We have a little different scenario, but I thought it was worth sharing....
We are a historic house located within a zoo. There is a fee for entering the zoo, but no extra fee for touring the house. We do have a donation box at the end of the (guided) tour, and our tour guides end the tour by mentioning the donation box and the fact that 100% of the donations stay at the home for preservation purposes. That helps get us a pretty significant amount of donations, even though people have already paid an admission price. Last year we saw about 22,000 visitors and about $3500 in donations. Not a high percentage of money per person, but still... We do get a fair amount of $20 bills dropped in, for which I always say a silent thank you. We have a lot of people who always assume there is an additional cost to tour the house, and are pleasantly surprised when there isn't one.
Bottom line for us, I think, is people are happy to donate to something that they enjoyed and felt worth their time, especially when there isn't pressure up front to donate or pay.
Tori Mason
Historic Site Mgr
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
________________________________________
From: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Cindy Boyer <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 11:26 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] free admission
Something Alan Thompson wrote caught my eye. He mentioned about people donating on the way out, rather than the way in.
That makes the donation more of a "thank you" than a "choose your own admission price." Imagine a donation box that has a sign saying "Don't put anything in here. Wait until you've toured the place, then let us know what you thought by your thank you gift."
At our historic site, we do charge admission ($5 for adults, $2 for kids) - members are free. We have special pricing for certain events - an April Fools tour offers free admission for kids accompanied by a paying adult, that has been very successful. A summer evening event where we offer a group family rate, also successful.
Cindy Boyer
Director of Public Programs
The Landmark Society of Western New York
133 S. Fitzhugh St.
Rochester NY 14608
(585) 546-7029 ext. 12
[log in to unmask]
Fax: (585) 546-4788
www.landmarksociety.org
Facebook
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Alan Thompson
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 3:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] free admission
We are a state run museum and we had an admission fee for years. A couple of years ago they did away with the fees thinking that folks would put more in the donation box and that the net would be more. I don't have the numbers but it proved correct. In the past a patron paid $3.29 (that's what the cost was with tax), paid with a $5 bill and put the change in their pocket. When they came out they didn't put anything in the donation box because they had to pay to get in. Now they come out and throw the whole $5 bill in. The result has been more visitors actually seeing the museum AND a net increase in money coming in.
________________________________
From: Museum discussion list [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Stephanie Turnham [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 11:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] free admission
Hi, Check with the Dallas Museum of Art. A couple of years ago, they stopped charging admission. Best, Stephanie
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mary Helen Dellinger
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 10:53 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] free admission
Our small local history museum is considering dropping our admission charge at the start of the new fiscal year. I am looking for feedback from those of you that have always offered free admission, or any institution that once charged but then switched to free. How has this helped your admission numbers? What was the feedback you got from your community? Do you regret it? How did you roll out the change? Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions you are willing to offer.
Mary Helen Dellinger, Curator
Manassas Museum
9101 Prince William Street
Manassas, VA 20110
Please "like" us at the City's Facebook page to hear the latest news and events!
City of Manassas Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=509276472472269&id=382140808519170¬if_t=notify_me>
________________________________
To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1
________________________________
To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
[http://www.nashvillezoo.org/assets/2147/zoo-logo-sm.gif]<http://www.nashvillezoo.org>
Tori Mason
Historic Site Manager
615-833-1534 x130
[log in to unmask]
“Inspiring a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership”
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
