Sunday, March 24, 2013

Okay... after a few busy weeks I'm back on blogging!! Hope you enjoy my new post!!!

Charity Silent Auctions: A Few Observations, Ideas and Opinions!!

This past weekend (March 21 - 24) I had the great pleasure and time to once again pour my
Black Dog Cellars wines at the High Museum Wine Auction and Events in Atlanta Georgia.
What a great time!!

As the event progressed and during the silent auction portion of the afternoons festivities I couldn't help myself but remember back to my wine auction administration days when I was Executive Director of Nashville's Wine Auction, l'Ete du Vin.

As I watched and participated in the silent auction, I once again, with some amusement and chagrin, observed the familiar practices and "techniques" of a select few participants that I have come to observe and I'm afraid to say expect now at most charity silent auctions. These very few individuals main objective seems to win at all costs the lots they are bidding on at whatever cost or possibly lost potential revenue to to the charity or cause. Course I am happy to say that most people attending these great fund-raising events are very generous and outstanding people! However as it's said... "There's one in every crowd".

So I thought it would be fun in this "Big Dogs Blog" post to put together a few thoughts about silent auctions and put a "label" to those personalities that we all have occasionally interacted with at silent auctions.

So here goes...

I have identified five separate type of silent auction "characters". They are:

1. The Blocker Talker
2.The Double Team
3. The Slow Hand
4. The Pennapper
5. The Buzzer Beater

The Blocker Talker
Okay, the Blocker Talker is the person near the last few minutes of a silent auction, likes to record a bid, then conveniently hover directly in front of the bid sheet, engage in what seems to be an important conversation and block access to the bid sheet and future potential rival bidders. I am afraid I have seen this particular technique be successful a number of times. SOLUTION: Of course the effective solution to this practice is to simply courteously ask the blocker to excuse themselves. After they have pretended not to hear you the first time, simply restate your request and access to the bid sheet will be cleared.

The Double Team
The Double Team is essentially two Blocker Talkers who team up to purchase a lot they want to share.
SOLUTION: The solution is essentially the same as above. I usually gently step a little between the two Blockers and state my request for access to the bid sheet with something like "Hey it's all for a great cause"!! However sometimes my sense of humor never seems to be "appreciated"  by them!

The Slow Hand
The Slow Hand is the person who picks up the pen with one or two minutes to go before the lot is closed and ssslllooowwwlllyyy writes their name and bid on the sheet in order to simple run out the clock. I've even seen people trace over their name from their previously leading bid just so someone wont outbid them at the end. SOLUTION: Only thing to do here is to stand close, lean over with pen in hand and encourage them to write a little faster. Then proceed to set a great example and write your bid as fast as possible in order to give them a final opportunity as well.

The Pennapper
It's just what you think. Someone who waits till the closing seconds of the silent auction, places a bid then keeps the pen so other will have to waste precious seconds looking for a pen to place a new bid. Trust me I have seen this work! SOLUTION: Simply bring your own pen to the event.

The Buzzer Beater

This is the person who will record a bid even after the bell has sounded closing the bidding but volunteers have not arrived yet to retrieve the bid sheet. SOLUTION: You can certainly consult with the event officials but unless they or a volunteer witnessed this, there is not much to be done. I'm happy to say this technique is not widely used but occasionally it does make an appearance.

I've always enjoyed a great silent auction and for non profit organizations, it's a fun and effective means to raise much needed revenues. As I said earlier, 99% of those who participate in silent auctions are fun, generous and outstanding people there to assist a great cause and have a fun evening.
It is my hope that the remaining one percent who unfortunately sometimes forget the mission and purpose of the auction is to raise much needed revenues for the charity will take a breath, make a timely high bid and then... step aside and encourage others to come on up and bid!!

So enjoy those auction events, have fun, bid high and bid often!
Hey... it's all for a great cause!!

Thanks everyone!!

"The Big Dog"