The ZACH Theatre Soars with Auction brio to Over $100,000 More!

One month is all Auction brio had to help the ZACH Theatre try to raise more money at their Red Hot & Soul Gala. It was month filled with energy, strategy and ultimately record setting success!

From the moment the agreement was signed, we immersed ourselves into the ZACH Theatre's needs. They had hired professional auctioneers in the past, but never a certified Benefit Auctioneer Specialist like Mark Schroeder CAI, BAS, CES who was sitting down with them for meetings and introducing fresh money raising strategies.

The Red Hot & Soul Gala is a high profile gala in Austin, Texas. Attendees and supporters are the Who's Who of Austin. It always needs to be a night of memorable fundraising...and it was!

Through face to face meetings, teleconferences, texts and emails the communication was rapid and time was short. Just weeks away from their big night, new ideas were inserted to the Run of Show, the live and the Fund-a-Need auctions.

Auction brio teamed with the auction committee and auction chair Bobbi Topfer presenting ideas of how to showcase the live auction and to help enhance live auction packages. A theatre, needs theatrics and the ZACH had the talent to make an impression on their guests. From the gorgeously decorated tent by Creative Consultants to the elite live auction packages, the Red Hot & Soul was going to deliver a show!

Live auction packages were unique and delivered a "wow" factor. At the gala, each package was introduced with a voiceover while card girls strutted through the audience displaying the packages and interacting with guests. Each package commanded and received full attention from the audience.

"Auctioning in the round is not my preference because I always have my back to two-thirds of the audience and I spin like a top to collect bids, but with assistance from Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley we teamed up to capture frenzy bidding. Packages went into the tens of thousands and escalated the live auction to records highs."

ZACH's Promise was the Fund-a-Need auction. It was set-up by young adults who performed for the guests, then gave way to a young lady who had written and memorized a poem that told guests what the ZACH Theatre Education Programs have done for her. I made the transition to the ask and immediately I received $20,000 dollars. The Zach's Promise auction was electric! Donors were raising paddles around the room. By the time is was all over, we had raised over $100,000 OVER our goal and more than that with the live auction and ZACH's Promised combined!

The next day, May 3, 2015, Austin 360 said, "Let's just call Red, Hot & Soul, all-round, the most entertaining benefit in town."

Mark Schroeder CAI, BAS, CES and Auction brio would like to congratulate our client, the ZACH Theatre on their memorable success and record shattering evening of fundraising for the Red Hot & Soul Gala of 2015.

If we can help raise over $100,000 more dollars and only had 1-month to insert fresh ideas into the fundraising strategy, what could we have dome with more time and initiating more ideas?

This is what we are doing for others, see what Auction brio can do for your organization or learning institution.

Alzheimer's Association Cleveland Area Chapter Night of a Thousand Lights Raises Record Funds

The Alzheimer's Association Cleveland Area Chapter had hired a professional auctioneer in the past but "was not going back to him again." I don't knock other professionals but I can quote a client. The Alzheimer's Association was looking to raise more money than they had in the past. They only had a Fund-a-Need auction and a silent auction. No live auction. I had one focus and that was to elevate their Fund-a-Need auction to where it had never reached before.

After my initial meeting which was an interview to see what I do differently from their last auctioneer, I was contracted through over the phone conversations and a Services Solutions document. I conducted all of my business with them over the phone until a month prior to their event where I flew into Cleveland and met with everyone involved in the gala. It is that important to me for my client to meet with me face to face and for me to get know them better as their on stage agent the night of the event.

It was a terrific meeting. We discussed their past, but more importantly we discussed their missed opportunities and the introduction of new strategies and ideas that would help them raise more money before the event and at the event. I asked a lot of questions so I could learn more about my client and how I could help them elevate their expectations and results.

The gorgeous event was held at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven. I followed a beautiful testimonial from a young woman who's father is battling Alzheimer's Disease. She was inspiring and had a beautiful PowerPoint presentation which supported her story about her dad.

I followed her to present the Fund-a-Need. It started with people raising paddles at levels the organization had never received before. It just caught fire. Guests raised so many paddles my clerks were having a tough time writing down the numbers! It was a tremendous evening of giving. We erupted past the goal and keep raising more money. When it ended, we have raised a record amount and Auction brio was proud to have helped them do so.

Mark Schroeder CAI, BAS, CES and Auction brio is proud to have raised tens of thousands more dollars for the Alzheimer's Association Cleveland Area Chapter. Congratulations and lets do it again next year.

Ballet In Cleveland Elevates Its Gala Funds with Auction brio

Ballet In Cleveland is wonderful new organization that is revitalizing ballet in downtown Cleveland. A year ago, Ballet In Cleveland held its first fundraising gala without the assistance of a certified Benefit Auctioneer Specialist. With the recommendation form a board member, Mark Schroeder CAI, BAS, CES and Auction brio was contracted to help with all of the money raising aspects of the gala. We were excited to assist this inspiring artistic group.

Ballet In Cleveland held it's gala at the Tutor Arms Hotel in Cleveland. The perfect setting where there was to be a performance by a number of male and female ballerinas and dancers.

The feature was a performance of prime ballerina Misty Copeland and Carlos Lopez.

A small silent auction and wine pull were held during the cocktail hour. Auction brio strategized with Ballet In Cleveland to design the bid cards to effectively draw guests to interact with the silent auction and to raise more money.

I conducted an energetic live auction with unique packages that guests bidded against each other competitively. I concluded the live auction and then immediately introduced the stars of the evening for their performance.

The evening's pinnacle was a performance by Misty Copeland and Carlos Lopez was on a large riser in front of all the guests. It was such an intimate setting. The performance concluded with a standing ovation and roaring success. Immediately I took the stage and we started the Fund-a-Need.

Guests grabbed the Fund-a-need mission and started raising paddles when I asked for specific amounts. It was a great success!

Mark Schroeder CAI, BAS, CES and Auction brio want to congratulate Ballet In Cleveland for the success of their second fundraising Gala. We are looking forward to partnering with them for years to come.

Julie Billiart School 60th Anniversary Gala

There is a very notable school in Lyndhurst, Ohio named Julie Billiart School. Julie Billiart nurtures and empowers students with special learning needs. It is a fantastic learning institution that not only touches your heart, but embraces your soul. I am very proud to say that Auction brio has been the exclusive benefit auctioneer for the Annual Benefit.

This year, the Annual Benefit celebrated Julie Billiart's 60th Anniversary. For the first time, the gala was moved out of their gymnasium and held in the historic Shaker Heights Country Club. A silent auction along with a Wine Pull were featured during the cocktail hour which had distinguished chefs from Cleveland serving hot gourmet appetizers to guests.

Guests moved into the banquet room where a few speeches and some notable guests were recognized and thanked. The live auction featured a 2003 LeBron James Rookie Signed Jersey, a luxury apartment in the Dominican Republic, a cooking class for 12 with featured chefs and much more.

Each year the Fund-a-Need is held to raise money to support tuition needs. This year guests gave generously to help those students with financial aid. It was a generous statement!

Mark Schroeder CAI, BAS, CES and Auction brio is thrilled to be a team member of this wonderful school. We have been a long-time benefit auctioneer for them and are excited to continue to help them raise more money for years to come.