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.
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