Local entertainer launches business to benefit area charities

Local actor and host of Gem City tonight Andrew Mitakides may be an auctioneer, but it’s more likely he’ll be found at a gala than in a livestock arena.

The 35-year-old entertainer decided to turn his 18-year career into a business, Prince Auction and Benefits, after long-time Dayton-area benefit auctioneer Doug Sorrell said he would retire in the coming years. There were only a couple other major auctioneers of the type in the area, Mitakides said, and they were also in their 50s or older.

“For years, I’ve helped put on events. I’ve been an actor and always loved emceeing events and hosting events and when you have a nonprofit that’s putting on a fundraiser…I would always be the go to,” Mitakides said.

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He headed to the 10-day Ohio Auction School and set up his LLC to start the business with his wife Alexis Mitakides and Gem City tonight producer Riki Wells. The business doesn’t stop short at just offering an emcee and auctioneer, Mitakides said. He’s a full event planner, finding venues, caterers, bands and helping get quality auction items like tickets that may not otherwise be accessible.

“To give it that extra flair, to give it that extra push into ‘wow we raised that much? Wow that was a great night. Wow I can’t wait to do that again?’ Having a professional on your side really really ramps it up,” he said.

Mitakides compared having a professional emcee to buying a suit. Shoppers can get the suit, but paying the extra $40 for tailoring gives it the extra attention it needs to be memorable.

“You put him and a microphone and he is just completely in his element. It’s really fun to see him just transform and run a room,” said Alexis Mitakides, who runs the accounting and bookkeeping for the company.

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Similar concepts are available in bigger cities like Columbus, Tampa and Washington D.C. Long-term Andrew Mitakides wants to help local stand-up comedians join the Prince team.

“I would love to train people like Doug has brought me on. And one of my favorite sayings is it’s really easy to make an entertainer an auctioneer and a host, hard to make an auctioneer and a host into an entertainer, because it’s a show and you really want to make people happy,” he said.

Mitakides was born and raised in Centerville before moving to Virginia for college at 18. After double majoring in theater and music, he performed all over North Carolina, New York and Washington D.C., hosting shows, voice acting, emceeing and performing.

He and his now wife Alexis returned to Dayton about three years ago.

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“My family never left. My dad is a dentist in town; my mom has been active in politics here; my sister went to Miami of Ohio —just an Ohio family through and through,” he said.

Once back in Dayton he continued helping to host events and in January started his own show Gem City Tonight, a late-night talk show based in the tradition of shows hosted by Jay Leno, John Carson and David Letterman updated for the modern feel of hosts like Jimmy Fallon.

He also recently hosted the Dayton Strong Beer Bash that raised $56,000 for tornado relief.

“I love raising money for a charity,” Mitakides said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love doing things where there’s a great band and it’s just a fun night, but when its really a fundraiser for a purpose or a community or an individual, that tugs at my heartstrings.”

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