That's a lotta money. Too bad it's just to pay the bills . . .
Last weekend, the inaugural SLO Marathon ran through town (literally). Hosted by Get Off the Couch, Potato (not us, I know, you always ask), it was a very successful event. They also spent a huge amount of money putting it on. From road closures (done with hired people ? amazing! We just torture our friends!) to?gorgeous?venue buildout . . . there was no expense spared on the actual day, much less the marketing efforts leading up to the event.
So, as I was reading the local coverage of the marathon online, I got to the comments, curious to see what they would say. And there it was. My eyes widened and whatever else was going on screeched to a halt:
?They?re just money grubbers doing this FOR PROFIT.?
So, dear readers, I?ve got to ask you . . . why do you think a professional production, drawing thousands of people, closing down half of town, needs to be done by a non-profit? Yes, we all think about Livestrong and the Cancer Foundation and . . . whatever else. But, well, did it ever occur to you that someone makes some money off that, somewhere?
Let?s start with a non-profit putting on a race. If it?s a small non-profit, it?s likely a team of volunteer supporters and if you?re expecting things to look awesome and run smoothly, well, good luck. Those people have other stuff to do. Larger non-profits may say they?re putting it on, but this is the truth: THEY HIRED SOMEONE TO PUT THAT EVENT ON. I know, gasp. Maybe the team works internally, maybe it?s contracted out, but if you want your shirts there on time, with well designed prizes, a fancy website, and efficient course marking and registration, baby, you have to hire a professional.
I have no idea why people don?t raise a big stink when a pastor takes home millions off of a congregation . . . that?s a non-profit corporation paying him or her the big bucks. Why aren?t you demanding all the folks working down at the big alternative grocery store do that for free? After all, isn?t it about community and personal satisfaction?
All Out Events is also a for-profit business. The funny thing is that in all the years, in all of the years Y has had an event business (even when it wasn?t All Out), the total take home for a full time job hasn?t even come out to minimum wage. And yet, we?re villified for trying to become professional at this? What kind of a racket is that?
Of course, while we?re at it, all of our events do?benefit a non-profit. And, while other companies claim to benefit a non-profit, then demand a certain sum to take home to feed the dog, our deal is that no matter what, the non-profit takes home a percent of our net profit. You know, that same profit we use to put the event on, and the next one. And sometimes writing that check hurts; hurts a lot. When our day of staff take home more than we do for months and months of work and fear, we sleep at night knowing that when we claim to benefit a non-profit, we do it.
Now, why is it some sort of obligation to do so, though? I like that it?s built into our corporate culture to always give back, but when you put on an event, you?re already giving something back to your community in the tourists you bring, the dollars they spend, the feeling your participants take home at the end of the day, and the money in your employees? pockets.
So, next time you hear about an event, maybe you?ll think twice about that knee jerk question that?s laden with judgment, ?What?s it benefit??
It benefits everyone. The end.
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