Backlash Whiparound - money needed and an idea

SnowdropExplodes, 10 Nov 2005 14:35:47

Latest situation with the Backlash Whiparound:

Not having had any success with finding someone to
handle the venue requirements, I've turned to a 'nilla
friend with some experience of organising events, who
has given me some advice and pointed out the very
obvious element that I had forgotten to factor into my
calculations of likely initial costs: events
insurance.

Added to this, my check-up email to the person who'd
said they might be able to offer some support
regarding the cost of booking the hall and any
additional PA, has gone unanswered so I don't know
whether that money is still available to me. Whether
or not it is, the costs look to be higher now than
that person originally agreed to take on.

At this stage, if I am to arrange a venue and events
insurance, I need to know that there will be somebody
who can front me the cash to pay for it, and if it's
the Backlash campaign funds that are going to be used
to do that, I need to know if whom I should put as the
insured party (would it be myself, Backlash or
Unfettered, seeing as it's Unfettered's banking
arrangements we're using?)

I've had another idea regarding fundraising through
this event, though:

The smallest print-run available from the printing
company I was recommended to use, for items suitable
for use as tickets, is 5,000. The maximum capacity
of the venue people recommended that I use, is 500.
At first I was reluctant to order 5,000 tickets if I
can use at most 10% of them and have to dump the rest.

However, it occurs to me that as well as selling
standard tickets, it could be possible to sell
"supporting" tickets for people unable to attend in
person but who wish to give money to the cause.
Obviously, some sort of goodie-bag would be needed to
let them feel they're getting something out of this.

Would it be possible to arrange some sort of webcast
of the event (or parts of the event)? Or at least
give exclusive digital photos to those who signed up
(and maybe an mp3 of one or two of the tracks
performed?)

I cannot possibly organise such a thing myself, I
don't have the technical know-how, but if someone else
could, it would be excellent.

*****

This is make-or-break time.

If I don't have an answer fairly soon (by the end of
the month) on whether or not I actually have the money
to spend to set this event up, then I'm going to have
to scratch the idea.

Plus, I need someone to handle the e-goodie bag for
supporting ticket-holders, and preferably someone who
can also set up a way to sell those tickets (either
supporting or full-price) through the Backlash
website.

Ta,
SnowdropExplodes



___________________________________________________________
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AV8R, 10 Nov 2005 14:56:57

I've done a few of these types of events in the past, but as I live in scotland cant really be of that much help with this.

I have some thoughts though.

Do you want to contact me via msn messenger?

Av8r

Author wrote:
> Latest situation with the Backlash Whiparound:
> Not having had any success with finding someone to
> handle the venue requirements, I've turned to a 'nilla
> friend with some experience of organising events, who
> has given me some advice and pointed out the very
> obvious element that I had forgotten to factor into my
> calculations of likely initial costs: events
> insurance.
> Added to this, my check-up email to the person who'd
> said they might be able to offer some support
> regarding the cost of booking the hall and any
> additional PA, has gone unanswered so I don't know
> whether that money is still available to me. Whether
> or not it is, the costs look to be higher now than
> that person originally agreed to take on.
> At this stage, if I am to arrange a venue and events
> insurance, I need to know that there will be somebody
> who can front me the cash to pay for it, and if it's
> the Backlash campaign funds that are going to be used
> to do that, I need to know if whom I should put as the
> insured party (would it be myself, Backlash or
> Unfettered, seeing as it's Unfettered's banking
> arrangements we're using?)
> I've had another idea regarding fundraising through
> this event, though:
> The smallest print-run available from the printing
> company I was recommended to use, for items suitable
> for use as tickets, is 5,000. The maximum capacity
> of the venue people recommended that I use, is 500.
> At first I was reluctant to order 5,000 tickets if I
> can use at most 10% of them and have to dump the rest.
> However, it occurs to me that as well as selling
> standard tickets, it could be possible to sell
> "supporting" tickets for people unable to attend in
> person but who wish to give money to the cause.
> Obviously, some sort of goodie-bag would be needed to
> let them feel they're getting something out of this.
> Would it be possible to arrange some sort of webcast
> of the event (or parts of the event)? Or at least
> give exclusive digital photos to those who signed up
> (and maybe an mp3 of one or two of the tracks
> performed?)
> I cannot possibly organise such a thing myself, I
> don't have the technical know-how, but if someone else
> could, it would be excellent.
> *****
> This is make-or-break time.
> If I don't have an answer fairly soon (by the end of
> the month) on whether or not I actually have the money
> to spend to set this event up, then I'm going to have
> to scratch the idea.
> Plus, I need someone to handle the e-goodie bag for
> supporting ticket-holders, and preferably someone who
> can also set up a way to sell those tickets (either
> supporting or full-price) through the Backlash
> website.
> Ta,
> SnowdropExplodes
> ___________________________________________________________
> Yahoo! Model Search 2005 - Find the next catwalk superstars - http://uk.news.yahoo.com/hot/model-search/


adrian, 10 Nov 2005 15:28:32

OK, the Backlash site could sell tickets online. Unfettered have a
system where you book online and get a code to quote at the door. It
was a bit shambolic at Kinkfest but this would be a lot simpler and it
works fine for the workshops.

I used to laser print numbered tickets but it was far too
labour-intensive to cut them up and I said I'd never do it again. If
we had someone with access to a proper guillotine, the sort you put a
ream of paper in and cut the whole lot in half, it would be pretty
easy. They're not brilliant quality but is it important? I think
Fuschia had someone who could print tickets. Perforated card would
work too but it's ridiculously expensive. If you're asked 300 odd
pounds for tickets you should tell them to get stuffed, but that's the
sort of quote I was getting.

You'd need a flyer to publicise it.

Coffee Cake and Kink would sell tickets for free, also Fettered Pleasures.

Webcast? I don't know, not really my field. In practice I guess it
would need use of an existing broadband connection to the venue.
Streaming video after the event would be easier but if it was of the
whole event that would be a lot of server space.

Pictures and MP3 is easy enough, you'd probably want to put it on a
password-protected website. And somehow I think this would cause more
bad feeling than either not doing it, or making it free to all, would.
Also I don't know if our server people would be OK about the
bandwidth.


Paul C. Dickie, 10 Nov 2005 15:46:58

In message <56dbeda20511100727x2d3fb7e5n@mail.gmail.com>, Adrian
wrote:
>I used to laser print numbered tickets but it was far too
>labour-intensive to cut them up and I said I'd never do it again.

So use someone's slave(s) to do that...

--
< Paul >


SnowdropExplodes, 10 Nov 2005 16:24:54

--- Adrian wrote:

> OK, the Backlash site could sell tickets online.
> Unfettered have a
> system where you book online and get a code to quote
> at the door. It
> was a bit shambolic at Kinkfest but this would be a
> lot simpler and it
> works fine for the workshops.

Sounds good.

>
> I used to laser print numbered tickets but it was
> far too
> labour-intensive to cut them up and I said I'd never
> do it again. If
> we had someone with access to a proper guillotine,
> the sort you put a
> ream of paper in and cut the whole lot in half, it
> would be pretty
> easy. They're not brilliant quality but is it
> important? I think
> Fuschia had someone who could print tickets.
> Perforated card would
> work too but it's ridiculously expensive. If you're
> asked 300 odd
> pounds for tickets you should tell them to get
> stuffed, but that's the
> sort of quote I was getting.
>
> You'd need a flyer to publicise it.

Is it important to have numbered tickets?

I've called the printers who were recommended to me by
someone on this list (I forget who) and they've told
me that unnumbered tickets are about £90 (including
delivery and VAT) while numbered tickets are about
£200 (also including delivery and VAT).

My initial plan was to use the cheapest option for
flyers and use those as tickets, so I know that the
cost for a print run of 5,000 flyers would be the same
as the cost for the tickets.

How would I distribute flyers (or get them
distributed), and where? At what sort of timescale
should I aim to be doing that?

(As soon as I have the venue booked, I intend to start
advertising; the London Munch kindly offered to email
their members to advertise the event)

> Webcast? I don't know, not really my field. In
> practice I guess it
> would need use of an existing broadband connection
> to the venue.
> Streaming video after the event would be easier but
> if it was of the
> whole event that would be a lot of server space.
>
> Pictures and MP3 is easy enough, you'd probably want
> to put it on a
> password-protected website. And somehow I think
> this would cause more
> bad feeling than either not doing it, or making it
> free to all, would.
> Also I don't know if our server people would be OK
> about the
> bandwidth.

Okay, maybe those weren't the best ideas, but I'd
welcome any and all ideas for making the most of the
"supporting" ticket idea - I know that it has worked
for events a friend of mine has organised in the past,
where the goodie-bag tended to be a badge for the
event and some newsletters; but I feel that we should
offer a little bit more than that.

Ta,
SnowdropExplodes



___________________________________________________________
Yahoo! Model Search 2005 - Find the next catwalk superstars - http://uk.news.yahoo.com/hot/model-search/


SnowdropExplodes, 10 Nov 2005 17:25:46

--- -OJT- wrote:


> Added to this, my check-up email to the person who'd
> said they might be able to offer some support
> regarding the cost of booking the hall and any
> additional PA, has gone unanswered so I don't know
> whether that money is still available to me.
> Whether
> or not it is, the costs look to be higher now than
> that person originally agreed to take on.

Okay, this particular panic is over - the person in
question has agreed to front me the sum required to
book the venue and pay for insurance.

However, this does raise another issue, which is how
the financial side of this is going to be handled.

because I figure I am essentially handling money on
behalf of Backlash, I am nervous to put it all through
my own bank account, but if people are happy for me to
do that I will.

I could use PayPal to do it (which would require that
I upgrade to Business status, and would presumably
have to make some payments via my bank account
anyway).

I guess could set up a separate "whiparound" bank
account to handle it all.

Or if there's another (more) suitable option that I've
missed, please let me know.

Ta,
SnowdropExplodes





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adrian, 10 Nov 2005 18:54:53

Backlash's financial setup is not yet satisfactory either. We are
doing things through Unfettered who have to earmark the sums received
and pay for things on its behalf. I dare say we'll have our own
account before too long and well before the event.

At the moment it needs two signatories with gives a safety factor but
the usual delays. They're the 'wrong' signatories, being Unfettered
ones, but they are both active in Backlash.


«No Name Set», 11 Nov 2005 18:16:08

I think I can handle that - there's a guillotine knocking round
my writers' group's small press, IIRR. WIll check and get back.

That is, if it sin't going to be far too labour intensive to get
the things over to east London and back again.


--
Rosemary


adrian, 11 Nov 2005 18:28:06

[ Attachment Removed: ]


Graham Marsden, 11 Nov 2005 20:54:46

Adrian wrote:
> [ Attachment Removed: ]

Just a quick note to point out that the smartgroups system Backlash is
using doesn't seem to like attachments or messages in HTML format, so
unfortunately your last two missives have been, well, missed! :-/

Cheers,
Graham.


adrian, 11 Nov 2005 21:55:43

Thanks. I switched rich text on for a personal mail and it's
obviously decided to take that as default. Should be OK now

On 11/11/05, graham wrote:
>
>
> Adrian wrote:
> > [ Attachment Removed: ]
>
> Just a quick note to point out that the smartgroups system Backlash is
> using doesn't seem to like attachments


adrian, 11 Nov 2005 21:58:34

[ Attachment Removed: ]


deno, 11 Nov 2005 22:17:29

In a message dated 11/11/2005 21:58:50 GMT Standard Time,
adrianhb@googlemail.com writes:

[ Attachment Removed: ]




Hi

We have received this 3 or 4 times now and I wonder if you could condense
the message into
email.

Attachment:.
message.html (text/html)

adrian, 11 Nov 2005 22:43:04

I would if I knew how it was happening, or what has changed.


adrian, 11 Nov 2005 23:03:08

OK it seems to be something gmail is doing when I include some of the
previous post.

Resend of reply to Rosemary re guillotine:
So long as it's the sort that cuts a whole ream at a time. Glorified
pairs of scissors I have already. Sir Guy also offered, but if needed
I can do them and get them to E London.


Graham Marsden, 12 Nov 2005 00:49:12

Adrian wrote:

> Thanks. I switched rich text on for a personal mail and it's
> obviously decided to take that as default. Should be OK now

This one's ok, but your next one just says "attachment removed" again! :-/

Cheers,
Graham.


Paul C. Dickie, 12 Nov 2005 01:57:16

In message <43753BFD.1030404@affordable-leather.co.uk>, graham
wrote:
>Adrian wrote:
>
>> Thanks. I switched rich text on for a personal mail and it's
>> obviously decided to take that as default. Should be OK now
>
>This one's ok, but your next one just says "attachment removed" again! :-/

Perhaps it was just too rich for the server to digest?

--
< Paul >


Amelie, 12 Nov 2005 12:55:01

I have had a number of emails with attachments removed and am still waiting
for a promised Master list of MPs that I can use as a basis for an expanded
data base. Amelie

----- Original Message -----
"Adrian" , 12 Nov 2005 12:55:01
To:
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 10:42 PM


I would if I knew how it was happening, or what has changed.




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Theo Delight, 12 Nov 2005 15:39:18

stuff

to

be

eaten

Author wrote:
> --- -OJT- wrote:
> > Added to this, my check-up email to the person who'd
> > said they might be able to offer some support
> > regarding the cost of booking the hall and any
> > additional PA, has gone unanswered so I don't know
> > whether that money is still available to me.
> > Whether
> > or not it is, the costs look to be higher now than
> > that person originally agreed to take on.
> Okay, this particular panic is over - the person in
> question has agreed to front me the sum required to
> book the venue and pay for insurance.

They sound a bit fishy to me, how is it that they
have that sort of money to splash around like that
and how do you know there not lawndring money for
the mob or a brothel or summat?

> However, this does raise another issue, which is how
> the financial side of this is going to be handled.
> because I figure I am essentially handling money on
> behalf of Backlash, I am nervous to put it all through
> my own bank account, but if people are happy for me to
> do that I will.

Or you could ask your mystery backer as they might
know all about hidden or secret bank accounts in
tax havens like the Chanel Islands!


--
/|\


Paul C. Dickie, 12 Nov 2005 18:08:41

In message <7837439.1131809955733.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com
>, Theo_Delight@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
>Author wrote:
>> --- -OJT- wrote:
>> Okay, this particular panic is over - the person in
>> question has agreed to front me the sum required to
>> book the venue and pay for insurance.
>
>They sound a bit fishy to me, how is it that they
>have that sort of money to splash around like that
>and how do you know there not lawndring money for
>the mob or a brothel or summat?


.:\:/:.
+--------------------+ .:\:\:/:/:.
| PLEASE DO NOT | :.:\:\:/:/:.:
| FEED THE TROLL | :=.' - - '.=:
| | '=(\ 9 9 /)='
| Thank you, Idiot | ( (_) )
| Quarantine Scheme. | /`-vvv-'\
+--------------------+ / \
| | @@@ / /|,,,,,|\ \
| | @@@ /_// /^\ \\_\
@x@@x@ | | |/ WW( ( ) )WW
\||||/ | | \| __\,,\ /,,/__
\||/ | | | (______Y______)
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\


--
< Paul >


«No Name Set», 13 Nov 2005 17:08:49

stuff

to

get

eaten


Adrian writes:
Resend of reply to Rosemary re guillotine:
So long as it's the sort that cuts a whole ream at a time. Glorified
pairs of scissors I have already. Sir Guy also offered, but if needed
I can do them and get them to E London.

I don't know how many sheets it will cut at a time. I will ask.

How many are we talking of needing? - 500 tickets for
attenders, maybe some "gigging in spirit", maybe another 500??
to be chopped from A4 sheets, presumably, what , 3 or 4 tickets
to a page of A4?

I presume they'd be thicker than normal copier bond paper - say
150gsm maybe??


--
Rosemary


adrian, 13 Nov 2005 17:53:16

Thanks. Yes 150gsm or thereabouts.

Bear in mind that there are hundreds of 'paper trimmers' for every
real guillotine. It needs to cut min 50 sheets at a time to be of
use.


redcat, 14 Nov 2005 17:57:24

Amelie - apologies, have been off board.

List now sent by e-mail.

Regards,

M

Author wrote:
> I have had a number of emails with attachments removed and am still waiting
> for a promised Master list of MPs that I can use as a basis for an expanded
> data base. Amelie
> ----- Original Message -----
: "Adrian" , 14 Nov 2005 17:57:24
> To:
> Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 10:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [backlash] Backlash Whiparound - money needed and an idea
> I would if I knew how it was happening, or what has changed.
> --
> If you want to share pictures, use the calendar, or start a vote
> visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/Backlash
> To leave the Group, email: Backlash-unsubscribe@smartgroups.com
> Report abuse
> http://www.smartgroups.com/text/abusereport.cfm?gid%3D3271426&mid%3D3655