MARY RICE HOPKINS FAMILY CONCERT
SPONSOR REQUIREMENTS & FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Purpose & Focus:

Mary has a great and special gift for children and to see this gift in its most complete form with its longest lasting effect, Mary requests that the parents (even grandparents!) and children experience her ministry together.

Family concerts (excluding conventions/special occasions) should not be in conjunction with any other type of activities that occur at the same time as the concert. Please advise if your event is a VBS, school, special series "kick-off" or "closing." If you have used one of Mary's songs as a theme song, let us know in advance so we are sure to incorporate it into the concert.

Some ask if Mary does altar calls at her concerts. These are not part of the event; however, Mary does encourage participants the importance of having Jesus in their heart, finding a church home, and praying together as a family. She also makes herself available to meet, greet, share, listen and hug kids and parents after the concert.

Family Concert Fee:

Prices vary depending on your location and your type of event (i.e. Family Concert, Women's Banquet, MOPS, Retreat, Conference). Tickets (at an approved cost) may be sold or a requested love offering to help cover expenses. Requirements are based on our ministry’s ability to sell Mary’s music products in the event facility with no merchandise fees paid to venue and/or sponsor.

Please call our scheduling office for more information. (818) 790-5805.

Deposit:

A non-refundable deposit is required to secure the terms of the agreement and to reserve an event date for you. Deposit is deducted from guaranteed honorarium. Your date is confirmed after receiving your deposit & signed contract. (This form is not a contract)

Travel Expenses:

Sponsors on said weekend tour will share airfare expenses/mileage costs equally. (Usually 3 round-trip tickets from Los Angeles.) Example: If 3 concerts are scheduled at 3 different venues, then each church/venue would split the travel costs 3 ways. This travel expense will need to be paid as soon as reservations are made. Our office will take care of the travel arrangements and notify you of the cost. We always do our best to ensure the best travel fare and coordination possible. If you are located in Southern California (outside of L.A. County), sponsor pays mileage expense calculated at 32¢ per mile.

Accommodations and Meals:

Again, accommodation expenses are shared equally between sponsors where applicable. Mary may need you to provide up to three (3) (out of California) or five (5) (inside California) non-smoking hotel rooms for her time with you (i.e.: Courtyard by Marriott/Holiday Inn). Please be sure that hotel has an in-house restaurant. Sponsor to provide all meals while in care; this may include a food allowance for travel day(s).

Venue:

If the venue does not have a sound system, a rented system is required. All out-door events must be approved through our scheduling office. There are a few special stage requirements. Need help with sound system rental? We may have quality resources in your area.

Sound/Lighting/Multi-Media:

The sponsor must provide a quality sound system according to our attached technical rider with a qualified sound engineer. (The day of the concert, you will be asked to provide four (4) 9 volt batteries for our wireless microphones. Thanks!) Please provide the proper lighting to accomplish a bright stage area (a brightly-lit stage and 2 follow spots). Not required but if possible, please make available any projector/screen/power point systems available for our multi-media presentation(s) to Mary's songs. (This definitely enhances your concert!)

*Note: The above lighting requirements are flexible. Proper lighting, however, helps focus children's attention to the stage instead of being distracted by "audience happenings." Proper lighting also helps our/your pictures turn out much better (spotlights are key when Mary is in a dimmed audience). After your concert, we'll put pictures of the event on our website so the fun evening is long lasting! We'll email the pictures to you as well upon request.

If You are Located Midwest or Back East:

Flying east from Los Angeles may mean flying in one day early due to time change. This will also entail one extra night of hotel accommodations. The first night expenses will be shared by the various sponsors equally.

Promotion:

Quality promotion for a family concert is important and required. Items available for purchase: Full-color posters, flyers, blk/wht master flyer for duplication purposes, color glossy of Mary, radio PSA CD announcement, and promotion strategy sheets. Sponsor is responsible for printing information on posters/flyers. A postcard mailing is also required at the expense of the sponsor. Each scheduled concert will benefit from our email list of Mary’s listeners in your area.

Product Sales:

Needed: 4 Long tables (w/ solid covered tablecloths) for product sales. Product tables are to be set up in foyer or entrance/exit location. This area should be well lit (additional lighting may be needed) and completely visible to the main flow of people traffic. No other sales of novelty items (T-shirts, tapes, etc.) will be permitted during Mary’s concert. We appreciate your understanding. No merchandise fees will be paid to the venue or to the sponsor.

Personnel:

These are key positions of help that you will be responsible for to help accomplish an event that will be a positive experience for all. • 3 Strong Men (18 years or older) to help load in equipment 3-4 hrs. prior to the concert and immediately following the concert. • 5 Adults to help sell Mary’s music products. • 4 or 5 Parents to help monitor the children. • 2 Adults to assist Mary at greeting table. Please be sure to provide adults for the above needed positions.

Platform Decorations:

A quality back drop and/or stage decorations are required. From previous experience we have found that clusters of primary colored balloons (helium-filled) and large stuffed animals placed about the stage/platform help to create an atmosphere of special purpose and celebration for the children. This is only a suggestion; feel free to decorate more creatively. Theme ideas: Noah's Ark, Garden, Rainbows, Children following Jesus, etc.

Opening Acts:

Please no opening or closing performances. Because children's attention span is short, let's save their energy for all the fun they'll have with Mary.

Length of Concert:

Generally the concert will last for about 1 hour and 20 minutes. This at times varies by 10 minutes or so due to the children's attention span. In either case, the concert will pass quickly because time flies when you're having fun…and fun we will have!

Cancellation Procedure:

In the event of cancellation by the sponsor after receiving your deposit the sponsor will forfeit the deposit, and will also be responsible for any other costs incurred to date such as, but not limited to, travel arrangements, promotion costs, etc. Though it is never our intention to cancel said event (only two concerts have been postponed or canceled within the last 15 years!) Mary Rice Hopkins reserves the right to cancellation of contract for reasons of sickness or television, radio, film and/or record label contractual agreement. In the event of a cancellation by our scheduling office, the deposit will be refunded in full within thirty working days of cancellation date.

Marketing Strategy:

The best advice we can give you is not to rely on your own church/school/organization to "pack out the concert." Take into consideration the following to ensure a successful event for all.

Please know that this Requirement Sheet is strictly for the purpose of clear, mutual understanding regarding the details for a possible Mary Rice Hopkins concert. Please understand that the information requested, we feel, is important to the quality outcome of the event. If you have any questions regarding the above requirements, feel free to contact Big Steps Ministries. We look forward to serving you! And please, call our previous concert sponsors for more information about Mary's concerts...from the sponsors point of view.

This is not a contract.

Booking Contact: (818) 790-5805

Click Here To See Previous Concert Sponsors