A seven hour guitar solo to raise money for your gap year is definitely impressive. What's more impressive is playing for the final hour when you are bursting for the loo...

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Fundraising: a guitar marathon Name: Joel Thompson Age: 18 Hometown: Beaconsfield Amount raised: £530 Event: Seven hour guitar solo Hi Joel, we hear you are a bit of a dab hand at the ol' guitar then? How did you come up with the idea of using this skill to make you money? Well as soon as I realised I needed to raise some serious dosh for next year, the first thing I thought of was sponsorship for some event. The idea of doing a seven hour improvised solo followed as it's 'my thing' and something I thought would appeal to my sponsors as something original and worthwhile. What's all the fundraising going towards anyway? All money is going towards my two voluntary gap projects; teaching English in the Gondar region of Ethiopia next September, and teaching music/caring in Ecuador early next year. The former is known as GondarGap, and is part of my school's link with a school in Ethiopia and is an opportunity for four gap students to teach in the linked school for three months. The Ecuador placement is for 5 months and arranged by GAP. It involves teaching kinds music (perfect for me!) in the mornings, and caring in a day care centre in the afternoon. Click here >> for more on projects offered by GAP Click here >> for more on GondarGap How difficult was it to organise the event and how did you promote it? Suprisingly easy! It was held in my music room in school, it was just a question of getting permission, and getting friends at different schools to circulate a sponsorship clip board. Never underestimate who will sponsor you get forms going round parents offices, sibling's friends and all sorts. Two intense sponsorship weeks can give you all the sponsors you need, so it can all be done in the space of a month. Did you do any training before the big event? Did you have a list in your head of the songs you were going to play? I planned to do a practice, but seriously, who wants to waste their weekend practicing for 7 hours?! I did a few two hour stints and revised some scales, but the theme was improvisation, so I couldn't strictly go wrong, it was just a matter of perserverance. Of course, I filled in with some requests, like the outro solo to November Rain - rock n roll! How did it go on the day? Did you get much support? Yeah it was all good! People were coming in and out all day. I was given some food, possibly out of kindness, possibly to see the struggle of me trying to eat with one hand and play with another. And then my phone rang! But I did manage, and never stopped. So you seriously never stopped... what about when you needed the loo? By the 6th hour I needed a toilet break, but I managed to dance it off! I didn't even break any strings so I was very lucky. How much did you raise in total? Did you find people generous? Some people were immensely generous, but of course it's all relative to how much people have available to offer, so anyone that gave at all were fantastic, and I want all of their babies. I raised £530 in total. Did you manage to get any press interest? Do you think this helped you raise the amount of cash that you did? I was in the local press, which got me lots of "aww we're so proud of you!" from mumsy. I actually got the press involved quite late, so all the money came direct from sponsors. What was the last song you played? Apart from a bit of noodling, I went out with the solo to Under A Glass Moon by Dream Theater. Still one of my favourite solos ever, by my favourite band ever ever ever. It seemed appropriate to finish with that. What other fundraisers have you got in the pipeline and how much more money have you got to raise? Well I had arranged a fantastic Slave Auction, but that was unfortunately cancelled. But I'd have to say the response I got from the girls was fantastic, so it's definitely a worthwhile money maker for anyone still in school. I've sold a lot of CDs since and used Ebay to sadly sell off a rather valuable digital recording studio which has helped. I've got hold of a few a Trust funds I'm sending application letters to, and I'm planning lots of little things at the moment, like raffles and hopefully some local gigs. What tips you give to other fundraisers hoping to organise a successful event? Never underestimate what you can do, how much you can raise, and how quickly you can do it. If you put your mind to it you will find the money. If you don't, then maybe you don't want your planned trip badly enough... Thanks Joel, we'll give you a call if we need a little bit of entertaining in the office in future! That's be great, thanks guys! Click here >> for more on a placement like Joel's Click here >> for more fundraising ideas If you've recently completed a wacky, unique or successful fundraiser and would like to be interviewed, Click here >> to contact Nik, who'd be happy to do the honours. Just think, it may lead to extra donations...

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