by Monica Friedman on December 17, 2012
Journalist and Theater Critic Praises the Power of Arts and Education
Let it not be said that Solange De Santis fears getting her hands dirty, plunging into a story, or taking a risk for a cause in which she believes. She may be a writer by trade, but her love of knowledge and education marks her as a modern Renaissance woman. An accomplished journalist and theater critic who once took a job to assembling cars in a doomed GM factory in order to learn, first-hand, the plight of the blue-collar worker, she is also a dedicated educational booster, volunteering her time to support the arts in schools.
“The arts are my passion,” De Santis explains. In addition to directing and running sound for community and school theater, “I play the piano, I sing in the choir at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Mamaroneck, I’m a judge in the Theatre Starts playwriting competition in Ontario, Canada, I am doing communications consulting for Westchester’s St. Thomas Orchestra.” Plus, she finds time to help organize dances and other arts-related activities at Hommocks Middle School in Mamaroneck, New York.
Arts, Communication, Education, and Tickets
A firm believer in the power of education, De Santis attributes her accomplishments to formal schooling: “I explored the worlds of literature and drama in my undergraduate study at Barnard College and journalism at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. Much later in life, I went to NYU for an M.A. in educational theater, graduating in May 2011.” Communication, she believes, is the key to success, and the arts are the most profound way to communicate. True communication, she feels, “leads to understanding and that means a lot less conflict in the world.”
In the past, De Santis has used TicketPrinting.com to produce tickets for Hommocks’ 8th grade dance and “found the service to be fairly easy to use…and very reasonably priced.” Rather than choosing “small, flimsy raffle tickets you can get for $11 in a roll,” which had been used in the past, she “was able to design a much larger ticket with a raffle stub and heavier-weight cardboard with wording customized for our event” for about $80. She found the numbering made “management of the ticket list and the raffle…a breeze. It was an excellent solution.”
$500 in Free Printing and a Warm Emotional Glow
Having recently won $500 in free printing from TicketPrinting.com, De Santis is exploring her options and will most likely dedicate the prize to St. Thomas Orchestra’s May concert. Since the orchestra does “not yet have a digital purchase option,” she is also considering Ticket River’s online box office as a solution for Internet sales. She likes the idea of “total solutions,” offered in Event Kits “such as the tickets-poster-flyer package in the classical music section” and finds the service “so useful for schools or amateur/community organizations with limited budgets and people like myself who are not necessarily ticket management professionals.”
In spreading a love of art and music, ticketing options become an important part of creating access. De Santis recognizes how all the details come together create results, and sees that, “the easier the process, the better you can focus on the event itself and [the] better your relations are with your audience.” To her, “a ticket is an essential print product that is part of the overall communications environment.” It’s not merely a way to count heads or push an audience through a gate, but rather, a “little representation of your event,” that can be held in the hand. “Ticket stubs are often saved as souvenirs, pasted into scrapbooks…even in the digital age,” she reminds us, and, “A nice-looking ticket creates a warm emotional glow.”
by Lance on December 16, 2012
Dear Readers,
Lance and I were both deeply saddened by the tragedy Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary. I was asked to find the words to express our condolences for the families of Newtown and our profound sorrow, but found myself unequal to the task, even with all the vocabulary at my disposal.
Instead, I offer the following words, composed Friday evening by the esteemed poet Yusef Komunyakaa.
Rock Me, Mercy
The river stones are listening because we have something to say.
The trees lean closer today.
The singing in the electrical woods has gone down.
It looks like rain, because it is too warm to snow.
Guardian angels, wherever you’re hiding, we know you can’t be everywhere at once.
Have you corralled all the pretty wild horses?
The memory of ants asleep and day lilies, roses, holly and larkspur?
The magpies gaze at us, still waiting.
River stones are listening.
But all we can say now is mercy, please rock me.
You can listen to the poet reading this piece here, on NPR.
by Lance on December 14, 2012
How One Man Sells Raffle Tickets to Raise Funds for Those in Need
As the holiday season draws nearer, many of us who have more than we need begin to ponder those out in the world who don’t have enough. As we sit down to a warm and cozy holiday meal with our friends and families, many of our minds are on the men, women and children who unfortunately don’t have the luxury or the ability to do the same.
It’s exactly that kind of thought that goes into what Christopher Rawles is doing to help the needy this holiday season.
After growing up in difficult circumstances and surviving Hurricane Katrina, Rawles has a unique and positive point of view when it comes to giving back to his community.
If I Were a Rich Man…
While Rawles reports that he isn’t wealthy, he believes that’s no excuse not to give back. In a recent article, Rawles said, “I am not a rich man. I don’t make a lot of money. But whatever I can do to help, I want to do.”
That’s why Rawles is selling Raffle Tickets to help raise funds for families in need this season. To help him in his endeavors, he’s partnered with Catholic Charities in Odessa, TX, which is also his place of residence.
By selling $1.00 Raffle Tickets, he hopes to raise enough money to donate several $200.00 gift cards from local shopping centers to several needy families in the area.
Catholic Charities and Rawles will work together to choose the families who will receive the gift cards.
And to add to the holiday generosity, the raffle will end on Friday, December 14th with a drawing for a live Christmas tree and a $75 Home Depot gift card as well.
Filled With Holiday Spirit
Rawles says part of what has inspired him to help those in need is a story from when he was a child.
When he was only 6 years old and his family was struggling to make ends meet, exchanging presents during the holidays, something many of us are accustomed to, didn’t always happen in his family.
In the spirit of giving on Christmas Day, someone who worked with his mother, and had discovered her family was struggling, generously sent over a truck of food and toys to their house.
This, among other things, has inspired Rawles to help others in need. And selling Raffle Tickets is a simple, fun and easy way to do just that.
by Lance on December 8, 2012
Spice up Your Event with Roll Ticket Games and Easy Prize Draws
When it comes to events and event planning, things can often become more complex than they need to be. What better way to make it simple than by using simple tickets? No muss, no fuss, just straightforward, do what you will, Roll Tickets.
Anyone planning an event knows there has to be a reason to invite guests, and usually some form of entertainment. But what if you can’t afford to get the latest pop singer or stand-up comedian to perform at a reasonable price?
No worries! Come up with some unique games that include prizes, and the problem is solved. After all, who in their right mind doesn’t want to win a prize?
Tickets and Prizes and Games, Oh My!
- Door Prizes are a great way to capture everyone’s attention and give all your guests the chance to win a prize. Simply give everyone a numbered Roll Ticket as they enter, and let the fun begin!
- Multiple Prize Draws are a good idea if you plan to give several prizes away. Simply display the prizes with a box beside each one, then let your guests choose which box they want to put their ticket in.
- Food and Beverage tickets are a smart way to go with Roll Tickets. Whether you want to give your guests complimentary tickets as they enter, or sell them one by one, it’s easy both ways.
- Quick Raffles are perfect for Roll Tickets. These puppies were almost designed with speedy raffles in mind. Sell tickets individually or give them to your sponsors as a nice “thank you.”
- Ticket Contests are a fun way to encourage audience participation at your event. Whoever collects the most tickets first will win! The prize, on the other hand, is up to you.
Whether you choose Single or Double Roll Tickets, you can breathe easy during your event because every ticket includes secure, sequential numbering for easy and fast event organization.
You can even pick different colors for different things. Pick blue for one prize, red for another, and white for the coveted grand prize that everyone wants to win.
Keep your event simple but make sure you keep it fun with straightforward Roll Tickets. You and all your guests will be able to rest easy and go home happy.
by Lance on December 6, 2012
Fun and Games: Bowling Brings Community Together
For the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) community, sometimes it is hard to feel accepted. Pinoy Pride Vancouver (PPV) is a group that fights hard to change that. Stella Reyes, Co-chair of PPV, explained, “Pinoy Pride Vancouver is a social and community group for the Filipino-Canadian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) community. PPV is dedicated to increase visibility, to provide a safe, respectful place and raise awareness of and promote acceptance of its members.”
“Our group is committed to work together with the different associations and organizations within our community. We realize that funds are also needed for the numerous collaborations we are planning for next year. These projects can only be accomplished through individual and corporate contributions to Pinoy Pride,” Reyes said.
On November 17th PPV held a community Bowling Fundraiser. 24 teams/120 bowlers came out to have fun and support a great cause. Reyes said that the bowling alley was completely packed with bowlers, as well as their family and friends. Food, drink and entertainment were included for the night. The night was open for kids and adults, so no one was left out. Reyes said, “Awards will be given away for Best Individual Score, Best Team Score and Best Team Costume.”
Past events held by PPV have led to many donations to the cause. This has allowed PPV to participate in great events like, “the Vancouver Pride Parade, registration for Human Rights sessions like the GLISA (Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association) North America Conference and involvement in several mainstream events like The Scotia AIDS Walk for Life and Vancouver Sun Run. In the Filipino-Canadian community, the group was present at Philippine Independence Day celebrations,” Reyes explained.
The bowling night was a wild success, according to Reyes, and raised money and awareness for PPV. In addition, “PPV was the first visible ethnic group to host a Pride event, the “Kaboom Party,” where half of the proceeds were given to the Lighthouse of Hope which conducts mission work in Africa and Kenya through the World Compassion Project. PPV feels secure in the knowledge that our community will be highly supportive and compassionate to LGBTQ issues,” Reyes said. More information on PPV can be found on their Facebook page and Twitter account.
by Lance on December 3, 2012
Holiday Charity Raffle Gives Back to Local Community
Throughout the year, Art of Oconee is revered in the town of Lake Oconee, GA for providing high quality and impressive artwork from professional, local area artists. Because the town has been so supportive of the original art gallery over the years, Art of Oconee held its second annual holiday raffle on December 5th, and donated all proceeds to charity.
Relishing the opportunity to give back to a community who has helped support them so much, Art of Oconee partnered with the St. Vincent dePaul Society to help raise money for their local area mission work.
The St. Vincent’s local chapter in Lake Oconee is very active in the community, and relies on generous donations to their charity in order to help keep serving those in need.
This Art of Oconee holiday raffle was a simple and fun way to support their important work.
Spirit of the Season
According to a recent article, gallery marking director Cathy McIntire spoke about the reasons for hosting the holiday raffle. She said, “The gallery likes the idea of being involved with the community. We are able to help out a special group, plus everyone becomes aware of the art gallery and St. Vincent DePaul.”
Art of Oconee wouldn’t have been able to host this holiday raffle without help from the generous artists who donated their art as prizes for the lucky raffle winners.
To put an interesting spin on the prize, not one, but fifteen pieces of artwork were put aside in the gallery for the winner of the raffle to choose from.
The winner was able to choose between beautiful pottery, intricate jewelry, and unique paintings.
Pay it Forward
If you own or work at a local business and you’re looking for a way to give back to a community who has generously helped your business grow, consider hosting your very own holiday raffle.
Enlist local members of the community to donate prizes, and find a charity whose cause you support and who you’d like to see prosper.
A spirited holiday raffle need not be fancy to be successful. Find low-cost Raffle Tickets that are easy to design, simple to have printed, and truly reflect the meaning of your raffle.
There’s no better feeling in the world than giving back, especially during the holiday season. Start spreading the spirit of gift-giving today!
by Lance on November 28, 2012
How Holiday Wristbands Help Make Seasonal Events More Secure
If you’re hosting a holiday event this season, the only thing more important than making your event fun for everyone who attends is making sure your event is secure. Event security can be tricky, but when you print wristbands for all your attendees to wear, you’re taking the first step toward savvy event security.
Just because you want to boost security at your event with wristbands doesn’t mean it has to be a drag! You can print wristbands in almost any color of the rainbow.
For seasonal events, you can print wristbands in red or green to mirror the beautiful colors of the holidays, and you can even add your own text and images to keep everything in the spirit of the season.
Cheers to Event Security!
It’s easier than you think to boost security at your next holiday event. Instead of hiring extra security guards or more staff members, save yourself time, money and frustration by printing unique wristbands that include specialized security features.
- Hologram Wristbands are a fun and easy way to boost event security and help prevent people who don’t belong from getting into your event. Identify your ticketholders, VIPs or other groups instantly with lightweight but durable, Tyvek Hologram Wristbands.
- Stub Wristbands can be custom designed just how you want them, especially for the holidays! These paper-like Tyvek wristbands can even be used as tickets to save your guests from having to hold onto stubs. Perfect for at-a-glance identification and versatile for multi-day events.
- Vinyl Wristbands are available in two types. Choose from the durable, waterproof version (perfect for events lasting multiple days) or reliable one-day wristbands. Printed from a high-speed thermal printer, these wristbands present the cleanest print of your text and image.
Customize Your Event
Create the perfect wristband for your holiday event with the Custom Wristband option. Choose from Hologram, Stub, or Vinyl Wristbands, and let us help you make your dreams of seasonal event security a reality!
Start with your own design and let the experts help bring it to fruition, or have us design the whole thing on your behalf.
No matter what kind of wristbands you decide to print, you know you’ll be printing the colors you want, with the images you want, and the security options that work for you and your event.
Raffle Benefits County Alliance; Group Advocates for Community Members
Monroe County, Pennsylvania, is a close knit community where everyone takes care of their neighbors and no one is alone. This is in part because of the Pocono Alliance organization. Member Maria Schramm said the Alliance, “links people in need to services in the community and also develops programs to support initiatives that benefit residents of the county.” The Pocono Alliance sponsored a 50/50 Raffle that was drawn at their annual meeting to report to the community. All proceeds are going to be used for the many programs the alliance offers.
The raffle was also a way of celebrating the 10th year that the Pocono Alliance has been helping the community. The Alliance has a great history that all started in 1996. “In September 1996, several community individuals attended a Welfare to Work conference sponsored by the Department of Public Welfare designed to explain the upcoming Welfare Reform Legislation, effective on March 3, 1997. At the conclusion of the conference a small group of Monroe County residents decided to organize a task force that would address the major barriers of those individuals who would be transitioning from welfare to work. In 2001, the name of the Task Force was changed to Pocono Healthy Communities Alliance to more accurately reflect the work and focus of the group. In 2002, PHCA received its 501 (c) 3 status. PHCA changed its name to Pocono Alliance in 2009,” the history straight from their website. You can see the Alliance’s current projects and member’s doings by checking out their Facebook page.
In order to sell the raffle tickets and continue to spread the word about the Alliance, Schramm and her colleagues used email, the seasonal newsletter they send, and word of mouth. Social media and the Alliance’s website were very useful in advertising the raffle. Schramm said, “Probably the most successful strategies were social media on Facebook and word of mouth as we conducted outreach efforts in the community.” The event was not planned by Schramm, but from previous experiences, her biggest piece of advice to others is, “the most important aspect of planning any event is to start planning early.”
The raffle did not raise as much money as planned, but Schramm and company are still ecstatic about the turn out and what the money will be able to do for their future programs. There was also coverage by a local media outlet, which can be found here.
by Lance on November 26, 2012
Whether or not you’ve participated in Black Friday or Cyber Monday, consider the ethos of Giving Tuesday. According to the official website, “charities, families, businesses and individuals are coming together to transform the way people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.”
The concept is simple: “Find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to join in acts of giving. Tell everyone you can about what you are doing and why it matters. Join a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity.”
TicketPrinting.com is getting in on the act. For every order we receive, we’re donating $1 to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relief.
It’s the season of giving, and while we are grateful for all that we have, we remember those who have less. Give what you can and make a difference.
by Lance on November 21, 2012
Why Printing Real Tickets is Better for the Consumer
Many people agree that ticket scalping is a serious problem, but there also seems to be a general consensus that restrictive paperless tickets can be more trouble than they’re worth. When it comes to selling tickets, ticket buyers should have the advantage.
Because consumers are the ones shelling out cash for tickets in the first place, they shouldn’t be put at a disadvantage when buying tickets. Restrictive paperless tickets tend to put the burden of eliminating scalpers and enhancing security on the ticket buyers.
Put the consumer at ease and boost your ticket security by adding unique and convenient security features to printed tickets, instead of making ticket buyers jump through hoops to attend your events.
The Freedom of Print
There are many options you can add to printed tickets to enhance security measures that don’t make it more difficult for consumers to do as they please with their tickets. Check out these smart security features you can add to your printed tickets with little more than a few clicks of your mouse.
- Glossmarks can not only help boost your ticket security, they can help you prevent ticket fraud and the loss of profit that goes along with it. Simply move any ticket with glossmarks back and forth to reveal the markings and authenticate the ticket.
- Holograms on event tickets can really help enhance security and lower the chance of fraud. Not only do they look interesting, they feature a unique placement at the perforation line of the ticket and stub so you can immediately tell if the ticket has been tampered with.
- Unique Barcodes and Numbers are at the forefront of enhanced ticket security and fraud prevention. With an easy-to-scan, special barcode and number on the back of every ticket you print, authenticate tickets with a simple scan, and do it for FREE.
- Microtext Security Images are extremely difficult to duplicate, which will increase security and decrease the chances of ticket fraud. But best of all, this option is 100% FREE!
Take Control of Your Tickets
If you’re worried about ticket scalpers buying up your best tickets and re-selling them for outlandish fees, try printing the ticket prices right on your event tickets.
You could even come up with staggered ticket prices to accommodate an “open market” theme for your ticket sales. Give your ticket buyers the ability to choose how much they want to spend with secure printed tickets.
