Join our DONOR CIRCLES
Our goal is for these Circles to provide the Mime Troupe with a stable base of operating revenue, above and beyond our Summer and Winter Appeals, so YOU can be sure that every year we will continue to be there, working with young adults and performing in a park near you.
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View the growing list of Comrade & Ally Circle Donors!
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Now, we want to be totally honest with our Comrades and Allies. Some people were a bit shocked to see that we were planning to include pledge levels of $1000, $5000, and $10,000. They warned us that people would be turned off and feel excluded if they saw such numbers. But we trust our supporters would want to know what it takes to do our work. When you think about what we do - in all kinds of weather, for long hours, loading and unloading a truck, performing a high energy show all over California, working with High School students, helping their voices be heard - $10,000 really isn't an unreasonable amount. And whatever portion of $10,000 you are able to invest in our work, combined with others, makes our work possible.
We also know that to really step forward and support us on a meaningful level just might hurt a tiny bit. We're not asking you to skip meals or endanger your rent or mortgage. But we are asking you to think carefully about what matters most to you and possibly reallocate your resources in a way that includes helping to keep the Mime Troupe alive and well for "Another 65 Years!"
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2013 was the only other time we came this close to cancelling a season. To raise the necessary $40,000 we introduced you to the “Cost of Free” by sharing the hidden expenses of producing free shows. The reaction was immediate when people learned how much we must pay for insurance, permits, union benefits, truck fuel, portapotties…the list goes on. Now 12 years and a global pandemic later, the Cost of Free has gotten much costlier! Check it out-
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Full Park Show Season – 2013 – a sampling of costs
Park Application/Permit Fees/Park Staff = $7,365
Designer/Director/Writer Fees = $22,630
Sound Application/Permit Fees = $930
Salaries: Actors/Musicians/Tech/Admin = $103,439
Porta Potties = $2,752
Publicity Fee = $7,000
Material Budgets: Set/Costumes/Props/Sound = $10,150
Fuel/Mileage/Parking: Truck/Cars/Generator = $6,965
Advertising/Posters/Flyers/Programs = $5,826
Additional Expenses = $83,943
GRAND TOTAL for 2013 Full Summer Season = $251,000
Half Park Show Season – 2025 – a sampling of projected costs
Park Application/Permit Fees/park staff = $10,583
Designer/Director/Writer Fees = $20,724
Sound Application/Permit Fees = $746
Salaries: Actors/Musicians/Tech/Admin = $114,970
Porta Potties = $2,340
Publicity Fee = $5,000
Material Budgets: Set/Costumes/Props/Sound = $5,742
Fuel/Mileage/Parking: Truck/Cars/Generator = $11,968+
Advertising/Posters/Flyers/Programs = $9,697
Additional Expenses = $55,879
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GRAND TOTAL for 2025 Half Summer Season = $236,000
As you can see above the many costs of a single summer season is spread out across many different costs. So when making a monthly or annual donation please keep those numbers in mind!
Some of you may be part of a company or foundation or just be in a position to consider giving more. Your investment of $10,000 each year for 5 years would support one Mime Trouper for an entire Summer Season for each of those years!!!!!