
What settings are good for live auctions?Ī number of settings and venues are tailor-made for live auctions. Learn more about each type of charity auction.ģ. The costs associated with all of these logistics can quickly turn the event into an expensive endeavor. Complicated and expensive planning. Live auction planning requires the organization of many logistics.While some guests will turn bidding into a friendly competition, others might feel uncomfortable bidding against those they know. No anonymity. Open bidding can be a double-edged sword.Since guests will essentially be participating in a live performance, they’ll have less control over their event experience. More structured. The live auction is the most structured.When guests know they have only one chance at winning an item, they’ll bid and bid fast. This urgent nature can be a huge motivator for bidding. More urgent. With live auctions, people will be bidding and winning items on the spot.Guests’ desire to beat out friends and peers on certain items can heighten the bidding spirit! Friendly competition. Live auctions are the only type in which bidding isn’t anonymous, which adds a touch of friendly competition.This makes live auctions one of the best types of fundraising events for engaging donors.

More engaging. Because the auction is the central focus of the night, bidders will be more actively participating.Live auctions are highly effective and engaging fundraising events, but they’re not for every nonprofit or audience. Should your organization host a live auction?īefore committing to hosting your own live auction, you and your team should carefully consider a few major pros and cons. To make quick decisions and keep up the pace, it will be the auctioneer’s sole responsibility to settle any disputes and have final say over all proceedings.Ģ. Live auctions are fast-paced and often imperfect.
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Step 8: Give the auctioneer full say over proceedings. Make sure guidelines are clear from the start, so bidders know what’s expected. Step 7: Inform winners of expectations.īy placing a bid, the winning bidder has agreed to buy the item at the stated amount and assumes full risk and responsibility. The winner is up to the sole discretion of the auctioneer. Bidding on that item will close, and it will be sold off to whoever placed the final, highest bid. The bidding for each item remains open until no more bids are placed. While there’s no official minimum raise set, the auctioneer will generally guide the minimum raise amount by calling out increments based on bid activity. Step 5: Have the auctioneer guide the bidding.īidding must start at the minimum bid amount. Once spotted and prompted by the auctioneer, the bidder will call out the amount they wish to bid. While there are other ways to facilitate live auction bidding, bidders will most commonly bid by raising bid paddles to get the auctioneer’s attention. The starting bid dictates the minimum amount that the first bidder can bid. As with silent auctions, the starting bid is set at around 30-50% of the item’s market value. The auctioneer will start the bidding on each item at the starting bid amount. Step 3: Start at the starting bid amount. Volunteers will either bring the items onto the stage for guests to view, or an image of the item will be displayed on a projector behind the auctioneer. Once guests are settled at their tables, the auctioneer will open the program by announcing the first item.

They’ll each receive a unique bidder number and a bid paddle with their number on it, which they’ll use to place bids throughout the live auction.

To participate in the auction, each bidder must pre-register at check-in on the night of the event.

Guests place bids by calling out amounts, raising bid paddles, or otherwise catching the auctioneer’s attention.īy rewarding donations with amazing prizes, all types of auctions are incredibly effective fundraising events. During live auctions, an auctioneer runs the bidding by introducing each item and guiding bid amounts. Live auctions are a type of charity auction. We’ll walk through all the ins and outs of these classic events and point you to some handy resources to get you started planning your own. If your organization is considering hosting its first live auction, you’ve come to the right place. They’re a perfect way to raise financial support while hosting an unforgettable night that will keep your donors engaged with your work for years to come. Live auctions are among the most popular and reliable fundraising events for nonprofit organizations.
