VIDEO: Secrets of a $312,964 banquet
February 3rd, 2010 | 
Author: Wow!
In yesterday’s blog post, we just mentioned in passing that our own organization had experienced an increase in banquet income from $24,350 to $312,964.
We didn’t expect to get bombarded with e-mail questions in response, asking:
“How did you do THAT?”
Well, here is a 9-minute video case study to answer your questions and reveal EXACTLY how that explosive increase occurred.
Watch the video here:
http://banquetsuccess.s3.amazonaws.com/video1_8.flv(If you have any trouble playing this video, you may need to install the latest version of the free Adobe Flash player, which is a small download found at: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer )
As you watch the video, try to think about what your ministry would look like if you were raising 12 TIMES your current banquet income …
… Or even if you just increased your banquet income by 25% … 50% … or DOUBLED your income — think about how many more lives you could save and how many more women and men you could help.
It can happen for you — just like it did for us — if you follow the same simple steps we did.
After watching the video, let us know what you think by posting your comments as a reply at the bottom of this page!
To Your Banquet Success,
Shawn Carney & David Bereit
Banquet Success
Wow, that is great, I am not the type of person to be able to put this kind of system together so, I can see what an opportunity it makes for people like me. I am starting a work here in the capitol of Bosnia, Sarajevo. We are blessed to be serlf-supporting and have a building in a strategic location. Until now fund-raising hasn’t been much of a necessity but, now it is. Especially in the area of educational resources. We will be in the U.S. for two months, from the end of August until October. I am hoping I can stimulate some of my pro-life warriors to investigate and taking advantage of your work on this.
His For Life,
Eilen Pressler
Director
Lighthouse of Sarajevo
I am looking forward to the next video with specific information.
Please let me know about the cost of the coaching on successful banquets.
Thank you and blessings!
Thanks for last night’s tele-conference. Now I’m trying to sign up for the Banquet Success Coaching Program and can’t find the site.
Please help.
Thanks
Good Morning
We are in high gear for our March 13th banquet. This will be our first year implementing the secrets of a successful banquet and believe God has gone before us.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Your video encouraged me as a consultant to a crisis pregnancy center. The banquet is coming up in April and I have encouraged them to put systems in place. However, I would love to learn how you “convince” board and committee members to think like business people and adopt these business strategies (vs. thinking like a nonprofit focused on the idea that “we do good so people should give.”
Thank you for your comment Mary!
These strategies are used to make life easier on the staff of the center and the board of directors. We have found that board members like this simple approach because it is systematic and focused on the mission of your organization. Banquet Success is set up to remind your veteren donors why they got involved and to inspire new attendees to give to your mission.
An April banquet gives you PLENTY of time to implement these systems to maximize giving.
Ask your board members to join the free call on Tuesday night.
Shawn
Please e-mail me your next video and thanks for all the great work!
Catherine Slovak
Thanks for all your great work!
I recognize the value of your 7-step strategy and am looking forward to learning more specifics of how you implemented each step and what “visioncasting” means.
I have an inquiry in for David to speak at our banquet on Saturday October 16th. The fall campaign will be underway, but you said he will be available. If he is out here will he also speak at some local campaign sites? Can we arrange for a place forhim to speak on Suunday morning the 17th?
We are trying to nail down the date at the hotel, but can we give you a tentative RSVP for that date?
Your training has been invaluable and resulted in the most successful benefit The League has ever had. I’m interested in all you have to say and I look forward to your next video. Thank you so much for your faithfulness to your mission of saving lives and helping others to more successfully fulfill their mission.
Anne
As someone who has been to (and run) a lot of banquets, I can honestly say that David & Shawn have the most thorough, creative, and effective system to maximize the results of your fundraising banquet.
Learn their system and follow it religiously: you won’t believe the results!
This is exciting! I would like to know more as we embark on our plan to start St. Gabriel Project in our parish.
Thank you for all the great work you and your staff do to save lives.
Respectfully,
Mila Ramirez
We are a small cpc in Quakertown, Pa. Please let me know when your next dvd will be available..Thank you! Our banquet is April 22nd!
Terrific video. I am looking foward to next one about the formula.
Doug Kennard
Douglas, the formula video is posted at: http://banquetsuccess.com/updates/formula
Hope you get a lot out of it!
Could you comment on your net income over the past several years? If you have more attendees than your costs will be higher as well. Just wondering what your net increase was with your systems and planning. Thanks.
Great question Dani.
The net income is the most important. The reason we attract people through the 5 Streams of Attendance is because of our consistent results of raising more money with more attendees.
Once you have a facility and a catering quote you can put together what it costs you for each attendee. Unless you’re way overspending for your banquet, you will find that your average donation and pledge amount made that night is drastically higher than what it cost to have each person attend. Our average donation per person has consistenty been over $200. As the attendence grows and the average donation amount stays the same, the overall banquet income goes up. Over the last 4 years our banuet has actually cost the same every year but our income has gone up substantially.
Higher attendance rates can also make costs cheaper person and give you more negiotiating room for catering and venue expenses.
We go into this in detail during the Planning and Attendance Modules so organizations know how to keep costs super low while boosting income.
Thanks for your email!