Here at Sound Consultancy we’ve been listening and we’ve heard you - money can be a real obstacle when thinking about moving forward with your musical ambitions. Lets not kid ourselves, no act ever made it big without investing heavily into promotions, branding, recording and so on.
We’ve come up with three main resources to help you find the capital you need: crowdfunding; which typically brings in between £1000-£10,000 for you to invest how you see fit; mentoring with our Fundraising Guru, Mark Pennells and our ever-so-exciting soon to be announced new product ‘Rocket Fuel.’ (Launching August 2014)
So here’s some tips from Mark to get you going - the money IS out there peeps - go for it confidently and people will follow :-)
1. Know Why You Do What You Do
If you are not clear and excited about your project nobody else will be! If you don’t have passion it shows; so don’t just attach a cause to your music because you think it will help; find a cause you really are passionate about. Passion is infectious. Believe it or not people actually LIKE to give to help a passionate cause!
2. Know Your Strengths
What suits you best/is likely to yield results for you? Crowd funding, sponsored events, fundraising dinners/balls, grant applications, one to one/two meetings. All of these can work well, but you can’t beat good presentations in small meetings for a high percentage return.
3. Be Likeable
People give to great causes but they also give to “YOU” - work on your personal skills and help them to want to give. Smile! Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by being defeatest or lack of confidence that might come across as moodiness. Success in fundraising is so often about good relationships with all sorts of different people.
4. Never Apologise
…for asking to involve someone in funding a great cause - if you are apologetic you will make you AND them uncomfortable. You are asking them to be involved in something which will be good for you and for them. Remember how you felt last time you supported a good cause - believe that people WANT to support you!
5. Network, Network, Network
There is always someone who can help you and if not there is someone who knows someone who can help you and if not there is someone who knows someone who knows someone who can. Always be ready to sell your vision - even in the most unlikely of places …and if you’re not ready, arrange a meeting with them for when you ARE ready.
If you are interested in getting more support with fundraising or this blog has raised some questions for you - give us a call!