Charity Concert

A charity concert requires more planning than most fundraisers, but the payoff can be significant. With the right lineup, venue, and promotion, a single evening of live music can raise thousands of pounds for your cause.

The keys are: booking acts people want to see, selling tickets in advance, and having multiple revenue streams — ticket sales, bar/merchandise, raffle, and a bucket collection at the door and between sets.

• A suitable venue with a stage and sound system (pub, theatre, community hall)
• Confirmed performing acts — local bands, solo artists, or amateur groups
• A PA engineer or the venue's in-house sound team
• Advance ticket sales via your Kayana Aid page
• Raffle prizes and merchandise if applicable
• Volunteers for front-of-house, door, and collection duties

1. 01

   Confirm your headline act and venue

   Book the venue and at least one confirmed act before selling any tickets. Aim for a mix of styles to broaden your audience appeal. Local bands often play for free or a nominal fee for charity.

2. 02

   Set your ticket price and go on sale

   Price tickets to cover venue hire with a healthy margin. Open sales on your Kayana Aid page and promote across all channels immediately.

3. 03

   Build the bill

   Add support acts to fill a 3–4 hour evening. A varied bill — original and covers, different genres — keeps the audience engaged throughout.

4. 04

   Promote relentlessly

   Social media, local press, local radio, posters in music venues, record shops, and cafés. Ask every act to promote to their own fanbase — this multiplies your reach for free.

5. 05

   Run the evening and maximise revenue

   Have volunteers at the door, at the bar, and doing bucket collections. A brief speech from a charity representative between sets (60 seconds) significantly increases donations.

• A 'band competition' format — audience voting for the winner — creates its own social media buzz before and during the event.
• Sell merchandise (T-shirts, tote bags, posters) in advance online and on the door — it's a high-margin revenue stream.
• Local music venues may donate their space on a quiet midweek night in exchange for a name credit — always ask.
• Live-streaming the concert online (with performers' permission) expands your audience and generates online donations from people who can't attend.