Both schools and artists want to save money, and NACA provides the tools to do just that through its Cooperative Buying process. 

What is CO-OP Buying?

CO-OP Buying is a term used to describe a process in which schools in the same geographic area schedule an attraction within a consecutive series of tour dates, and attractions offer these schools a savings for that block of dates.

• Schools offer attractions organized routing.
• Schools complete CO-OP Buying Forms when they’re interested in bringing an act to their school.
• Each school must designate an authorized Cooperative Buying representative.
• Cooperative Buying continues after the Convention ends. 

How Does CO-OP Buying Work?

1. School buyers sit down with artists or agents in the Campus Activities Marketplace.
2. The designated school Cooperative Buyer and exhibitor complete a CO-OP Buying Form.
3. The exhibitor returns the completed CO-OP Buying Form to the Cooperative Buying Center that is located in the Campus Activities Marketplace.
4. Staff at the Cooperative Buying Center enter data from Forms using specially designed computer software.
5. The Cooperative Buying Center posts the various attractions receiving CO-OP Buying Forms.
6. Cooperative Buying Coordinators establish routing and blocks with the school buyers and associate members during regional Cooperative Buying meetings.
7. School CO-OP Buyers work with exhibitors to provide the best dates and routing to meet both the school’s and the artist’s needs.
8. Follow-up calls are made after the Convention by agencies and schools to establish more or larger buying blocks. 

Cooperative Buying Policies

Note: NACA policies are subject to change without notice.

1. All NACA-sponsored events which include showcasing and exhibiting will utilize the Cooperative Buying software and follow the CO-OP Buying meeting process as described.
2. The NACA Cooperative Buying Form is designed and intended to facilitate Cooperative Buying of entertainment.
3. The Cooperative Buying Codes are as follows:
   CP—Indicates that the date listed was contracted prior to the Convention/conference.
   SI - The school has a genuine interest in the act and desires further information. The school has not requested a contract and is not obligated in any respect.
   CB - The school indicated its willingness and intent to enter into a contract provided a block forms around the specified dates. If the specified block forms within 45 days of the Convention/conference, the school has indicated that it has the intention of contracting for the act, on terms to be agreed upon between the school and the act, or their representative.
   CR - The school has requested a contract at the NACA event and understands that it if enters a contract, it will be bound by its terms. NACA is not responsible for enforcing any contract. All actions with respect to contracts are between the parties to the contract, and not NACA.
4. School Interest Changes— Schools will be able to upgrade from SI to CB or CR, or CB to CR. Only forms at SI level may be withdrawn. Schools will not be allowed to downgrade to CB or SI.
5. A potential block will be defined as a string of three or more SI and CB forms.
6. A block will be defined as at least 3 CB dates in 5 days.
7. A completed Tour Schedule Form listing previously contracted dates must be submitted to the NACA Office in order for these dates to be entered into the CO-OP Buying software program. To have tour schedule information utilized for CO-OP Buying at a regional conference, festival or National Convention, the Tour Schedule Form must be received by the NACA Office at least two weeks prior to the event a firm will be attending. Tour Schedule Forms information cannot be accepted on-site at a conference, festival or Convention.
8. All submitted dates that occur a minimum of 30 days after the final day of the conference, festival or Convention will be printed and posted as "Contracted Priors" in the Cooperative Buying Center and other locations deemed appropriate at the event to assist buyers and exhibitors in their efforts to determine dates available for booking.
9. Associate members may submit non-member school, club and other venues to be listed as contracted dates on the Cooperative Buying reports. Such submissions should be listed by city and state, not by individual name of venue. Associates should follow the policies related to Tour Schedule listings.
10. Cooperative Buying forms must be legibly and fully completed by the associate member. Associates will be responsible for writing in their respective codes (agency and act number). These codes will be provided on site.
11. Associate members are responsible for the distribution of the completed Cooperative Buying Form as follows:
    White copy to Cooperative Buying Center
    Pink copy to school delegation contact
    Yellow copy to associate member
12. The designated CO-OP Buyer for each school is the ONLY person AUTHORIZED to sign interest forms.
13. Incomplete forms will be returned to the proper associate member.
14. Information from all completed forms will be posted at the Cooperative Buying Center in the Campus Activities Marketplace.
15. Artists/programs will be discussed during Cooperative Buying Meetings alphabetically by firm in ascending order (i.e., A-Z). The starting letter of each CO-OP business meeting will be determined by a random drawing of "letters" at the Associate Welcome Meeting/Orientation on the first day of the conference, Convention or festival. One letter will be drawn for each business meeting held (i.e., if there are three CO-OP business meetings during the conference, three letters will be selected in order to determine the starting point of each meeting).
16. The CO-OP Buying process will be facilitated by the Regional Cooperative Buying Coordinator or designee (at the regional conference) or the National Cooperative Buying Coordinator (at the National Convention) and the associate member will provide information and assistance when blocking their attraction.
17. A Cooperative Buying report will be mailed to all schools and to associates attending the conference within 10 business days following the conference/Convention.
18. A follow-up report on Cooperative Buying business resulting from the conference will be done within 45 calendar days after regional conferences.
19. Regional Cooperative Buying Coordinators will serve as members of the Regional Showcase Selection Committee.
20. Any suspected violation or conflict with these Cooperative Buying Policies will be initially handled by the Regional and National Cooperative Buying Coordinators. If a solution cannot be reached, it will be forwarded to the Vice Chair for Regions for a final decision. 

On the showcase application form, NACA requires applicants to provide a price schedule reflecting pricing reductions as they apply to a standard set of date-block configurations.

• Single Date Special Convention Price is self-explanatory; it’s the top quoted price an attraction must receive to appear at one college anywhere without any block support from other colleges.
• A 3 of 5 Block Price is a lower per-performance price the act charges for each of three dates performed in a five-day period.
• A 5 of 7 Block Price is a better price charged for each of five colleges booked in a seven-day period.
• Contract on-site discount is the discount offered on applicable CO-OP price if a contract is requested on-site. Contract on-site pricing is optional, and should be set to reflect the savings associate members realize when they leave the Convention or conference with a contract “in-hand” instead of relying on lengthy follow-up. Associate members should offer discounts of flat amounts (e.g., $50-$100 off each price tier). It is intended that this discount be available at any time during the conference or Convention, whether or not a block forms.

Here’s an example of how an attraction’s pricing might look:

• Special Conference Price/Single Date—$900
• 3 performances in 5 days/Block Price—$700
• 5 performances in 7 days/Block Price—$600
• Contract On-Site Discount: $100 off applicable CO-OP Price

Using the sample pricing structure listing above and applying the Contract On-Site Discount:

If a school requests a contract on-site and the date eventually develops into part of a 3/5 block, instead of spending $700, the school will save $100, only spending $600.

The conference publishes showcase attraction prices in the program and these prices are the most heavily scrutinized information college buyers receive. The price schedule is the basis for bargaining during the CO-OP Buying process. The attraction is obligated to honor these prices for 45 days following the conference. 

Tax Issues

NACA makes no representation regarding state and local taxes. Schools should check with associate members to determine if price listed includes applicable state and local taxes. 

Clarification of Contract On-Site Pricing

Contract on-site pricing is optional, and should be set to reflect the savings associate members realize when they leave the Convention with a contract “in-hand” instead of relying on lengthy follow- up. Associate members will offer discounts of flat amounts (e.g., $50-$100 off each price tier). It is intended that this discount be available at any time during the Convention, whether or not a block forms. Associate members are encouraged to participate, providing students with even more incentive to come to the Convention ready to do business.