![]() BAM had roughly 6,000 guests attend the online event and raised $1 million, giving 10% of the donations to the Brooklyn Hospital Center. The virtual Met Gala generated millions in earned media value, and 174,000 people from around the world watch the 92Y event. Whether an event is going all out on the pomp and circumstance or not, online fundraising events have been incredibly successful so far. At the point in which they become normal, we have to take them to the next level.” Seeking Connection ![]() “They’re going to have to continue elevating because they’re going to become normal. “Zoom events and fundraisers are cool right now,” Geller says. For its upcoming gala, the Public Theater will use a similar feature. Each Zoom room hosted either individuals who raised or donated a certain amount of money-a virtual version of the "tables" of yore. For a recent fundraiser, the group used the breakout room feature in Zoom to host VIP cocktail parties. “People’s desire and willingness to give was definitely still there,” says Margaret Moll, Managing Director of The Civilians, a New York-based theater company. Rather than having set ticket prices, organizations have added bonus experiences and features for their larger benefactors. While virtual galas have clearly become more inclusive, they still need to raise money. ![]() It’s very inspiring.” That Special Something ![]() It’s the people who care-it’s the real deal people. “There’s no one who’s on a Zoom call to be photographed in a dress. “You see who really shows up,” van Wyck says. In some cases, these virtual galas might even draw in more true believers than their in-person counterparts. Katy Clark, BAM’s President, also notes a shift in the program to make it more accessible to a larger audience. The BAM gala, too, decided to make admission free once the event was moved online-alongside gentle prompts for donations and a voluntary art auction. “It feels really good this year to be able to do it this way.” “It’s always been a little bit of a pit in my stomach every year when I do the gala and I think, ‘Oh gosh, only these people are getting to see the show and I wish that more people could get to see it,’” says Mandy Hackett, the Public's Associate Artistic Director. The Public Theater has made tomorrow evening's performance free to stream. And the precarious state of the world has made it feel imperative to make celebrations inclusive and welcoming. It's hard to charge the same high-priced ticket for an hour long concert beamed to someone's laptop. One striking new feature of this spring's spate of virtual galas? Many organizations chose to make their events free and open to the public. “We’re telling the Public story we’re telling the story of those who love theater, and we’re telling the story of the essential workers that we have in our country.” The Guest List “Of course, it is a virtual event, but at the end of the day we’re still telling a story,” Leon says. Tony Award winning director Kenny Leon will be at the helm, using his theater background to construct the program. On June 1, New York's Public Theater is hosting its “We Are One Public” event, with a lineup including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, and Sam Waterston. Above all, it remains imperative to focus on the passion guests have for the evening's cause.
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