Making Sure Your Puppets Have Shoes

Of course, there's a need for money, dosh, spondoolies, and in this case credit usually won't help. You'll need loadsamoney: initial outlay for staging, puppets, sketches and tapes, may be for a PA system. Then there will be repair costs, transport costs, even more staging, puppets and sketches, as well as scenery, props and room hire.

So where does it all come from? Some ideas below:

The Adopt-a-Puppet Scheme:

For either a fixed annual fee, a fixed monthly fee, or an ongoing understanding that money can be asked for, a 'parent' can 'adopt' a puppet. They receive an adoption certificate, a photo, and accreditation in any performances that their 'son' or 'daughter' or even 'pet' is involved in.
PROS: Good for initial set up costs.
CONS: Requires organisation and follow up to ensure constant flow of funds.

The Sponsorship Scheme:

Ask your church, youth group, parents, grandparents, school, nearby fish and chip shop etc to sponsor the group, or a specific performance. Obviously, they may want some advertisement and this would need to be tastefully incorporated into the sketch.
PROS: Ideal for financing large productions.
CONS: Sponsorship deals often hard to negotiate.

The Salary Zapper:

As with all amateur groups, members' salaries account for much of the funding. At least you'll strive for value for money.
PROS: Money readily available in bank.
CONS: Depends on how much you earn collectively...

P(l)aying Your Way:

How about using your new found skills to earn money for the group? Set up a fund raising evening, complete with all the usual games and stuff, and as a highlight to the proceedings give a performance of the best that you can offer. Casually mention to a number of people that you had ambitions to do far more with the group, but are a little short of cash...
PROS: Good for ongoing financial requirements.
CONS: Needs organisation, no financial arrangements for setting up.

Corporate Marketing:

Recent innovations in textiles mean that you can now inexpensively set up your own T-shirt and baseball cap production with your own logo. Initial set up costs are high (you'll need to buy transfer paper for your inkjet printer, T-shirts and baseball caps) but you will quickly recoup your outlay and make a tidy profit...
PROS: Plenty of scope for new designs, e.g. tour T-shirts.
CONS: High initial outlay, needs decent logo...

If anyone has any further methods of raising cash for their groups, please email us: we are constantly seeking more funding - and new ideas would be welcome!