This is a 3-part blog post, explaining why benefit auctions should identify guests with bid numbers instead of names. The first post looked at the benefits of using numbers in a Fund a Need. Today, we examine using numbers in the live auction. The third post turns to using numbers in the silent auction. +++++++++++++++++ Why you should use numbers instead of names during your live auction. I worked an auction in New York a few years ago. The live auction process started to break ... Read On >
Live Auctions
Part 1: The raging debate on auction bid numbers versus names for an appeal
Let me preface this subject with two quick stories. Story #1 While flying back from Eugene, OR, after last weekend's auction, I had lots of time to watch some movies, including Life Itself. The movie is a documentary about Roger Ebert, the Chicago Sun-Times' film critic who recently died of cancer. Ebert shared an amusing story about the challenge of being a movie critic. At work, he sat next to a gentleman who reviewed other arts. Co-workers would come up to his colleague and ask, ... Read On >
Should you put that trip in the silent auction or live auction?
Ever worked and worked and worked to get a great beach house / ski lodge / overseas trip donated, only to have two of them show up as donations in the same year? When it rains, it pours. Or maybe you’re challenged in that two donors have similar homes, and you’re not sure if it makes sense to sell both them in the live auction. Here are some suggestions for determining which vacation home should be sold in the live auction. A home within driving distance. All other things being relatively ... Read On >
Auction item donation idea: A season of snow plowing
With winter storm Juno hammering the Northeast right now, I'm left to wonder ... since when did we name snowstorms? We used to say, "The blizzard of 2012." Now storms are humanized for the dramatic effect, making it sound as if the storm -- er, Juno -- is personally attacking us. Good grief! On the plus side, the frightful weather has made it a perfect week to share this auction item donation idea. In 2012, one of my Wisconsin school auctions sold a season of snow plowing. If the weather ... Read On >
What’s the BEST number of auction items? (Live auction)
Enjoy this series on determining the best number of auction items for your event. How many silent auction items are best. Today's post on how many live auction items are ideal. How many online auction items are good. The influence of mobile bidding on terminology. Back in 2009 I wrote a post about how many live auction items you should sell. I'm making some updates. What's the best number of auction items for our live auction? The two biggest factors affecting your ideal number of ... Read On >