Some people are intimidated about asking for items for their auction. After this past weekend's auction, several of us went out to dinner. (The auction was an afternoon event, so the day was still young for an evening meal.) I sat next to the Gala Chair, who does a great job with procurement, and visited with her about how she likes to ask for items. In the video, you'll hear a couple of nuggets she shared with me. https://youtu.be/5jd_JnuiV2k ... Read On >
Video
SuperSilent / Best of Silent Auction categories are becoming obsolete for some
If you decide to change your silent auction into an online-only auction (meaning guests use mobile bidding instead of paper bid sheets, **and** you don't set up displays for the silent auction), you will need to make some operational changes to your auction. The reason being is that some activities work only with paper bid sheets. Two quick examples: encouraging guests to bid on a particular line, and closing the silent auction item-by-item. A third activity that can be eliminated is the ... Read On >
What’s really happening when the auctioneer is missing bids
I asked a prospective client why she was shopping for a new auctioneer. "It's time," she said, "there were some things that happened. He missed some bids last year." Did he miss bids? Or did he ignore bidders? That's what I address in this video. At auctioneer school, I was taught to focus exclusively on my two active bidders until one of them dropped out of bidding. If one dropped out, then -- and only then -- was I to start searching for another bidder. Staying with my two ... Read On >
Part 2: How to control a loud auction crowd
If you want to quiet your unruly auction crowd, several strategies should be used together to better manage the group. Two weeks ago I taped Part 1 on this subject, during which I shared scripting advice. Strong leadership from the stage assures that guests know what to expect; it helps control the vibe. Watch that video to learn what each speaker should be doing to help manage the room. (I call it podium leadership.) Today’s video covers 8 other strategies. Incorporate one or all of ... Read On >
Part 1: Controlling a loud auction crowd with podium leadership / scripting
If you've got an unruly auction crowd that you need to quiet, several strategies should be used together to better manage the group. One technique is to show good leadership from the stage. I call it "podium leadership." It's managed via scripting. Every speaker on your stage needs to introduce the next speaker. There needs to be FLOW. Here is a more detailed example. A typical program for many religious school auctions that use a seated dinner format may run something like this: 1. ... Read On >