Fundraisers expect 2005 will be a difficult year in which to raise money. “With fund raising growing more competitive, charities of all kinds are lavishing attention on individuals who have the potential to make significant gifts — especially after such efforts paid off handsomely last year.”
Tag: 02.07.05
Disposable DVD’s Get New Traction
The EZ-D is a disposable DVD, and while Disney has abandoned it, others are giving it a try. “The EZ-D was marketed to consumers as a way to avoid late fees from movie rental shops. Once opened, the EZ-D can be played unlimited times in 48 hours. Then a chemical compound on the disc combines with oxygen, rendering the DVD opaque and unreadable after two days. Movie fans can throw away the expired disk or pack it off to a special recycling facility to be recycled.”
Seattle Rep’s New Era
Seattle Repertory Theatre’s hiring of David Esbjornson as its new artistic director signals a new era for the company. And that new era will be marked by…
London Smoking Ban Hits Theatres
London is considering a ban on smoking indoors. This means everywhere – including on stages of theatres. “Cigars and cigarettes feature heavily in many stage productions, from the Old Masters by Simon Gray to Kathleen Turner’s portrayal of Mrs Robinson in the stage production of The Graduate.” So what…. audiences will have to imagine smoking scenes?
The Cost Of Raising Money
Fundraisers are a fact of business for most non-profits. But some of the lavish events suck up much of the money they raise. So what should a fundraiser cost?
From Wardrobe Malfunction To An Old Guy Singing
Last year, Janet Jackson’s wardrobe “malfunction” at the Superbowl sparked months of “morality” debates and crackdowns. “This year an old guy sang at halftime and a cheap dot-com ad — now there’s a Super Bowl chestnut — tried to send up the whole affair and failed. Does this mean we’re a more civilized, less sex-obsessed, fully cultured country? Nah, it was still mostly beer, boobs, cars and head-crunching football all day long.”
MacMillan: Of High Art And Classical Music
Scottish composer James MacMillan has raised a furor over his comments about music last week: “One can’t listen to classical music and especially serious contemporary classical music with the ears – that rather distracted mode of listening – that one uses for other forms of musical styles. The orthodox and politically correct view that there is no meaningful difference between high and low art, I think, must be challenged anew.”
BBC’s New Book Club
The BBC is starting a book club after seeing the success of other such clubs. “The shortlist of 24 books, designed to showcase the “best new books” on offer in the UK today, was whittled down from a longlist of over 300 by a panel of book-loving celebrities and literary experts.”
LA Schools Computer Program Fails To Teach Reading
The Los Angeles School District has spent nearly $50 million on a computer reading program that failed to improve student reading skills and in some cases hindered achievement because schools did not use it properly…
Hit Factory Closes – Victim Of Digital Recording)
“The Hit Factory, which opened 37 years ago, has played host to some of the biggest stars in music, including Paul Simon, Madonna and David Bowie. However, the rise in digital recording has affected business at the studio, which is relocating to smaller premises in Miami.”