I sell my share of New York weekend trips consisting of a show, dinner, and hotel. Who doesn't enjoy a glamorous weekend? But what about those off-the-wall benefit auction items that might be better suited for the stomping grounds of my youth? I think back to the Kansas State Fair, where this next item would have been easier to procure and would have made a big splash with auction guests. The chance to compete in a demolition derby. Last month I read an article in the Orange County Register ... Read On >
Live Auctions
Gala auction smackdown – live auctions trump silent auctions
When groups are looking for fundraising ideas, many add a silent auction to an existing event. I've heard of and seen silent auctions at all types of fundraisers and friend-raisers: dinners, fairs, golf outings, networking events, sorority meetings, and church functions. The silent auction is casually added to the mix of activities with the hopes that it will generate some needed funds. And it does. Sort of. Make no mistake, your guests LOVE silent auctions! Many like them because they are ... Read On >
Live items should be on an auction schedule
If you're searching for some fundraising auction ideas that have an impact on the live auction, this is a simple but good one. Sometimes auction catalogs are misplaced before the live auction begins. Other times a catalog isn't printed. Some groups print a catalog, but forget to include the live auction items. Other groups can't include their live auction items into a catalog because the items weren't yet confirmed by the printing deadline. Whatever the reason, guests should have ... Read On >
How many live auction items should you sell?
"Sherry, how many live auction items do you recommend we sell in our charity auction?" I hear this question regularly and contemplate it in the same way I'd think about prunes: "Will three get the job done? ... Is eight too many?" ;) Here's what I've learned: If the gala's timeline has already been determined, my recommendation doesn't matter. A specific amount of time ... 20 minutes ... 45 minutes ... 70 minutes ... has been allotted. Now I need to work with the client to choose the items ... Read On >
Silent auction item or live: Where to sell it?
In my consultations with clients, I'm often asked for my opinion about items. "Should we include this airfare?" "Will we make more money if we package THESE together, or THOSE together?" "How should we promote this?" If the gala only has a silent auction, I'm never asked whether an item belongs in the silent auction or live auction - there's no choice! But if the gala includes both components, the "silent versus live" debate surfaces. In this post, I want to discuss how an auction item ... Read On >