Frederticton’s campus and community radio station’s crowdfunding campaign is online, and they already have five backers. Volunteer coordinator Erin Bond says they’re looking to raise as much as possible, but the goal is $2,500.
“Basically, the majority of our funding here at CHSR comes from student levies, and we all know that students are not enrolling as much… So, we’re getting less money and our budget stays the same, so right now we’re scrimping and saving just to meet the bottom line,” said Bond.
CHSR’s success through Indiegogo last year came because of severe water damage after the roof collapsed in a studio. Renovations to the studios took six months before the studios were safe to use again.
“So last year what made Fundrive such a success I think is because we did have the water damage, so we had that to lean on, that was our cry story that we could tell everyone. This year we don’t have that, so we’re working even harder but that’s why we have a more modest goal,” said Bond.
This year, the station wants to focus on new opportunities such as a mobile unit. Program Director Mark Kilfoil says their remote equipment, used for off-campus events, is getting old.
“Right now we’re doing the hockey broadcast in Halifax and it’s the only real remote game we’ve been able to cover, and we’re paying as minimal in terms of costs as we can,” said Kilfoil. “To the point where our hosts are kind of taking some of the costs on their own, and we’d like to be able to support them as much as possible.”
Bond hopes to put a significant portion of the money earned towards equipment in Studio D. This studio is where bands record songs and albums, which are then aired on a special hour-long radio show called “Sessions”.
“So we have bands coming in from all over Canada, and we want to give them not only the best experience but the best quality that we possibly can, but with such old equipment, we’re really failing to do that. So we would just like some new, basic equipment, but we need everything,” said Bond.
The perks involved in the Indiegogo campaign have different levels for backers, and include session EPs, t-shirts, magnets, pins and vinyl art. The campaign will continue until April 11.
