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You are here: Home / Audience Development / Unintended consequences of watch parties during Zoom-style virtual galas
Sep 22

Unintended consequences of watch parties during Zoom-style virtual galas

Sherry Truhlar 2 Comments

English ivy was brought to the United States for ornamental purposes; it looks so pretty scampering up a wire.

But the ivy’s introduction had some unintended consequences.  It grows so aggressively, it overtakes small trees and damages mortar in brickwork.

Unintended consequences are also apparent in our virtual galas. 

Nearly every week I am asked to troubleshoot a new problem that has surfaced, typically because someone has tweaked one area in an effort to improve the event.

The gala improves in the area changed, but the unintended consequence is that it now collapses somewhere else.

The latest tweak is tied to watch parties when using a webinar system or Zoom Meeting for your virtual gala technology platform.

Usually the idea of a watch party is introduced by a donor/s who is eager to introduce friends to your cause.  It’s a kind gesture meant to make it more fun for the gathering party.

The flip side is that the new format may suppress bidding and donations for the nonprofit.

The webinar and Zoom Meeting approach works best when guests are individually (or as a couple)  sitting in front of their computer.  Each guest has their own unique login.  But when guests gather, they are all share the Zoom login of their watch party host.  Bidding and donating becomes cumbersome and may decline.

To avoid this, here’s my advice for Gala Chairs:

  1. Ask guests to take their charged phone, tablet, or laptop to the watch party.  Though all guests can watch the program as a group during the gala’s pre-show, each guest should be logged in under their own name for the gala.  (Even if they don’t bid or donate, having easy access to do so is important.)
  2. Ask each host to allow guests access to her home’s wireless network.  Bidding via cell service is usually slower than using a wireless network connection, so in lieu of a direct connection to a router, we want guests to be using WiFi.

In today’s video, I go into details about this new unintended consequence of virtual gala watch parties.


Have you tweaked something in your gala, only to see it upset another area?

If so, share below.

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About Sherry Truhlar

Fundraising auctioneer and educator, helping schools and nonprofits plan more profitable benefit auctions. A prolific writer for her own blog and other fundraising sites, she’s been covered in The Beacon-News, Town & Country Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, Wiley's Special Events Galore!, AUCTIONEER, and other publications.

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Comments

  1. Maria Emanuel says

    September 29, 2020 at 11:43 AM

    Hi, Sherry:

    My non-profit would like to get more information on virtual galas. Can I attend your next virtual gala event? Would love to see you in action!

    Maria Emanuel (name from the past)

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      September 29, 2020 at 12:32 PM

      Maria, the galas I’ve been working are private so, no, I wouldn’t be able to have you sit in. But as far as seeking more information on virtual galas in general, check out my virtual gala cheat sheet and in-depth “Conversation” virtual gala series. Both are great places to start.

      Reply

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Sherry, oh, Sherry! You were an invaluable asset to this year’s gala. With your assistance we were able to add so many new elements that truly made a difference in taking our event to another level. This year was the most successful yet! Everyone loved you and the amazing energy that you brought to the event. We look forward to having you again in 2018!

Krystal Fenwick

Thank you so much for the outstanding job you did for us on April 1! I have received so much positive feedback from so many who attended. You even earned Sister Suzan’s (our Vice-Principal) seal of approval! Safe travels to all your many events and thank you for making our biggest fundraiser of the year our best ever!

Diane Albano, Director of Development
St. Joseph Academy Catholic High School (St. Augustine, FL)

Sherry is flexible and easy to work with. She gives honest feedback and advice throughout the planning and implementation process. Without a doubt, Sherry and Red Apple Auctions has helped take our annual fundraising event to the next level.

Beckie Middendorf, Development Director and Janet Gulla, Development Coordinator
St. Henry District High School (Erlanger, KY)

Sherry is “on board” from day one of auction planning, works closely with our steering committee and is only just a phone call away. The night of the auction, we toss her the keys and let her drive the event! We are never disappointed!

Charly Ryan, Director of Institutional Advancement
The Academy of the Holy Cross (Kensington, MD)

I was very fortunate to have Red Apple on board for my first auction. Working with Sherry was invaluable. She provided guidance at every phase of planning, from procurement on forward – and she challenged us to make our event more ambitious and more successful at every stage. Thank you, Sherry!

Pete Goldlust, Director of Development
Oak Hill School (Eugene, OR)

If your auction needs to upgrade, call any auctioneer you find on Google. But if you want your auction to be impressive, meaningful, and profitable, you need to call Sherry.

Erin Banda
2016 NYUMBANI Board member

The auction was entertaining .. proactive … the crowd was involved and felt a part of it,” he said, emphasizing, “The entertainment value was huge.

Darrell, a long-time attendee

We plan on booking Red Apple Auctions much earlier for our next event so we can take advantage of more of the pre-event offerings.

Nicole Carr, Director of Grants and Special Events
The Ivymount School (Rockville, MD)

2012 Oakcrest Anne and CarolinaSherry, personally, I can’t even begin to tell you the immense amount of positive feedback that I received having YOU (and Darby) there with is this year!… Read The Rest “Anne Livaudais Knudsen, 5th year gala co-chair”

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Staci Meruvia 150 ptYou have NO idea of how many people came up to me (I know Julie as well) and said, ‘That auctioneer was incredible … she engaged the crowd, …… Read The Rest “Staci Meruvia”

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Irene attended one of my New Hampshire auctions and assumed I must be a radio personality — until I started to chant that fast talk. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9SM1ZsYzNRdE1qQXhNUzFPU0ZOUVEwRXRTWEpsYm1VdWJYQTBMVEU9Lz9jb250YWluZXI9ZXZwLTVHMlVHQlFGN1YiPjwvc2NyaXB0PjxkaXYgaWQ9ImV2cC01RzJVR0JRRjdWIiBkYXRhLXJvbGU9ImV2cC12aWRlbyIgZGF0YS1ldnAtaWQ9IlIzVmxjM1F0TWpBeE1TMU9TRk5RUTBFdFNYSmxibVV1YlhBMExURT0iPjwvZGl2Pg== “I’ve been to this event before with a couple of other auctioneers,” she said, “Your ability to get personal… Read The Rest “Irene”

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