In a couple of weeks, you can learn how to negotiate with an auctioneer in this live Easy First Auctions course. But before starting your negotiation, you've got to select an auctioneer. This article examines one marketing tactic an auctioneer may use to sway your opinion. ++++++++++++++++ Have you ever heard of any of the hubbub over truth-in-advertising cases? There’s no shortage of stories. Taylor Swift’s Cover Girl ad was pulled when it became known that the mascara she was wearing ... Read On >
Auctioneers
Complaints about your auctioneers
PART I Over the years clients have shared some frank remarks about their past benefit auctioneers. "When he said, "'Give some money so they don't have to sleep in a railroad car,' it just felt like he wasn't honoring our youths' experiences." "I honestly don't think he took the time to understand what we do. He kept talking about kids, but we help more adults than children." "He's one of these good ole boys. I can't say he fits in with our crowd." "Our group is loud, and she ... Read On >
Who gets to use your microphone?
One of my projects in my last year of working at GE was planning the annual senior management meeting. That’s when all of the senior team convene in an upscale hotel and spend 3 or 4-days in executive-level strategy and training sessions. Although we had internal speakers, we also hired outside facilitators and motivational speakers. The vetting process was aggressive. I spent hours selecting contractors, watching their promo videos, reading articles, studying websites, and calling ... Read On >
Gala budgeting: Where smart Auction Chairs spend money
Budgets for fundraising galas vary dramatically by organization. Whereas you might have access to a free venue and a donated meal, other groups must pay for those expenses. Nonetheless, if we look at the budgets of gala committees across the country, we see some common expenses. The second chart to the right shows how those expenses often rank. The largest checks are often written to the venue and the caterer. (In the case of a hotel venue, the venue and caterer are typically the ... Read On >
Is your benefit auctioneer angling for a one-night stand?
It’s a provocative title, n'est-ce pas? But as we are nearing Valentine's Day, it is oh-so-appropriate for us to be frank about this subject. Here's a dirty little secret: As you're calling different auctioneers, trying to find one for your benefit auction, you should know that most of them are secretly hoping for a one-night stand with you. In and out. Perform, collect the check, and leave. These types of benefit auctioneers are not seeking a long-term relationship. They hope that you'll ... Read On >