Hooray for Hollywood Gala Event

Lizfrog and I recently did an e-mail question & answer session with the staff behind the Weinberg Center’s Hooray for Hollywood: New Year’s Eve Gala. The Gala benefits the non-profit Weinberg Center for the Arts, Inc. and sounds like a fun time to boot:

Relive the glamour of old Hollywood at mid-Maryland’s most fashionable New Year’s Eve celebration! At this spectacular Black Tie benefit for the Weinberg Center you can:

• dance the night away to the hit, 10-piece band “Round Midnight”
• indulge your senses with fabulous hors d’oeuvres and desserts by Canapés
• toast the New Year with an open bar and specialty cocktail stations
• test your luck in the exciting Monte Carlo casino room or relax in the cigar lounge
• cozy up with classic films in a private movie screening area
• countdown to midnight with a nostalgic multimedia show
• take home elegant party favors and fun surprises
• spoil yourself with an upgraded VIP hotel and limo package

For a little more detail here is the text from the e-mail Q&A session …

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What’s on the menu?
Canapés, an award-winning catering firm, is providing a varied menu of gourmet hors d’oeuvers, tapas, and desserts. There is something to delight every palate – assorted cheeses, skewered beef and salmon, oriental shredded chicken, seasonal and grilled crudité, chocolate fondue, the list goes on….

Can you actually win (and loose) money in the casino room?
Yes, well, sort of Every guest will receive $2500 in Casino Cash when they arrive. Those who do not care to gamble, may instantly exchange their Casino Cash for raffle tickets at our prize table. Raffle tickets are $500 “dollars” each (funny money). So every guest starts with an option of five “free” raffle tickets. Those who wish to try their luck at the tables, stand a chance to increase their “funny money” and eventually trade their winnings in for more raffle tickets. That is, should you walk away from a round of Roulette with $10,000 in chips, you can “cash” those in for 20 raffle tickets. Those for whom luck is not such a lovely lady forfeit their otherwise “free” raffle tickets; casino cash cannot be purchased and the games are over. However, raffle tickets are available for real cash, ($5 each or five for $20) should you still have an itch for a little gamble.

What good are raffle tickets?
Generous businesses around Frederick have donated prize baskets to be raffled off shortly after midnight. There are at least six prize baskets so far – including wine & dinner baskets, personal training sessions, spa and salon services, golf packages, and more.

How can a company help sponsor the event?
We have some great sponsor packages. The popular “Actors’ Guild” sponsorship is $500 and includes 2 tickets to the Gala, as well as six Weinberg movie tickets, listing in the program book, and an invitation to a Weinberg Center recognition event. A PDF of the complete sponsor packages list is available upon request. Payment can be made by credit card or check to the Weinberg Center for the Arts Inc. For more info, email Karen at WeinbergGala@enforme.com

What do you expect the demographics of your party-goers to be?
So far, ticket sales indicate that this party appeals to a wide audience. The majority appear to be married couples between the ages of 25 and 65, although a number of single tickets have been sold, too.

How many tickets have you sold so far?
About 200 tickets. But we expect quite a few last-minute shoppers from all of the inquiries we’ve received and the excited buzz about town.

How much of each ticket sale goes directly to the Weinberg Center?
So far, we’ve received over $40,000 in sponsor dollars and in-kind contributions to foot the bill of the party, which maximizes the impact of ticket revenue. We won’t be able to say exactly how much of each ticket goes back to the Weinberg Center for the Arts, Inc until it is all over, but our best estimate at this point is more than 85%.

How much of each ticket is tax deductible?
The accountants on the board tell us that considering fair market value of the goods and services received, each $150 standard ticket counts as a $70 tax-deductable contribution and each $500 VIP ticket counts as a $110 contribution. Now I think it works out better if a business buys the tickets for employees or clients… but it’s best to consult with a tax advisor on that.

Will people be turned away if they are not in a tuxedo or ball gown?
Laughed at, snickered at, talked about and pointed at, maybe… but definitely NOT turned away Seriously, though, it is a formal and elegant event and guests are encouraged to dress appropriately. At the very least, a dark suit and a cocktail dress would be expected.

How long does it take to clean up the Weinberg after such a large event?
Are you offering to help? Those of us volunteers who are setting up on Sunday afternoon and by 9:00 am on Monday morning will be grateful if we get out of there by 6:00 am Tuesday. Additional volunteers for clean up are most welcome!

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Learn more about the event and purchase tickets on the Weinberg’s site.