And now — well, tomorrow from 5:30pm – 8pm to be exact — the inspiration for this contest is upon us: the Wren’s Nest fundraiser hosted by the Ravinia Club.  All proceeds from the (cash) bar on the evening’s featured specialty drink benefit the Wren’s Nest.  Heard of it?

Now, before I get to the drink-christening, allow me to convince you to join us at the Ravinia Club:

• Everyone is welcome!  What a nice sentiment!
• Usually when you toast the Wren’s Nest, people have no idea what you’re talking about.  Tomorrow you’ll be in knowing company.
• I bet you love prizes.  You’ll find tomorrow’s raffle — fine wines, tickets to sporting events, massage gift certificates and more — so delightful.
• Wren’s Nest Rambler Akbar Imhotep will be spinning yarns throughout the evening.  If you haven’t seen Akbar yet, now is the time to hang your head in shame.
• Complimentary hors d’oeuvres mean you can stuff your face while pretending to be super classy.  At least that’s what I’ll be doing.

Are you sold yet?  I hope so.  You don’t even need to buy tickets; you can just show up and enjoy a…

Marga-Remus!

You may also enjoy 3 – 8 of them.

Yep, it’s a margarita, which our inside sources tell us the club makes deliciously.  It also has “Remus” in the name, which makes it themed and super clever.

So, we’ll see you there, right?  Here’s a map to the Ravinia Club.  Join us at 5:30 – 8 pm.

Any questions?  Leave ‘em in the comments.

Here’s how you can help.  Below are just a few self-absorbed reasons why –

• The Wren’s Nest was featured in Paste in July ’08, accompanied by the toughest picture of Lain ever taken.  We love the article, Dummies in the Attic, and it was a treat to work with the writer.

• Paste has long been a strong supporter of the literary community in Atlanta and neighboring Decatur.  You know the our wonderful partners at the Decatur Book Festival?  Their offices used to be in Paste.  Plus, when Wordsmith’s, an independent bookstore, was hurting, Paste hosted a fundraiser.  Community oriented indeed.

• For the past two years Paste has been the highlight tour of our Publishing Company program, according to our Editors, who are known for telling it like it is.

And that’s just us.  We’ve barely touched how great the actual magazine and website are (answer: very).

You can read the letter from Paste’s Editor Josh Jackson (pictured above) to readers here, find FAQs here, and most importantly, donate here.  Be sure to check out all the music you get in return for donating.  Good deeds can be rewarded!

Lain has already donated $25, and I’ll be doing the same shortly.  And remember — we’re but poor nonprofit folks.  Show us how it’s done, please.

The event was hosted by the Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition.

Over 160 representatives from arts and culture organizations attended.  A panel of experts spoke about how cultural groups can use more strategery in current economic times.*

Big-time speakers included –

Karen Beavor, President & CEO
Georgia Center for Nonprofits

Mary Pat Crouch, Vice President
Coxe Curry & Associates

Penny McPhee, President & Trustee
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

Shirley Mitchell, Senior VP, Market Development
Bank of America

All of the speakers were effective, encouraging, and (very importantly) concise.

The audience then shared their own success stories (following one man who, apparently after wandering into the wrong meeting and tuning out the entire presentation, spoke about traffic issues and asked us to make a change.  Buddy, I’m flattered you think I have that kind of pull!).

Not everything was applicable to the Wren’s Nest (our HR department is actually a squirrel out back), but what didn’t apply to us was made up for by the $1 beers, which always apply to us.  And let me tell you, arts and culture folks really know how to knock 1 or 2 back.

But enough about us.  We want to hear from you.  Please, choose a question below and answer it in the comments.

• Which strategies work for your arts organization in this economy?
• Which strategies don’t work?
• What did you think of the event?

Don’t be shy!  We’re waiting with bated breath.

*They stink.

I’m still recovering.  But I did manage to post a few pictures of the party.  Check ‘em out here.

Did you take any pictures?  Seriously, I’d love to see ‘em since I was so busy running around all night. Just upload your pictures to the Wren’s Nest Facebook Page.

Big thanks to our volunteers (Laura, Nicole, Greg and Christina, Lauren and Catherine, my mom, my sister), our staff, and the folks who had a great time, which was everyone.  Thank you, everyone.

That’s less than 10 days away.  I’m a little worried.

Don’t get me wrong — the show will be phenomenal, the tacos will be delicious, and the margaritas will have tequila.  I’m mostly worried that folks might miss out on a great time.

We’ve got a lot to compete with — class reunions, out-of-town plans, laziness, stock market induced excuses, hatred of fun and margaritas — you name it.

And in typical Wren’s Nest fashion, we were late spreading the word.  The price we pay?  Restrained panic.

We’re looking to you, dear Wren’s Nest blog readers, to help us out.  And boy howdy, have I got some incentive–

Inspire nine folks to come to the concert with you, and drinks for your entire table are on me.

You heard me.

Honestly, I don’t think anyone will take me up on this offer.  I’m sure you’re either too busy or it’s too expensive or you don’t have time to rally your crew.  I will be shocked if you can pull this together.

So prove me wrong.

Free drinks for you and your buddies all night, but only if you (1) are at least 21; (2) mention this blog post; (3) assemble your crew of 9 or more; (4) pay for your tickets in full; and (5) tell me about it before 4 pm on September 22nd (lain@wrensnestonline.com).

Please, test my generosity.

Who has better advice than someone with no formal training? Who has only been in the field for two years? Who frequently spills coffee everywhere?

No one, that’s who.

So, I’m here to offer my coveted, sage advice. Onward!

Let’s pretend we’re writing a letter to Tom.

Tom is very busy.

So busy that he doesn’t have time to read your letter. We’re here to trick him into thinking he does.

Before you get started, have your good remarkably spectacular story ready.

And remember that the goal is to build a relationship, and the product of this relationship may be a contribution. And don’t be nervous–a contribution is an exchange between you and Tom. It’s not just Tom giving you money.

Got that?

Once you’ve written your story in 2 – 3 pages, you’re going to need seven elements–

1. Bold words and phrases.

Your eyes love bold words and phrases. Tom’s do too. Assume that Tom will skim your letter. Put the important stuff in bold, but don’t abuse it.

2. Handwriting

Handwriting is even better than bold words. Tom will read it before anything else. I use blue pen because it’s distinct from the black ink.

3. P.S.

Since the beginning of time, psychologists and fundraisers have known that Tom will read the P.S. first.  Weird, I know.

4. Personalization

Now that you’ve got Tom’s attention, you might as well talk about something that matters to Tom–himself.

It’s not that Tom is selfish, he just needs to be invested in your story. You know that Tom is already invested in himself, so make sure you include him in your letter.

5. Pronouns

Repeat the words “you” or “I” to lull Tom into believing you’re having a conversation.  He loves that.

6. Firm, specific, but non-threatening asks

Tell Tom what you want (more than once and in bold) and shut up already. Do you want $1,000? Say so! Tom may not give you what you want, but at least he knows where to start.

7. A pre-stamped envelope

Seal the deal with a pre-stamped envelope.

When Tom sees that you’ve spent an extra 42 cents on him, he’ll be loath to throw out the envelope. Either he’ll save it for a rainy day or you’ve just guilted him into a contribution. Booya.

Or he’ll think you’re spending your money irresponsibly. Note: my personal contribution to the Wren’s Nest is buying stamps to put on pre-stamped envelopes.

Your story will do the rest. Just make sure it’s a good one.

Is all this incredibly time-consuming? It sure is. Do I really know what I’m talking about? Only sort of. Is there a better way to do it? Probably so.

If you’ve got better suggestions, enlighten me. No, really! I need all the help I can get.

Having Taqueria del Sol for dinner? Enjoying a rolicking good time with your friends? Contributing to a good cause? Jamming like you’ve never jammed before?

How about doing all of the above in ONE PLACE?! No, it doesn’t involve witchcraft.

It’s the Wren’s Nest’s annual fundraising concert!

We’re pleased as punch that the legendary Kingsized will be blowing the roof off our open-air amphitheater, and that sweet, sweet Taqueria del Sol will be providing the sustenance. Will I ever tire of their tacos? All signs points to: nope, not ever.

You can buy your tickets ($60 per person; dinner and swell times included) here at the Wren’s Nest or via credit card over the phone (404-753-7735). We’re working to set up ticket purchasing online, too. You’ll be the first to know when that happens, promise.

September 27th is rapidly approaching (see: what?!), so buy your tickets now! Or, if you must, tomorrow.

This is, like, blowing people’s minds.

Since Wordsmiths started asking for contributions a few weeks back, they’ve been featured in everything from local blogs like BabyGotBooks and Decatur Metro, to national media outlets like NPR.

It’s been a marketing coup.

Here’s the quickest run-down of the details I can give–

1. Wordsmiths opened last year, chose lackluster location.
2. They moved to the location they originally wanted, saw increases in sales and visibility.
3. Despite success, they’re suffocating under weight of debt from previous location.
4. Owner Zach asks for a hand, makes promises of eventual returns.

You may call this last move tacky.  And maybe it is.  But it also happens to be brilliant.

Wordsmiths could have fizzled out this month and closed its doors with a whimper like so many small, noble businesses.  Which would’ve been a shame.  Who else was going to help us host an event about burning down house museums?

By asking for money, Wordsmiths has prompted many folks not just to take notice, but to form opinions about their bookstore.  Asking didn’t cost them anything, and it has resulted in collecting 60% of their end goal.

Sure, they’ve garnered a lot of criticism along the way.  But really, if you’re Wordsmiths, who cares?

They would close otherwise, and avoiding that fate is certainly their bottom line. Plus, they’ve created allies who are willing to support their business without receiving anything in return.  Local bookstores: the new nonprofits?  Not quite, but these past few weeks have demonstrated just how much they mean to their communities.

The moral: check out Wordsmiths in Decatur this weekend.  They’re hosting a fundraiser.  Jack Pendarvis will be there.  Paste Magazine will be there.  And now’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about before it’s too late.

This also happens to be the visual explanation as to why every member of the Wren’s Nest staff was asleep by 8:42pm on a Friday night. Watch out!

Happy campers, literally.

Looking forward is for suckers.

Who doesn’t love coloring various Brer Animals? The fun police, that’s who.

If I were to guesstimate, I would say that approximately 18,000 children had their faces painted throughout the course of the day.

Surreal things: hearing small children robustly sing about shorty getting low low low low low low low low.

Our local friendly firemen and a rookie.

Storyteller Curtis taking flight.

Lain’s best friends. They bonded over tales of what they ate for breakfast and who has sisters (gross).

My best friend. We chatted pretty intently about the feet on his backpack/leash and my boo-boo.

Board member Handy serving as executive chef.

Bunnies! Ready for petting, but dear lord not for picking up. Their handler was not afraid to tell us all just how fragile bunnies are and how many die per celebrity appearance. And yes, now is a good time to cry in case you were wondering.

Volunteer Matt happily showing off his arm painting skills. Not just for faces anymore, folks.

A very adorable person showing off her worm-in-apple balloon animal. Pretty neat, huh.

And that’s the ballgame! We’ve got plenty more, and many are already posted on our Facebook page (be our fan!), but if you’re really being big babies about it, perhaps we’ll post more here.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to functioning like a zombie.

This morning the New York Times published an article about the tough financial times faced by the Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT, which is currently juggling somewhere in the range of five million dollars of debt. Uf.

(The Mark Twain House in all its Connecticut glory.)

Now, while the article does have some laugh-out-loud moments (don’t let Steve Wynn near your Picasso, har har!), it paints a pretty dire picture for the home where Mark Twain wrote some of his most famous works.

In short, the museum ambitiously built a totally awesome visitor’s center (I know. I’ve seen it!), the cost of which got out of hand, and quick. Combine that with increased energy and travel costs (fieldtrips are our bread and butter, too) and you’ve got an incredible landmark facing the possibility of closing its doors.

This. Is. TERRIBLE.

Now, dear reader, I am trying to do everything I can to play it cool here, but this legitimately makes me panicky. As a gal raised by Twain-quoting obsessives (my dad may or may not have taken the year before my birth to read Mark Twain exclusively) with a minor stake in the fate of writer’s homes these days, this is big time awful.

I mean, this is MARK TWAIN. His is not a forgotten name. Samuel Clemens, maybe, but that’s why he took a pen name, okay smartypants?

If his museum is in danger, what does that mean for the rest of us? And I don’t just mean in the world of house museums, either. Twain’s home is every bit as eccentric and clever as the writings of the man himself. It’s like one giant testament to his overwhelming awesomeness. And it might close?!

How about this: I’ll go breathe into a paper bag while you go here and donate money.

Thanks.

Also, it seems important to mention that Twain’s home may be the only thing Connecticut has to offer the rest of the country. I may or may not be serious.