Recession and Survival

There is a school of thought that suggests when it comes to innovation Brass Bands should do as much as they can – as long as it doesn’t cost anything. For some bands, innovating may be the only way to survive.

Most Brass Bands have survived a few recessions but this time around it’s much more serious. In a very short space of time we’ve seen a housing market meltdown and the collapse of financial systems. In the present financial climate the Arts are being hit particularly hard; isn’t it the case in most recessions? Community arts groups, including Brass Bands have been used to surviving in hard economic times and have often functioned on fairly meagre funds in more prosperous times. However, once again, Brass Bands need to adopt a survival strategy and forget about prosperity for the time-being. Bands need to worry about being survivors, not about being rich survivors.

The key to getting through the recession will be to preserve cash and do everything your band can to ensure it has got a solid banking situation. Through the recession Brass Bands need to cut capital expenditure where they can, avoid taking credit risks and make endeavour to stabilise their inventory of instruments, uniforms, equipment and sheet music, which could be susceptible to deflation.

Every band will require exceptionally tight cash control and excellent forecasting systems. It’s absolutely essential that those forecasting systems are realistic. Managing the balance sheet will bring rewards; as will a zero-based budgeting approach, where every cost is questioned. Brass Bands also need to take what they can from grants and concessions that are available to the Arts from many sources. Many grants are available for artistic or educational innovation and unique ways of engaging in cultural projects. The MAD4BB website (http://mad4bb.ning.com)
is a good resource and has information about various types of funding – sign your band or yourself up and take a look; it will cost you nothing but a little time!

When it comes to financial innovation, Brass Bands should do as much as they can – as long as it doesn’t cost anything! For some bands, innovating may be the only way to survive. Members of the BFBB visiting the website (www.bfbb.co.uk) can download various information packs that will assist them to develop good fiscal practices; useful packs include A Marketing Strategy Pack, A Fundraising Pack and A Financial Information Pack. These packs will soon be joined by another about ensuring your bands satiability.

In this recession, free advice and help is at hand, it won’t cost your band anything but you will need to do a little work to access it. Brass Bands will do as they have always done in recessions; survive – gnarled, but still operational

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