When it comes to benefit auction ideas, sometimes the simplest tips are worth thousands of dollars. This is one. Experience has taught me to never, ever say or reference this when you're on stage at the auction. Watch the video below. « Continue Reading »
May 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PODCAST: Do your guests care whether you’ve hired a pro benefit auctioneer?
If you don't think that your auction guests know or even think about whether you've hired a professional benefit auctioneer, think again. Your guests do prefer a pro, and they verbalize and Tweet it. Listen to the podcast below. « Continue Reading »
May 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Do your guests care whether you’ve hired a professional benefit auctioneer?
After one of my weekend auctions, my team and I fielded a number of compliments about our professionalism. It reminded me of a story. Back in 2005, I worked with a national client who held a fundraiser in Washington, D.C. They had three items to sell in a live auction. Although they often held live auctions, it was the first time they'd hired a professional benefit auctioneer to oversee it. The timing was bad for me as I was flying back from some work in Germany. With weather and travel being so unpredictable, I was concerned I'd miss the live auction. To play it safe, I sent one of my lead auctioneers to work the « Continue Reading »
April 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Graduated with my Auctioneer’s MBA (CAI)
Last month I completed a program I started three years ago. I finished my third and final year of CAI, which stands for the Certified Auctioneer Institute. Though there are some formalities that need to be completed before I'm officially able to use the "CAI" initials, I'm done. The program takes place at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN and its overseen by the National Auctioneers Foundation. It's held in March, which - as a benefit auctioneer - is the worst possible time. March is a heavy season for benefit auctions. CAI is a more intensive training, "focused on fostering specific skills needed to operate a « Continue Reading »
February 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Florida benefit auctioneer thanked by client.
I love getting emails from clients thanking my team and I for our work at a gala. And certainly we have many videos from clients and guests sharing their opinions of our work. Some clients even send cookies. And here is an example of a personal touch through a hand-written thank you note. The Queen of Events at Camillus House in Miami, FL is the epitome of old-school manners. Like clockwork, she sends me a note or letter every year. Thanks, Marcy! (And congratulations on raising over $1.6 million for the homeless.) P.S. Do you know a charity seeking a Florida benefit auctioneer? I invite you to give me a « Continue Reading »
February 16, 2011 By 2 Comments
Tell your benefit auctioneer when your nonprofit has a job opening
Here's some food for thought. If you're a non-profit with a job opening, tell your vendors. In the last four months, I've received emails from several different sources related to jobs. Two high-level development women are seeking new positions Two nonprofits have open positions (One is an Executive Director; the other a mid-level Development team member) One fellow auctioneer in South Carolina forwarded me the resume of a friend he knows seeking a development job in DC. "Can you forward information about jobs to her?" he asked. (Which I did immediately ... and never heard even a simple "thank you" from her. Go « Continue Reading »
April 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Volunteer Auctioneer training, so you rock your benefit auction
I've heard the complaints. The school auction chairperson calls. "I know our parents," she'll tell me, "and I know we have more money in the room than what we're getting. I attended XYZ auction, and they made a lot more than we ever do." I ask her who the benefit auctioneer was, how that auctioneer supported them, and why they weren't using him again. She says, "We use a parent. He's our volunteer auctioneer. He's a nice guy, but ... " Then I hear what went wrong. "The auction took too long." "He thought he was being funny, but instead he insulted one of our big donors." "We wanted to try this new idea. We « Continue Reading »
January 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
How to Find a Benefit Auctioneer
If you're new to charity auctions or new to working with auctioneers, you might be unsure of how to go about finding and selecting a benefit auctioneer. Here are six steps auction planners can use to not just survive the selection process, but actually enjoy the conversations. #1: Locate some auctioneers If you're starting from a blank slate, visit the National Auctioneers Association website and use their "Find an Auctioneer" search tool. Auctioneers with a "BAS" (Benefit Auctioneer Specialist) credential indicates that he or she has had specific benefit auction training. By no means is that designation the deciding « Continue Reading »
November 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment
PODCAST: Avoid 3 Licensing Mistakes Which Hurt Fundraising Auctions
When I worked as an event planner for GE, I would have been mortified to inadvertently overlook a detail which could have shut down my event. But with so many rules to follow from municipal, state, and federal bodies,it's difficult to stay on top of everything. Licensing varies greatly from location to location, but listen to this podcast to learn of the three most common mistakes that happen with licensing, as it relates to fundraising auctions. Click below to listen to the podcast. « Continue Reading »
November 20, 2009 By 1 Comment
Three license laws affecting benefit auctions
When I worked as an event planner for GE, I would have been mortified to inadvertently overlook a detail which could have shut down my event. With so many rules to follow from municipal, state, and federal bodies, it's difficult to stay on top of everything. As a benefit auctioneer Florida ... and in Virginia ... and in Kentucky ... and in New Hampshire .. and in some other states, I've learned that licensing varies greatly from location to location. Nonetheless, here are three more common licensing mistakes I see as it relates to benefit auctions. (I don't hold myself out to be an expert in this area, so always verify with « Continue Reading »
