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 >
Auctioneers
Getting that extra bid — or 2, 3, 4 — for an auctioned trip. (Hint: Make it approachable.)
Trips and vacations are often strong sellers in a fundraising auction. To push higher sales and get even more guests to bid, I try to make a vacation sound approachable to anyone sitting in the room. Two ways I do this are: 1) sharing how to get to the destination, and 2) providing other tidbits about the area, hoping to intrigue a guest to bid. Committees can also share this type of information, plus they can add maps to slideshows and online auction sites to help guests place a ... Read On >
How I remember donor names at the auction gala to carry the conversation forward
How to remember donor names at the auction gala Over time I've learned methods to remembering names -- rhymes, association, repetition. My memory has never been perfect but I've managed well enough. These days -- likely due to a combination of age, too many life tasks, and the volume of people I meet -- I've struggled.. Each year brings new Gala Chairs, committee members, Board members, donors, and guests. The following year, I want to remember those returning people *and* meet new ... Read On >
In a crisis? Update your auctioneer before the gala.
I've made my share of embarrassing gaffs onstage at fundraising galas. Most of them were my own fault. Other times, I felt like any awkwardness could have been avoided, had the nonprofit been upfront with me about internal issues. Life isn't a bowl of cherries. Bad situations happen. Even nonprofits with great missions and stellar achievement records can find themselves in a situation that is uncomfortable, at best. Financial mismanagement. Leadership debacles. Internal strife. ... Read On >
That time I refunded the client
I have many degrees from YouTube University. One of my most recent “degrees” is in boulder retaining walls. One contractor does a good job of teaching viewers the difference between a well-constructed and a poorly constructed wall. He explains why contractors build it a certain way (cost; ease) versus what the consumer desires (quality; durability). In his videos, viewers see all the failing walls he’s paid to fix because the boulders weren’t placed correctly the first time. He’s ... Read On >