Announcements & Speeches

Credits where Credit's Due...

Everyone likes to be thanked or acknowledged for what they have done and we’re delighted so many Promoters remember to acknowledge Live & Local after the show. But giving the right credits for the show also has a number of important benefits to the whole scheme, including to you as Promoters:

• Volunteers feel valued and will be ready to help out again;
• Funders feel appreciated and will keep funding the shows;
• Audiences know who to thank and who to ask for more fantastic events!

Acknowledgements – before or after the show?

Lots of our Promoters ask a Chair, principal or other personage to make a suitable speech at a show, or the leader of the Promoter team says a few words on the night.

• Check with the company whether a speech before or after will work best for the show (if a show starts with a special effect, that can be ruined by a speech!)
• If there’s a tense or atmospheric finish, leave it a minute before you leap up to talk – some of the impact is in the silence or the gasp!

Who to acknowledge:

We do not ask promoters to say a ‘thank you’ as such for the public funding as we are aware of sensitivity around this issue. We do require an acknowledgement/recognition of the public funding in local publicity and at the events for these reasons:

• Accountability - every tax payer has the right to know and understand how their taxes are used.
• Public support - it helps raise awareness of the importance, value and benefit of public investment in the arts.
• Endorsement - demonstrates to legislators and other policy makers that the arts are important to your community and the quality of life in your community.
• Quality assurance - lets the public, participants, audiences, funders and policymakers know that your project or activity meets the highest standards.
• Equality of access - assists the public to know that public funding for your activity is available to them as well.
• Increasing investment - helps to attract other funding and support from other sources for your local activities.

The ‘thanks’ are rightly due to the local voluntary commitment, Live & Local and of course the audience and the artists. It is of course a fine line between voicing a ‘thank you’ and simply recognising and acknowledging the receipt of the public funding.

It takes a whole team to make a Live & Local / Shindig event special. Let’s make sure we remember all of them!

• The FUNDERS for the shows are Arts Council England; Derbyshire / Warwickshire / Staffordshire / Worcestershire County Council; and your local Borough, District  or City Council. We couldn’t afford it without them!
• The COMPANY or PERFORMER you booked gave you a great night and everyone wants to thank them for the show.
• YOU – as the promoting organisation - you had the idea, took the risk and put in the work to make it all happen.
• YOUR VOLUNTEERS made the tea, put out the chairs, ran the bar and sold the tickets that got everyone here tonight.
• LIVE & LOCAL / SHINDIG supported you with information and know-how.

A script for those who want one:

Some people find it easiest to have a script or a crib sheet for their speech maker to follow so we have drafted one for you to use if it helps.

Script for the speech after the show.