Flip Video Cameras Can Enhance Dance Fundraising Efforts -- Great Dance

April 10, 2009

Flip Video Cameras Can Enhance Dance Fundraising Efforts

The terrible economy is leading more dance companies to send out fundraising solicitations to their email and other lists.

Every time I receive a solicitation, I have the same three questions:

1) How come you didn't create a video in which you speak directly to me and other people whose financial support you are seeking?

2) Why don't you link to videos within your solicitations that show the performances, educational and outreach efforts that you are currently engaged with? And,

3) Why not connect your fundraising efforts to new types of dance video content that is created specifically for your online audience?

Flip Video

It is now easier and less expensive than ever to shoot, edit and upload video.

You can buy an easy-to-use Flip Video camera with a 60-minute storage capacity for just over $100. (See Amazon for Flip options).

Many dancers, teachers and studios are using these video cameras:

- In a Tweet, Catherine Paull linked to three videos that she shot with her Flip, including this clip for the Logrea Dance Academy in Westchester, New York:

- In my Wednesday post, "Hip Hop Dance Festival at PS 165 in Flushing, Queens," I wrote about the wonderful performances by mostly third through fifth graders. To document this program, dance teacher and festival organizer Kathleen Isaac bought a couple Flip cameras and gave them to her students to videotape the program and conduct interviews. And,

- Sarah Dahnke while working with dance students as part of the Urban Arts Partnership has been using the Flip video camera to shoot student performances and show their work online. (She also added a comment on Great Dance about this project).

Of course, you don't have to use a Flip video camera to shoot video. But the Flip in conjunction with free and low-cost video editing software, and free video hosting sites (YouTube, Vimeo and others) means that there are virtually no barriers to creating fun, compelling videos to enhance your fundraising efforts.

Dancers Using Video for Fundraising Efforts

In February, 2008, I wrote about how Boston-based choreographer and dancer Amanda Gravel successfully raised money online using video and social media tools. See my post, "Dancer Raises Money with ChipIn, Twitter and YouTube to Fight Breast Cancer,"

And in a post last month, "Fundraising with YouTube -- Charity: Water & Anaheim Ballet," I wrote about how dance companies are using their YouTube videos to seek donations from viewers.

Creating Video Content Specifically for the Internet

As I asked in my third question above, why not create dance video content specifically for your online audiences and tie these dance videos directly to your solicitation efforts? For example, you might say, "Every week during the spring and summer, we will be sharing a new dance video at outdoor locations in and around our city. We'd love your financial support as we prepare to produce our site-specific dance programs."

Just a thought. The weather is getting nice. Flip cameras are cheap. It's time to take on the economy!

Are you using videos to enhance your fundraising efforts? Please share your stories.

Posted by Doug Fox on April 10, 2009 5:05 AM

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1 Comments

Dawn said:

The FLIP camera is ideal for dancers !!

I use it all the time for my online dance classes and YouTube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/dancemasstv

The quality is great.

Video is no longer the future on the internet its the present so I highly advise all dancers to start using video on the internet asap !!!!

Great article !

Dawn DeMendonca
Founder DanceMass TV
http://www.dancemass.tv
http://www.twitter.com/dancemasstv

Added: April 24, 2009 7:30 PM | Permalink

April 10, 2009