New silent auction entertainment ideas – flip books

You have 6 seconds to perform.

Last month I spoke at the Missouri Meetings and Events Expo “Boot Camp” in St. Louis. During the cocktail reception, I wandered by an activity that might be included in your silent auction.

A green screen was set-up in front of a camera. Fun props were piled on a table nearby. In essence, the subject (moi) selects a background and then “performs” in front of the camera for 6 seconds.

Record A Hit had several backgrounds.  I selected the St. Louis arch, given our location. Next I had to think of what I was going to do in front of the camera for 6 seconds.

Groups can perform together, but more than 4 or 5 people won’t fit into the frame.

Some guests sang and played air guitar; others danced or interacted in silly ways. I scanned the room for the fun Doubletree sales rep I’d met earlier but — not finding her — decided I needed to perform solo.

I opted to pretend like I was at a Rams game cheering on the team … which is pretending as I have as much interest in football as I do cooking.  Which is to say, nada.

The photos are assembled into a flip book.

The two videos at the bottom of this post and my photos will give you an idea of the book’s progression.

If you’re seeking some new silent auction entertainment ideas, this activity would work. You might consider charging, depending on your fundraising gala.

“Flip” through the book to enjoy a mini-movie.

You’ll want to check with Robert Broms of Record a Hit, but I think he told me that a 3-person crew can complete 75 booklets in an hour.   Knowing that, small galas would likely be a better fit, or — if you’ve got 1,000 people attending your event– you’d have to bring in more crews to create the books. I can see parents wanting to take this home to show the kids.

It took about 5 minutes for them to complete my flip book.  With the cutting and assembling required, there is more handiwork involved than creating a typical portrait.

Flip books would be appropriate for silent auctions.

But on the flip side (pun intended), that would be enough time for your guests to bid in the silent auction.  “Go bid on those silent auction items over there,” the team would tell your guest,” and we’ll have this ready in 15 minutes.”

If more than one copy of the flip book is assembled, it takes longer.  Had I performed with my Doubletree friend and we’d both wanted copies, the wait time would be longer.

I’ve written before about the best silent auction ideas for entertainment, but not posted them on the blog.  To ensure you don’t miss future ideas, subscribe to my free e-zine, Benefit Auction Ideas.