Star & Shadow event or Independent event?
From The Star And Shadow Cinema Wiki
£120?! Different kinds of event at the Star and Shadow
The Star and Shadow exists, amongst other things, to make sure great musicians/performers/artists are seen and heard by the wider world. At the same time, it costs about £120 to open the building and keep everything running for a night. We've been struggling for a while to balance two competing aims – to promote and support cool shows, and to make enough cash to keep this party rolling. Here's what we've come up with:
There are two kinds of events – Star and Shadow events, and Outside events. Our commitment to both is equal, but they work slightly differently – the crucial difference is who takes the risk.
A Star and Shadow event is organised by a volunteer (or volunteers) and is promoted as a Star and Shadow event. The £120 must be in the event's budget. If the show makes less cash than planned, the S&S takes the hit, and absorbs the loss. If it's a roaring success, the S&S takes the profit, and uses the money to fund all of the wonderful things that the S&S does.
An Outside event can be organised by volunteers, or outsiders who are 'shadowed' by a volunteer, who can advise on practical arrangements. The show is promoted as an outside event (eg. 'Brian and Jane present...'). The budget must include a £120 fee, to be paid to the Star and Shadow. The difference is that if the show isn't a success, the S&S must still be paid, and so the promoter absorbs the loss. Likewise, if it's a sell-out, the promoter keeps the profit, and doesn't have to give the S&S a penny more than the £120 (though donations are always welcome!)
The Star and Shadow wishes to support outside promoters as much as its own events. The S&S appreciates the hard work promoters go to in order to put on sweet shows, and that promoters take a risk whenever they do this, often promoting obscure artists/performers/musicians simply because they believe in them. If you'd like to put on an event and promote it yourself (eg. Not as a S&S event) but you don't think there's much chance of making lots of cash: When you come to the original meeting where you program your event, you must give a justified offer of less than £120 (eg. 'I really think Mike's band should play, but I have to transport them from Norway so it's pretty unlikely I'll break even on the show – can we agree £90?') Remember of course that whatever you agree, you're still liable for, and you'll have to take the loss if the show takes even less than predicted. Also worth noting is that an offer of less than £120 is not the norm – you should aspire to hand over a cool £120 for any event at the S&S, but you can negotiate less where necessary, because the S&S doesn't want money to be a barrier to you putting on your awesome show!
Quick summary:
S&S event: promoted as S&S event. £120 budgeted for, and profit or loss taken by S&S.
Outside event: promoted as outside event. £120 guaranteed to S&S, unless agreed otherwise at initial Programming meeting. Profit or loss taken by promoter.
