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Health & Fitness

Lessons Learned From Producing the V-Day San Clemente 2011 Benefit Performances of 'The Vagina Monologues'

Producing the V-Day San Clemente 2011 benefit performances of "The Vagina Monologues" was an incredible journey. See what obstacles I faced and lessons I learned along the way.

One month ago today, V-Day San Clemente 2011 gave our first benefit performance of “The Vagina Monologues” at Knuckleheads. Although we’d prepared and rehearsed for several weeks, none of us knew quite what to expect. It was a first for us all.

We had no specific financial fundraising goal in mind. My main goals for our events were to have all three events go smoothly and be filled to capacity with attendees.

While we didn’t quite accomplish both of those goals, the events were still a tremendous success.

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We filled the bar close to capacity, about 150 people, at both evening performances. Our matinee wasn’t full, but it wasn’t sparse either. I estimated we had about 50 people for that performance.

When all was said and done, we raised more than $5,000. After expenses, we were able to donate about $4,200 to Laura’s House and the V-Day Spotlight Campaign, which for this year was the women and girls of Haiti.

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We couldn’t have done it without the help from our wonderful sponsors: Buds Famous Hot Dogs, Mathom House Books, and San Clemente Patch.

It was such a joy to watch the whole show come together. The actresses did beautifully, and we brought dozens of new people to my and Mr. Man’s favorite local bar. As we liked to joke with the bartenders and owner Brick Bailey, it was probably the most vagina Knuckleheads had ever seen.

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