Elite Auctions Attends 64th International Auctioneers Conference and Show

Elite Auctions Attends 64th International Auctioneers Conference and Show

July 23, 2013 – Bakersfield/Los Angeles-based fundraising auctioneers/consultants, Mike Grigg, AARE and Connie Waddell, joined their fellow auctioneers from across the world at the National Auctioneers Association’s (NAA) 64th International Auctioneers Conference and Show at the J. W. Marriott in downtown Indianapolis, July 16 – 20, 2013.

Mike graduated from the prestigious "World Champion College of Auctioneers" and is a published author of the book: "Maximizing Your Charity Event's Bottom Line.”  He has participated in many charity, benefit and fundraising auctions as an auctioneer and fundraising consultant.  He has a Bachelor's degree in Business Marketing and graduated from the Fundraising Auction Academy.  Mike serves as Past President and current member for the California State Auctioneers Association (CSAA).

Mike has called hundreds of auctions in California cities like Los Angeles, Bakersfield, San Diego and San Francisco, to name a few, and knows what it takes to get the buyers to competitively bid and drive the prices up while delivering a clear message about each organizations’ cause.  His attention to detail and heart for each organization makes him one of the best in the business.  Mike has mastered the fund-a-need and has developed many revenue enhancers to help boost his clients' proceeds to record breaking numbers.

Mike was the 2004 California State Auctioneers Association Rookie Bid Calling Champion and was crowned the 2009 California State Auctioneer Champion.  Mike began his career in the auction business in 2002 and believes that auctions are the purest form of price realization.  His recent accomplishments include a charity auction to benefit Solutions for Change which raised $1.7 million, a three-day prop, costume, and set piece auction for NBC Universal's hit show, Battlestar Galactica presented by Propworx where almost 1,000 lots were sold, and helping a private high school in Orange County triple their previous year’s fundraiser result.

Professional Memberships:

• Past President & current member of the California State Auctioneers Association (CSAA)


• Member of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA)


• Past Board Member for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central California (Evening of Wishes Gala)


• Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate (AARE) designated by the National Auctioneers Association

Connie Waddell is Co-Founder and CEO of Elite Auctions with specific responsibilities overseeing the general operations and marketing department. She has over 25 years experience in marketing.  Her success comes from utilizing her experience and skills to zero in on the exact objective of any marketing campaign and the precise market to target. She was recently awarded first place for brochure design by the California State Auctioneers Association.

She has been recognized throughout her career as an accomplished business professional with an entrepreneurial spirit, outgoing personality, and with excellent communication and leadership skills.

Ms. Waddell graduated from the Professional Ringmen's Institute (PRI).  The Ringman (professional bid spotter) is a very important member of every live auction team whose contributions and responsibilities include an accurate interpretation of the bidder’s interest and effective communication of each bidder’s participation to her auctioneer.

While involved with several charitable organizations, two very dear to her heart are Autism Speaks and Kern Autism Network in an effort to aid her grandson, Adam, and other children on the autism spectrum.

Among dozens of educational seminars, highlights included: how to excel in any interview process with clients and companies; how to build a community of online buyers; how to transition from free to a fee with non-profit groups; and more.

Additionally, attendees took advantage of the opportunity to network with their fellow auctioneers from across the globe.

Along with industry-leading education, the annual Conference and Show also featured several exciting auction competitions.  This year, the NAA celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the International Auctioneer Championship (IAC) competition, which crowns the world’s top male and female auctioneers. The annual conference also included the world’s largest auction tradeshow, which provided a large, engaged consumer base. In fact, more than 900 auction professionals attended the 2013 event, making it the largest Conference and Show since 2009.

To learn more about the Fundraising Auction business visit www.EliteFundraisingAuctions.com. To view a schedule of events that were held at the 64^th International Auctioneers Conference & Show, visit conferenceandshow.com

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About Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services:

Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services is the premier auction and consulting company in the state of California. We provide non-profit organizations with the tools and expertise to maximize their ability to knock fundraising auction and event revenue out of the park.



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Welcome Tracy Karbus... New Elite Auctions Fundraising Consultant

We would like to welcome Tracy Karbus our newest Fundraising Consultant to the Elite Auctions and Fundraising Service's family...

In proving her reputation for creating possibilities, Tracy Karbus utilizes her 18+ years of corporate and non-profit experience working with businesses and individuals, helping them maximize with businesses and individuals, helping them maximize resources and leverage their time and philanthropic efforts.  In particular, she can relate to the challenges and opportunities of many non-profits as she spent the last 14 years in various roles within the non-profit sector.  From Regional Director, Board Member, volunteer, and event coordinator, she has a grasp around the various roles that make up a successful development team and the challenges associated with 'the ask.'  She also understands the importance of creating community as a key component of any sustainable giving program and has been known to receive unprecedented funding commitments in communities known to be stringent with funding awards.

A big picture thinker with an eye on details, she maintains a relentless commitment to research and preparation as a fundraising consultant with Elite Auctions.  She enjoys partnering with development teams in crafting customized fundraising auction strategies to support the individual needs of each organization.

Certificate - Micro enterprise Skill-Building AEO Training Institute

Certificate - Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management

Auction Hero

[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.

Fundraising Charity Event Checklist

Here is a handy checklist from start to finish that you can use.  Not all topics on the checklist are covered in the post, but many are self explanatory.

9 – 12 Months prior to Event

• Choose an Event Chair or President


• Select your Committee Coordinators


• Figure out a budget


• Choose a venue


• Choose a theme for the event


• Figure out who your target guests will be

6-8 Months prior to Event

• Develop a marketing plan


• Figure out the event timeline


• Choose an auctioneer


• Choose the Audio/Visual company


• Choose your entertainment


• Begin procurement and table sales (ongoing until event)


• Create a sponsor kit with different levels

3-5 Months prior to Event

• Viewing of the venue with committee members


• Advertising and PR for the event


• Develop your fund-a-need cause


• Send out invitations/save the dates


• Figure out how you will collect the money at the event

1-2 Months prior to Event

• Begin setting up your staff


• Secure volunteers


• Finalize the event’s timeline


• Get the live auction list to the auctioneer to put in appropriate order


• Finalize the Program and send to printer


• Finalize any videos or auction Power Points

0-1 Month prior to Event

• Let your auctioneer know if there have been any changes


• Start packing supplies, displays, and anything you need to bring to the venue


• Send out a Facebook announcement, website blog, or email blasts to remind guests


• Let the venue know how many guests will be attending


• Finalize the guest list


• Finalize all forms that will be needed at the event


• Meet with your committee and volunteers the day prior to the event

Post Event

• Finalize your accounting


• Send out thank you announcements to guests


• Have a post event meeting with committee and auctioneer


• Go over pluses and minuses


• Set the date for the next event


• Book the auctioneer for the next event if you were happy with him


• Send out a press release of the organization’s success


• Take a short vacation!

How to Deal with Celebrities at Benefit Auctions

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.

Live Auctions vs. Silent Auctions

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.