Some A/V companies offer more avant-garde speakers, like these which are often used for benefit auctions in local museums.

My recent articles in Benefit Auction Ideas (my twice-a-month ezine) have focused on suggestions for great benefit auction themes.  Today I’m moving this theme concept in a new direction.

Some elements of your gala are optional; others are required.  Having a theme is optional.  Offering items that people want … and guests with money to buy them … is required.

A sound system falls into that latter category.  It’s required, even for small crowds.

(I once used an at-home “toy” karaoke sound system for an auction of about ~30 people.  For that size of crowd, it worked.)

Sound systems are usually nothing to admire aesthetically, but there’s nothing to say you can’t get creative and have your sound system support your auction’s theme.

And I love the idea that an optional benefit auction element (the theme) is supported by a required element (the sound system).  It’s that old adage of killing two birds with one stone.

Check with your A/V company to see what’s available.  Do they have speakers that resemble something else?  Maybe they have speakers that look like boulders, which is perfect for an outdoors-y or caveman theme.

What about speakers that conveniently tuck into potted plants or blend into foliage?  That would be great for your jungle, tropical, and Hawaiian themes.

One A/V company here in the Washington, D.C. area gets a lot of mileage from these speakers.  The company uses these at virtually all benefit auctions held in museums.  The round, fluted column pedestal of the speaker matches the Ionic column style found in so many of D.C.’s landmarks (WWI monument, Jefferson Memorial, the White House, countless museums).  These also work great in school gymnasiums where they fit in beautifully with a “Night at the Museum” theme.

To be clear, I’m just as happy when a client uses “speakers on a stick,” which are those boxy-looking black speakers common at galas.

But if you’re trying to visually improve your benefit auction, finding the right audio speakers might be next in your bag of tricks.

© 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co.  All Rights Reserved.

P.S.  Don’t forget about Benefit Auction Ideas. I mentioned that earlier in the post.

If you want to be trendy with your auction theme or benefit auction centerpieces, here’s the color to use.

PANTONE® 18-2120 Honeysuckle: the official color of 2011

Until stumbling across this last week, I had no idea there was a color of the year.  (Naive of me.)

In addition to paint, the perky shade has already been rolled into Visa cards and wedding dresses.

Pantone says that the vibrant color of honeysuckle “lifts the spirits and imparts confidence to meet life’s ongoing challenges.”  (That’s what you were going to say, too, right?  )

Some of the auction centerpieces at this gala used the honeysuckle color. These were scattered on highboy and long tables.

(Pantone is a company that provides a standardized color reproduction system based on four inks: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.  This system allows different manufacturers in varying locations to produce the same color on fabric, paint, plastics, and so forth without having direct contact with one another.  Referring to a color by its Pantone number eliminates confusion.)

It’s an intense color.  If you want to use it predominantly in your benefit auction theme, here are some ideas:

How about washing your gala in a bath of honeysuckle-y colored lights?

• Patterned invitations
• Dynamic accent color on your website
• Splash the color into your auction centerpieces.  There is no shortage of flowers in this shade!
• Bathe your benefit auction in honeysuckle-inspired lighting
• Give auction guests a burst of color with honeysuckle-colored gift bags
• Blink-y necklaces also come in this shade.  Greet guests with one, or use it in your raffle.
• Small silent auction items in this shade would be fun.  Maybe an ice cream maker, dog dish, or glassware.

If you go with the color, send me photos.  I’d love to see how you incorporate it.

For other hot ideas like a cool new auction theme or easy auction centerpieces, get your FREE subscription to Benefit Auction Ideas. You’ll also enjoy a bonus — the annual Auction Item Guide.

© 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co.  All rights reserved.

A Beach Ball theme brings out the bright colors.

The official theme was “Beach Ball,” but the overall effect was definitely more on the “beach” and less on the “ball.”

When spring break isn’t quite here and winter has been around for what seems like eternity, everyone is eager to relive some of the summer fun enjoyed so many weeks before.  Sand, sun, and water may still be months away, but it’s nice to have a party that reminds us of the warm sunshine that is coming.

This school did a lovely job of brightening up a fellowship hall to make it festive and fun for guests.  Guests did their part by showing up in colorful beach-themed wear.  (No swimming suits were seen, but lots of flowered shirts.) 

Here are some of the theme elements at this auction which really stood out.

Maybe some of these will trigger ideas for your own event.

1.  The decor started outside

I loved how they found a lifeguard chair and put it outside the school.  I asked one of the auction co-chairs where on earth they’d found a lifeguard chair.  She wasn’t sure, but thought it came from one of the parents.  (It’s amazing what we keep in our garages, isn’t it?!)

The registration team is suited up, and ready for the crowd.

Upon entering through the glass doors, guests saw another display.  This one was of Adirondack chairs with a palm tree.

Carrying a theme through from beginning to end is what makes it special.  The earlier you can introduce the theme, the better.  Imagine the impact that would have been made if guests would have been picked up and escorted to the auction in a 1950 Dodge woodie station wagon .. the kind used by California surfers?  That would have caused a stir!

2.  The Registration Team Wore Costumes

Signage was put onto surfboards.

By the time our guests reached the registration table, they’d seen two decor elements and now — at check-in — they are being greeted by lifeguards.

I like how the uniforms make it easy for guests to identify someone who can help them.  It’s easier to see a red shirt with a lifeguard cross on it than it is to, say, see a namebadge.

3.  Signage had a beach theme

The colorful signage scattered throughout the venue was cut into the shape of surfboards.  This is a simple idea to incorporate into your auction.  All you need to do is decide upon an appropriate shape for your theme.

For more ideas, scroll down this blog post.

(c) 2005-2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC

P.S. Like what you’re seeing?  If so, you’ll love my free e-zine, Benefit Auction Ideas. Subscribe here.

The cabana was used to sell raffle tickets.

Swim up to the bar for drinks.

Colorful tablecloths brightened up the space.

These are easy centerpieces for anyone to make.

This decor piece was the first element guests saw upon entering through the double-doors.

Masks added a lovely touch at this school auction.

Venice is a popular fundraising auction theme.  The imagery of the city is perhaps most closely associated with its famous canals, followed by its infamous Carnival.

But as canals are challenging to build into school gymnasiums and fancy hotels , I most often see Carnival masks conveying a Venice auction theme.

Venetian masks are festive elements to use, easily portable, and come in a range of price points that fit most any fundraising auction gala.

At a school auction, both hand-crafted and purchased masks were used. They were placed on the silent auction tables in a transformed gymnasium and used as non-floral centerpieces.  (The auction mask centerpieces were made by the students.)

At a non-profit fundraising auction, elaborate masks greeted guests on the stairwell as guests entered the silent auction.

At a non-profit fundraising auction, the venue was the Ritz-Carlton and the masks matched the more upscale location.

Like at the school, the non-profit opted to use the masks in several ways. They served as a decor element throughout the venue and were incorporated into the centerpieces during the dinner.

P.S.  You might also want to read my posts on shrinking floral auction centerpieces and selling auction centerpieces.)

Ready for more fundraising auction ideas?  Get your FREE Auction Item Guide.

© 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC. All Rights Reserved.