He guarantees one rollicking sensory experience from the time the first guests arrive at 7:30 p.m. until the last partygoers leave at 11.
Marketing and public relations showman and WHQR 91.3fm board member Andrew Gray of Tayloe, Gray and Kristof said, “The prizes are the only things that will disappear.”
He’s talking about the prize wall he’s mounting as part of the public radio station’s 30th Birthday Celebration, Saturday, Oct. 25 at Union Station, Cape Fear Community College’s downtown campus.
With a handful of volunteers and a lot of connections to the film industry, Gray is transforming the interior of Union Station’s top floor party room and patio into a carnival; tents, videos, strolling performers, a slight of hand magician and a fortune teller will help set the stage for the fundraiser and the mood of the evening.
With the $65 per person entry fee, guests will be given five chits to play around with arcade-style amusement, like the steel crane, a cash cube, a hammer strike, darts and Plinko, a big-screen “The Price is Right” inspired game. Each win produces more game tokens and the chance to cash in on prizes, which during a traditional nonprofit fundraiser would be featured on a silent auction table. But forget what you know about galas for a night. Gray said the prize wall will offer a few overstuffed plush animal toys along with gift cards from local restaurants, jewelry and much, much more.
“The whole thing’s going to be kind of over the top, that’s where we are with the entire event,” Gray said during an Oct. 12 phone interview. He’s also test driving some of the same social media tools he recommends to his clients to expand the reach of the party.
“We’re using some marketing channels, like Facebook, aggressively,” Gray said. “I’m using this as an opportunity to understand what we can do to modernize some of our practices when it comes to fundraising. Part of that is to see what we can do other than mail everyone a postcard because … for us to mail everyone a postcard, that costs money that would come directly out of the budget. So we’re trying to use lower cost, more viral, and that fits in with the demographic that this party is geared toward.”
Gray, 37, said the party will attract all ages over 21.
Some ticket buyers have already taken advantage of an early bird discount. Others will be tracked via promo codes for $10 off for Live Oak Bank’s employees and Style Girl Jess James’ Fashion Fix followers.
“I’m seeing what levers these push. I’m running these weird nichey Facebook ads,” he said.
“We wanted a fundraiser that attracted a wider range of our actual listenership.”
Gray is also giving tickets to his fundraiser away during other fundraisers, like the Children’s Museum of Wilmington’s Yacht Venture Oct. 18 and the Historic Wilmington Foundation’s Vintage Event Oct. 24.
Dispensing with the traditional host model, all other tickets are available online only via whqr.org or at the door.
Local band BLIVIT! will entertain and desserts, coffee and an open beer, wine and signature cocktail bar will be served for refreshments.
“Instead of trying to feed everybody hors d’oeuvres, and kind of replace dinner, we want everyone to go to dinner and show up afterward and have party. That’s the other piece that’s a little different,” Gray said.
Claiming he’s the token young person on the public radio station board of directors, Gray said, “I’m passionate about what public radio means to our community.”
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