Post on 28-Mar-2016
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Elias ArjanPerformance Auctioneer
Hosting a live benefit auction is an ideal way to create an exciting event,
build relationships and generate revenue. A high-quality auction is fun,
gets your organization noticed and will generate buzz in the community for
months or even years to come.
By retaining the services of a professional & experienced auctioneer,
fundraising consultant and event planner, it’s possible for a successful
benefit auction to make up to 10 times the initial cost.
This document is an offering to
demonstrate the value of conducting
a live benefit auction. If you are ready
to start the process of creating your
fundraising event - CLICK HERE - to
contact Elias directly.
Seven Steps To A Successful Benefit Auction
©Mike Byrne www.factionco.uk
1Make it an EventYour supporters and donors want to be engaged with the organization and
each other. They want to discover what the organization does, how it does it,
and be invited to participate and support your cause. An auction is the most
entertaining way to acquire donations and a fun, well promoted, educational
and exciting event will convert attendees into supporters and donors.
Seven Steps To A Successful Benefit Auction
Serve food & beverages and include speakers and entertainment as part of the evening. Make it something people want to go to, even if they don’t currently support the organization. A well-produced event will generate more new donors than most email, Facebook or online campaigns.
Seven Steps To A Successful Benefit Auction
2Hire a professional auctioneer, fundraising consultant and event planner.
3Plan well in advance
Yes, there is that member on the board who is a good speaker, or your friend who did
that event last year but to generate revenue at a fundraising auction requires both a pro-
fessional and a comprehensive strategy. All the aspects of running a live/silent auction,
locating a suitable venue, managing the service providers, training volunteers and so on
require a professional team.
The money you invest in the event will be directly proportionate to what the event will
generate. Even as a non-profit and/or charity you can find the basic resources to hire a
few professionals to manage and train staff and volunteers or otherwise you will end up
wasting your valuable time and energy.
A successful benefit auction will gear up 6 months to a minimum of 90 days before the
event. Many benefit auctions are planned as soon as the last one ends for next year.
Allocating the proper time to acquiring auction items, securing sponsors, finding staff
resources and ensuring all the elements are well thought out will ensure the event is
executed perfectly.
Seven Steps To A Successful Benefit Auction
As part of a good marketing strategy you need as many incentives as possible. Advertis-
ing a $1,000 or $10,000 raffle, or whatever suits your event will get people in the door.
Make sure everyone gets one ticket for attending and then up sell more tickets, before
and during the event. This way everyone will stay until the end of the night to see if they
win something in a raffle. If your event is well produced and you have the right auction-
eer (see tip #2) people who may have only come for the raffle will leave having bid and
won an item.
Keep the night lively, give away minor prizes throughout the event. Simple keepsakes like t-shirts, dinner vouchers or other items relevant to the organization will inspire an envi-ronment of giving and excitement.
Seven Steps To A Successful Benefit Auction
Another way to scare bidders away is to have everything too expensive, too cheap or just
too much of the same thing. An all art auction may work if that suits your audience, but
even then why not mix it up to get even more people interested in attending.
In most cases a variety of items with different price points is preferred for a benefit auc-
tion (a professional auctioneer will provide you the details regarding this). Bundle lower
priced items into larger themed packages, create a silent auction for the overflow or
even start a year round ebay store for the organization.
Don’t forget the value of experiences in a live auction, they often sell for higher value then merchandise and are eas-ier to obtain.
Seven Steps To A Successful Benefit Auction
6Have a highly efficientregistration/checkout
This may not seem like an important tip to an auction novice. However once a few hun-
dred people arrive at the event to check in and obtain their bid card you realize that this
is essential. If your registration is a disaster you have lost before you even begin.
Likewise, imagine a crowd eager to leave after a long night and stuck in a slow check out
to pay for their auction items. People will leave, you’ll have to spend time tracking them
down for payment and good will is lost.
You can position volunteers in these positions, however they will need solid supervision
(they are collecting your money) and good pre-event training. In the pre-event consult-
ing your auctioneer will support this process.
Seven Steps To A Successful Benefit Auction
7Get Started!Many organizations do small events or silent auctions believing that they do not have
the resources for a larger event. Think small-be small. Aim high-touch the stars!
“Elias was instrumental in transforming our annual fundraiser, in particular our live auction. He successfully helped plan and create buy in with our staff and board. His expertise showed itself in the final results - we saw a 40 % increase in overall revenues and we quadrupled our live auction profits!”
- David Jordon, Executive Director
Vancouver Int. Fringe Festival
Once you commit to having an auction you’ll be amazed at all the items that start to be
offered and the opportunities that open up. Once the momentum builds, you’ll be on
your way to having the most successful fundraiser ever.
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
- Goethe, Faust I
Seven Steps To A Successful Benefit Auction
Imagine you took a luxury art dealer, a empowerment coach and a circus ringmaster and had them at your event working the crowd? This is Elias Arjan - Performance Auctioneer. Elias has been on stage for 20 years as an actor, comedian, pre-senter, lecturer and auctioneer.
After a successful entertainment career Elias moved into presentational sales and luxury auctions and has generated over 15 million dollars at live events around the world. This vast experience allows Elias to cater to each client ensuring your event will be unique, excit-ing and successful. Elias is so confident that he can increase your revenue that he will guarantee it in writing, making hiring him the easiest decision your organization will make this year!
What is a Performance Auctioneer?
Elias ArjanPerformance Auctioneer
604-600-9550elias@eliasarjan.com