Bally Going Solar
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BALLY AND OUR SOLAR POWERED DREAM
The Bally is an extraordinary touring venue that, since 2009, has appeared at music and arts festivals around Australia. This striking geodesic dome has been home to the world's best circus, sideshow, magic, comedy and performing arts.
We want to turn The Bally into Australia's first
completely carbon neutral touring performance space. We're almost there,
we just need a little help from you!
The Bally is a social enterprise. What that means is that although we are connected with a business, the principals around The Bally focuses on supporting and building our communities – those of artists and events around Australia. We support local emerging events and festivals by donating our structure and services where possible. We encourage emerging artists and offer local artists work wherever we can.

We've always had a commitment to operating as ethically and 'green' as possible. We have managed to cut down our consumables to almost nil. The Bally has very little environmental impact when set up. We have made it possible to transport the entire venue, all dressings and trappings, staging and AV equipment in just a single car and trailer, seriously reducing the carbon footprint for travel. Where possible we carbon offset through proven companies. All merchandise and staff clothing is made from non-sweat-shop clothing, and all produce is sourced from local manufacturers wherever possible. Our website is hosted by a local company that runs carbon neutral, and all promotional material is printed on recycled paper.
Powering the venue from solar is ambitious. It's unlikely that any similarly sized venue would be able to run something like this. But due to the style of the structure, the way we've created our business and the great new technology that exists we will be able to. But we need your help!
We're hoping to have this ready to launch at Corinbank – an amazing festival just outside of Canberra. This year floods caused major damage and financial trouble to Corinbank, so we're donating the Bally free of charge for the festival in Nov. We think it would be amazing if we could launch our solar project there, in a festival with a bigger commitment to environmental sustainability than any other festival we know!


The earlier the donations come in the more chance we have of getting the technology in time for the festival!
WHAT IS OUR FUNDING GOAL?
We have two financial goals for this project:
INITIAL GOAL: $10,000
- Portable solar
panels
- Generator and
back up batteries specifically designed to work with solar panels
- low energy LED lights that can run easily on solar
- Plugs,
converters, etc. to make it work
IDEAL GOAL: $16,000
- We will buy an additional mini-generator and back up batteries to enable us to support the venue over long seasons, or provide power to nearby venues!
WHAT ARE THE REWARDS WE ARE OFFERING?
We have got an amazing set of rewards
to thank you for contributing to the project! Some stuff for keeps like our awesome non-sweat shop Bally merch, some tickets or event opportunities in different locations, and some ridiculous awesome one-off opportunities like the
Bally slumber party or Bally wedding!
If you've got a question about a reward, or want to check sizes for clothing please get in contact: [email protected] and I'll make sure I get back to you asap.
We've tried to offer heaps of options, so we've got no doubt in our minds that you'll find something here for any budget, and something for everyone!

HOW WILL WE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH OUR SUPPORTERS DURING THE PROCESS AND WHEN IT IS COMPLETED?
We'll be posting updates about the project as we go along, and if you're keen to keep in touch and be a part of the Bally community then check out our website, or hang out with us on social media.
www.thebally.com.au
www.facebook.com/thebally
www.twitter.com/theballytent
THANK YOU
For your time, and your support, whether that's financial, or whether it's just checking us out and contributing the amazing community we have around The Bally.
Thanks also to our amazing crew and team of volunteers. Thanks to the people who have contributed ideas and tips for this campaign.
Massive thank you to the Corinbank Festival and the friends who have donated prizes for this campaign.
A HUGE thanks on our website<br /> <br /> Your choice of a Bally Button or a page of Bally stickers
A pair of limited edition postcards featuring artwork inspired by The Bally created specifically for this reward by incredible visual artist Jess Kelly!
ADELAIDE: Ticket to The Late Night Variety Show (every Friday and Saturday of the Fringe) plus a glass of champagne on arrival!
MELBOURNE: A ticket to one of our special event shows in our Melbourne season in February 2013 - our Opening Night Launch Party or Carnival Ball or the Mad Hatters Tea Party (a late night event with entertainment, games and more).
A vintage SCHMICK AS t-shirt. Black or white non-sweat-shop tee with 'schmick as' printed on the front. From vintage circus troupe Schmick As and funky in it's own right.<br /> <br /> Additional cost for postage outside Aus. We've got a reasonable spread of sizes for men, but sizes are very limited for women, so contact us asap if you choose this prize.
A Bally top (t-shirt for men, singlet for women) plus a page of stickers and a Bally button badge.<br /> <br /> Additional cost for postage outside Aus.
CANBERRA: For Corinbank punters, volunteers and artists.<br /> <br /> Join the famous sparkie crew! Enjoy the unique experience of being an honorary member of the sparkie crew one morning at Corinbank. <br /> <br /> Experience includes:<br /> <br /> - unique sparkie uniform (handmade by the sparkie crew themselves) - to keep!<br /> - personalised sparkie nickname<br /> - one hour intensive training regime (includes les mis song training)<br /> - 1 hour sparkie work around Corin site<br /> - morning knock off beer (or two)
MELBOURNE/ADELAIDE: Invitation to our supporters party on 5th Feb for Melbourne or 14th Feb for Adelaide. This exclusive welcome party (includes nibblies and drinks) is only for our volunteer staff, crew, performers, and YOU!
A Bally hoodie, plus a page of stickers and a Bally button badge.<br /> <br /> Additional cost for postage outside Aus.
A private lesson from one of our amazing artist supporters in any of the following:<br /> <br /> Juggling, acrobatics, aerials, piano, violin, singing, stage combat, etc. in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide (and we might be able to arrange something else or somewhere else)
Name a chair - your own name, nickname, or something else (sorry, it can't be rude). That name will be printed on a chair, no matter what happens to the chair, we will make sure that there will always be a chair with your name on it. Only 10 offered so that we can guarentee that YOUR CHAIR will be at every Bally event we have.
A Bally beanbag chair - a mini Bally of your own for your living room or outdoor entertaining area, handmade by our amazing artist friends. Plus a page of Bally stickers and a Bally button badge.<br /> <br /> Additional cost for postage outside Aus, beans not included (but we'll show a nifty way of using balloons as beans!)
CANBERRA: An exclusive, invitation only Party at Corin Forest – exclusive access to an intimate gig at Corin Forest featuring local music and arts... just like a Summertime mini-Corinbank!
CANBERRA: A weekend camping ticket to Corinbank!<br /> <br /> OR<br /> <br /> ADELAIDE: A 'golden ticket' that gets you in to any show in The Bally for all of Adelaide Fringe!<br /> <br /> OR<br /> <br /> MELBOURNE: A 'golden ticket' that gets you in to any show in The Bally for all of our self-produced Melbourne season!
High tea in The Bally!<br /> <br /> Six people can enjoy an exclusive high tea event in The Bally, complete with food and drinks, champagne, and all served to you by some of your favourite Bally performers.<br /> <br /> We are offering 2 of this reward for each city - Canberra (Corinbank), Melbourne, Adelaide (and may be possible in Canberra outside of Corinbank - contact us to confirm!)
MELBOURNE: An exclusive slumber party in The Bally at our Melbourne Bally season in Northcote after the last event finishes for the night, for you and up to 9 friends. Includes slumber party appropriate snack foods,<br /> <br /> PLUS includes a ticket to the show/party/special event preceding the slumber party,<br /> <br /> PLUS a light brekky the next morning!<br /> <br /> Please note: The slumber party will start late as it will happen after the other events. Different start times depending on the day.
CANBERRA: Going to be at Corinbank? Then get a one hour exclusive hot tub party for you and five friends, with French Maids to run to the bar for you.
WORKPLACE REWARD:<br /> <br /> A corporate juggling seminar and workshop, or a workplace trivia event organised by our team of corporate entertainment providers. Perfect reward for an office who pulls together to donate to the campaign! This can be delivered in most major cities in Australia.
A life size cut out of YOU displayed at the door of The Bally for every show and every festival of our entire spring/summer/autumn season.<br /> <br /> The includes Corinbank, Tassie Circus Festival, Melbourne Bally-Fest, Adelaide Fringe Festival, plus a festival we're not allowed to announce yet!<br /> <br /> Can be one or two people in the image, we will arrange for a professional photographer to take the photo.
A private party in The Bally!<br /><br /> <br /><br /> We'll provide:<br /><br /> - The Bally and everything it comes with (lighting, sound, decoration, seating, flooring, set up and pack down crew)<br /><br /> - most of the organising - building permits etc.,<br /><br /> - a stack of awesome entertainment, customised to suit your event!<br /><br /> <br /><br /> (If you have a particular place/date in mind please contact us to check availability)
A WEDDING in The Bally!<br /> <br /> We'll provide:<br /> <br /> - The Bally and everything it comes with (lighting, sound, seating, flooring, set up and pack down crew)<br /> - decoration suitable for the ceremony and for dining or drinks after<br /> - your wedding celebrant<br /> - most of the organising - building permits etc.,<br /> - a stack of wedding-suitable entertainment, customised to suit you!<br /> <br /> (If you have a particular place/date in mind please contact us to check availability)
Monster mittens! A pair of "monster mittens" - fingerless mittens hand crochet'd by Bally co-owner Julia Kirschbaum.
I Love The Bally pack - a Bally top (tee/singlet), a hoodie, a page of Bally stickers and a packet of different Bally button badges.