I’m Broke. But Here’s $100 Anyway.
Every year I give my public radio station $100. It’s not much but essentially, they guilt me into it. But what’s more, I get something in exchange. Yes, there’s the programming. But that’s not the only reason why I give them money that, to be honest, as a fledgling entrepreneur, I frankly just don’t have. One fund drive a year, early in the summer, they ply me with an incentive I can’t refuse: two tickets to any Philadelphia Orchestra concert I choose at SPAC (my favorite venue in the world). What’s more is you can bring a picnic, a bottle of wine, meet up with friends, sprawl out on a blanket and gaze up at the stars — to the soundtrack of literally, some of the finest musicians in the world. It’s become a tradition. An experience that, altogether, is worth the $100, if not more.
What’s interesting is that they (public radio) go back to this well (my pocket) every year. And it never dries up. They are masterful. They have me (and my credit card) without reserve.
Two essential things are at play here. First and foremost, there’s outstanding quality on several fronts (world-class radio, a world-class orchestra, a world-class venue). But that’s not enough. Radio is free. Music is, essentially, free. The grounds at SPAC are open to public most any day — for free. My experience, however, is not free; and therefore, infinitely valuable. How I feel is worth every penny. And it’s this association of multiple senses (sound, sight, and taste) along with the ability to share it among friends that drives my emotion… which in turn compels my wallet.
The take-away, then, runs across all content-creation models — be it food, poetry, painting, music, etc.: sell me a shared experience. Not only will you get my money (even when I don’t have it to give) but also free publicity (as I brag to all my friends).
xo
Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, OUTLANDOS MUSIC, SPAC —
6/8/09
Categories: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE • KATE BRADLEY • OUTLANDOS MUSIC
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5 Responses to “I’m Broke. But Here’s $100 Anyway.”
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I loved this. So true…. and they get me every year too.
[...] Every year I give my public radio station $100. It’s not much but essentially, they guilt me into it. But what’s more, I get something in exchange. Yes, there’s the programming. But that’s not the only reason why I give them money that, to be honest, as a fledgling entrepreneur, I frankly just don’t have. One fund drive a year, early in the summer, they ply me with an incentive I can’t refuse [...] [...]
[...] every year I give my public radio station $100, money that as a fledgling entrepreneur, I frankly just don’t have. NPR — public radio that can be consumed for free — goes back to the well that is my [...]
I love NPR and PBS. They have great programming. I think the incentive is great but I also think supporting the arts is a compelling reason to give to your public radio or tv station. Two free tickets to the symphony is definitely provides additional motivation to give back to your local public stations. You should come to Chicago and check out Ravinia or Grant Park sometime, Kate. You would love it!
As someone who works at a public radio station — but was a contributing member before I joined the staff — I see from the inside why there’s value in listener support. Between the changes in listening/viewing/reading habits (reading newspapers online, skipping past ads on TiVo, etc.) and the desperate economic climate, advertisers are getting increasingly ‘creative’ about putting paid messages in front of us all, everywhere we look. To have a source of entertainment and information that carries a minimum of interruption and sponsor influence feels more and more like a haven, and I still contribute every year as a tribute to how precious that service is.