How many live auction items should you sell?
Is 30 items too many? Is 3 too few? Here are guidelines to help you determine how many items you should sell in your live auction.
Live Auctions
The archetypes of live auction bidders
In a typical fundraising auction, 10% to 20% of the crowd will actively participate in the live auction. Among those participating, I’ve observed some distinct personalities. From Starters to Buyers, here are my live auction bidder archetypes.
Best time to close the silent auction? Before the live auction begins.
With few exceptions, the best time to close the silent auction is before your live auction begins. Guests will bid in your live auction and donate to your paddle raiser more freely when they know exactly what they’ve already bought in your silent auction.
Best ballroom layout for an auction with dance floor
If dancing is part of your auction, the best ballroom layout is *not* to put the auctioneer on or in front of the dance floor. Instead, here’s what works best.
Headline entertainment goes AFTER the fundraising auction
If you’re having headline entertainment at your benefit auction, be thoughtful about scheduling in order to best maximize the money raised.