Have you ever thought about holding your own movie night? A small one may be fun for friends and family, but a large one could actually be used to raise money for your organization. You have to have access to theater-style equipment, but that should not be hard to come by. With the right setup, you could easily bring in money from a movie night to put toward a special cause. Here are some tips to help you set up one of these nights so you can start rolling in the dough.
The Venue
You need to get a large room that can fit a lot of people in it. If you are currently a college student, you may be able to rent a classroom or conference room on campus that already has a lot of seating and a movie projector. If you can’t find something like that though, you will need a large space, folding chairs, and a projector to display the movie with.
The Movie
You can show just about anything you want, but try to make it something people will actually want to see. You may have a marathon of classics, like Gone with the Wind or Casablanca. You may play all of the Star Wars movies in order, or you may show a new release that just came out on DVD. Find something your audience will love, and market the heck out of the event.
The Money
You can charge a small fee for coming to see the movie, and then you can charge a much larger fee for concessions outside of the theater. Most movie theaters make their money from popcorn, soda, and candy, not the tickets they sell. You could have a donation box at the concession stand and ticket counter so people can contribute extra if they want to. If you’re raising money for a worthy cause, you should be able to get something from the donation box.
The Success
Hopefully you’ll have a good turnout for your movie night. This will all depend on your marketing though. Blast the news about your fundraiser on Twitter, Facebook, and your organization’s website. Pass out flyers, and try to get the word out on the radio. Do whatever it takes to get people in the door. Then all you have to do is let the movie do the work for you.