A fund-raising auction is unlike any other charitable fund-raiser and offers a number of unique challenges. The goal is not simply to sell items, but to get the audience excited about the mission of your organization. We inspire the audience so they bid high and bid often.
A professional auctioneer generates more revenue as well as makes the evening more enjoyable for your guests. Quite often, organizations believe they will save money by using a volunteer or a local celebrity. While using a volunteer rather than a paid auctioneer may seem like a good idea, your organization will lose revenue. Novices leave money on the table because they are not able to maximize bidding.
As professional Benefit auctioneers, the Benefit Bidding staff understands this fund-raising environment better than any volunteer or celebrity. The goal is not only to sell items, but to get your audience excited about the mission of your organization. An effective auctioneer will inspire the audience to bid high and bid often. When planning your event, you will hire the best caterer, decorator, designer, etc. you can afford. Why try to save when it comes to the person motivating your guests to open their checkbooks?
Benefit Bidding also provides professional ringmen (Auctioneer Assistants). The days of using ‘volunteers’ to serve as bidspotters for a Fundraising Auction are over. The contributions made by professional ringmen at a benefit auction are much more valuable to the results of their respective events than a volunteer staff of bidspotters could ever provide.
Professional ringmen are trained on how to properly assist and communicate with your guests during the live auction. They are auction stimulators and are very valuable members of the auction team. They know how to entice the guest to bid a few more times on an item greatly increasing the money raised during the live auction.
Anyone can be shown how to serve as a ‘bidspotter’ in a matter of a few minutes. But ask anyone who knows and they’ll certainly tell you that there’s a huge difference between a professional ringman and a volunteer bidspotter.
Lloyd Cooper has been helping Camp Summit since 2009 and has been a tremendous asset to our event. Since his involvement, our live auctions are more entertaining, energetic and have raised more money than in the past. He not only provides consultation prior to the event but is fully engaged at the event – meeting key potential buyers and remembering them by name. He researches and learns about the items before the event and does an excellent job of enthusiastically explaining the details to highlight the value and build the anticipation of the sale. This year, with the help of his spotters plus the training he provided to our volunteer spotters, we were able to raise more than was expected, giving us a very successful event. Lloyd shows a high level of interest in each event and gives suggestions and ideas to help the committee raise more for the cause. He is a very skilled and personable presenter and brings an element of fun and entertainment to the auction.—Pam Chicol, Director of Development, Camp Summit, Dallas, Texas
