If the #1 disappointment we face as house concert hosts is to present a fabulous show to a thin turnout, then maybe the #2 disappointment is to draw a solid crowd who enjoys a fabulous show and then discover a thin level of donations, right?
When hosts ask me to help them solve this problem regarding donations, I usually discover that they presume that guests will naturally know how to plug into the concept of a suggested donation. The hosts figure “Well, I let them know in advance that there’s a suggested donation. So why didn’t they make one?”
Maybe what’s missing is someone to tackle the donation opportunity eyeball to eyeball at the front door.
I recommend that the donations basket be placed near the front door with a CLEARLY readable sign on it. For example:
"SUGGESTED DONATION: $[xx].
It all goes to the Artist!"
Then the front door greeter can go through a routine something like this when guests arrive. Give it a try and customize it for your needs.
"Hey, great to see you tonight, Kathy and Mark. Thanks for coming. Coats go over here and shoes can go down there if you want. And we have a bathroom up those stairs and another down that hall. And right here is the donations basket for tonight's performer”… [then smile and look them warmly in the eyes]…”thanks for your generosity. And thanks again for coming out tonight."
And then the greeter turns their attention elsewhere as a courtesy.
This approach tends to work well because it frames the "moment to decide" about the donation and it gives your guests the space to do what feels right to them. If you instead leave it to your guest to find the donations basket on their own, elsewhere in the house, here’s what your guests might think to themselves once they’re seated and the show is underway…"oops, I missed the opportunity to donate...oh well, I’ll get to that later." And then maybe later never happens. Instead place the donations basket at a spot within feet of where your guests arrive.
Your MC can also help here. Before the 1st and/or 2nd set, take a moment to remind your guests about the donations basket.
We’ll have a guest post soon from one of our experienced hosts who will share with you his standard housekeeping speech prior to introducing the artist, which includes a donations reminder.
Regarding the merchandise table, I recommend that it be where the donations basket is, close to the front door so that guests see the basket & merch as they arrive, and again just before they leave. Be sure that the person running that table, usually your greeter, keeps a real sharp eye on the money and merchandise throughout the event.
One last tip for the donations/merch table. Have your greeter completely handle the merch sales so that your artist can be free to sign CDs and engage with your guests. Be sure that your greeter tracks merch sales separately so that you and the artist know how much was collected from donations and how much from merchandise sales.
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