The History of the
Chiang Mai Charity Calendar
The story of the calendar, and how it was born, is on the 2008 calendar web site here
Why create the calendar?
A question constantly asked. Each year, we risk half a million baht of our own money to print the calendar, with no guarantee of breaking even on costs, far less have anything to donate. Additional expenses come from our own pockets. On top of that, the production, marketing, accounting, sales and distribution is almost a full time job providing small intense moments of triumph mixed with large measures of disappointments, worry and exhaustion.
The motivation? Not just the enjoyment of raising money for disadvantaged kids; witnessing the thrill of rich kids painting their hearts out, so eager to participate, or doing something unique to help the tourism industry. It's a bit like tackling a high and risky mountain---the reward comes at the summit. where the pain of climbing dissolves in the thrill of achievement; of doing something different, and worthwhile. Unbeatable.
October 2008
We are in the midst our sales efforts for the new 2009 calendar and the current economic crisis is seriously affecting sales. It looks serious. Hotels and travel companies are cutting costs. Despite a wonderful order of 600 calendars from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (next page) bulk orders are slow. Sleepless nights. We might not make it this time...
November 2008 - We visited the little-used 1540-seat Kad Theatre in Chiang Mai and stood on the huge stage looking at the tiered, elegant, teak-panelled empty auditorium. A crazy thought came - why not hold a charity concert here - with the rich kids as sole performers? Really - Children helping Children - this time with song and dance!
We asked the price. Theatre rental cost for a matinee: 200,000 baht, (about US$6,000) no discount for charities.
Even then, just sell 1,000 tickets at 500 baht - and offset any losses on the 2009 calendar. Great idea! We asked a few school heads - who were all enthusiastic. Days later therefore, we booked and paid the money in full, fixing the performance date for Saturday, 21 February 2009. We would call the show: "Small Wonders"
We had zero experience of theatre production, far less auditioning, sound, lighting, and no idea of what we were getting into. Adrenalin thus completely dispelled any modicum of common sense.
Find out what happened here: Small Wonders
May 2009
Despite the economic crisis, and the prophets of doom (who said we would definitely lose money this time - we have managed to raise 423,000 Baht with the 2009 calendar.
So we are going ahead with a 2010 edition!