Become a Promoter

If you would like to bring film or live entertainment to a community space near you, please read the information below and download the application packs from the links provided.

WANT TO PUT ON LIVE EVENTS?

Arts Alive works with around 100 promoters in rural areas of Herefordshire and Shropshire to promote live, professional events in their local venues. Since 1999 Arts Alive promoters have brought top quality, inspiring, talented performers and musicians to rural community venues of all sizes. Why not join the network and become an Arts Alive promoter?

How does it work?

Arts Alive provides expertise, advice and subsidy to help local promoters chose the right event for their hall. Annually in March we send out an events ‘menu’, which lists over 30 companies available for booking through Arts Alive. The range includes theatre, music, comedy, dance and family shows. There is a ‘booking request window’ until the end of April and most of our events get booked up by June, but we are still able to respond to promoter requests until the funds are all committed. There is often a second ‘booking request window’ between October - November for shows for the following spring. Our funding to subsidise this work comes primarily from Arts Council England.

How much does a host venue have to pay?

Shows actually cost between £500 - £1300, but working in partnership with Arts Alive makes it affordable enough for you to feel confident that you can raise sufficient income on the box office takings.

The basic cost of a typical show for the promoter is £200 from April 2016. Any box office over this basic sum we split 80/20. This means that if you took £400 in ticket income you would pay Arts Alive (£200+ 80% of £200 = £160,) a total to Arts Alive of £360, leaving £40 for the venue. Arts Alive pays the company fee. The actual cost of a show paid by Arts Alive is between £450 - £1,000, plus admin and marketing overheads of around £100 per event.

Promoters should feel confident that they can sell at least 50 tickets; the minimum adult ticket price is £10.

Venues are encouraged to increase their income and improve the overall ‘night out’ experience by running a bar or refreshments. This can be a good task to delegate to committee members, spreading the load and spreading the word.

Venues are encouraged to support Arts Alive’s core work by making an annual ‘Venue Donation’, this is to bridge the gap created by dwindling local authority funding.

To apply to become a promoter, please download and complete the application pack and venue fact file from the links below and return them to cerin@artsalive.co.uk.

WANT TO SCREEN FILMS? 

Flicks in the Sticks is the touring cinema branch of Arts Alive. Flicks can offer a diverse range of films to schools that are imaginative, ethnically varied and are relevant to the challenges that young people face today. Using the portable Flicks tent, you can host screenings outdoors and in informal spaces.

Can I get flicks to tour to my venue?
We rely on public investment to be able to continue to tour films to village halls and this public investment is of course getting less. So the answer is, it will depend on several factors; whereabouts your venue is situated, whether you already own the kit to screen films, and whether we have the capacity. Please download the application form and more info sheet below for more details.

How do I know what films to choose?
Flicks will provide a menu, with a wide selection of films to choose from and can discuss programming options with you. Once you are a promoter, you can have access to the 'promoter section'. Here you can research films, see other promoters comments on films they have screened and see what other promoters have already booked.

Do I need a license?
Yes, you will need a premises license which covers you for film. Your local authority will have more info. You will also need a PRS licence, and a license to screen each film, but as part of our service we obtain the license to screen the film itself (the film rights). You will of course need public liability insurance.

Can I screen all year round?
If you have your own equipment then yes, you can screen when you like. But be aware that Flicks has found that audiences really drop off in the summer months unless there is a specific local event or festival that you can work with.

Please download the 'Want to Join Flicks' form from the link below and send completed forms to terri@artsalive.co.uk.