galas & benefits

Gala production for a night that raises money and runs on time.

Your gala has one job: move people to give. We produce the program, the honorees, the videos and the ask, so the night stays on time and the moment lands, in the room and for supporters watching online.

View from the balcony show desk at the Friends Without a Border gala: switcher monitors in front, an honoree at the podium on screen and dinner tables below.FRIENDS WITHOUT A BORDER GALA

the moments that matter

Every cue in service of the ask.

The program

A run of show to the minute, from the welcome to the last thank-you.

Honorees and speakers

Rehearsed, mic'd and ready for their walk-up.

The ask

Graphics, music and cues timed so the paddle raise builds momentum instead of losing it.

Mission videos

The stories that move a room. We shoot as well as we stage.

The livestream

Supporters who can't be in the room can still watch, and still give.

Arrivals and red carpet

Step-and-repeat, press and lighting for every camera on the line. Take a look at what we do →

more for the mission

Every dollar not spent on production is a dollar for the mission.

We don't own the gear on the quote, so our only job is to spec what your night needs and run it well. Work with the venue's in-house AV or bring in our vendors, managed either way.

Want an honest read on last year's gala before you plan this one? Start with a free Green Light Review.

nights we've produced

Friends Without a Border annual gala

We ran the live broadcast and the platform for the hybrid audience. The room and the stream ran as one event, with multiple cameras, graphics and stage management coordinated with the client and the MC, so the night ran smoothly and raised serious money for an important cause.

YAI Central Park Challenge

When times changed, we worked with this leading organization to turn its annual Central Park Challenge 5K into a full virtual broadcast, so the tradition carried on.

Watch it →

green light review · a free consultation with a producer

Engaging Big AV? Get a free review before you sign.

Big AV quotes are written by the company that sells the gear, the labor and the add-ons. We don't own a warehouse or rent equipment, so our only interest is the right show at a fair price. Send last year's plan or quote for your gala, or just get on a call. A producer takes a look and tells you honestly whether we can do it better. If we don't think so, we'll say that too.

  • Free, no obligation
  • Back to you in 1 to 2 business days
  • Your numbers stay with us, NDA on request
  1. 01Send what you haveA scope, a plan, a quote, or just a call.
  2. 02A producer takes a lookAt the show as a whole.
  3. 03Get your green lightHonest feedback, and a straight answer.
  4. 04Say go, or don'tWant to go further? We'll put a proposal together.

Gala questions.

How do you produce the paddle raise?

We treat the paddle raise as the most important cue of the night. It comes right after the mission moment, with graphics, music and lighting timed to build momentum, and we work with your auctioneer on the giving levels and the pace. The show caller keeps every cue tight so the energy builds instead of stalling.

Can we stream the gala to supporters who can't attend?

Yes. We produce the stream as part of the show, not a camera at the back. Online supporters see the program, the honorees and the mission videos with broadcast-quality cameras and audio. For the Friends Without a Border annual gala, we ran the live broadcast and the hybrid audience as one show.

Can online viewers donate during the livestream?

Yes. We work with your giving or auction platform to put the donation link and live prompts on screen during the stream, so online supporters can give at the same moment as guests in the venue. If your platform supports it, we can also show giving totals on screen to build momentum in both places.

Do you produce the mission videos too?

Yes. The same team that runs the program shoots and edits the mission videos, so they fit the screens, the timing and the moment in the show. Stories are what move people to give, and we plan them around the paddle raise.

How can we keep production costs down so more goes to the mission?

Spec only what the night needs, and spend where donors will feel it: the program, the honorees and the ask. We don't own the gear on the quote, so we have no reason to upsell it. We work with the venue's in-house AV or bring in vendors, whichever costs less for the same result. A free Green Light Review of last year's quote is a good start.

When should we start planning?

Once the date and venue are set. The earlier we see the program, the honorees and the mission videos, the smoother the night, and the more time there is to shoot the stories that move people to give.

Do you produce events outside New York?

Yes. We're based in New York and produce coast to coast and on four continents, with the same producer and the same desk wherever the project lands. See where we produce. Hosting benefits in more than one city? See multi-city event production.

free tool · event production rfp template

Get bids you can actually compare.

Our RFP template and bid-comparison sheet for your next gala: room-by-room AV specs, labor, power and rigging, so every vendor prices the same show.

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the spectrum of production, one partner

Pairs with.

what can we help you solve?

Talk to a producer about your gala.

A producer answers, not a sales queue.

Every note goes to a producer, not a sales queue.

  1. 01Tell us what you're planning, big or small.
  2. 02A producer replies within one business day.
  3. 03You get a straight answer, even if it's "you don't need us for this."

Rather talk now?

212.931.4866

Quick question? Text us and we'll respond right away.

A producer replies within one business day.

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p.s. the best gala is the one everyone remembers for the cause, not the cues.