Many people assume that a professional auctioneer’s impact begins and ends with the selling of your items at the charity auction. Not so. Here’s a true story of how a benefit auctioneer can impact the quality of donations you receive in the months preceding your event. As a recent gala was ending and the guests were chatting and checking out, I was visiting with one of the founders of the organization. While he congratulated me on the success of the night, a woman rushed up and ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
11 pointers to selecting a benefit auctioneer
I've recently been hearing a string of complaints from auction planners dishing on their benefit auctioneers. How s/he read every word (or totally ignored) of item descriptions. “And he doesn’t read well,” she added. How s/he was unfamiliar with the details of the packages, even though the auctioneer had the information in advance. “We even went through each item,” the Development Director sputtered. How s/he sells too quickly. “We worked with him for three years, and he still ... Read On >
VIDEO: 1930s club sets backdrop for the benefit auction theme
When I started working with this group in 2010, the organization was moving away from a sit-down dinner. Goodbye traditional gala. Hello something new. The "something new" has changed at each event. For instance, each venue is different. Quality entertainment is hired (I'm part of this). Unique staging and props are used. The event is well-run, from registration to flow to checkout. Generally speaking, this is what I'd call a high production value event. It's classy. There is an ... Read On >
VIDEO: Chairing a school auction? Your marriage may suffer.
Last year I ran a course called Easy First Auctions. It was designed to help nonprofits launch an auction correctly so they avoid volunteer burnout. I could have just as honestly promoted it by writing, "Here are the elements your auction should include in the early years, so you don't get a divorce." (Intrigued? The DVD of that class is available here.) Auctions put enormous stress on school volunteer chairs. Though I've talked about this extensively in my Profitable Auction Blueprint™ ... Read On >
Sustainable benefit auction ideas for plates and utensils
Happy Earth Day! If you like to be gentle with planet Earth, you might be thinking of ways to "green your gala." Adapting your plates and utensils is a good start. These items were for events that forewent a sit-down dinner and instead served heavy hors d'oeuvres. At a Girls Inc. benefit auction gala I worked a few months ago, the menu consisted of thick crab dips, cheeses, finger food, and the like. Showing off the food were these plates and utensils from Earth Friendly Maryland. My take ... Read On >