Your largest gala cost is to NOT hire an experienced, skilled Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (BAS)!
You may be thinking that the initial cost of hiring a professional benefit auctioneer is too high for your non-profit, but it is actually precisely the opposite! When you rely on an amateur—like a car or property auctioneer, or a local celebrity—who has little or no Benefit Auctioneer training, you are never going to raise the amount of money a benefit auctioneer specialist will bring into your organization. Chad has countless examples of doubling or tripling (or more!) his client’s gala goals! This has happened in SO many cases when the client assured Chad that there was NO way they could even come near their goal!
For example…one little school had never raised more than $18k in their Fund-a-Need (Paddle Raiser). Their dream was to raise $30k, but they said that their parents did not have much money, and that $30k was going to be near impossible…well…in his first event for this school, Chad helped them raise $125,000 in the Fund-a-Need alone! And Chad could tell you these kinds of stories for hours!
Within their carefully chosen team of auctioneers (ALL have earned the coveted BAS designation), they have five male auctioneers and three female auctioneers. They are of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds, so they are good fits for many causes. With a couple auctioneers newer than others, they can offer a few newer BAS auctioneers for even the smallest of organizations/events. Chad likes to say that some of his team are just younger, taller, and more handsome versions of himself!
Frequently Asked Questions
When you hire a Benefit Auctioneer Specialist, you are receiving just that…an auctioneer that specializes in Benefit Galas, and has earned a certification in the field. Basically it is a guarantee that you are NOT gambling with ALL your months of hard work, by placing it in the hands of an amateur. When you hire Chad or his team, you know that your efforts will be placed in the best of hands.
While the Principal Auctioneer team often doubles or triples funds raised in their first gala with a new client, the guarantee is that your event will raise as much money as is possible for that night. Sometimes clients lose deep-pocket donors, or an event will loose attendance based on weather or scheduling conflicts. In those situations you need a BAS more than ever, to raise as much money as is available in the room…without applying too much pressure!
Let us have an in-person or conference call meeting, with the board, or key decision makers. If we are available on your date, we have TONS of creative fee strategies that will fit almost ANY gala budget!! Sometimes we even provide free trips and vacations to help defray our already reasonable fee.
From the time we lock in your date, up through our debrief meeting after gala, we are yours! UNLIMITED emails, calls, texts, etc. as needed. We will not only have a couple very in-depth consultations with you and your team, but will will supply you will checklists, forms, templates, and documents so that your gala planning process is nice and smooth, and clear as to what you need to do to maximize your efforts, and that of your team, and to raise the most possible funds at your gala!
Chad is able to connect with his audience with an inspiring spirit, passion, and a sense of FUN that is quite unique! When you combine his vibrant personality with his seasoned, well-rounded knowledge of charity fundraising, having Chad as your benefit auctioneer is sure to make for a spectacular event! A frequent comment from guests include: 'I have never had so much fun during an auction!' 'How did you do that! I wasn't planning on spending THAT much money!' Frequent comments from gala chairs include: 'You have turned me into a celebrity/living-legend!' 'When had now clue our crowd would be able to give the way they did tonight!' Chad has a long list of 100% satisfied clients from an array of different organizations (click on “Testimonials,” for a partial list of happy clients)!
Gary Lorentzen
Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (BAS) & Pro Bid-Spotter
Gary has been with us for many years now! With a similar energy and approach to Chad, plus his handsome good looks & charming ways, he is one of our best auctioneers! In addition to being a BAS, Gary has had decades in the auction industry, before working with Chad!
Monica Kibbe
New Benefit Auctioneer Specialist & Pro Bid-Spotter
Local elementary school teacher by day; enthusiastic pro bid-spotter, and newer Benefit Auctioneer, by night! Monica, with nearly a decade of experience of professional bid-spotting for us, has finally allowed us to talk her into becoming a Benefit Auctioneer. She works the room with her smiles, good cheer, and time-tested strategies! And now, she has recently earned her Benefit Auction Specialist designation!
Sharon Mor
Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (BAS)
Sharon has been with us for over two years, but from the time she put on these new shoes, she has been a champion in fundraising! With her vibrant personality, and as a co-founder/owner of the popular SF Bay Area summer “Edventure More” camps (she is the Mor of “More”!), she is a natural when it comes to grabbing an audience’s attention, and keeping them entertained and connected to the cause!
Jerry Goldstone
Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (BAS)
Jerry, has been with us for a few years now, and has a background in comedy and emcee work, in addition to his decade long career supporting benefits! He has supported high-end clientele, including sharing the stage with Jay Leno! Our clients LOVE Jerry, and find him an absolute pleasure to work with!
Ben Gonzales
Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (BAS)
Like Chad, Ben has had a career in education administration (he recently earned his doctorate, so feel free to tease him by calling him Dr. Ben!), so he is a perfect fit for many schools. Ben is also multi-lingual, and has served schools from tiny to huge. Having been a school principal, Ben comes across with a welcoming, warm, real personality! While Ben is kind and gentle, and a pleasure to work with, he still knows how to bring the money in, and our clients ask for him year after year! Ben has been with us for over five years and has successfully supported education related non-profits with a natural passion!