Everyone has fond memories of going to the
cinema as a kid, and even now, there’s nothing quite like seeing a new release
on the big screen. Did you know that cinemas can also be hired out for? We’re
not just talking about birthday parties either. There are a whole host of
different events that are perfect for a cinema venue. A really popular idea is
to use a special film night to raise money for charity.
How to Organise a Charity Film Night
Having a film night in aid of charity can
be a really fun way to get the donations rolling in. After all, everyone likes
a movie night, don’t they? The great thing about all of the cinema venues for
hire in London is that they are all so different. This means that your charity
night can look completely different, depending on which one you choose. You
could have your guests arrive to be greeting by a red carpet and champagne or
relax on beanbags with big boxes of popcorn.
Step 1: Choose your Movie
The most important step is choosing the
movie that you want played! This might seem simple, but in fact it decides the
whole theme of the evening. Will you go for a classic? Something topical for
the moment? Maybe something that suits the time of year of your event. Whatever
you go for, you need to think about who your audience is likely to be and what
they are going to enjoy the most. If you are going for a certain theme, then
the movie should fit in with this. It’s good to also think about the charity
you’re representing. Maybe there is a movie that really shows off the work you
do that would be appropriate.
Step 2: Work with the Cinema
It’s vital that you communicate with the
cinema as much as possible. It’s not just about booking the venue, they can
also help you with a number of other things. For example, many cinemas may
offer you a concession price if they know that the event is in aid of charity.
Another thing to think about is tickets. How are you working your ticket sales?
Would you like it to all go through them? At many charity events, a ticket is
dearer than normal and includes a drink or snack along with it. If you want to
look after the ticket sales yourself, they should have a number to redirect
people to if needed.
Step 3: Send Out Invites
Once you have the date set with the cinema
and the movie picked out, it’s time to send out the invites to attend. These
should go out to everyone you currently have on your mailing list, by post as
well as email. Make sure it is clear on your invite when the event is taking
place, what time it’s at, as well as the movie you are showing and any theme. Of
course, you need to also mention what cause that the event is in aid of, it is
a charity night after all!
Step 4: Promote
Now is also the time to start promoting the
event of social media to try and get as many people as possible to buy tickets.
Make sure you have a cap on your online ticket sales, as the cinema will only
hold so many people and you can’t overbook! If you have more people wanting to
attend, you can keep them on a mailing list in case others drop out.
Step 5: Movie Night!
On the night of the event, you need to have
someone ticking off people’s names at the door. Cinemas are generally quite
warm venues, so it is a good idea to have a cloakroom in place, even if your
event is on the more casual side. Have a timeline together for the night with
detail on how long it is expected to run. Are you organising anything extra
after the movie such as a raffle or drinks in another area? Make sure that all
of your guests know about this so that they stay until the end of the night.
Other Events You Can Hold in a Cinema
Film nights aren’t the only events that you
can hold in a cinema venue. It’s actually a very versatile space that can be utilised
in many different ways. Here are just a few different uses for it!
Product Launch
A cinema is a great venue to hold a product
launch in. With its tiered seats and big screen, you already have a centre
stage where everyone’s attention will be focused. You can play promotional
videos about your product detailing all of its features. Many cinemas also have
a separate room that you can hire out to serve drinks and nibbles in after the
big reveal.
AGM
As an alternate venue for what is generally
a very long-winded meeting, a cinema might just be the place for an AGM. With
comfortable seats and of course the screen to project on, it’s a way to make
going through the finances and budget of your company a less gruelling
experience than it might be in a traditional meeting room.
Seminar
If you are looking to host a large seminar
with multiple speakers, what better venue than a cinema? Research results can
be projected, everyone is guaranteed a good view, and they can even have some popcorn
while they watch the different presentations. As everyone is comfortably
seated, they are much more likely to engage and ask questions of the
presenters.
A cinema is a really great space to hold
any type of event imaginable. From film nights to corporate meetings, its versatility
is what makes it such a popular venue. It adds that extra level of comfort and
friendliness to an evening, and can even be turned into a venue that is made
for a red-carpet occasion.
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