What experience do you want your benefit auction guests to have at the end of the night? Should the vibe be from a lively full-on dance band? A separate post-party? A quieter conversation. Watch this video to learn the positives, negatives, and considerations to hosting the following activities for your guests. All can be used as a classy way to end your gala --which is your favorite? A. Band / DJ B. Afterglow party C. Post-party (Don't miss the video of the flaming coffee ... Read On >
Benefit auction consignment: Knowing the right questions to ask
When a client is using consignment offerings, I like to ask the consignor a lot of questions about the package. I want to fully understand what the guest is buying, so I can better describe and sell the package when I’m onstage. I go far beyond merely reading the sheet the consignor provides to the nonprofit. I watch YouTubers describe the destination and hotel. I research airfare to the location and determine driving times to popular spots. I read through dozens of Yelp and ... Read On >
Creating a great fundraising auction paddle & bid number
A photo is worth 1000 words, so in today’s video, I show you some potentially problematic bid paddles compared to some great bid paddles. It’s so easy to produce a good bid paddle. You can generally print them yourself, if you desire. There's no need for fancy sticks, colors or shapes. You’ll see what I mean in the video. To see what some of these bid paddles look like in a real auction environment, watch the new (tongue in cheek) game show where you get to be the auctioneer. It's called ... Read On >
Seth Godin tested a new bidding approach for charity auctions. Here’s what I think.
Last month my brother sent me a link to Seth Godin's blog. Seth had written an article about charity auctions and announced a new auction software platform he was testing. Seth's desire to create some software for the nonprofit industry stemmed from observing under-performing charity auctions. In his opinion, guests expect to score a deal on their purchases, and that's the exact opposite of what charities want guests to do. To shift the auction into one with more generosity built into it, ... Read On >
The hot new auction game show: “Spot the Bidders!”
Alright Auction Planners, it's time for "Spot the Bidders," the new game show that puts YOU in the auctioneer seat! In this 1-minute video, can you find the bidders in the crowd? Nonprofit revenues depend on it, and a well-designed bid paddle and large bid number are two critical components for success. Post how many bid paddles you find (before I reveal them to you at the end of the video) by leaving a comment. https://youtu.be/GwghaC0dkmg ... Read On >