[youtube=http://youtu.be/aOwES5nLsTo]Auction Hero was created by Mike Grigg with Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services to help drive donation results prior to a fund a need or appeal. It comes from the theory of “All they can say is no.” The professional fundraising auctioneer will ask the crowd if there are any auction heroes in the audience that would like to go above and beyond the call of duty and ask the guests to give a gift that is meaningful to them above the highest pre set level of the fund a need. Here is a video to demonstrate.
Category: Global Green
A-list celebrities and even local celebrities can add to the excitement of your event. Celebrities make great emcees, but do not use them as your auctioneer. They are not trained and do not call auctions for a living. If you are going to have celebrities at your event try to market your event with their names in the advertisement if they are definitely booked. This will add a whole new draw to your event.
Try to stay away from celebrity attendees coming on stage and auctioning items; simply let them come on stage to promote an item and pump up the crowd and let the auctioneer do the bid calling. If you are going to have a celebrity as a guest speaker have the auction and fundraising first then the celebrity can speak after all the money is raised. Remember, you are there to raise money first and entertain second.
 Most of your auction attendees have more fun with the live auction versus the silent auction at a charity event. However, in order to sell a lot of low to mid-range valued items for a charity event in a short period of time and keep your audience captivated, a silent auction should be utilized.
Charity auctions should have no more than 8-12 items or about 45 minutes max in the live auction portion. These should only consist of your highest ticket items. People are not attending a charity/benefit event to hear an auctioneer all night, however in order to capture their full attention for the big ticket items, a professional auctioneer is essential. In some cases more items can be worked into the schedule, just ask your auctioneer what he or she recommends. Silent auctions are ideal for charity events that have a strict time-frame and a lot of items to sell. Attendees can enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while they place silent bids on some of the lower to mid-range priced items, which can get them in the mood for the higher dollar items to be held later in the live auction. Silent auctions have their purpose during the cocktail hour, but in order to maximize the key items’ values you must do a live auction as well. Ask your fundraising consultant about some of the great techniques to maximize bidding during your silent auction because the average item brings about 60% of value. Elite Auctions has a revenue enhancer to bring that number up to 80%! |
| If you are not holding a charity event and have more of a ballroom setting with many items to sell, then the most effective way is by live auction. All-day events like prop auctions, memorabilia auctions, or any type of multi-item auction work best with a live auction event, because the silent auction format simply takes too long and does not keep the bidders’ attention. |
For most charity events I highly recommend doing a plated dinner versus a buffet. Mainly because with a plated dinner your guests are already in their seats and relaxed, ready to pay attention to the speakers and auctioneer. A buffet takes a long time to before every table is served, which pushes the auction and fundraising way back to a time that people are exhausted and maybe a little too tipsy to give full attention to what you are there to accomplish… raise money!
The secondary reason for having a plated dinner is simple… it is more classy and makes your guests feel like they are at an event that demands respect and high dollar giving. Remember, every small thing that you do to enhance your event has a positive impact on your bottom line. You not only want your guests to leave your event giving every last dollar and then some, but also talk about how classy and fun your event was to their friends and peers. This will result in higher attendance for your next event, which can result in making more money.
Selecting a professional auctioneer may very well be the most important decision that a board will make regarding fundraising. The question should be: “What is not having a professional charity auctioneer going to cost?” Not, “What is a professional auctioneer going to cost?” Skimping on cost here can be devastating to your final results and make an auction drag on forever. When an auction has down time and begins to drag you will completely lose the attention of your audience which results in bidding lag and decreased revenue. Those extra bids that a professional will draw from the crowd will more than pay for the auctioneer’s fee.
All auctioneers will have a different fee structure. Some charge flat fees, some charge commission based on sale amounts and some charge a combination of both. I give my clients a different array of choices and let them choose what will work best for them. All expenditures have to be considered when booking an auctioneer (i.e. travel, lodging, food, first time customer versus long time customer, ringmen, etc.). If you feel confident with the auctioneer and his integrity, he should be fair with you. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with a bonus clause in the auctioneer’s contract if he exceeds your expectations.
Five reasons why you should book an experienced auctioneer:
- Experienced auctioneers know how to interact with the audience and drive the prices of your items to their full potential.
It is a proven fact that experienced auctioneers can easily attain 15%-50% higher bids for your items.
- Experienced auctioneers have a passion for their profession and understand that their performance reflects the quality of their public perception.
Having a volunteer call your auction is like having an accountant work on your car.
- Experienced auctioneers understand that the main goal of any event is to raise money, whether it be for a charity, business, or organization.
Auctioneers can make donating money fun, emotional and competitive!
- Experienced auctioneers understand that keeping the audience entertained and having fun is the key element to a successful auction event.
According to a National Auctioneers Association survey, FUN is the number one reason why people attend auctions.
- Experienced auctioneers have all of the necessary tools to make your event unforgettable.
Good auctioneers are always training and educating themselves about the latest trends in the business.
Successful auctioneers book up quickly so make sure to secure your date as soon as possible. If you are a repeat customer, book the auctioneer immediately following your event for the next auction. If you are a new customer try to secure an auctioneer within six months or more prior to the event. Sign their contract and get it back to them in a timely manner to ensure your date is marked on their calendar. Charity auctioneers tend to be busiest from October through the beginning of December and from mid January through May.
If you do not have any recommendations from other organizations as to who may be a good selection, here are some simple questions that you can ask an auctioneer when interviewing…
- 1. Do you specialize in charity auctions?
Auctioneers that specialize in charity, benefit and fundraising auctions are going to be best equipped to handle all aspects of your event from the silent auction, to live auction, to “the fund-a-need”. There are many proven “tricks of the trade” that a professional charity auctioneer will know versus a volunteer or someone that is inexperienced in fundraising.
- 2. Are you bonded as an auctioneer in the State of California?
Auctioneers that conduct business in the State of California are required by law to be bonded by the state. If the company/auctioneer you are interviewing is not bonded by the State of California be very cautious to proceed with them.
- 3. Are you a member of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) and your State Auctioneers Association?
It is not mandatory that auctioneers be members of the NAA or their state associations, but all auctioneers that are members of both associations are required to follow a strict code of ethics while practicing as a legitimate auction company. They will also tend to be more versed on the local and national laws/regulations. Be cautious hiring auctioneers that aren’t members of both associations because they may not be looking out for your best interests.
- 4. How many successful auctions have you completed and how many years have you been in the business?
Choosing an auctioneer that has not conducted more than 50 successful auctions and/or been in the auction business for at least 5 years may not be in your best interests. In order for auctions to have a positive outcome, they must be handled by an auctioneer that has the proper knowledge and experience, which can only be gained by conducting a multitude of successful auctions over a legitimate time period.
- 5. Do you have any auction videos that I can view?
An auctioneer should be able to show you videos of him in action. If he does not have videos, request to attend one of his upcoming auctions so you can see how he works with the crowd to entertain, raise money and if his personality will mesh with your organization.
- 6. Do you charge for your services?
Auctioneers that don’t charge for their services are not going to take your event seriously. Many times, they are not requiring payment for services because they don’t have the ability to maximize your profit. Ask the auctioneer what their fees are and use your judgment in determining if their fee is fair. Remember, good charity auctioneers will pay for themselves with one extra bid that a volunteer would not be able to achieve. “Having a volunteer or unqualified auctioneer handle your event is like having your accountant work on your car.”
*Remember, a good charity auctioneer has lots of tips that can maximize your event’s profits using a multitude of different techniques. Auctioneers that have conducted several auctions have seen many different money-making ideas and know what works and what doesn’t work (i.e. timeline, types of auctions, item order, fund-a-need, etc.). DON’T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR AUCTIONEER’S ADVICE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING MONEY AT YOUR EVENT… THIS IS WHAT THEY DO FOR A LIVING.