Fund raising. Legitimate reasons, sources, uses, etc...

[bm_cricket]

What are legitimate sources of fund raising for large theme camps? What about legitimate things to sell? How do you decide? (I'm sure many of you in big camps do it)

If we are diligent about what gets used and how do you think it's okay? Things with our camp logo/design, silly burner friendly slogan, or the like. What would be appropriate? Hats, stickers, dildos, panties, hand bags, high heel shoes, floggers? I mean, if I can make a logo that people want to buy, stick it on an item they want to buy, and all the money goes to providing public services to the playa would it be okay? (like funding our huge liquor costs to run an open bar, huge costs to buy ingredients to brew beer, transport for our 2 huge domes,2 huge art cars, 1 huge open bar, etc, etc, etc).

I'm looking for opinions, snark, and hopefully at least a few people who know what they are talking about.

[Dr. Pyro]

Besides our modest camp dues ($50 until the end of June) Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro sells to it's members and anyone else who is interested (we do not advertise except in our camp newsletters and I suppose on forums like this) shirts ($20) and hats ($15). 100% of any profits we might make goes directly to help defray the cost of the wine we give out. Apart from that we expect, or hope probably is more accurate, that our campmates will pitch in or volunteer time/money/resources in order to make the whole thing work.

But if you're looking at a large fundraiser (say to help cover the cost of a huge dome with DJ, equipment, dance floor, etc.) you might be better off jacking up a 7-11. You'd have to sell a helluva lot of shirts and hats to cover that kind of expense.

[bm_cricket]

Trust me, at this point we don't have grand plans for some silly DJ. We have a no-stupid-DJ policy. No dance floor. You can walk 100ft in any direction and find 3 empty dance floors at any hour of the day if you want to dance.


The question is more about what you deem to be good sources of funding. What would be in the Burning Man spirit (read, not going to get us in trouble) and what you think the community would generally be okay with. I don't want to sell coffee mugs or messenger bags with our logo+the man on them. That's just tacky.

[Dr. Pyro]

OK, legitimate answer: you need to know how much money you want to raise. Clearly if it is only a couple of hundred dollars (such as the expense incurred running our wine bistro) that could be done using our shirts example. If you're running into the thousands, even just $1000, you need to start thinking outside of the box. I know someone once had a raffle for a sex flight for two over BRC. $20 a ticket (or 3 for $50), had a friend donate the plane and gas (I would imagine he sold the tape to Vivid or Burners Gone Wild), and raised well over a grand. I would look at something like that; it keeps costs to a bare minimum, there is little real work you have to do (the guy who ran the raffle sat in the seat next to the pilot explaning he was there for "ballast" whatever the hell that means), and you have a ready and willing city looking to get their groove on in the Mile High Club. Hell, you do a raffle and you can count me in for at least one ticket.

[theCryptofishist]

Does anyone actually make money at cafe press?
I think that sound camps have a natural bias at the party thing. It's where their interest (and one hope their talents) lie.
I don't know if that makes it right. But you might want to think about your assets as a first step.

[knowmad]

Grow and Sell Marajauana! Seriously. Tell people why, the'll give you even more $. And Can the Legality Argument, it's about as illegal as butt sex.

[bm_cricket]

Grow and Sell Marajauana! Seriously. Tell people why, the'll give you even more $. And Can the Legality Argument, it's about as illegal as butt sex.

I'm looking for legal. Afraid Marry Jane doesn't count in my neck of the woods.

[Eric]

personally, I'm working on raising funds for myself by making one of a kind pieces of jewelry very loosely inspired by the playa and the event (no burning man logo's, thank you). I'm selling what I can through my network of friends, and using the funds to pay for my week in the sun. They get a piece of custom hand-forged jewelry, I get to go. Everybody wins!

[bm_cricket]

personally, I'm working on raising funds for myself by making one of a kind pieces of jewelry very loosely inspired by the playa and the event (no burning man logo's, thank you). I'm selling what I can through my network of friends, and using the funds to pay for my week in the sun. They get a piece of custom hand-forged jewelry, I get to go. Everybody wins!

This summer I plan to learn to make my own jewelry. One of my projects. But not for financial reasons.

Hm... It's a good point tho...

[Eric]

This summer I plan to learn to make my own jewelry. One of my projects. But not for financial reasons.

I taught myself years ago, mainly because I couldn't ever find rings & pendants I wanted to wear. People liked them, so now I sell on a cash-only one of a kind basis. Not my "real" job, just my passion. I don't think I could ever produce in a fashion to make real money off of it.

If you're going to teach yourself metalmithing (gold/silver or just copper & brass) get "The Complete Metalsmith" by Tim McCreight. I'm on my second copy in 15 years because its always near my workbench & gets wrecked. Best simple reference book ever!

[bm_cricket]

This summer I plan to learn to make my own jewelry. One of my projects. But not for financial reasons.

I taught myself years ago, mainly because I couldn't ever find rings & pendants I wanted to wear. People liked them, so now I sell on a cash-only one of a kind basis. Not my "real" job, just my passion. I don't think I could ever produce in a fashion to make real money off of it.

If you're going to teach yourself metalmithing (gold/silver or just copper & brass) get "The Complete Metalsmith" by Tim McCreight. I'm on my second copy in 15 years because its always near my workbench & gets wrecked. Best simple reference book ever!

That's the plan. I have access to my father's unbelievably well stocked work space but he is not a jeweler. He does have a lot of the equipment I would need thankfully due to a little problem with hoarding tools.. he has a fascination for tools.

The plan is to make matching silver engagement rings. The problem is that I don't exactly know how to. Oh joy! I've been reading. I think it's about time I put some of that reading to the test. I'll look at that book you recommended. The other thing I really should do is find someplace near where I live and learn how to do it properly, ideally with the professional equipment to do it. I want them to come out perfect.

[Token]

I personally like the dinner fundraisers.

If you have the diggs, doing a dinner and some ntertainment like a burner movie showing is fun and productive.

You can feed folks good food for $10 per plate.

I personally like Sushi fundraisers. The fish is really cheap if you go straight to the distributor to get it.

[bm_cricket]

I personally like the dinner fundraisers.

If you have the diggs, doing a dinner and some ntertainment like a burner movie showing is fun and productive.

You can feed folks good food for $10 per plate.

I personally like Sushi fundraisers. The fish is really cheap if you go straight to the distributor to get it.

That's an idea. Just fly a few fresh caught fish in for the on-playa sushi dinner?

[Fire_Moose]

the AZ conclave village is holding a "Not so silent auction"

people donate things that other burners would actually want

and we have a party where the stuff get auctioned off to the highest bidder

[Dr. Pyro]

So what, my suggestion doesn't even warrent a response?

[knowmad]

So what, my suggestion doesn't even warrent a response?

You were saying ....

...you might be better off jacking up a 7-11. You'd have to sell a helluva lot of shirts and hats to cover that kind of expense.

FYI Uh jacking a 7ie is now politically incorrect. All us cool kids are now jacking BP stations.

[AntiM]

No video, but listen:

[youtube][/youtube]

[bm_cricket]

So what, my suggestion doesn't even warrent a response?

How do I respond? We essentially have "working members" and "paying members". If you work your booty off then you don't pay. Now we've reached the point where there are enough "working members" that we don't have the funds to make their unbelievably creative dreams come through. Trying to think creatively. Thanks for the advice. I'm going to head down to the liquor store and see what they can do for me!