Karaoke Forums

I am going to be running a Karaoke show for a cancer fund raiser and we have decided to charge everyone for the song they want to sing, but I have no idea of how much to charge and be fair, naturally we want to raise as much money as possible, anyone with an experience or a good idea would be appreciated

You may want to check out the "Crowd Funding" type sites..

My friend used https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/ ... ightcancer for his daughter and her cancer fight..

They have $11,000.00 + at this time..

I wouldn't put a monetary value on it. Just make it donation = sing. Some will give $1s, some will give $20s, but it'll all average out in the end.

Just make it clear in your literature and over the mic why you are doing the karaoke and that it does cost a "what you can afford" donation to sing.

I've done a good dozen charity fundraiser nights at my bar over the years, and that's what I do. We typically end up with a good $500+ just from the karaoke fundraising jar, and that's just for a typically unorganized, largely unpublicized 5 hour show in a neighborhood bar. You should do much better at an organized event where people know why they're there.

Best of luck!

_________________
C Mc
KJ, FL

Is anyone permitted to do something like that... tell everyone that they are doing something for Charity, and that everyone must pay $X if they want to participate? Doesn't one need certain authorizations and permissions to do something like that?

I think it might be different if you just announce that you are trying to raise money for xxxxxx (name your charity here), and then announce that "Anything you feel you can afford to donate would be greatly appreciated."

Charge em' $5 a song.....make announcements and put a sign up that all song proceeds go to charity....and put a tip jar out with sign saying all tips go to charity. That's all you need do....let the fundraising organizer know that you are going to do that and you'll be just fine.

_________________
"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I did a charity benefit like that once. $1 minimum to sing and this was the ONLY time a larger donation got you bumped up to next spot or higher on the list accordingly. We had people giving me slips with $100 bills attached to them (and doing it 2 or 3 more times after they sang) - they were next in line. We raised over $7500 in a little less than 4 hours.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I attended a karaoke charity event years ago organized by the club & friend kj. If you’re aiming for an organized event, some of these are possible tips you & the venue owner could implement (pretty much what I can remember).

1. A sign visible for everyone to see, posted at the main entrance & around the room: “Karaoke Cancer Fundraiser for________.We appreciate any support you can give. If you can’t make a donation at this time, please make a pledge, or send your monetary contribution at your convenience to: provide a website like a bank, or any local charity group in the area on behalf of the charity recipient (w/ prior arrangement of course) NOT your email address or the club’s.
2. They were able to get the local Moose & Elks Lodge on board, after all one of their function is to help & support the community. They donated a few items to raffle; pens, elks jacket, ipod, & 19” flat screen tv.
3. Raffle tickets @ $5 each.
4. On stage, a see-through plexiglass box (borrowed from HomeDepot) with a sign “$1.00 a song or any amount you wish is greatly appreciated”. Singers were dropping 5’s,10’s & 20's.

I won the iPod 20gb. I did an impromptu auction announcing I’ll sell it to the highest bidder. Sold for $125, dropped it all into the plexiglass box. Got a round of applause, it felt good. Good luck!

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

I would like to thank each and everyone of you, these are all good idea's, to answer some of you, this was the Fundraiser's OK I thought of it last year when I did it, and this year they made arrangements with the head of the Cancer Assoc to have it allowed. I especially like the $5.00 suggestion and anyone with say $10.00 or more would get to go to the top of the list

_________________
Andrew Wetherell

You’re on the right track, andrew. It’s all about preparation & planning. Now that you have the cancer society’s permission, include the institution's name, logo in your flyers, posters etc. - a great way to establish credibility.

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

I never did one of these but i see a hybrid type idea from what i am reading here. If you can keep track of who has donated so much for each entry, line it up in singer entry time\donation category.
entry time
John, 20
Julie 5
Ed, 10
Henry 20
Paul 10
Anne 20

The rotation would be.
John 20
Henry 20
Anne 20
Ed 10
Paul 10
Julie 5

John sings then turns in a new slip\ 20 donation after Anne sings. Ed is already queued so the remaining would be:

John 20
Paul 10
Julie 5

Allow people to add to their current slip\donation if they aren't getting to the top and bump accordingly. Each slip must also have it's own donation. Once sung, you have to donate again.

Or is this close to how some of you have worked it?

I'd would NOT do the bumping for $'s scam.

Get the problem of HEY WHY's HE GETTING UP SO MUCH....WHEN AM I GOING TO GET UP...........could even get a case of that person never getting up at all!!

So, I'd keep it at a straight 5$ and if they try to bribe you simply have them donate to the tip jar..........but keep your standard rotation regardless of set amount....don't want any hard feelings and unhappiness and complaining to the management at a charity event.

Maybe not even call it a tip jar.....as that implies the tip is going to you personally. Maybe call it a "DONATION JAR".

As far as big spenders go...........just tell em its still 5$ a song but we truly appreciate thier GREAT GENEROSITY!!

If they grumble and whine..............just give them the standard replies....fairness to others, others have been waiting their turns also, you dont take bribes, sorry.

_________________
"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

But it works. Big spenders are only going to do it a couple times. And that was the entire point to get people to donate - NOT a fair rotation. We even had someone make a $500 donation to get our bar manager to sing one song. She absolutely does not sing. She agreed & she was next.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I think you guys are missing the point of the spirit of giving & helping for a good cause. I sure wouldn’t whine if I gladly donated $50 & get to sing half hour later. Not a big deal. I gave as an act of goodness & selflessness. Sure, it would be nice to sing right away. The kj is probably swamped with all the requests coming in & accounting for the money received.

I agree with Lon as he pointed out, it’s a good incentive for others to donate more $$ to raise as much money as possible. I'm sure I'll do the same. But for that particular night, rotation flow should not even come into play. If I’m the kj I don’t think I can manage to track MrBoo’s rotation scenario. People are there for one purpose only, primarily to support a good cause & knowing they’ll reap the benefit they’ve helped somebody in need. Incentives should be secondary imho.

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

btw, I wouldn't put a tip jar for that event. As I mentioned above a see-thru plexiglass or similar substitute should be visible in lieu of the tip jar. but that's just me blabbering away.

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

Many of these scenarios, it becomes like an auction. Mine would be an example. There is the spirit of giving... That's a given. Then there is the spirit of competition in giving. That's where auctions come to play and where you can take a $500 night and turn it into a $2000 dollar night or more. Look at it this way; If someone is willing to give $50 where the norm is $5, shouldn't they be rewarded?
I would have never done this on a normal night. I think that is where the post dissing the entire idea comes from. Maybe a special two hours prior. If it were normal hours, never on the auction. Maybe on a $5 bump. With a ton of announcements for it.

I thought about it and I could have easily managed my idea. Each request requires a slip. With the slip the donation. Write the donation on the slip and move singer accordingly based on current rotation and active slips. New request, new donation and new move. Probably a limit of two per rotation. Maybe throw in a $50 donation and you can sing two back to back deal..

On a side note, Brian donated $100.00 to Braydens cancer fund,

and is a hero in her eyes. (Mine too)

Way to go Brian..

No need to mention, jd. just glad I could help in a small way – but thanks!

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!