Planning — date and venue to confirm
Voices and Rhythm
A three-hour, pay-what-you-can evening of spoken word and percussion, with five storytellers and two forty-minute acts.
Where this stands
Planning — the date, the venue and the performers all have to be confirmed, so no event date is published here. The shape of the evening is settled: three hours, five storytellers, two forty-minute acts, and pay-what-you-can so nobody is turned away. The $1,500 operating target is not yet secured.
About this project
Voices and Rhythm
Voices and Rhythm is an evening built on the oldest form of community there is: people in a room, listening to each other. Five spoken-word artists tell stories. Two percussion or music acts, forty minutes each, carry the rhythm. The whole thing runs three hours.
It is pay-what-you-can, deliberately. Neighbours are welcome regardless of their ability to give, and no one is turned away at the door. Contributions go into a pool split by written agreement — 60% to the artists, 40% to CCE — so the people who make the evening are paid for making it.
The money it needs is modest and specific: $1,500 for the venue, sound equipment and a technician, insurance, publicity, programmes, artist hospitality, consumables, transport and contingency. None of it is secured yet, and the date, venue and performers all remain to be confirmed.
The work
What it actually takes
How it comes together
- Four to six weeks before: confirm the venue and date, secure support, invite the artists, and get the sound and insurance requirements
- Two to three weeks before: finalize artist terms, programme order, technical plan, volunteers and the public invitation
- Final week: confirm supplies and access, run the sound check, settle the contribution process and brief the team
- Event day: venue access 3:30 PM, programme 5:00–8:00 PM
- Afterwards: reconcile the money, pay the artist pool, thank the contributors and write the closeout report
What is needed
What this project needs
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A venue and a date
The first two unknowns. Three hours in the evening, with access from mid-afternoon.
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$1,500 in operating support
Venue, sound and technician, insurance, publicity, hospitality and contingency. A sponsor can carry the whole evening.
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Five storytellers and two music acts
Spoken-word artists and two forty-minute percussion or music performances.
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An event lead
Venue authorization, budget, insurance and staffing; resolves event-day problems and approves the closeout. About 18 hours.
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A stage manager and artist liaison
Recruits and communicates with the artists, handles technical needs, sound-check order and timing. About 12 hours.
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Host or emcee — 1 needed
Sets the welcoming tone, introduces the artists accurately, facilitates reflection and explains the contribution model. About 7 hours.
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Welcome and contribution desk — 2 needed
Greet guests, track attendance and record contributions. Two adults count the cash together. About 12 hours combined.
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Audience access and floor support — 2 needed
Assist guests, keep access routes clear and support stage changes. About 14 hours combined.
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Setup runner and cleanup support — 1 needed
Set up, replenish supplies and restore the venue. About 7 hours.
The money
The $1,500 operating target
- Venue: $250
- Sound equipment and technician: $450
- Insurance: $150
- Publicity and printing: $100
- Programmes and materials: $75
- Artist hospitality: $75
- Consumables: $75
- Equipment transport: $75
- Contingency: $250
- Contributions split: 60% to the artist pool, 40% to CCE — for example 100 people at $20 raises $2,000, of which $1,200 goes to the artists and $800 to CCE
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