Seeking sponsorship

NSAman · 03-04-2015 11:45pm

One eyed Jack wrote: »

You're completely off your rocker, but you need to be nowadays to engage in any sort of fundraising activity tbh

Seriously though, never mind letters, I presume you're going to be running your dancing school in the local community so keep it local. Arrange face to face meetings with potential local business people whom you'd like to get sponsorship from, hit up a local celebrity or two, get as much support from the community as you can and organise some fundraising events like dancing displays in shopping centres and so on.

One thing I've noted when I do fundraising is that people always give generously as long as you're not shoving a bucket under their nose or trying to guilt trip them into giving. The more enthusiastic you are about your idea, the more enthusiastic people will be to support you.

Best of luck with it btw

Having been one of those local businesses that got hit for sponsorship ALL the time, I can tell you, they are pee'd off with people looking for something for nothing, then spending their cash in someone elses establishment.

Glad I am no longer involved in this, as it always causes people to get pee'd off when you have to say no.

Local businesses do not have the resources that the local supermarket has, so hit up Tesco and Dunnes Stores etc.

MathDebater · 03-04-2015 11:45pm

Have you applied for a grant from the Arts Council, Wicklow county council or from the Marie Duffy foundation?

Pawwed Rig · 03-04-2015 11:45pm

suelaw wrote: »

Thanks for that. Maybe if I could get the company logo into the booklets for the bigger competitions then I might have a good case. Cheers

They only save at 12.5% though so it is probably not going to be much of a persuasive argument

suelaw · 03-04-2015 11:46pm

Tugboats wrote: »

Agree but at intermediate and higher level it is and thats what your training them to get to. The industry is rotten to the core

You do have a point, I've seen what your talking about, but it certainly won't be happening for my dancers. I competed up until last year and certainly wasn't in any way pageant material. I've always been in Irish dancing for the love of dancing, and certainly not to be a contestant in a pageant. Yes wen girls get older they'll wear make up but certainly not ott in any way. That's just girls being girls

4zn76tysfajdxp · 03-04-2015 11:46pm

Bikini car wash.

orestes · 03-04-2015 11:47pm

Sorry but I honestly don't see you getting sponsorship for such a small class who are competing and getting podium places. Myself and my brothers did ballroom dancing for years, all multiple time national champions (youngest was in the top 12 amateurs in the world at one point) and there certainly wasn't any for us, simply because there's no return on it for anybody sponsoring you. Small companies can't afford it, and for big companies it's a waste of money since the audience the ads would reach is so small.

suelaw · 03-04-2015 11:47pm

NSAman wrote: »

Having been one of those local businesses that got hit for sponsorship ALL the time, I can tell you, they are pee'd off with people looking for something for nothing, then spending their cash in someone elses establishment.

Glad I am no longer involved in this, as it always causes people to get pee'd off when you have to say no.

Local businesses do not have the resources that the local supermarket has, so hit up Tesco and Dunnes Stores etc.

Thanks for that. Maybe I won't be going to the local businesses at all so.

suelaw · 03-04-2015 11:48pm

MathDebater wrote: »

Have you applied for a grant from the Arts Council, Wicklow county council or from the Marie Duffy foundation?

I'll look into this for sure. Thanks

suelaw · 03-04-2015 11:49pm

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

They only save at 12.5% though so it is probably not going to be much of a persuasive argument

There goes my sales pitch so lol

suelaw · 03-04-2015 11:50pm

Leilani Tasteless Perfume wrote: »

Bikini car wash.

For4 year olds. It's a no

suelaw · 03-04-2015 11:51pm

orestes wrote: »

Sorry but I honestly don't see you getting sponsorship for such a small class who are competing and getting podium places. Myself and my brothers did ballroom dancing for years, all multiple time national champions (youngest was in the top 12 amateurs in the world at one point) and there certainly wasn't any for us, simply because there's no return on it for anybody sponsoring you. Small companies can't afford it, and for big companies it's a waste of money since the audience the ads would reach is so small.

Thanks for the honesty thee. While competing myself, at world level etc I didn't get sponsorship. But from the age of 16 I paid my own way in dance so wasn't a hindrance to my parents. I'll look into the grants mentioned above, hopefully I'll find more information that way. Cheers

lulu1 · 03-04-2015 11:56pm

Tugboats wrote: »

I won't be sponsoring you. Irish dancing is now all about the sexual exploitation of young girls who are forced to wear fake tan, make up and the skirts are getting shorter. It's no better than the beauty pageants you see in America. You should be ashamed of yourself.

I think you are going a bit far with that statement in this case anyway. I think this is a genuine person trying to instill a love of dancing in children and young adults who otherwise might be hanging around street corners

04-04-2015 12:01am

suelaw wrote: »

We will never be standing beside someone who is taking money out to pay for anything. We don't want anyone to feel pressurised into opting into anything. And we certainly wouldn't wat anyone to feel embarrassed that they don't have the money to donate anything, we know what it's like to have no money and that's why we are doing this. If I had the money I'd pay for the stuff myself, as would the dancers but we simply don't. So what's the solution. I say sorry kids I'm not making any money so I'm off, go back to hanging around the roads all day. No, that's certainly not my answer.

You may not want people to feel that way, but your presence will certainly make some people feel obliged or embarrassed into donating. Thats why bag packing works.

I don't think the inevitable result of not doing a bag pack is kids hanging round the streets, and thats the kind of guilting that puts me off funding other peoples hobbies.

It's also not a regular sustainable source of income, so seeking a companies sponsorship is better long term.

suelaw · 04-04-2015 12:01am

lulu1 wrote: »

I think you are going a bit far with that statement in this case anyway. I think this is a genuine person trying to instill a love of dancing in children and young adults who otherwise might be hanging around street corners

Thanks lulu that's exactly what I'm trying to do. We are in an "underprivileged area" and we are just trying to help these kids out. I never set up my school to be the big I am in the id world (there's enough of them out there) I just want the best for these kids. I set up my class after volunteering at the school my kids attend and teaching kids for a couple of hours a week on my day off. I genuinely want the kids to love it like I do. And they definitely do. I have parents that sometimes can't pay for class and it's always resolved, I certainly don't want a dancer not to attend a class for financial reasons. And all my parents know this.

efb · 04-04-2015 12:07am

There will always be bagpackers and people that don't want/too mean to have their bags packed. It's a good way of earning a few quid I wouldn't write it off cos a few here don't like it.

If you can survive the bitterness of AH you'll go far

suelaw · 04-04-2015 12:07am

Candie wrote: »

You may not want people to feel that way, but your presence will certainly make some people feel obliged or embarrassed into donating. Thats why bag packing works.

I don't think the inevitable result of not doing a bag pack is kids hanging round the streets, and thats the kind of guilting that puts me off funding other peoples hobbies.

It's also not a regular sustainable source of income, so seeking a companies sponsorship is better long term.

Sorry I stated that wrong. Of course not doing the bagpacking won't make them hang around the streets, I mean long term, they are with me 3 times a week, that's 3 evenings that they are not on the street, and once a month we r at a competition for the day supporting each other. That, in my eyes, is much better than hanging around and doing nothing. But I also won't be telling people sob stories so as to guilt them into giving us money, I said above the kids will chit chat while packing or move to a different till if the customer wants that. We are also leaving 25% of the shop clear of bagpacking so in all honesty I think we are being extremely fair and just trying to get a bit of help. I'm sorry but I don't see why that's so wrong

Mint Aero · 04-04-2015 12:08am

Why can't ye buy yer own sh*t?

4zn76tysfajdxp · 04-04-2015 12:09am

Candie wrote: »

I don't think the inevitable result of not doing a bag pack is kids hanging round the streets, and thats the kind of guilting that puts me off funding other peoples hobbies.

If you don't contribute to their Funfund, these kids will turn to prostitution by the end of the week.

efb · 04-04-2015 12:10am

Leilani Tasteless Perfume wrote: »

If you don't contribute to their Funfund, these kids will turn to prostitution by the end of the week.

They are doomed anyway cos they will be sexed up dancing and abused by paedos

moneymad · 04-04-2015 12:10am

suelaw wrote: »

Hi all, another random question for you. I have started an Irish dancing class and we have successfully fundraised for all costumes, entry fees, registration fees, shoes, t shirts etc. we are from a very NORMAL area and are not fortunate enough to be able to splash the cash, as they say.
Anyway, how would I get sponsorship for the dance school? Or is this even possible?
I know many places, pubs, shops etc sponsor football teams so I'm thinking why not sponsor and Irish dance team!
Am I completely off my rocker or do you guys think such a thing could happen.
My dancers are extremely hard working and although they are only dancing for a short time they have been very successful in competitions.
Would anybody be able to pm me a template of a letter I could send to companies for sponsorship, and clearly English isn't my greatest talent lol.
Sorry for the long post and thanks for any info you can give me.
Cheers

Do what the GAA do. Run a weekly draw. Numbers from 1-28. Winner has to get 4 numbers drawn to win. They make a fortune.
Goodluck with the dance school.

lulu1 · 04-04-2015 12:11am

suelaw wrote: »

Thanks lulu that's exactly what I'm trying to do. We are in an "underprivileged area" and we are just trying to help these kids out. I never set up my school to be the big I am in the id world (there's enough of them out there) I just want the best for these kids. I set up my class after volunteering at the school my kids attend and teaching kids for a couple of hours a week on my day off. I genuinely want the kids to love it like I do. And they definitely do. I have parents that sometimes can't pay for class and it's always resolved, I certainly don't want a dancer not to attend a class for financial reasons. And all my parents know this.

Thats good because as I said in an earlier post my daughter is in a class and I feel I am being taken over just to give an example

Middle of March dance comp 150e

Last weekend 3 day dance comp 10 e each day for dancers and 10e for us to watch.

Two more comps coming up shortly

suelaw · 04-04-2015 12:13am

efb wrote: »

There will always be bagpackers and people that don't want/too mean to have their bags packed. It's a good way of earning a few quid I wouldn't write it off cos a few here don't like it.

If you can survive the bitterness of AH you'll go far

Thanks efb. I'm surviving alright. Im doing good by kids and passing on a love of dance. Anyone who sees it as anything different have issues of their own.

Señor Fancy Pants · 04-04-2015 12:14am

lulu1 wrote: »

Thats good because as I said in an earlier post my daughter is in a class and I feel I am being taken over just to give an example

Middle of March dance comp 150e

Last weekend 3 day dance comp 10 e each day for dancers and 10e for us to watch.

Two more comps coming up shortly

You should try bag packing in Tesco to fund your kids hobby....there's loads of money in it. What if Frada is right like? WHAT IF FRADA IS RIGHT?!

suelaw · 04-04-2015 12:15am

lulu1 wrote: »

Thats good because as I said in an earlier post my daughter is in a class and I feel I am being taken over just to give an example

Middle of March dance comp 150e

Last weekend 3 day dance comp 10 e each day for dancers and 10e for us to watch.

Two more comps coming up shortly

Wow lulu that's an awful lot to be dishing out. I'd look closer as to where your money is going. Our comps are 30 max, that's entry and all competitions. Best of luck to your daughter. Ps don't feel like you have to enter all the comps, as a competitor and a parent, I only competed when I had the money too.

suelaw · 04-04-2015 12:18am

I'm going to do that. Thanks a mil Orestes

suelaw · 04-04-2015 12:19am

moneymad wrote: »

Do what the GAA do. Run a weekly draw. Numbers from 1-28. Winner has to get 4 numbers drawn to win. They make a fortune.
Goodluck with the dance school.

Cheers for that. Will look into it.
Thanks

Pawwed Rig · 04-04-2015 12:21am

The difference is that GAA clubs have hundreds of members and represent a town/district

moneymad · 04-04-2015 12:21am

suelaw wrote: »

Cheers for that. Will look into it.
Thanks

Do. It works. Lots of local football teams rely on this funding.

moneymad · 04-04-2015 12:23am

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

The difference is that GAA have hundreds of members and represent a town/district

Even if they make 200 a week from this, it's quite effective.

suelaw · 04-04-2015 12:28am

moneymad wrote: »

Even if they make 200 a week from this, it's quite effective.

75-100 a week would be hugely beneficial. I will talk to the fundraiser parents about these ideas. Thanks so much for the help

Seeking sponsorship

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