Hiring a professional auctioneer for your fundraising auction should be one of the first steps you take during the planning process. If you ask your board president or a devoted volunteer to conduct your auction, your bottom line may take a hit. Asking someone who is not a professional auctioneer to conduct your auction will not save you money. You can actually lose money. Here are the top four reasons to hire a professional auctioneer.
Professionalism
A professional fundraising auctioneer is like your quarterback. They must be able to control the dynamics of the entire event. They are well prepared and equipped with a thorough knowledge of the items for sale, as well as the type of audience attending the event. A professional auctioneer will make your guests feel comfortable and not embarrass or intimidate your guests.
Pre-Event Consultation
Auctioneers do not just show up on the night of the event, conduct the auction and then leave. A professional auctioneer will offer you consultation and guidance throughout the event planning process leading up to your event including strategy around the Raise the Paddle or Fund a Need. Your Raise the Paddle should be the single highest revenue driver of your auction and you should be thinking through your strategy before the night of the event. An auctioneer can help you with crafting the Ask as well as executing a very smooth Raise the Paddle.
Auction Support
A professional auctioneer has conducted hundreds of auctions. They know which silent and live auction items are successful and they have also seen which items can fall flat. A professional auctioneer can help you with putting your auction items in order as well as give you additional fundraising ideas on how to raise more money at your event. Have you ever heard of the Last Person Standing? Bidding Frenzies? Rock, Paper, Scissors? That’s OK, your auctioneer has, and they will suggest other avenues for bringing in more dollars at your event
Engagement
Your auctioneer can and will engage your audience. A talented auctioneer uses their charisma and personality to create excitement, drive bidding and effortlessly command the attention of the crowd. A good auctioneer can also use humor to interact with and put bidders at ease. You do not want to lose your guests’ attention during your program and with the leading support of your auctioneer, your guests will stay connected to your program all the way through to the end.
Hiring a professional auctioneer will be one the best decisions you make when planning your next fundraising event. We have a host of auctioneers with whom we work and with whom we have great working relationships. We know their styles and presence on the stage and can help you identify who may be the best fit for your organization and event. Reach out to us and let’s talk about how we can help you find the best auctioneer for your next fundraiser.