Menu

Orgs We've Helped!

TEXT or CALL me!

407-791-1360 in Tampa, FL

Find me on LinkedIn!

VIDEO: Auction Style!

NAA Credentials

Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS)

VIDEO: 1000 Guests!

The GALA 411 Blog

Editor of this How-to Charity Auction book

Boost Your Benefit Auction book

“70-Point Venue Checklist” FREE DOWNLOAD

Free Gala Venue Checklist

Grab this 70-point Venue Checklist when planning your Gala Fundraiser!

Find It Now

>

© 2025 GALA GAL, Inc. - All rights reserved.

Firstyme WordPress Theme.
Designed by Charlie Asemota.

« Previous Page

►I do Online Auctions too!

There’s a wonderful group I work with, Jewish Pavilion. I did their gala for many years, but when Covid happened we switched to an online auction, and it’s been so successful that we’ve never looked back.

While they have staff who maintain the spreadsheet of auction donations, I manage the Auctria online auction platform for them, and it’s a big job!

This year we had 370 items! It not only ensures that there are lots of items to interest everyone, but we hold back 100+ items initially and add 20+ new items each day the auction is open. This allows us to email the registered bidders (and those on the email list not yet registered) that “New Items were Just Added!”

Need help with your online auction? I can do that, too.

Licensed in North Carolina

It’s been a great pleasure these past 2 years to serve as the auctioneer and ambassador for The Humane Society of Charlotte. Their event is filled with beloved dogs attending the evening, and everyone has such a great time!

Just a reminder that I’m licensed in North Carolina and look forward to working with more nonprofits there in the future.

Summit 2023

Every year there’s just one special gathering of many of the top-tier benefit auctioneers each August. It’s a fabulously fun family reunion of sorts, the only time each year that we all get to see each other and catch up. We chat long into the night, not only about our lives, but always about what’s happening with benefit auctions across the country.

This year I was in charge of putting together a team to present about consultation topics and the various systems we use, from spreadsheets to Google docs to CRMs.

Many thanks to the amazing co-presenters for all of the time and effort (and hours!) they put in to make is such a huge success!

LuxGive trips

I want to give a shout out to LuxGive, a consignment trip provider specializing primarily in luxury private homes instead of hotels or resorts.

I was fortunate enough to go to one of their properties (shown here, St. Maarten within walking distance of Maho Beach) and thus got to experience their entire customer service process for myself.

They were exceptionally flexible in helping me find just the right property from their many gorgeous options. I was pleasantly surprised by how knowledgeable and helpful my booking assistant was. They helped to set up airport transfers and a meeting with the concierge.

Once we arrived, our concierge was fantastic, helping with meal bookings, recommendations and any questions we had. She gave us her cell phone number to chat anytime via Whats App, and that was a very nice personal touch.

The property was exactly as promoted and just as gorgeous as the photos, and we ended up having a wonderful guest experience.

If you’re looking for a trip for your live auction, do give LuxGive a look.

Centerpieces

You might be surprised to know that one of the topics auctioneers around the country talk about the most is centerpieces! We see sooooo many, and every week someone shares the good (or bad!) centerpieces they’ve seen in our national private fundraising forum.

This is a gorgeous example of centerpieces done well. The height lifts the eyes up and helps fill a big space, yet it’s easy for guests to see and converse with each other, and easy for your auctioneer to see both guests’ faces and their all-important bid paddles for the live auction and donation appeal.

An easy Live Auction display

While the best Live Auction display is large (36″ x 48″) foamcore posters on easels in a high-traffic area, sometimes you won’t have the space or the budget for that (though your printer may be able to include the few posters for free – just ask!).

For a simple, straightforward and still effective display, simply print the power point slides and attach with spray adhesive to 11″ x 14″ posterboard backed by a 12″ easelback. Both of those can be found on Amazon for less than $25.

Private home fundraiser

So a wealthy supporter offers to host a fundraiser at their lux private home? This can add a fresh fundraising opportunity to your annual lineup, but it has its pros and cons.

Yes, it’s a destination venue, as many will want to see the home and rub shoulders with the (sometimes famous) attendees. And typically, the host would cover some or all of the costs to use the space, maybe even cover the cost of the catering.

But private home events are often more of a party with some fundraising thrown in, rather than a focused fundraiser that’s a great party. Typically there isn’t seating for everyone, there’s no easy way to gather everyone to a focal point for any program, auction, or appeal, and the sound quality can be a real issue.

Make sure to spend sufficient planning time on sound, lighting (very important if the program will be outside!), bid paddles (yes, they must have bid paddles) and crowd control options.

And hopefully, the crowd invited to a private home event will have both the means and the intention to support your cause that night and into the future.

This is how to promote jewelry

Jewelry, like artwork, can be an iffy thing in a live auction. Is it the right color, shape, style, length, size? And can a piece of jewelry stir up as much demand as a luxurious trip or a posh private chef?

In all auctions, we want items where everyone wants to “own it for a moment.” If you want to own it, but so does she, and so does he, but you want it badly, that’s how auction bidding goes up and up and up.

Jewelry typically has fewer bidders fighting over it, and sometimes it can be difficult to know if you’ll even get the opening bid you want. You definitely don’t want a long silence when no one bids.

However, if you’ve got a great piece, it’s likely to do at least as well in the live auction as it would in the silent auction, so make sure you promote it like this poster, with a huge, detailed, clear photo AND the actual piece right next to it with a mirror so folks can see themselves wearing it. They have to envision owning it to bid on it.

Event Flow, not Times

There’s no one perfect timeline, as many factors influence when your live auction and Paddle Raise should take place within the evening’s events. I like to begin the live auction as the first guests are finishing their entrees and start to look around wondering what’s next to entertain them.

After the auction, it’s time to reinforce the mission with a short (2-3 minute) compelling video or live speaker. Then it’s right into the Paddle Raise and perhaps finishing with a Paddle Drop to collect every last dollar in the room in the most respectful and inclusive way.

The one thing guests don’t need to have is exact times each part is supposed to happen. You’re HIGHLY likely to get behind at some point due to slow transitions, food service, longer speakers, etc., and it’s an added pressure you don’t need. Simply give guests the order of what to expect and you’re all set!

Next Page »