“Here we go, Rembrandt, here we go!” – Fans (who cheer) or audiences (who hear)?
“HOLD THAT NOTE! HOLD THAT NOTE!”
“PUSH ‘EM BACK! PUSH ‘EM BACK! NOW STEP, TOUCH, JETÉ AND HOLD!”
“S-C-E-N-E, SCEE-EEENE, SCEE-EEENE!”
Years ago, I sat in the third-to-top row of an NFL stadium with an artistic director friend. First game of the season. Even people behind us were screaming their heads off and waving their foam fingers. And the experience was more personally meaningful to them than many arts experiences I’ve loved.
Sports fans no more control the action of a game than arts fans do a play or concert. But they’re encouraged to be blitheringly engaged. And all too often, arts fans are encouraged to sit back and relax. Or shut up and listen. Like a lecture at school.
We wondered, can arts organizations find ways to encourage blithering? Or are we too clubby for that?
How to raise first time gifts (or any meaningful donations)
Step One: be a good person.
Gather information.
Discuss prospects.
Research history.
Decide who.
Decide whose.
Get introduction.
Meet prospect.
Discuss organization.
Change perspective.
Make friend.
Seek advice.
Send news.
Continue contact.
Explore potential.
Seek advice.
Send news.
Continue contact.
Select target.
Add 20%
Seek advice.
Discover favorites.
Send news.
Continue contact.
Select when.
Select who.
Select where.
Select why.
Schedule meeting.
Inform purpose.
Rehearse meeting.
Rehearse ask.
Refine ask.
Attend meeting.
Renew relationships.
Discuss challenges.
Embrace confidence.
Ask.
Hush.
Wait.
Listen.
Respect decision.
Accept donation.
Accept non-donation.
Thank donor.
Close meeting.
Conduct postmortem.
Discuss ramifications.
Contact donor.
Seek advice.
Send news.
Continue friendship.
Thank again.
Get referrals.
Repeat often.
People give to people – not buildings, causes, or database programs. First time gifts require relationship development. For best results on how to develop relationships, see Step One.
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