Likewise, St. James in Arlington Heights sold more than 500 tickets within a few weeks and had to turn people away. They've contacted us to do another show this fall. St. Christina's in Chicago sold 400 quickly and had to turn away 150. Mother McAuley High School sold nearly 900. With the right kind of marketing, you should be able to get that kind of turnout.
Marketing is the key.
You have to get the word out through your church and school bulletins, fliers around town, posters in shop windows. Sell tickets after every church service. The more successful benefits combine the performance with a cash bar, gourmet coffee and desserts. St. James took the entire gym, set up 500 chairs, had a giant cash bar, served coffee and sweets, had a handful of tiny tables in the back of the room for people to sit and chat. It was a giant success.