In June 2021 during the complementary conversation, "The Future of School Auctions," the following question was posed. Sherry, in a recent conversation, you were skeptical that - as an auctioneer - you could address both an in-person and virtual audience. Do you have any additional thoughts on this, or how do you manage it? In the below clip from the event you'll hear my response. I think it's tricky to be equally engaging to both audiences during a hybrid gala, and a 50% effort to each ... Read On >
Virtual auction event
Three examples of a hybrid gala
If "virtual" was the buzz word of 2020, "hybrid" is the buzz word of 2021. I'm in discussions with several clients about their summer and fall galas, talking about the best ways (for them) to combine the best of virtual with the best of in-person galas. In today's video you'll hear of three examples I'm currently exploring with nonprofits. https://youtu.be/UBaZhXVUfEY ... Read On >
What is latency in a virtual gala? (And why it matters.)
Virtual galas have their own jargon, and one word that quickly became a common term in spring 2020 was the word “latency.” For the purposes of a virtual gala, it refers to the delay between what is happening "live" and what the audience sees via the livestream. The term is most discussed when we talk about two-screen solution virtual galas because it requires that we change the format of the live auction. And by "change the format," I mean we don't have a traditional live auction and ... Read On >
Run your own (auction gala) race
When I started my business, a friend advised me to hire a coach who was no more than five years further along in their business than I was. That way, the coach would still remember the challenges and fears relevant to someone like me. The coach would be able to share tools and strategies appropriate for me -- a solopreneur -- instead of techniques more appropriate for someone operating a business with several employees. Similarly, when planning your auction gala, it doesn't make sense to ... Read On >
Predicting proceeds: Forecasting auction results at your virtual gala
A common question from those planning a virtual gala is how much they should expect to raise from their auction. If you've run an in-person gala in past years, you can use your past yield results to project your revenue. Projections will differ, depending on the type of virtual gala you'll be hosting. If you've not hosted an in-person gala, your projection will be more of a shot in the dark -- yet I'd still encourage you to host a virtual gala this year. Your sunk costs are considerably ... Read On >