We have applied to the SAF in the past and have found the
same thing -- too hard to identify what they really want. 
Dance is big granting for them and we do not present that
much dance because it does not sell as well as we would
like.  Unfortunately, money sometimes is the deciding factor
rather than bringing in art that would benefit our area.  We
are a rural organization and in an area where other things
(sports, high school band, etc.) take our audience, so we
have to be very careful about dates as well as artists.  We
are small so every little bit helps but the larger SAF
categories do not always fit us well.  Our series do not
always fit their criteria either and it is a lot of
paperwork for $500.  Too many man hours for so little money.

Coleen Saunders
South Jackson Civic Center, Tullahoma
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Boyer <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Need help identifying some organizations...
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:15:25 -0400

>Lee -
>
>That's really good to hear...and certainly something for me
>to think  seriously about.
>
>Understand that your mission is much broader and affords
>many more  opportunities for a variety of arts than mine,
>so it may be that UTC in  general, and the Patten
>Performances in particular, operate in ways so  far off the
>beaten path that grants funding for my type of series is a 
>tough issue even under the best of circumstances.
>Consequently, I don't  bother.
>
> From an operational standpoint as a presenter, it comes
>down to two  concepts for me: 1) if you're absolutely
>depending on $500 or so in  grant funding to make something
>work, you probably ought not do it to  begin with and 2)
>those who have staff support for writing multiple  small
>grants and tracking them can put some money in the budget, 
>perhaps enough to overcome the personnel costs of obtaining
>the money.  Where grants become worthwhile is when they go
>over the $3000 mark. At  that point, you should at least
>double your money because (in my  experience with Tennessee
>Presenters) it takes about $1200 in staff  time and travel
>expenses to prepare a grant, attend a funding hearing, 
>resubmit the required modified budget and fill out the
>paperwork on the  back end.
>
>Applying that same calculus to touring grants and such, if
>you're  spending 50 hours of your time (total) in obtaining
>$1500 for one show,  I submit that you can use that time
>more effectively by seeking out  corporate sponsors through
>sales efforts and building new audiences  through
>programming. But as I say, at around $3000 and up, grants 
>strike me as well worth the effort.
>
>I guess it's my economics degree finally coming out after
>30 years -  opportunity cost for me has become a huge
>personal consideration. And,  as a long time small business
>owner, I always looked for money by first  cutting costs to
>the bone before going after additional revenue  sources.
>The cost of finding one new customer was always far higher 
>than the revenue generated through operating budget savings
>and getting  the customers you have to spend more.
>
>See you Monday!
>
>Bob
>
>
>Robert Boyer
>Patten Performances Director
>UTC Fine Arts Center
>www.utc.edu/finearts
>423.425.4379
>
>
>On Friday, June 20, 2008, at 10:09 AM, Lee Warren wrote:
>
>> Bob - I had a difficult expereince the first time I
>> applied as well.  They did give us some money but later
I
>> was so excited to be able to  open one of their visual
>> arts shows here at the Dixie. I try to think  beyond the
>> money and the reporting difficulties with organizations 
>like SAF to what else they might be able to bring to the
>> table at a  later date.