Ever heard the phrase, “Too many cooks spoil the broth?” At a benefit auction, you need someone to record the sale prices. That person is called a clerk, secretary, or recorder. Although an auctioneer could clerk his own benefit auction, it slows the sales process and isn’t a best practice. The auction clerk stands or sits near the auctioneer at the front of the stage. Oftentimes the clerk sits right next to me, while I stand at the podium. This is not a stressful job, but many ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
One silent auction display idea for jewelry, furs, and fashion
Gala auctions tend to have no shortage of jewelry. It's across the board at my events ... live auctions, silent auctions, bonuses, games, upgrades, etc. Some groups do a better job than others at showcasing the pieces. And then there are those random clothing items that are donated: dresses, furs, coats, and the like. Given that your silent auction is -- at its core -- a retail store, what's one good silent auction display idea for selling your wares? (Sidebar comment: Gosh, if you've spent ... Read On >
How to display a flag selling at a benefit auction
My team recently fielded a question by LinkedIn reader Ed in Oklahoma City. Ed was curious about how he should display a couple of flags he'd procured. He would be selling them in his benefit auction. Each would likely go into a separate package, but could be sold individually. He wanted ideas. "A folded flag doesn't seem too appealing to me," he wrote. Well, it might not be appealing. But that's how most are sold. Typically flags are folded and stored in a triangular wooden case ... Read On >
One of my benefit auction associates honored (in his own way) by this nonprofit
This is a little late in the game to publish (the signing event happened May 7, 2013), but I had to get this in print. (I was en route to California when this all went down, and simply lacked the time to acknowledge one of my talented benefit auction associates!) If you've had any of my floor crew work your gala, you know how frickin' awesome they are at selling your stuff, be that silent auction items or raffle tickets. Jerome is also talented in all-things-art. (You might want to read a ... Read On >
The right charity venues make selecting the school auction theme easy
A couple of years ago I spoke at an event in St. Louis and talked with the Silver Rails Event Center in La Plata, MO. It's a railroad-themed inn and railroad museum (based on an 1800s railroad depot), located on the historic Wabash line. I've written before about unusual venues for benefit auctions. As the event coordinator told me about her railroad-inspired space, it brought to mind another story. Here's a penny-pinching, common-sense suggestion ... If you want guests to walk into a themed ... Read On >