Mike Singer wrote:

> He wants to give a performance on tour over Europe or any other part of 
> the Globe. Of course, he has no money to pay all the tour expences.

Hi Mike,

My wife performs in a barbershop choir via the Sweet Adelines 
organization.  They fundraise year-round.

http://www.skylinechorus.com/

She's also in a quartet and the quartet raises their own funds also.

All performances are done in inexpensive venues (schools, churches, 
etc.) and tickets are sold.  That makes up a large percentage of their 
money raised.

They also hold a raffle every year with half the proceeds to the raffle 
going to the winner and half to the choir.  The tickets are $5 apiece 
and one lucky winner got over $10K with the number of tickets they sold 
this year.

Additionally they hold "silent auctions" at most of their performances 
made up of items that members of the choir donate.  Many of the women in 
the choir have their own small businesses and donation of their products 
or services is the backbone of that particular fundraiser.  Some of them 
simply have excellent wine cellars and put a couple of bottles of 
excellent wine out for auction.

They've had bake sales, and singing telegrams for holidays, and various 
other fundraisers as well as the usual paid dues to join the group.

It definitely helps to have real "products" tied to the donations here 
locally for some reason.  People won't readily give $20 to the choir, 
but they'll bid a $30 bottle of wine up to $60 in a silent auction 
because they feel philanthropic and at the same time they get a nice 
bottle of wine.  Kinda interesting psychologically, really.

Hope that helps.  Basically, it's not easy -- and it requires a constant 
effort by some talented folks in the choir to continually come up with 
ideas, and lots of family and friend support to keep it going.

Generally when it is all said and done, the group fundraisers pay for 
their costumes and about half of their travel expenses and the 
individuals have to make up the rest.  Typically hotel is partially 
covered, contest entry is covered, and the remainder of lodging and 
airfare is done by the person.

My wife has been exceedingly blessed with the fact that one of our 
extended family members travels extensively within the U.S. on business 
and gives her air travel tickets via frequent flyer miles.  One thought 
I had regarding that at one time was trying to figure out a way to help 
family/friends of the chorus "donate" frequent flyer miles via some sort 
of web page -- but it seems like too many hassles vs. just letting folks 
find their own private donor, if they need such assistance.

Nate
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