Unusual Fundraising Auction Venue: Airplane Hangars
"The plane! The plane!" This shot was taken standing inside the hanger, looking towards the runway. During the reception, guests hovered near the open hanger doors, enjoying the view.
One story in the August 2009 issue of Small Market Meetings was “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation Museums are on a Roll.” It showcased events held in transportation museums.
I haven’t conducted a fundraising auction in a transportation museum yet, but I have experience working in transportation facilities, like an executive airplane hangar.
An unusual auction venue can make a guest do a double-take when considering whether to attend your event.
“Oh neat,” they’ll think, “The party will be held in ____ <fill in the blank>.” If it comes down to attending your function versus another gala, they might very well opt for yours based on the unique auction venue.
That said, auction committees should take some precautions when booking a nontraditional space. Every auction venue has its challenges.
- At this locale, the wide open space allowed the auction procurement and decor committees to have great flexibility in adjusting the facility to meet their needs. One big hangar = lots of space for 200 guests.
- On the flip side, a super-slick, bright white concrete floor can be slippery to high heels, and – vice versa – heels or other shoe soles made of the wrong material can be unkind to a super-clean, high-tech floor.
- The right sound system is imperative. It must accommodate sound waves which will be bouncing off hard surfaces and echoing in the building.
An unusual auction venue - like an airplane hanger - can be a fun place to have a fundraising auction.
P.S. The article featured places like the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA, and the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ.
Ready for more fundraising auction venue tips? Get the FREE Benefit Auction Ideas e-newsletter.
© 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
Sherry, thanks for blogging on this topic. It’s good to know that we are on the right track. We hold our event in a hangar and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth all the trouble. It always looks fantastic the night of, but the work to get it there is something else! This year we were considering a different venue that is more “standard.” After reading your blog, I’m going to book the hangar again.
I appreciate you writing, Sue. I bet your event is fabulous! One thought … don’t be afraid to survey your guests with some different venue options and see what they say. (And maybe you’ve already done this.) I like unusual venues, but you are right … they can be “trouble!”
Sometimes we forget that non-traditional venues can actually excite people. I did an event in the 80s in the D/FW area in an empty museum building. It had restrooms and a nice parking lot, and the space was vast for our bars, tables, chairs and casino equipment for what we billed as a Great Gatsby party. The costumes were fun. Netted $50,000. Your story gets me thinking about a space-themed party in a nice airplane hangar.
In fact, we’re getting ready to enjoy a space themed event on Saturday. But alas, it’s in a gym.
Trackbacks
Leave a Comment