New article featuring Your Rocktioneer™ and fundraising.
http://thechampionnewspaper.com/news/local/as-health-crisis-continues-nonprofits-look-for-alternative-fundraisers/
As health crisis continues, nonprofits look for alternative fundraisers
August 7, 2020 Kathy Mitchell 0 Comments
Nonprofit organizations often hold big events to raise money and awareness of their cause. Balls, banquets, casino nights, wine tasting, auctions, concerts, and other such events are typical gatherings at which nonprofits celebrate their successes and honor supporters as they pull in funds to help keep them operating another year.
This year, a worldwide pandemic has pulled the plug on many such events—some of which had already been planned with commitments to caterers, venues, and event planners. DeKalb resident Seth Weiner, who calls himself “Your Rocktioneer,” has been involved in large and small fundraisers across the Atlanta area, and said he’s now helping clients find a plan B.
“Many organizations started by postponing until fall events they had planned for the spring or summer. Now they are realizing that large gatherings will not be safe in the fall and probably even into the winter.
Rather than canceling completely this year, many are looking for alternatives that can be fun and profitable while observing social distancing. It’s a matter of getting creative,” said Weiner, who noted that creativity is at the heart of what he does. Starting 15 years ago as host of a music festival game show, Weiner has since come to emcee and host events nationally and internationally.
Seth Weiner, foreground, is an entertainer and event host as well as an auctioneer.
Weiner is a member of the National Auctioneer Association and said he is one of only 200 designated benefit auctioneer specialists in the nation. His role at a benefit is not just to conduct the auction, but to keep the fun flowing so guests not only have a great time but remain in a generous mood as they are asked to support a charitable cause. While Weiner said he’s not an event planner, he takes many roles at charitable events from making sure the sound equipment is right to coaching speakers to help them get their message across in a memorable and effective way.
Now that large gatherings are being avoided for health reasons, Weiner is going virtual with his talents. He said, however, he’s not new to online entertainment since he’s a co-host of the music-based podcast “Inside Out w/Turner and Seth,” which features interviews with members of touring nationally known bands such as Phish, Widespread Panic, Karl Denson, The Dave Matthews Band and Umphrey’s McGee. He said he has had more than 120,000 downloads from music enthusiasts.
With his background in entertainment, including more than 20 years in the music industry, Weiner said he knows how to use energy and humor to keep people engaged, but he also understands the challenges faced by nonprofits as the vice president of the 501c3 organization Positive Legacy and a volunteer with several other nonprofit organizations.
“There are many fun events that can help nonprofits raise money this year.
Auctions of donated items can go online, supporters can be treated to an online concert or a fun online class such as a chef-directed cooking class. As we move closer to Halloween, I’m discussing with one group the possibility of an online costume-making class,” Weiner said, noting that one organization is holding its “banquet” by having ticket buyers go to a local restaurant and pick up their meal to eat as they watch entertainment and awards presentation for the safety of their homes.
Weiner said some nonprofits are replacing their annual banquets with small at-home dinners at which hosts have fewer than 10 guests at their dining table. “At each of these, the group has a lovely meal then watches the online event. The upside of these is that people enjoy a more intimate gathering and hosts have the opportunity to introduce friends to a charitable cause they may have known little about before and may become longtime supporters of,” he said.
“Most organizations aren’t going make as much at this year’s fundraiser,” he admitted, “but raising $20,000 rather than the anticipated $100,000 is still worthwhile. You’re still keeping the organization in supporters’ minds and you’re still moving the needle forward.”
