I run events for a community venue. We used to run free events biannually with all sorts of great activities, music, food etc. Unfortunately the funding dried up so we had to start charging for entry (£15 for a family of 2 adults and up to 3 children to come in for as long as they like, then everything else is included).
But...why would you pay to come to a 'Community Fun Day' which used to be free? Especially in the middle of a cost of living crises. It's impossible to sell tickets. The event is on tomorrow and so far we've sold about 10 tickets. That's not enough to cover even the time I've spent promoting it, let alone my (and other staffs) time on the day, the choir etc. Some will decide to come along on the day, but not as many as we need to cover the cost. We've tried having paid activities so that entry is free but you spend when you get there and that didn't work either :( just barely took anything at all.
It just isn't working, and it's breaking my heart. I guess the saving grace is that very few people are coming anyway, so if we stop running them it's not exactly going to be massively missed by the community. But they used to be such loved events. Wish we could get more funding (not my role to do that bit so really don't have much info on it) and put on something really spectacular again. This slog and stress in the week building up, then worrying noone will turn up (have stall holders and entertainment and things expecting a crowd)...it's just bleugh.
Feeling really crap about it.