If you’re looking to raise awareness and funds for your cause with a diverse audience, a battle of the bands fundraising event idea is one that will not disappoint. You’ll have the opportunity to raise money from band entry registration fees, ticket sales and crowdfunding donations raised by the acts and their fans as a way to cast votes in their favor. Here’s what you need:
- A fun venue
- Equipment and PA system (or ask bands to bring their own)
- Mobile-friendly sign-up/audition participation form
- Crowdfunding team forms & keywords (per band for voting purposes)
- Mobile-friendly ticketing forms that feature sponsors & partners
Your venue availability and selection will determine the size of your event or vice versa. Try school gyms, community halls, malls (think outdoor summer concert series-style), or local coffee shops, which may offer discounted or donated space in exchange for extra foot traffic/business. Their contribution as a sponsor can be recognized event digital donation forms, social posts, and promotional material for your battle of the bands fundraising event.
Reach out to restaurants and businesses (esp. music related ones) in the community for prizes for contestant performers and crowd raffles. Throw some love their way in return by including them in social posts, on your digital forms and mobile-friendly Thank Yous.
Share your mobile-friendly participation form keyword and link with local schools, music stores and academies and music venues to promote your event and recruit talent. Who knows? Top-quality talent may be hiding right in your organization’s own backyard. Don’t feel like you’re limited to just bands. Recruit solo musicians, dance troupes, spoken word artists/poets, and even magicians to participate. Each act can receive a mobile-friendly crowdfunding page they can customize and promote to their own network of friends, family, loyal fans and supporters.
The winner will be determined by the audience who will cast their votes via the donations they make to your cause. The band with the most donors or highest donation total wins!