Successful Fundraising Ideas for Groups and Clubs

Karaoke Contest Fundraiser Idea

How to put on a successful karaoke contest fundraiser

Nothing says “off-tune” like a night of Karaoke. But then again, if everyone could actually sing, it wouldn’t be as much fun. For this traditional fundraising idea, you’ll need to rent a karaoke machine with a great audio system or host the event at a place that already has a karaoke set up such as a local bar. To make your karaoke contest fundraiser a little more fun, include some unique challenges. For example, you could do a reverse karaoke challenge where the guys have to sing love songs by female artists and the girls have to sing love songs by male artists. You could also have some sessions devoted only to old school rap songs. Or, you can create an entire theme for your event where people are only allowed to sing Irish pub songs, or 80’s hair band songs, or 90’s boy band songs. You just need to make sure your karaoke machine has the songs you want in the list of available options.

Steps to planning your karaoke contest fundraiser

Select a date and venue, and be sure to consider factors such as availability, capacity, location, and amenities. Options can include bars, community centers, event halls, restaurants, or outdoor venues. Negotiate rental fees or seek out venues willing to donate space for your fundraiser. See if you can get a local bar to host the event, and donate a portion of their food and drink proceeds to your organization.
Decide what you want to charge attendees, and set your website up to accept registrations. You can also use an event registration platform such as Eventbrite. You’ll want to ask people when registering if they would like to participate in the event as a singer. For those that do intend to sing, you can follow up with them via email to give them all the rules once you get the rules established. Decide whether people will be allowed to participate as teams. Offer incentives to register such as early bird discounts, group rates, or VIP packages to encourage participation and attendance.
Seek out sponsors willing to donate prizes, cash contributions, or in-kind support by calling on local businesses. Offer promotional benefits such as logo placement, brand recognition, and media exposure in exchange for sponsorship support.
Coordinate logistics for the fundraising event, including sourcing equipment rentals, sound systems, lighting, and stage setup. Arrange for additional amenities such as refreshments, seating, and fun decorations. If you’re hosting the event in a bar or restaurant, the establishment may be able to provide food and drinks.
Select a charismatic host or emcee who can keep the energy high, interact with the audience, and introduce the singers. They should set the tone for the event and ensure smooth transitions between acts. Having a great emcee is critical to the success of your event!
If you are not going to do audience voting, you’ll need to recruit a panel of judges. Ensure they are fair, impartial, and have a good sense of humor. Consider inviting local celebrities or community leaders to serve as judges.
Establish clear rules and come up with some fun award categories for voting, such as worst performance of the night, best vocal performance, best stage presence, best audience engagement, most likely to have a career as a backup singer, most authentic, etc.
Coordinate the performance schedule and lineup. Allocate time slots for participants to perform and adhere to the predetermined schedule to keep the event running smoothly. If you have extra time slots available due to no-shows, you can simply ask for volunteers from the audience.
Consider adding a raffle or silent auction to your event to create even more revenue.
Be sure to promote your community karaoke contest fundraiser heavily through social media! Also, reach out to local newspapers and radio stations to see if they will help get the word out. Create posters and flyers that can be handed out to local businesses. Highlight the fact that all proceeds will go to support your group or club!

On the day of the event, be sure to have your emcee encourage audience participation by letting them know they can openly cheer on performers. Be sure to announce the winners and award the prizes at the conclusion of your event, and don’t forget to thank all of your volunteers, judges, and attendees for their support!