Money Talk: Transportation Sponsor?

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Transportation Sponsor?

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Money Talk
Forum Discription: Questions about fundraising and promotion
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2582
Printed Date: 4/28/24 at 7:36am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Transportation Sponsor?

Posted By: STWBoxOffice
Subject: Transportation Sponsor?
Date Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:41am

Hey everyone, our actors come from NYC by train to CT, and our ASM picks up the actors in a mini-van from the station and takes them to our theatre. The mini-van is ancient and has been on its last legs for about 5 years now. LOL. We are desperate to get a new van, but you know as non-profits go, it's a lot of money(and we're not even looking for new, just a nice used mini van). We have some money set aside for a van, but since we are moving into a new theatre this fall, we need most of the money for the new space. I was wondering if anyone on the board has run into this problem before. Did anyone get a corporate sponsorship from a dealership in your town? Anyone have any good fundraisers for transportation etc? Any ideas will be much appreciated!

Replies:

Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 8/16/07 at 12:19pm

I never had to deal with getting a new vehicle for a non-profit group before, but I can tell you that many dealerships are always willing to help out in many different ways. Another thing you may want to look at are vehicle rental facilities. They maybe willing to donate a vehicle or just transportation to and from the trainstation for awhile.

A few other options is to talk to local schools that have a mini bus or other vehicles that can be donated.

Its important to get your request out there. You never know who may show up with what you need. A start up cab company that didn't fair well donated two vans to a child daycare center. A mother whos children went to college had a new van that she finally donated it to meals on wheels. I goes to show there is someone out there willing to help.

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The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 8/16/07 at 1:17pm

Obviously I have no idea about NYC & the logistics of members atending a theatre, so why the need to supply transport?

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Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 8/23/07 at 5:50pm

This is coming from small town Ohio so I don't know how the dealers are out there. I worked with a theatre here that was not in the best neighborhood in town. Added to that is that the city parking lot was three blocks away from the theatre (not a nice walk in the dark). In exchange for free advertising one of the local auto dealers gave us use of one of his big passenger vans each show to run a shuttle service. Free advertising in a prominant part of your playbill might at least get you a reduced price on a used vehicle. At worst you are out a phone call. At best you have a van.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: JHam
Date Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:23pm

This is coming from way up North...but here we get a sponsorship for a rental vehicle. The rental company...actually our Ford dealership, (love ya Whitehorse Motors!)covers the insurance as well.

We are treated as rental customers, but the bill is then covered as a donation to our group. We put their logo on our show bills and posters, give them tickets and love them a lot.

Designate a dedicated driver though...one of our guest directors crashed and we almost lost the whole deal. It cost us a big chunk of production funds to fix the rental, because the fella did not know how to drive in snow/ice.

Live and learn!

Posted By: STWBoxOffice
Date Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:33pm

thanks everyone for your thoughts and input! I willd ef be trying out some of your ideas! Thanks again!