The Rule of Three struck recently. A neighbor had to explain an adage to her colleague. I had to explain the meaning of a quote in a group text. And an old saying or quote popped up in an article, giving variations and explanations. The saying? It's goes by different phrasing, but is generally: It's better to give from the warm hands of love and not the cold hands of death. Sometimes it's shortened to: Better to give with a warm hand than with a cold one. It's best ... Read On >
Comparing virtual vs in-person galas: List of pros
I have several clients considering their autumn galas. As they try to outguess the COVID virus, we've spent time comparing the pros and cons of in-person galas versus virtual galas. Perhaps this will be helpful to you as well. One point to know: For my discussions, the basis of comparison for a virtual gala has been Zoom. I've written about the types of virtual galas -- two-screen, one-screen, Zoom*, pre-recorded -- and having worked them all, I'm still a fan of Zoom because I believe ... Read On >
A/V Tips for Hybrid Galas
Two weeks ago at the 2021 National Auctioneers Association Conference & Show, I listened to Josh Reitan of AV for You share audio-visual tips for hybrid galas. It was timely information because this past Sunday, I worked my first hybrid gala. Martha's Vineyard Community Services produced quite the event, and it was hosted for the second time by Seth Meyers. In the video, I share those tips and also provide insight as to what I learned. Event Coverage & Photos ... Read On >
Why hybrid galas make guest interaction hard (auctioneer’s perspective)
In June 2021 during the complementary conversation, "The Future of School Auctions," the following question was posed. Sherry, in a recent conversation, you were skeptical that - as an auctioneer - you could address both an in-person and virtual audience. Do you have any additional thoughts on this, or how do you manage it? In the below clip from the event you'll hear my response. I think it's tricky to be equally engaging to both audiences during a hybrid gala, and a 50% effort to each ... Read On >
Nine archetypes of live auction bidders
Since starting my company 15+ years ago, I’ve observed several types of bidders. Here's the archetypes of the guests I see bidding in your live auction. You'll learn how to identify each archetype and better understand their motivations from this video. I’ve no doubt you’ll immediately recognize some of your donors from among these descriptions. Archetype: Buyers Archetype: IITWI (“In it to win it”) Archetype: Sympathizer Archetype: Starter Archetype: Helper ... Read On >