Updated March 2019
Easier than a quiz night, more fun than a formal dinner, Bogan Bingo combines a comedy act with off-colour bingo and adults-only dressing up.
In a nutshell
Product: presenters/DJs and supplies for Bogan Bingo night
Suitable for: 18+ evenings only, sports clubs, schools
Profit: varies – depends on ticket sales and extras (raffles, bar profits etc)
Bogan Bingo operates in most states of Australia, and offers professionally trained teams of ‘Bogans’ to host a fundraising event with a difference. For a flat rate, your package includes an MC to calls the bingo numbers, a DJ who plays music from the 1980s and 90s, all the bingo cards and equipment, microphone and PA. The hosts will set up, play music and mingle while guests arrive, run two games of bingo, plus other competitions (air guitar, best dressed bogan etc), effectively running the entire night themselves, meaning you get to sit back and enjoy yourself.
How much can you make?
Profitability depends on ticket sales and any extra fundraising you undertake on the night. The price to have a Bogan Bingo team entertain at your event will vary according to state and availability, but costs between $1,250 for groups under 80 and $1,700 (within the metro area).
Other costs you might need to factor in are venue hire, printing costs (signs and posters), prizes, and hire costs for tables and chairs.
Assuming your costs total $2,000 you would only need to sell 80 tickets at $25 to break even, although the average Bogan Bingo fundraiser tends to sell for between $25-$35 per ticket.
Selling 150 tickets at $25 is a profit of $1,750 and if you are selling raffles, food and drinks or having a silent auction – you could potentially make a few thousand dollars.
What is included in the package?
Included in the package are two hosts, from set-up (approx. 6.45pm) to the conclusion of the event (approx. 10.30pm), all their DJ and sound equipment plus all the bingo supplies and game cards for two games. The Bogans will also assist with any other fundraising you are doing such as auctions or selling raffle tickets.
You also have access to the VIP downloads page which will help when designing posters for your event, as well as professionally designed certificates you can download and print to use for prizes during the evening.
If you want the night to continue beyond 10.30pm you can arrange in advance for the DJ to stay on to play music for a Bogan Disco (for an extra fee).
What do you need to supply?
The hosts require a table and you must provide five prizes.
You are also responsible for finding a venue, seating, decorations, and selling tickets. You would also be responsible for organising a liquor licence if you intend on selling alcohol. It’s nice to supply the hosts with some drinks or snacks but it’s obviously not a requirement.
What are the prizes for?
Prizes are awarded to the winners of the two bingo games, best dressed male Bogan, best dressed female Bogan, the winner of the air guitar competition and the winner of the Biggest Bogan competition.
Prizes can be anything you want – as simple as a six pack of beer to an elaborately Bogan themed hamper.
For our Bogan Bingo night our prizes were sourced from op-shops and had themes such as ‘Getting Lucky’ and ‘Masterchef’ and ‘World Traveller’ with slightly dodgy items bought for a few dollars each such as a Bintang hat, a 1980s faux leather bottle holder, a working chainsaw toy and some ex-hen’s night paraphernalia.
The Fundraising Process
Booking a Bogan Bingo team is incredibly easy – as simple as a phone-call, email or completing an online form. A deposit is required soon after booking to guarantee the night with the full amount due two weeks prior to the event.
The week before the event you will receive a phone-call or email to confirm numbers, times and to be given the names and contact numbers of your hosts for the night.
Obviously the more tickets you sell, the more successful your fundraising will be, but a good night can be had with even a smallish group (50+) while there have been Bogan Bingo events that attracted over 400 people and raised over $20,000.
Worth mentioning
Promotion through the school or club (or wider community) must be done with kids in mind, as it is tempting to be crude or bawdy with signs and flyers, but not everyone appreciates this. From personal experience, it’s best to avoid mentioning ‘playing with balls’ as part of your signage if you’re planning on promoting your event through a school.
Dressing up is usually encouraged at Bogan Bingo nights and while this may appeal to some, others may be put off by it. It’s your decision whether to make it compulsory (or strongly encouraged or optional). Doing a FAQ sheet with some suggestions of suitable Bogan attire (ie flannies, mullets, singlets etc) will help those who might need a little encouragement.
You can choose your level of profanity but the hosts have a reasonably good radar for picking up the mood of the room and how far they can push things without going over the top. It wouldn’t be a Bogan Bingo night without some off-colour and politically incorrect humour. Each state has many teams and all are trained in keeping their humour (and the occasional F-bomb) within the context of the night. People tend to be self-selecting though, and those who get offended by this type of humour are unlikely to come, so you shouldn’t need to be too concerned.
Make sure you are getting the original and official Bogan Bingo, by checking that they use the official logo.
The Bogan Bingo website has a great blog with really helpful (and funny) articles on fundraising topics and you should also check out their FAQ..
To book or for more information: Visit the Bogan Bingo website here.
Related article: Trivia Night Games to Raise Money