Consumer's hate add-ons and hidden fees. They might put up with it a few times, but eventually they'll say "**** 'em" and spend their money elsewhere.
Promoters aren't particularly fond of them either. Keep things as simple as possible. If you must have add-ons, they should be per show, not per ticket. This keeps it simple, removes the promoter's impetus to under-report ticket sales, and rewards sales success instead of punishing it.
For internal users, I can see some issues with the fact that it is school property and supposed to be available for school use. Private venues are different, in that case the facility does belong to one specific group and it is not publicly owned, so they can charge whatever fees they want for the facility or services provided. But for schools, and particularly public schools, I don't see the facility actually belonging to any one group. While charging for the event or charging an internal group for services provided may be one thing, a group or department charging a facility or equipment related fee for a publicly owned facility and equipment seems different. And a group or department charging a facility/equipment related fee to another group or department within the institution gives me visions of this turning into the Athletic Department charging a per band member fee for the additional field maintenance resulting from the marching band and in turn the Music Department adding a surcharge "Band Fee" onto football ticket prices for the wear and tear on instruments and so on until nobody can afford any school events.
In a rental situation I would think a 'per person' facility or equipment related fee would be fine provided that the fees were identified up front and reflected in the rental costs (e.g. the higher the per ticket fee, the lower the base rental fee). The only problem I foresee in that case is that both the cost and charge for the venue then become variable.
You mean the patrons that already pay, via taxes, for those very school facilities, staff, equipment, materials, etc.? And since it also entails similar wear on and use of the facilities and equipment, why wouldn't any such charge apply to all events? If the fee is tied to the ticket price for the event or applied on a discretionary basis it seems to no longer be a facility charge.However, regardless of whether it is a school event (mainly a couple musicals that we do) or an outside rental, the demand on the lighting fixtures, sound equipment or the facility itself is the same. Either the school will have to fork over more money in the future, or we can be proactive and help built a fund to help cover future needs. At $1/ticket, it is not being incumbered upon the school or students, but the patrons who are purchasing a ticket to see the final product.
You mean the patrons that already pay, via taxes, for those very school facilities, staff, equipment, materials, etc.? And since it also entails similar wear on and use of the facilities and equipment, why wouldn't any such charge apply to all events? If the fee is tied to the ticket price for the event or applied on a discretionary basis it seems to no longer be a facility charge.
My main point was that many events may also place additional demands on instruments for the band, shop equipment, perhaps the art facilities, other areas of the building, etc. So once you open the door to 'add on' charges, will a ticket for a musical potentially have a theatre charge, an instrument charge, a shop charge, a facility charge and any other charges that any groups and departments affected by the event can tack on to try to gain funding? What is to stop every group in the school from trying to turn every event that places any demands of them into a fund raiser for them? And where is the line to school sponsored events becoming a 'for profit' or commercial ventures?
I understand the need for funding, but I also think that discretionary donations or separate fund raising effort make more sense than a mandatory, but not always applied, per ticket charge.
You mean the patrons that already pay, via taxes, for those very school facilities, staff, equipment, materials, etc.? And since it also entails similar wear on and use of the facilities and equipment, why wouldn't any such charge apply to all events? If the fee is tied to the ticket price for the event or applied on a discretionary basis it seems to no longer be a facility charge.
But the patrons of which you speak already pay on top of taxes for tickets to all football and basketball games, as well as state tournaments of any sort (at least in my state).
My district is probably typical in that it has no budget for upkeep of its theater venue, so, if a millage doesn't pass, the only monies I get are through outside rentals, which are only about 5-6 in number a year. In addition, our contract is about 20 years old, so the cost for our venue is by far the best in the area.
As I read these posts, I think I tend to agree about not having extra costs beyond rentals, but what about charging the $1 for in-house productions, such as choir concerts, band concerts, etc? These do not pay any rental fees, as they are school functions, and if they charge at all it is nominal. Tacking on one more dollar would still be cheaper than a basketball game, and would bring in enough money yearly to save for replacement items for lights/sound. Not enough for major upgrades, mind you (draperies, new seats, etc), but enough to keep mics and some lighting up to date.
That is sort of one of my points Where you already charge for the event aren't you really just trying to justify charging more by calling it a 'facility fee'? And if you don't charge for admission wouldn't you then in effect be charging for admission? So why not just be upfront and charge more for the ticket? I would balk at being forced to pay an additional 'fee' tacked onto the ticket price even though I might voluntarily donate more than that, a response to feeling I'm being being nickeled and dimed. And if I did pay the fee that would be all you got, I would not be as likely to donate anything else. So just make the tickets $6 instead of $5 or $11 instead of $10 whatever, don't make people feel that you are trying to suck every penny you can with extra 'fees' or make them wary that there might end up being other fees applied by the time everything is said and done.
One problem I foresee with a 'facility fee' for a public school is that the facility, the equipment, etc. is owned and maintained by the school district. So any fees related to the facilities or equipment use or maintenance may need to go to the school district and then be distributed by them. I'm not sure about the legalities and accounting (who manages the funds, decides how to spend the money, etc.) related to any other group adding a such a charge. And charging internal groups might have some of the same issues, primarily that the venue may not be yours to charge for. You may be able to charge for specific services or consumables that you provide directly associated with an event, but perhaps not a general facility or equipment related fee.
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