About the Webinar:

Running a DIY performance night doesn’t have to drain your bank account.

In this webinar, we’ll look at how to build a realistic, flexible budget based on the resources you actually have - not the ones you wish you had. We’ll cover common hidden costs, how to prioritise spending, and practical ways to keep your event sustainable without losing what makes it special. 

We’ll also explore the value of in-kind support and the exchange economy - from skill-sharing and equipment loans to building reciprocal relationships and community partnerships. These approaches can help you stretch limited funds while strengthening the networks that make DIY events possible.

Perfect for first-time producers and anyone looking to make ambitious work happen on a limited budget.

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About Reece:

Reece McMahon (Executive Director) is an interdisciplinary arts producer specialising in theatre, dance, live, and outdoor arts. He became Executive Director of CDS in 2022.

Previously, he was a Producer at New Diorama Theatre (NDT), where he helped plan and deliver NDT Broadgate, a rehearsal and artist development complex in the City of London. He also oversaw a season that contributed to NDT winning Fringe Theatre of the Year 2022, including the Royal Court and West End transfers of “For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy.”

From 2020 to 2023, Reece co-founded The REcreate Agency with Emily Beecher, raising £1 million for arts projects and supporting over 550 creatives.

Reece began his career as an Assistant Producer at The Place after graduating from London Contemporary Dance School. He has worked with Avant Garde Dance Company, Rural Touring Dance Initiative, Outdoor Arts UK, and Museum of Homelessness. 

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About From Scratch: 

From Scratch is an initiative stemming from CDS's Scratch Renaissance project: designed to support the DIY performance scene by gathering and sharing the knowledge that often disappears once a night is over. Alongside this webinar series, we’re building the From Scratch Wiki: a shared resource that acts as part scrapbook, part guide, and part collective memory. It brings together behind‑the‑scenes insights from performers, audiences, and producers, offering practical tools, stories, templates, and reflections for anyone making things happen outside the mainstream. It’s a place for future DIY makers to learn from past successes (and failures) and to keep the spirit of independent performance platforms alive.

From Scratch is supported using public funding from Arts Council England.