How Does It Work?

Arts Out West compiles a menu of shows which will be available to book on specific dates. The menu is issued twice a year : April/May for the Autumn season, and Sept/Oct for the Spring. You decide which shows you would like on which days (checking that the hall is available). It is not possible to guarantee you your first, or even second choice of show and date, so you are asked to choose three possible shows for every one you actually want to put on, and rank them in order of preference.

You have one month to circulate the menu around your committee or friends, and a strict deadline to return your choices. We then try to juggle everyone's preferences and come up with a staisfactory allocation of shows. You are asked to confirm acceptance of the shows you are offered, and will then receive a contract.

Arts Out West tries to make shows affordable to audiences and to promoters, both by setting recommended ticket prices (currently £7 adult, £3.50 child, £17.50 family), and by subsidising the artist's fees. As a promoter you return 75% of your ticket sales (or £130, whichever is the greater) to the scheme. You keep any income from raffles or refreshments, but you have to meet any other costs (heat , light, hall hire) out of your 25%.

In addition to your allocation of subsidised shows, you may also book shows at full price. Arts Out West will arrange the show and publicise it through the brochure etc, but the minimum guarantee will be the same as the artist fee. If you manage to sell 80 tickets you will have over £500 available. Shows typically cost between £350 and £750.

If you join the scheme, we will monitor your progress during the first year, offering advice and support, to make sure we are both happy to continue the arrangement. Once you have accepted your allocated shows, you are committed to hosting them. You will need to give at least one season's notice to withdraw from the scheme.

All right, then. How much does it cost to join ?