Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture is hosting a musical fundraiser for people affected by the floods. The evening, called Sound of Hope, is slated for September 18 and features a long list of performers: Noori, Zeb & Haniya, Ali Azmat, Mauj, Gumby, Faraz Anwer, Dj Faisal Baig, Mannu and Sami Shah.

Tickets are on sale at IVSAA.

An event page on Facebook presents the basic information on the night, but when Newsline checked it out, the main info page said nothing about it being a relief concert or a fundraiser. Interestingly, the page fails to declare their mission clearly. The organisers have not even mentioned the words “floods” or “flood relief.” The page introduces itself with these words: “In times like these where it calls for belief in ones self and each other, the IVS Student’ Council 2010 and Rahnuma brings to you the ‘SOUND OF HOPE’.”

One of the co-creators of the FB event page told a fellow IVSAA student that the reason these words are conspicuously missing is because the artists “did not want to flaunt.”

Huh? Are you for real? By hiding your good cause, you aren’t doing those you are trying to help any favours. In theory, it may diminish your capacity to raise money. And so, by trying not to make it about yourselves, you have just made it about yourselves.

Try telling the public about the goal of the concert, and maybe people in the city would make a bigger effort to come. Maybe they would twist a few extra arms and bring more friends. Maybe they would make an extra effort to promote it. Maybe those who find the Rs1,000 ticket price steep, would find the cost fair and worthwhile if they knew about the cause.

When artists and celebrities usually get together to raise awareness and money for important causes, like they did for Live Aid, Live 8 or the Tsunami Relief Concert, do they feel a need to hide it? Does that serve their purpose well?

Yes, I know IVSAA is not holding a telethon and has limited space and will probably have no problem selling out. But tell the public about your honourable intentions, where the money is going and how it is being used, and then you might make people feel extra good about their night out, and you might maximise the money raised. After all, isn’t that what it is all about?

What: Concert for flood relief, featuring Noori, Zeb & Haniya, Ali Azmat, Mauj, Gumby, Faraz Anwer, Dj Faisal Baig, Mannu and Sami Shah.
Where: Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture
When: 18 September 2010