I understand the need to request donations. And we’re all hurting due to the pandemic. (Or future legal fees and foreclosures — treason and swindling is costly.) But how and when you ask for money is a delicate dance.
Here’s what NOT to do.
I enter plays in festivals and competitions all over the world. I’ve enjoyed a lot of success but have also received my share of rejections. When 400 people apply for 5 spots, if you don’t expect rejection you’re crazy.
But occasionally I’ll get a standard rejection email that also asks me to donate to that theatre. Now why ON EARTH would I donate to that theatre in that situation? I at least can take comfort that their same great judgement to ask for money when shunning me probably went into evaluating scripts.
I often do donate to theatres that select my plays. Put me on that mailing list.
The things I hate most about charity donations requests--
ReplyDelete--- We donate to many charities on a monthly basis. When we get mailings from these same charities asking for additional donations it irritates us because it implies we're not doing enough.
--- Charities that send greeting cards, note pads, mailing labels or nickels and dimes. If they're so hard up for money why are they sending cash or items that will probably be thrown away.
Clap. Clap. Totally agree!
Delete--Orleanas
People donate money to organizations that simply want to extract as much as they can from them and everyone they solicit, with no concern for actual benefits to their donors, much less society. There is a political party in America that you may have heard about that is very fond of this tactic. Why do people fall for this? Habit and misinformation.
ReplyDeleteWhile recognizing that life is not a total quid pro quo game, it is still helpful to be smart with donation money. Occasionally you see medium or long term results, sometimes you don't.
In short, I have no fucking clue. Good luck.
Yep! Same with dog adoption agencies...but THEY make you donate as part of your application "to make sure you're serious about adoption." They then take the money and application, and disappear forever.
ReplyDeleteI am a "sustaining donor" to the local classical music station. Its only $5 per month, and well worth it. I listen to the station most of the day. Very calming in these horrible times.
ReplyDelete"Every year we have to reject many excellent, probable Tony-winning plays because of inadequate funding, such as [computer inserts title of your entry here]. If you and all your friends chipped in ..."
ReplyDelete"You're not good enough for us. But give us money." Sounds a lot like some of the women I've known. I know. Not P.C.
ReplyDeleteI also had a political comment, but I better not. It might piss off too many people.
M.B.
I also have that feeling of "hey, you donated money, but it's not enough, please please please please send us more money" just constantly. The online nagging is just being sent directly to spam at this point.
ReplyDeleteI donated to two theaters I've worked for on Big Day Of Giving, but did it anonymously so as to not be added to the spam lists. I know BDOG is a huuuuuuuge thing and everyone gets their funding the entire year from donations and all that, but I just get way too many emails from literally everyone begging for money on that day and the days before it and it's exhausting. I'm not Insert Jerk Millionaire's Name here, I can't be the money fairy for everybody.
To DwWashburn...
ReplyDeleteI always think the same thing. Why do I donate a few cents a day to something, and yet they feel the need to give me "free" gifts as a thank you? Use that stuff and the money to make it towards the charity. I refuse to donate to anyone that does business like this. You feel the need to waste a lot of money on ads and "gifts" when you expect me to pay to help out. No.
Yeah..I tried to be nice and donate to a few charities last year and now I get their mail. It's the only kind of mail I get. Can't wait 'til I turn 50 in a few months. Burial notices will be next.
ReplyDeleteI will say that a couple of my musician friends have set up "virtual tip jars" to help them through the past year. They haven't asked for more money. If they do, it's rare and only during their FREE live online concerts on the weekends. They haven't sold my name to anyone yet. I trust them not to. Have Hollywood writers set up a "fund to give" anywhere online?
Although your feelings are understandable, your position creates a situation where wealthy but crappy playwrights will dominate theater. "I'll donate 5k if you run my play." There is quite some value to donating to theaters that stage good work, regardless of whether they accepted your play in the past. That way, they won't have to rely on "paid access" to stay afloat.
ReplyDeleteYou are at the station. Get off the TDS train.
ReplyDeleteThe local PBS outlet is pretty anemic, which may explain why they seem to spend half their airtime on "pledge drives." Who's going to pay for whole days of cooking/gardening/sewing, followed by Lawrence Welk or Britcoms from the 1970s? If we gave them more money would the programming improve? There's only one way to find out and I can't afford it.
ReplyDelete