Comments on: The one thing to NEVER say on stage at a benefit auction. http://www.redappleauctions.com/auctioneers/the-one-thing-to-never-say-on-stage-at-a-benefit-auction/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:10:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Sherry Truhlarhttp://www.redappleauctions.com/auctioneers/the-one-thing-to-never-say-on-stage-at-a-benefit-auction/comment-page-1/#comment-3536 Sherry Truhlar Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:28:48 +0000 http://www.redappleauctions.com/?p=880#comment-3536 Great input, Cliff! (Thanks for stopping by the blog.)I'm a big planner ... a bit of a hyper-planner, really ... and I love your suggestions. I (and my clients) don't always get to practice "the nth degree" of planning I prefer, but it's a wonderful thing when it can done. Great input, Cliff! (Thanks for stopping by the blog.)

I’m a big planner … a bit of a hyper-planner, really … and I love your suggestions. I (and my clients) don’t always get to practice “the nth degree” of planning I prefer, but it’s a wonderful thing when it can done.

]]> By: Cliff Schneiderhttp://www.redappleauctions.com/auctioneers/the-one-thing-to-never-say-on-stage-at-a-benefit-auction/comment-page-1/#comment-3535 Cliff Schneider Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:17:48 +0000 http://www.redappleauctions.com/?p=880#comment-3535 Loved your comments about what "not to say". My comment comes under the category of "do as I suggest, not what I have practiced in past". Based on my own personal mistakes as well as past Board Members, Staff, friends, volunteers, etc. I am more and more convinced that no one should be given the microphone in front of a pulic audience unless they have a speech or presentation that has been previously written, screened by others and practiced in advance. Even though this can sound like it is over controle of the situation it should become standard operating proceedure. Even if we are getting up to say thank-you we often get carried away and eaisly forget important people to thank, volunteers to acknowledge, etc. As Sherry pointed out in her comments it is not wise to say what a bad economy it is right before an auction event. It can also be a bad situation when we forget to thank people or we thank person A but forget to thank person B who is A's boss and is sitting at the table in front of speaker. I think we can all recollect when we have made mistakes at the microphone in front of friends, colleques, Board Members, etc and wished later on we could have a "do-over". I think that preparing a written script and reviewing it with other collegues or people we respect and help to make the public speaking event an improved part of the development activities. Loved your comments about what “not to say”. My comment comes under the category of “do as I suggest, not what I have practiced in past”. Based on my own personal mistakes as well as past Board Members, Staff, friends, volunteers, etc. I am more and more convinced that no one should be given the microphone in front of a pulic audience unless they have a speech or presentation that has been previously written, screened by others and practiced in advance. Even though this can sound like it is over controle of the situation it should become standard operating proceedure. Even if we are getting up to say thank-you we often get carried away and eaisly forget important people to thank, volunteers to acknowledge, etc. As Sherry pointed out in her comments it is not wise to say what a bad economy it is right before an auction event. It can also be a bad situation when we forget to thank people or we thank person A but forget to thank person B who is A’s boss and is sitting at the table in front of speaker. I think we can all recollect when we have made mistakes at the microphone in front of friends, colleques, Board Members, etc and wished later on we could have a “do-over”. I think that preparing a written script and reviewing it with other collegues or people we respect and help to make the public speaking event an improved part of the development activities.

]]> By: adminhttp://www.redappleauctions.com/auctioneers/the-one-thing-to-never-say-on-stage-at-a-benefit-auction/comment-page-1/#comment-2733 admin Sun, 04 Apr 2010 06:14:27 +0000 http://www.redappleauctions.com/?p=880#comment-2733 Thanks for taking the time to comment, Kay. Sounds like you, too, have had your share of "what the heck?!?" experiences. :) Thanks for taking the time to comment, Kay. Sounds like you, too, have had your share of “what the heck?!?” experiences. :)

]]> By: Kay Lorrainehttp://www.redappleauctions.com/auctioneers/the-one-thing-to-never-say-on-stage-at-a-benefit-auction/comment-page-1/#comment-2732 Kay Lorraine Sun, 04 Apr 2010 02:56:38 +0000 http://www.redappleauctions.com/?p=880#comment-2732 Amen, sister!!! This was a terrific article and sooooooooo true.Sometimes I just can't believe the stuff that comes out of the speaker's mouth at a fundraiser. I'm also amazed when you ask (or are forced to allow) a sponsor to say "a few words" and then they drone on and on while your auction crowd wanders out to the bar to escape. Help!It's tough to control this stuff, but your suggestions on what NOT to say are right on the money!Kay Lorraine Nonprofit Executive Honolulu, HawaiiP.S. Did you ever notice that other people talk too much and are boring but when YOU are given the microphone, it seems as though everything YOU have to say is important and interesting? NOT!!! Amen, sister!!! This was a terrific article and sooooooooo true.

Sometimes I just can’t believe the stuff that comes out of the speaker’s mouth at a fundraiser. I’m also amazed when you ask (or are forced to allow) a sponsor to say “a few words” and then they drone on and on while your auction crowd wanders out to the bar to escape. Help!

It’s tough to control this stuff, but your suggestions on what NOT to say are right on the money!

Kay Lorraine
Nonprofit Executive
Honolulu, Hawaii

P.S. Did you ever notice that other people talk too much and are boring but when YOU are given the microphone, it seems as though everything YOU have to say is important and interesting? NOT!!!

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