FUNDRAISING – Discos
Tickets
PRE-SELL: It’s good practice to sell tickets in advance and adopt a ticket- only policy on the door, as this means you can confi rm numbers beforehand, ensure you have the appropriate number of volunteers and prevent overcrowding. Consider using an online ticketing
platform to reach parents easily – turn to p51 to fi nd out more. On the day, sign children in against a pre-prepared list. WHAT TO CHARGE: Charges will vary depending on your costs and what’s covered in the ticket price. After asking our PTA+ community we found that most committees charge £2-£3.50 per child, or £5 for a family of three or more. Some PTAs only charge the fi rst two children in the case of numerous siblings. Consider what you want your ticket to
cover and the cost of these items when deciding what to charge. Some PTAs simply charge for entry and then anything else is additional, others will include a snack, i.e. crisps or fruit, and unlimited squash,
whereas more expensive tickets may include something more substantial, such as a hot dog.
Volunteers You’ll need volunteers to help
set up, supervise children, cover exits, sell refreshments, monitor toilet areas and clean up after the event. It may be benefi cial to recruit a member of staff or two to help to control the excitement!
Safeguarding If children aren’t being accompanied
by their parents, consider what adult:child ratio will be appropriate. Supervising adults may need DBS certifi cates, although this is not mandatory. All parents should fi ll out permission slips when allowing their children to attend the event, including contact details in the case of an emergency. When holding children’s discos
later in the evening or in the darker winter months, you need to consider how pick-up will work. Chances are the school’s outdoor lighting isn’t great, and it’s not easy to send children home with the right adult
when no-one can see anyone’s faces! Instead, get the children to sit down in the hall and ask parents to come inside to collect them.
Goodies Tuck shops go down a storm with
older pupils who love being able to buy things with their own money. Offer a range of soft drinks, crisps, fruit and sweets purchased from a wholesaler such as Booker, which offers sale and return. You can also sell glowsticks and
fi ngerlights to add to the disco atmosphere. To make it more exciting, consider offering a glow products lucky dip – charge the same amount you would for the sale of a glowstick. If your audience is too young to be trusted with cash, include a glow bracelet or fi ngerlight in with the ticket price and charge slightly more for entry. Will you run your disco straight
after school, or will there be a gap allowing children to go home and
eat fi rst? Consider this when planning the food you will supply – if you’re hoping to sell burgers but children have already eaten, parents won’t send along the money for seconds! If offering a meal, hot dogs are a cheap way to feed pupils, or ask your local pizza takeaway if they can donate some pizzas and deliver them at a set time on the day.
Activities Face painting is always popular,
as are glitter tattoos, which can be bought as sets online. Party games are a great way to keep younger children entertained. You might also be able to offer a karaoke element – check with your DJ. If you have a theme, consider running a competition for the best costume, with the DJ handing out the prizes.
Disco suppliers
Find trusted suppliers for all your events in our online directory at
pta.co.uk/suppliers.
pta.co.uk SPRING 2019 49
IMAGE: SYNTIKA/
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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