seating

v  Tickets for ten guests

v  Ten complimentary meal tickets for each of your guests.

v  Ten wristbands to enter and exit freely during the event.

ü  All printing applies when commitment is made by print deadline, ad deadline for the Spirit Celebration Fest Program is September 14 2012. Ad design to be provided by your company to the media/event coordinator of Spirit Celebration Fest.

Silver sponsorship 1000.00

Silver sponsors will receive:

v  A listing as Silver Sponsor on printed promotional material such as flyers, programs and on pre-event advertising material.  Acknowledgement in PSA’s as a silver sponsor.  A Silver Sponsor will also have the opportunity to hand out promotional favors, and literature.

v  A half page ad in the Spirit Celebration Fest program

v  Name and Logo as a Silver Sponsor on looped DVD during performances.

v  Your company name and sponsor level recognition displayed on reserved seats.

v  Access to the VIP Lounge where you can meet band members.

v  VIP Center Seating

v  Tickets for up to Eight guests

v  Eight complimentary meal tickets for each of your guests.

v  Eight wristbands to enter and exit freely during the event.

ü  All printing applies when commitment is made by print deadlines, ad deadline for the Spirit Celebration Fest Program is September 14 2012. Ad design to be provided by your company to the media/event coordinator of Spirit Celebration Fest.

Bronze Sponsorship 500.00

Bronze sponsors will receive:

v  Acknowledgement in PSA’s as a sponsor. Your business listed as a bronze sponsor in the Spirit Celebration Fest program.  A Bronze Sponsor will also have the opportunity to hand out promotional favors, and literature.

v  A fourth page ad in the Spirit Celebration Fest program

v  Name and Logo as a Bronze Sponsor on looped DVD during performances.

v  Your company name and sponsor level recognition displayed on reserved seats.

v  VIP Center Seating

v  Tickets for up to Six guests

v  Six complimentary meal tickets for each of your guests.

v  Six wristbands to enter and exit freely during the event.

ü  All printing applies when commitment is made by print deadlines, ad deadline for the Spirit Celebration Fest Program is September 14 2012. Ad design to be provided by your company to the media/event coordinator of Spirit Celebration Fest.

Donations

$300.00	v  Access to the VIP Lounge where you can meet band members.v  VIP Center Seating v  Tickets for five guests v  Five complimentary meal tickets for each of your guests. v  Five wristbands to enter and exit freely during the event.
$200.00	v  VIP Center Seatingv  Tickets for ten guests v  Ten wristbands to enter and exit freely during the event.
$100.00	v  VIP Center Seatingv  Tickets for five guests v  Five wristbands to enter and exit freely during the event.

I try to make the value of the package equal to what they would pay for all this advertising and still make it worth it to sponsor in this economy.  My goal is not necessarily $2000.00 for each sponsorship but somewhere in the middle.  Depending on the event you will change what they receive and possibly the amount of money you are asking for.

There are more ideas for larger events and large Corporate sponsors at www.idealist.org  I love how they have mapped out the steps on sponsorship and I couldn’t say it better than they have.

Thanks for your time guys!  Happy sponsor hunting!

The Magic of Event Lighting

Have you ever been to an event where only the venue lighting was used?  If you have, I’m sorry, that must have been painful for you!  Lighting is a very important aspect of event production,  and it is a necessary expense.

Lighting sets the tone for your event, accentuates special times during your event, and can make guests feel much more comfortable.  It can even help them spend more money at your fundraiser!  I’ll tell you how in a bit, but first let’s go over why lighting is so important.

Encore Entertainment in San Fransisco  had this to say on their website:

“There are many different levels of lighting and different colors will help create the theme of your event. In the past we have created classical-elegant events, modern-elegant events, and modern club-style events. A classical, more elegant event will typically use Ivory and possibly one additional color in the scene. A current, modern theme can be created with 2 or 3 different colors and little Ivory lighting. An ultra-modern event may incorporate scenes that change color throughout the evening. Our advanced intelligent equipment allows us to slowly fade from one color scene to another. Whatever the theme of your event, we have something to suit every occasion”

http://www.go-encore.com/lighting.html

This particular photo was taken at Family Options Fabulous 50’s Night by J’s Event Solutions.

The up-lighting here in this photo makes the swag above seem pink when it’s actually white.  It’s a small amount of lighting but it makes a huge impact.  

OK!  You know how to get people to spend more money at your fundraiser?  I do.  Lighting, lighting, lighting!!  Casino’s use this trick, they have no clocks, no windows, there is no natural light and they use combinations of lighting and music to lure you in.

Here’s a quote from one article I found from Time Out Chicago:

“ In one study, Griffiths found 56 volunteers to play roulette, piping in different combinations of music and lighting colors. A combo of red lights and fast-tempo music made people bet at a faster pace than did white lights and no music or slow music, probably because it matched gamblers’ images of a sexy, high-stakes casino.

http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/14902383/the-psychology-behind-casino-design

If this works for a casino it can definitely work for a live or silent auction at an event, and that’s what we want right!  I don’t know about you but I like the events I work to bring in LOTS of money.

Here are some more helpful hints from J’s Event Solutions

Add lighting to your centerpieces, you can use battery operated tea-lights or candles.

Add under-lighting to your tables, or LED table skirting, for photos go here http://www.save-on-crafts.com/undertableled.html

If you are on a tight budget use one wall and make it spectacular.  There is no reason to do the whole venue if you can have one elegant or simply amazing wall.  It can become the talk of the evening and no one ever has to know you budgeted on it!

Use overhead lighting to make patterns on the  dance floor, you can use several different colors and change patterns through the night if you like.

Hope these tips helped!  Thanks for reading, have an eventful day :),

Joyce

J’s Event Solutions  (559) 321-6871

Professional Photography

Photographers can cost anywhere from $500.00-$5000.00 depending on what package you choose and what kind of photographer is needed for your event.  If you can afford it definitely hire a professional,  but if not check out some tips I have to get the best bang for your buck.

INDIVIDUAL EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

Call a photography professor at your local college, and ask for his three best students.  Tell them you are looking for someone to help photograph your event or wedding and that you would like to trade their expertise for (name your price here, I would suggest at least $200 for time and effort), use of the photos in their portfolio, and hopefully a RAVING review from you as well as three or more referrals for more work for them.  Students are usually starving and really looking to have professional experience before they leave college to be able to compete in this world today.  You never know, you may get someone to just do it for the experience and 20 bucks an hour.  Do the same for your videographer, but call your local college and ask for the journalism department.  MAKE SURE YOU SEE ALL PORTFOLIOS AND MEET WITH EVERYONE FIRST.  Make up a contract as well if you feel more comfortable.

Do not have the photographer print your photos!!!  You can request your professional not to print the photos, just ask for them to be put on CD.  This way you can print whenever you want, however you want, how many you want of which…etc etc etc, this just gives you the best control and you are not obligated to the photographer for actual prints.  Most photographers will include a CD instead of prints, but you will still be obligated to package requirements.  Don’t be afraid to tell them you don’t need all the bells and whistles for your special day and see if they are willing to work with you, if not, move on.

This is not my favorite route to go but I have to include it.  Disposable cameras, *I cringe*.  The up side is that you can have your guests take the photos and that gets them participating in your event as well.  The downside is that I think you will end up with a bunch of pics that, well to be honest, you will not like.

NON PROFIT PHOTOGRAPHY

For non-profit events find a volunteer who is also a shutterbug, it’s free!

CORPORATE PHOTOGRAPHY

There are two different corporate photography functions, event photography and headshots or business portraits.  This is where you will need to carefully choose a photographer.  Events are usually in the evening and have ambient lighting, so you really need someone who will realize that your event “isn’t the same as shooting outdoors”.  Also you will want someone artistic to take pictures of food and decor, not just of people.  Again, I will hail the college route, just make sure you see plenty of event pictures from a students portfolio.  They will usually be happy to work for the exposure for less than a professional.  Headshots and business portraits?  Well if you’re a corporation you can afford to hire some decent talent for this.  I wouldn’t skimp here.  After all you do want your representatives to look their best and feel confident about their professional portraits.

Lastly, it never hurts to ask for a payment plan if the total is not within your budget at the moment!

Hello All!!!

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