After one of my weekend auctions, my team and I fielded a number of compliments about our professionalism. It reminded me of a story. Back in 2005, I worked with a national client who held a fundraiser in Washington, D.C. They had three items to sell in a live auction. Although they often held live auctions, it was the first time they'd hired a professional benefit auctioneer to oversee it. The timing was bad for me as I was flying back from some work in Germany. With weather and travel ... Read On >
Blog Post
Not a headline I like to read: Auction fundraiser attendance falls
Last week across the newswire, I read an article about an Idaho athletic booster auction fundraiser that was small in size, but not by design: Blackfoot Broncos Annual Fundraiser Attendance Falls. The school's Booster Club, located in Blackfoot, ID (population ~11,000) was raising money for athletic programs. The booster auction usually brings in several thousand dollars. The Booster Club President suggests that the economy is to blame for the lower attendance and fewer donations, but a ... Read On >
Questions and answers about benefit auction sound systems
Note to readers: I recently wrote this article for Charity Golf Events newsletter under the title, "Silence Doesn't Sell. Charity Auctions Need Sound Systems." Enjoy! Growing up, I remember an advertising slogan used by Coty perfume. “If you want to capture someone’s attention, whisper.” You might attract a lover with that approach, but you’ll never attract a bidder at your benefit auction. Auctions require a professional sound system that enables the auctioneer’s voice to be heard with ... Read On >
Three silent auction ideas that pamper the 40+ crowd
A few weeks ago I was in the kitchen of a busy Rockville, MD home. Prior to starting the procurement meeting, the six Moms and I chatted about all sorts of matters, including being over the age of 40. If you're organizing a school auction, it's likely that your auction guests are nearing or hovering around that age. If you're a nonprofit silent auction, some of your guests may only vaguely remember their 40th birthday party. So if you want us to bid ... be kind. Here are three silent ... Read On >
Who opens the headline entertainment at your charity auction?
A couple of times a year, the Red Apple Auctions team works a gala that has booked headline entertainment as part of its show. One of those events is the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) gala, one of Washington, DC's top fundraising events. This year the organization announced that over $1 million was raised. Among other things, that means that a lot of children in DC's public schools will have access to an arts education. I like to say, a bit tongue-in-cheek, that Red Apple Auctions ... Read On >