Fundraisers & galas
School & Nonprofit Fundraiser Entertainment in the Central Valley: Dueling Pianos, Solo Piano and Live Bands
A school or nonprofit fundraiser lives or dies on one thing: whether people stay in the room. The dinner, the silent auction and the raffle are already planned. The hard part is the stretch after dinner, when the live auction and the ask are coming up and guests start eyeing the parking lot. Whether you're running a booster dinner in Hanford, a foundation gala in Fresno or Visalia, a school auction in Modesto or Turlock, or a community fundraiser in Stockton or Lodi, the right entertainment keeps the energy up and gives people a reason to stick around. Here's how Central Valley organizers put it together with JMD Entertainment.
Why dueling pianos work at a fundraiser
A fundraiser crowd is mixed by design: parents, teachers, alumni, board members, sponsors and grandparents, often all at the same table. An all-request dueling pianos show handles that better than almost anything else, because the guests pick the songs. One table asks for Garth Brooks, the next asks for Journey, the teachers want Motown, and the whole room ends up singing the same chorus. People who came out of obligation leave having had a great night, and that goodwill carries into the paddle raise and next year's ticket sales.
Modern Dueling Pianos, the dueling show JMD books, played a big fundraiser for Hanford High School, so a school crowd in the South Valley is familiar ground. We know a fundraiser isn't a concert. The program, the auction and the people behind the cause come first, and the music is there to support them.
Building the show around your run of show
The most important planning step is fitting the music to your program, not the other way around. A typical evening might look like this:
- Arrival and silent auction. Softer piano while guests check in, browse the tables and find their seats. Conversation stays easy and nobody has to shout.
- Dinner and program. Music steps back for welcomes, speakers, student or honoree moments, and the live auction. Two pianists with microphones can also help the emcee with walk-up music and quick transitions.
- After the ask. This is where the full show starts: requests, sing-alongs and the high-energy part of the night that sends people home talking about it.
Send us your timeline ahead of time, and we'll plan the show to pause and pick up exactly where you need it.
Smaller events: solo piano
Not every fundraiser needs a full show. For a donor reception, a wine and appetizer mixer, a scholarship luncheon or a smaller dinner, one singing pianist is often the right fit. James Michael Day, who founded JMD Entertainment, brings 2,000+ songs and can keep things relaxed during cocktails, then take requests as the room warms up. It's also the simplest setup for a school multipurpose room, church hall or community center: one piano, one small sound system and a modest footprint.
Want a dance floor? Add a live band
If your crowd wants to dance after the auction, JMD represents two bands based right here in the Valley. The Penetrators Groove Band, from the Stockton and Modesto area, won Best Jazz & Blues at the 2025 Modesto Area Music Awards and brings up to seven pieces, including Hammond B3, sax and powerhouse vocals, playing R&B, soul, funk and classic rock. Whiskey Kiss, from the Lodi area, plays the country and classic rock hits everybody knows. Either one turns a gala into a party, and because they're local, travel stays simple.
Details to sort out with your venue and committee
- Gyms, halls and fairgrounds. Many Central Valley fundraisers happen in school gyms, community halls, church halls or fairground buildings. Those rooms can be loud and echoey, so tell us the space and we'll plan sound that fills it without drowning out the auctioneer.
- Load-in and timing. School sites often have custodian schedules, lock-up times and limited parking. Share the load-in window, access doors and the hard end time early.
- Microphones for the program. If your speakers and auctioneer need a mic, let us know. Running the program through the same sound system keeps things simple.
- One vendor for music and production. JMD can bring the pianos, sound, lighting and staging along with the talent, so your committee isn't hunting for a separate AV company.
How to book fundraiser entertainment
- Send the brief. Your date, venue, expected guest count, program timeline and a budget range. Photos of the room help.
- We recommend the right mix. Solo piano, dueling pianos, a band or a combination, with gear and timing notes for your space.
- We handle the details. Contracts, performer coordination and day-of logistics stay with us, so your volunteers can focus on the event.
Planning a year-end event too? See our guide to New Year's Eve dueling pianos in the Central Valley. To check your date, use the booking form, call or text (408) 203-5563, or email [email protected].