Auction Flu: An epidemic among Gala Auction Chairs

I’m keeping it real in this post.

My tradition has been to share gala auction tips in my articles, but there is an entire sub-section of posts I could write focusing on the cultural and sociological elements of fundraising auctions — articles that would go beyond the mechanics of “how to run a gala auction.”

• Articles about why Auction Chairs run an auction  (E.G. Though many are compassionate people who want to help their chosen cause, some have an underlying desire to demonstrate how an event could perform better.  Others get involved as a social outlet or to develop new skills.)
• Articles about the impact on one’s relationships when chairing an auction.  (Longtime readers might recall me sharing a true story about how your marriage might suffer from chairing an auction.)
• Articles about how the demands of an auction might affect your health.

And this latter point is where today’s article falls.

Last February, the Gala Auction Co-Chair of a Maryland school fundraiser couldn’t make it to her own event.  She set up the auction in the afternoon, went home to change, and told her husband, “I can’t do this. I’m going to bed.”

She was down for the count with what I call “Auction Flu.”

Okay, okay, maybe Auction Flu isn’t a “real” thing.  You can’t get diagnosed with this unique strain.

But you can get the flu — and I see many Auction Chairs succumb to it.

Auction Flu most often strikes a day or two after the event is over.  Until then, the Chair’s adrenaline powers them forward.

But once the auction is over, their body shuts down.  The late nights, lack of sleep and demands of the auction — coupled with the ordinary demands of family — wield power.  Auction Chairs find themselves in bed as sleep takes hold.

Occasionally, as in my client’s case, they get hit with the bug in the days leading up to the event.  They might put on a pretty face for the event — or not.  But in any case, they aren’t feeling festive.

You already know this, but don’t neglect your own rest.

Tomorrow we formally welcome winter with the December 21 solstice.  The holidays will consume our time over the next couple of weeks.  Many will travel to socialize with friends and family.

And then the 2017 auction season begins.

Take care of yourself!  Auction flu will start making the rounds.

I guarantee it.