Woo hoo! You’ve just received the information from the pageant system you want to enter. Excited, you eagerly look through the paperwork. Then you begin to notice the number of payments for the registration fee, opening number outfit, program ad page, meal plan, hotel, extra events, and tickets that are due. Grabbing your handy dandy calculator, your fingers start to fly across the buttons as you add up the numbers. What?
All of a sudden, the light happy feelings you were just experiencing plummet to the floor as you look at the total amount of money due. How in the world are you going to find the money to pay for this pageant? Just like sports or hobbies, it takes money to participate in pageants. Depending on the type and level of pageant you’re in, you’ll need hundreds to several thousands of dollars. Finding sponsors and raising money for your pageant expenses is a task that will involve creativity, marketing skills, and most importantly, people.
The key to raising money for a pageant and acquiring the needed resources is
found in the quality of the relationships you have with the people in your life.
If you’re thinking of sending out letters or emails to all your local businesses and expecting them to just hand over the money to you, you’re going to be disappointed. It’s easy for people to ignore letters, emails, and phone calls if they don’t know you or have some sort of connection to you. It’s people who hold the keys that will unlock the doors of opportunity for you; and, they are more likely to open the door for people they already know, like and trust.
People listen to the radio station WIIFM , aka what’s in it for me? Let’s be honest, a national program book is not going to help the traditional store front business in your hometown. However, if a person’s business is online and they can serve people across the country, then paying for ad space in a program book may make more sense for them. But for the local business person, how will they directly benefit from sponsoring you? By asking them questions, listening to the answers you receive, and creating a situation where both of your needs can be met, you will make your wish a reality. People will support you when it’s a win-win situation.
You don’t have to know everyone personally. People know people who know other people. But it all starts with your inner circle of people and radiates out from there. So if you have a pageant need, the first people you talk and brainstorm with are those closest to you. Make a list of everything you will need for the pageant including clothing, photos, hair, makeup, coaching, etc. People can’t help you if they don’t have the full picture. Someone may not have money but perhaps they are a hairstylist or work at a dress store.
Physical services and products are good to receive from people; but you’ll still need a certain amount of cash. Here’s where creativity comes in. If you’re not a creative person, look in your sphere of influence for someone who is. Think of an event that would benefit your community is some way that people would be happy to hand over their money.
For example, I hate to cook. I love to eat, but I can’t cook. In our community there is an annual chicken noodle dinner. Every year I am more than happy to buy this dinner because I would have to spend the money on food anyway, I don’t have to cook or clean up, and the money goes to charity. Plus, some of the projects they do with the money from the dinner directly benefit people in my hometown. It’s a win-win situation.
With the economy being what it is, people are looking for events and things to do locally as a family. If Joe will let you use the gym, Marge has a catering business, and Cindy is a DJ, you’ve got the beginning of a nice family night out where you can charge admission. Or, host your own pageant. There are many girls and women who would love to try a pageant at an affordable price.
It is never acceptable to manipulate or use people to get what you want. For example, pretending to be someone’s friend so you can gain access to whatever it is they have that you want. Then dropping them once you get it. Building an honest and genuine relationship with someone means there is a mutual giving and receiving between the two parties. The internet, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites are merely tools we use to reach out and connect with people. The quality of the relationships you build will ultimately determine the quality of the opportunities that come your way. What goes around, comes around.
Take the time to build relationships and love people first , then the things you like will follow. You can raise the money you need to do a pageant. Just allow enough time, be creative and enlist the help of those closest to you.
April 06, 2011 @ 13:54
