Professional Fundraising Auctioneer VS. Professional Auctioneer

So you’re having a fundraising auction event and you need an auctioneer… one of the board members says:  “My uncle is a world champion cattle auctioneer and he is willing to donate his bid calling services.”  The rest of the board says that’s spectacular and your event proceeds with a great cattle auctioneer at the helm.  After the event your guests say things like: “I couldn’t understand the auctioneer, he was speaking so fast” or “I wanted to bid but I couldn’t understand the auctioneer.”  These are very common problems that occurs at fundraising events all the time and are easily preventable. 

Cattle auctioneers and many auto auctioneers have quick chants with minimal filler because their job requires them to sell a ton of items as quickly as possible to “professional” bidders that understand a super fast chant.  The vast majority of fundraising auction attendees have never been to an auction before and will have no idea what a “fast-chanting” auctioneer is saying.  

What happens when a bidder doesn’t understand the auctioneer?  THEY DON’T BID!!  What happens when they don’t bid?  YOUR CHARITY RAISES FAR LESS MONEY!!  You have to ask yourself if it is worth a “free” auctioneer when he or she is raising you significantly less proceeds for your non profit or school.  

Here is an example of a ten item auction that could potentially happen without a professional fundraising auctioneer in control of your live auction:

Item 1:  His and Her Bicycles worth $350 sold for $150 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 2:  Flat screen television worth $1,000 sold for $600 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 3:  Box of wine worth $500 sold for $300 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 4:  Trip to Napa Valley worth $1,500 sold for $900 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 5:  African Safari worth $4,500 sold for $3,000 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 6:  Latin dinner and dance party for 10 worth $2,000 sold for $1,200 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 7:  Nice Men’s watch worth $1,000 sold for $550 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 8:  Puppy worth $900 sold for $600 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 9:  Dinner for two with wine at nice restaurant worth $300 sold for $200 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 10:  Firehouse dinner worth $200 sold for $150 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

In this example the loss was $4,600!!!!  This doesn’t include improperly running the fund a need at all and it has already cost you nearly $5,000.  We have consistently seen results like this and far worse with volunteer auctioneers and auctioneers that don’t specialize in fundraising.   

ARE YOU REALLY GETTING HIS OR HER SERVICES FREE OR ARE YOU SACRIFICING FUNDS RAISED THAT WILL FAR EXCEED WHAT YOU WOULD PAY A PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISING AUCTIONEER.

1. Experienced fundraising 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 for your items.

2. Experienced fundraising 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.

3. Experienced fundraising auctioneers understand that the main goal of any event is to raise money, whether it be for a charity, business, or organization.  Auctioneers make giving money fun, emotional and competitive! 

4. Experienced fundraising 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.

5. Experienced fundraising 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.

Written by Mike Grigg, BAS, AARE of Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services (http://www.elitefundraisingauctions.com)

Top Ten Biggest Mistakes Made at a Fundraising Auction Event

10.  Poor item display and lack of power point slides or video to spotlight items during the auction.

9.  Poor lighting

8.  Using no or small print bid numbers

7.  Not making adequate announcements during silent auction

6.  Starting the live auction too late 

5.  Not enough or no ringmen (bid spotters)

4.  Beginning the live auction after the sit down dinner is over

3.  Insufficient sound system

2.  Not using a fund a need or doing a fund a need incorrectly

1.  NOT USING A PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISING AUCTIONEER AND CONSULTANT!!!!!!

Bakersfield, CA Fundraising Auctioneers become only Benefit Auction Specialists (BAS) in Kern County

Bakersfield, California based Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services (http://www.elitefundraisingauctions.com) attend Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) course in Las Vegas.

“The National Auctioneers Association created the Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) professional designation to provide Auctioneers with training in planning and conducting successful benefit auctions, as well as techniques to establish a successful and profitable benefit auction business. BAS students are taught how to market themselves to prospective clients, aid clients in coordinating a well-planned auction, market the auction and create a fun and exciting event that generates more revenue for clients and auction businesses.”  (National Auctioneers Association)

Furthering their knowledge of benefit auctions directly benefits Elite Auctions’ clients, assisting them to bring in more qualified attendees, more money and more recognition for each cause.  By surrounding themselves by other qualified benefit auctioneers, Mike and Connie have developed their network of the best fundraising auctioneers in the country.  The concepts and ideas taught at BAS are cutting edge and specific to fundraising auction events which differentiate a professional BAS fundraising auctioneer versus a volunteer or auctioneer with other specialties donating their time.  Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services increased nonprofit organization’s and school’s results by 39% when following volunteer auctioneers from the previous year’s event in 2013.

To attain the BAS designation, candidates must complete 21 hours of classroom training. Upon completion

of classroom activities, candidates must submit a detailed, written auction summary report and proof of at least six benefit auctions. Auctioneers must complete 24 hours of continuing education every three years and pay an annual designation fee to main their BAS designation.  Only about 1 in every 10 auctioneers have the BAS designation (this number is approximate and fluctuates each year based on renewals and continuing education requirements).

We have decided to get rid of our silent auction... Is there something that we can do to replace the revenue?

First off, we are seeing this trend more and more with nonprofit fundraising events.  The main complaints of a silent auction that we see and hear are:

1.  It is difficult to get enough quality items to properly fill a silent auction.  The correct ratio of items to guests should be one item for every three or four guests.

2.  The items we do get are just not that desirable for our guests.

3.  There is too much "manpower" involved.  It takes several volunteers manning tables, moving items, setting up, organizing for checkout, etc.

4.  Bidders are hovering over their favorite items and not letting other people bid.

5.  It takes too long to get to desirable bid amounts.

Well I'm here to tell you that a silent auction can be replaced with efficient, fun, profitable revenue enhancers that take very little manpower and procuring.  We are finding that our clients that embrace revenue enhancers in place of the traditional silent auction are making just as much, if not more revenue and their guests are having a lot of fun as well!

So what are these revenue enhancers you ask?  Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services have developed several options:

• Heads or Tails
• Champagne Diamond
• Live Board
• 100 Yard Dash
• Auction Chicken
• Sign up Board
• Etc.

Remember doing things the same way and expecting different results is the definition of insanity!  Try spicing up your cocktail hour with revenue enhancers... Just contact Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services to find out more.  Sign up for our monthly auction secrets and tips here:  http://www.elitefundraisingauctions.com/sign-up-page.html

Visit our website at http://www.elitefundraisingauctions.com or call 661-477-2287.

Written by Mike Grigg (Professional Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant)

Fundraising Consultant wins California Ringman Competition

Benefit auction consultant and professional ringman, Connie Waddell with Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services wins the 2013 California State Auctioneers Association Ringman Championship in San Diego! What's a ringman you ask? Read on for more...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Oct. 23, 2013 - SAN DIEGO -- Benefit auction consultant and professional ringman, Connie Waddell with Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services wins the 2013 California State Auctioneers Association Ringman Championship in San Diego, CA!  What is a ringman you ask?  As defined on Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services' website (http://www.elitefundraisingauctions.com):  Professional Ringmen is an auction term used to describe a person or persons who work the auction floor before, during and after the auction and are primarily used during the Live Auction. They work directly with the Auctioneer, your staff and your guests. You may know them as “Bid Spotters”. They have received in-depth training on all aspects of the auction process, are experienced in bid spotting and making guests feel comfortable to make just one more bid to support your cause. Simply put, Ringmen can help you take your Event to the next level and can easily add an additional 10 -15% to your Live Auction revenues.

It is simply impressive to see a fundraising ringman win a competition that is dominated by cattle and auto

auctioneers and ringmen.  Connie attended the Professional Ringmen's Institute in Rogersville Missouri several years ago and has been honing her skills in the ring ever since by assisting with fundraisers and real estate auction events.  Her company, Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services also won Best Auction Firm Website in 2013 in the California State Auctioneers Association marketing competition (http://www.elitefundraisingauctions.com).

Connie is from Long Beach, CA and her company is located in Bakersfield, CA.  She has a passion for the auction industry with a special place in her heart for nonprofit organizations.  Her company has literally raised millions of dollars to benefit all of the wonderful causes that nonprofits and schools have to offer in all areas of California.

Live Auction VS Silent Auction at Your Fundraiser

Mike Grigg of Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services (http://www.elitefundraisingauctions.com) discusses utilizing live auctions vs silent auctions at your charity or benefit event.  Silent auctions are best utilized for selling lower dollar items in large quantity and live auctions are best utilized for higher dollar items that are more exclusive.  Silent auction tip: Always use a staggered close technique with different colored balloons (or something of this sort) to mark your different sections.

Marketing Your Fundraising Auction Items

Mike Grigg of Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services explains the importance of marketing your live auction items prior to your benefit auction event.  http://www.elitefundraisingauctions.com