Like all festivals in the 21st century, Music at Paxton has a Friends scheme. In fact, many of you reading this may already be a Music of Paxton Friend, Benefactor or Patron (for which we will never tire of thanking you). But what is a Friends scheme really for? How does the festival benefit? And, for that matter, what are the benefits to you if you join?
The most obvious benefit to joining our Friends scheme is access to early booking. With a main venue that only seats 140 people, the best seats inevitably get snapped up quickly, and with Benefactors and Patrons having access two weeks before public booking and Friends one week before, being part of the scheme definitely gives you first pick.
Then there’s the knowledge that your annual membership fee is helping to support Music at Paxton financially. What you may not know is that your membership also helps us to secure funding. With stiff competition for limited arts funding, funders are more inclined to support arts organisations who can demonstrate some degree of guaranteed income, and having a group of signed-up Friends, Benefactors and Patrons instantly puts us in that bracket.
But as well as helping us financially, our Friends scheme also gives us confidence. It tells us there are people who like what we’re doing and who want to know what we do next. The Friends scheme mailing list means we can easily keep our supporters up to date with what’s coming up, and can deliver a physical copy of the brochure to your door each year before booking opens, so we can ensure those who support what we do have all the information they need to book the festival tickets they want.
Additionally you get invited to the fun stuff, like the private launch party in April, and the end of festival drinks in the courtyard after the final concert. Over time, our Friends, Benefactors and Patrons become part of the Music at Paxton family. Many come to the festival every year, some to multiple concerts each year, so very soon we get to know names and faces. Our Friends Secretary Wendy Saywood was a Friend long before she became a Music at Paxton Trustee, and explains what it means to her and how to join the scheme:
“Having been a Friend of Music at Paxton for many years and Friends Secretary for the last few years, I know first-hand how important the support of all of the Friends, Benefactors and Patrons has been to the success of the festival over its two decades. I really enjoy hearing from our supporters, meeting you at the festivals and seeing familiar faces across the years. I love to hear from all our supporters, so if you do ever have questions, or have feedback on events then please do get in touch on friends@musicatpaxton.co.uk.
Joining the Friends scheme couldn’t be easier – simply go to the Support Us page and follow the links to select your preferred level of membership. During the festival you can speak to one of the volunteers at the Friends stall inside the venue, or pick up a Friends leaflets from the box office, which has all the information you need including a paper application form.”
For those of you who are already a Friend, Benefactor or Patron, thank you from the bottom our hearts for your kind support. For anyone thinking about joining the scheme, we’re a small and friendly festival, and we’d love to welcome you as part of our festival family.
Siobhan Staples, General Manager info@musicatpaxton.co.uk
