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Date Posted: 13:13:36 04/19/05 Tue
Author: Gary
Subject: The dreaded budget issue

http://www.ozyandmillie.org/2005/om20050419.html

That's a link to an online comic strip that sparked my thinking on this subject. While we may joke about it, funding and budgets are a very real problem for music programs across America; or, rather, across the world. While solutions to this exist, such as fund-raising and booster programs, how can one best work around a limited budget, for example, for a choir?

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Replies:

[> Re: The dreaded budget issue -- Nickie, 14:04:00 04/19/05 Tue [1]

I personally think that the bigger, more expensive fundraisers work better for choirs. Selling candy for $1 a bar will make it take a really long time to reach any sort of goal. In order to really have good fiscal management, I would say the more expensive fundraisers work well. They also tend to work best in the fall, I think, because people will be doing Christmas shopping, perhaps, through the fundraiser catalogs.

*Whew*... Thinking about fundraising still gives me that awful feeling in my stomach!


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[> [> Re: The dreaded budget issue -- Lindsay, 16:33:37 04/19/05 Tue [1]

The more that your parents boosters group can help you with fundraising, the better. Don't try to do it all yourself! And I agree, having come from a program where we sold candy bars and suckers and stuff, it's an insane amount of work for such little income. Things like funds drives that simply ask for money from patrons who may get special benefits like preferred seating at concerts, etc. work much better. We've also done things like work for outside companies, like Geauga Lake/Six Flags, though that can be hard and not very fun for the students. However, it can bring in a lot of money. I would say that you should let the boosters help you figure out what to do, but keep a reign on them! Make sure they understand that you're in control of the process and where the money goes, otherwise your boosters will become aggressive and power-hungry, and you won't be able to do anything with them. Also, let the students help you, too. They shouldn't make any final decisions, but see if they have any fundraising ideas, you never know what they might come up with. ;)


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[> Re: The dreaded budget issue -- Lisa, 10:21:49 04/23/05 Sat [1]

Ones budget is always a big issue. There are more ways to fundraise than you think. Little things like carwashes and selling suckers really do help. There also are the big ones like the brochure sales, working for a theme park, and running the concession stands at atheletic events. Also, there are some major companies such as Whirlpool, and some car manufacturers, that have a matching funds prgogram.


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[> Re: The dreaded budget issue -- Chad, 18:38:53 04/27/05 Wed [1]

This indeed is a problem in which we will all have to eventually face. There is no best answer to crush this budget issue; rather, if you take the district's reputation on music, art, and community support, you could better this decision. Sadly, depending on where you are teaching, there could be countless hurtles in your way. Appealing to the Local Government is always an option, but frankly, I don't have a direct answer.


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[> Re: The dreaded budget issue -- Laura, 17:12:19 01/30/06 Mon [1]

At the OCMEA convention this past weekend, Erika and I attended a session titled "Saving your Music Program." One of the biggest points that the clician stressed is to have one big music boosters instead of having seperate boosters for the choir, band, and orchestra. Personally, I don't understand the point of having seperate boosters because my high school always had one for the entire music program. The music program as a whole should be working together.


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[> Re: The dreaded budget issue -- Erika, 14:30:44 02/11/06 Sat [1]

Just like Laura said earlier while at the OMEA conference we attended the session about saving your music program. Along with having the single booster program they mentioned how as a music educator you should keep yourself involved. They said to stay involved in the school board decisions and community decisions. They also said to encourage the parents to stay involved. They talked about the fact that if many people were involved in the music program then the better chance the music program would have to survive.


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