Davie businesses not sponsoring Pride
PRIDE / There are other ways to support Pride, Score says
Tamara Letkeman / Vancouver / Friday, May 28, 2010
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Davie Village businesses are treading cautiously around a new sponsorship opportunity offered by the Vancouver Pride Society (VPS).

Beginning this year, the VPS is inviting local businesses to become "Community Business Partners." In exchange for $1,000-$2,500, the VPS will promote the sponsor's business and logo online and in print, showcase it in the Pride newsletter and offer VIP spots to view the parade on Aug 1.

"We need our community to step up and start sponsoring Pride," says the VPS's sponsorship coordinator, Caryl Dolinko.

"We set up this category specifically so that not only is it affordable, but also within easy reach, specifically for community businesses."

Big businesses such as TD Bank and Telus are sponsoring Pride this year, she points out - now it's time for businesses in the gay village to do the same.

So far, no Davie Village establishments have come forward, though J Lounge has signed up to be a Pride Event Partner.

Jesse Ritchie, co-owner and general manager of Score on Davie, thinks the new sponsorship level is pricey.

"It's $1,000-$2,500 for a logo on everything, so it's just something we have to make sure is profitable for us. There are other ways for us to be part of the community and help out with Pride than advertising our logo on things."

Ritchie says he and his co-owners would prefer to take a wait-and-see approach with the new sponsorship level.

"It's the first time they're doing it, so maybe we'll take a year to see how it goes, and then maybe be a part of it next year."

Dolinko says she hopes that other businesses will not follow Score's lead. She estimates that sponsorship will bring businesses to the attention of about 700,000 people.

"Our website gets 50,000 hits a day leading up to Pride. On Pride Day, it crashes because of an overload of people looking for information. So if $2,500 is too much for you to affiliate yourself with the biggest event in the community, well, that's your choice," she says.

Little Sister's co-owner Jim Deva says he would consider coming on as a Community Business Partner, but that he would expect someone from the VPS to speak to him personally about the offer.

"I'm waiting to be approached," says Deva, who found out about the new sponsorship level from the Pride newsletter. "If somebody wants some money, they usually come and see me and we cut a deal. I don't rush out and look for organizations wanting sponsorship money."

Dolinko says the VPS is considering launching a more personal approach to attract Community Business Partners.

In the meantime, she is urging business owners to come on board as soon as possible.

"Pride is in 10 weeks. So if you want to come on two weeks before Pride, you're not getting the exposure that those coming on early do."

"We welcome everybody's participation," she adds, "and are willing to work a deal with any organization in any way whatsoever."

 

 


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Reader Comments


 
Seems
like a strange way of doing business.
Marc, van bc
05/29/10 12:09 AM EST
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Shady
I find this whole pride event sponsor absolutely ridiculous. minimum $1000 to get a logo on the VPS promotional matierial that won't even be an inch tall? I think the VPS is desperate for money. For the past few years they have been spending and losing money on ridiculous things such as that street party which brings in a couple hundred bux with a cost that is insane. They also bring in talent that is completely irrelevant, give it to locals. There are thousands of entertainers in town you can throw money at and that everyone will come to see. The reason J Lounge has signed on board is because Terry Costa is the programming director there, and he's also the entertainment coordinator for the VPS. Conflict of interest no? I think instead of now pretty much begging for local businesses to come on board, Caryl Dolinko should've thought of maybe approaching them first, instead of last. Actions speak louder thank word Caryl, and it seems that you are threatening, for lack of a better term, local businesses to give the VPS money. ("Pride is in 10 weeks. So if you want to come on two weeks before Pride, you're not getting the exposure that those coming on early do.") Well maybe it's time this society re thinks how toey manage pride, and how they manage working with the local businesses who really are the backbone or pride, and the gay community. Besides, local businesses are all extremely busy during Pride Weekend. A tiny logo isn't going to make a difference at all. Don't fall for this, it's completely ridiculous and insane.
Michael, Vancouver BC
05/31/10 8:32 PM EST
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Local business say a small logo isn't enough?
It's fucking Pride. Here we have all these local businesses that make more than 1 - 2k in a couple hours complaining that they don't think they'll get enough from Pride for their support...Well, why don't your organize your own Pride then? There's a couple hundred volunteers for pride, over a dozen board members, and three paid staff that aren't even full time, and you're complaining that you only get a 1" logo for your contribution? Get real. Score and any business that follows their example doesn't give a shit about our community. They're just exploiting the gay market - being gay and running a business doesn't mean you support Pride. Contributing to the Parade and festivals makes you a part of Pride. These guys are just pariahs, trying to make money from Pride visitors without contributing to our community celebration.
James, Vancouver BC
06/02/10 10:30 PM EST
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entertainers for pride
I was at Pride events last year and it seems all local gay entertainers are on stage. It is nice to see some new entertainers coming in once in a while. I don't think Pride pays much anyway so am always surprised people participate. I think Pride is doing okay and look forward to the events this year. I do agree that local business need to support VANCOUVER PRIDE directly because if the main event is canceled then the millions of dollars that come in to Vancouver business/city during that weekend will also be canceled.
sancho, vancouver bc
06/03/10 3:07 AM EST
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clueless
Oh James, how absolutely clueless you are. All of these business usually donate to many charities around town especially over that weekend, and yes it's a big money maker for them. Especially since the gay community is fickle throughout the rest of the year. The money people make on pride will pretty much cover expenses for august only because everyone stays indoors in august. Besides, the VPS pays for multiple trips to different cities and countries for it's directors, and they get many many perks that the VPS pays for. So don't for one second think this is a completely volunteer job.
Michael, Vancouver BC
06/03/10 1:19 PM EST
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re: clueless
Michael, the only trips directors go on are for outreach purposes, either to mentor smaller Pride organizations or learn from larger ones. These trips include the annual InterPride conference and Pride events in North America, most of which are driving distance from Vancouver. I know for a fact that up until last year, directors paid their own way on these trips, flights, accomodation, meals, everything. Not counting the fact that many directors treat this volunteer position as a full-time job, putting in 40+ hours a week, it's just good business practice to pay for flights and accommodation for one or two directors to go on these outreach trips. I can assure you that the society benefits greatly from these trips, and yes, the directors get some enjoyment out of it too. It's a shame that you think it's unreasonable for volunteer directors to get some sort of enjoyment and emotional benefit from their work.
Former VPS Director, Vancouver BC
06/03/10 1:49 PM EST
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re:clueless
I don't think it's unreasonable at all. I think it's quite deserved. But don't get mad when local business don't want to give money when it'll probably be used for something like that, rather than building it's pride. I personally think everyone should be paid who's involved with pride. It would be what everyone involved wants, it wouldn't be sneaky, and everyone would work better if they have incentive. But don't portray one image, and be another.
Michael, Vancouver BC
06/03/10 6:56 PM EST
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not clueless, just not an idiot
I'm not clueless, I'm just not an idiot. I'm not sure what kind of perks you're talking about, but I honestly don't consider going out of town for a couple of days on business a perk. These people are taking time off work to go to conferences or work with other organizations...yes, they're learning, but is that an unreasonable perk? Not really. Especially not when you're taking time off work to go. These people are doing this for free...they're not busting their asses off to have more money in the bank for no reason, and they're not getting rich off the success of Pride. In the last couple of years, we've gotten a free outdoor breakfast on Davie Street, a street party on the Friday night before Pride, a beer garden at the beach during Pride...I mean, they're making more money, yes, but they're making Pride better. For a business to say "we're going to make money off Pride and not give anything back", well, that's just asking for Pride to stop.
james, vancouver bc
06/03/10 10:11 PM EST
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Already supporting, thanks...
As a business, I already spend $1000 to build a float and $1000 to enter it in the Pride Parade. I also pay for an advertisement in the official Pride Guide at insane rates. Explain how I'm being greedy and selfish for not wanting to dish out ANOTHER few thousand dollars when I'm already supporting Pride 2 ways? This is a pretty standard scenario... MOST major businesses have some parade presence and a pride guide ad... why is refusing this third money grab considered greedy?
Business Sense, Vancouver BC
06/05/10 6:34 AM EST
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Apply Some Business Sense
If a business wants to spend $1,000 supporting Pride the first thing they might do is look at what that money will get them in terms of a display ad in Xtra. A bit more than a small logo placement, I'll bet. I'm always taken aback by the strident sense of entitlement that Pride organizers exhibit. Send out a newsletter asking for fairly expensive financial support, make no personal calls to business owners, and then start slagging them in the media when they fail to throw money at you. Personally, my local coffee shop, dry cleaner, deli, bookstore, or balloon boutique support me and my "community" by giving me good products and services at a fair price -- and remembering my name. If they decide not to buy an expensive sponsorship with Pride, that's a business decision and I support their right to make it. But that's just me.
Kevin Dale McKeown, Vancouver BC
06/08/10 12:03 PM EST
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It's the attitude that gets me...
Did she really say that: "So if $2,500 is too much for you to affiliate yourself with the biggest event in the community, well, that's your choice"?!? I have been really disappointed with the lack of reaching out that the VPS has shown to local businesses over the years. The attitude is "build it and they will come". We have been ignored (and abused) for years and now all of a sudden they want us in the fold? Excuse my cynicism but it is simply about the money. Pride has never shown any desire to work with local businesses unless it somehow benefits them.
Another Business Owner, Vancouver BC
06/21/10 9:05 PM EST
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