As auctioneers we tend to focus on sound, as we know that bad sound can make it impossible for the audience to participate however much they support the cause. On the other hand bad lighting can make it really difficult for those of us on stage.  The importance of lighting was highlighted recently at the […]

Lots of events work hard to find creative ways to provide meaningful engagement to their sponsors. Full-page ads in the catalog, banners hung around the room during the event, even brand placement on pre-event collateral are all benefits offered to event sponsors at various levels. Similarly, many events spend a lot of time trying to […]

It takes a lot of people to put on a good fundraising auction, and they all have to be in tune with the goals of the event. We acknowledge that we spend a good deal of our time straddling the line between “fundraiser” and “party” and work with our events to make sure we are […]

The experience attendees have at your event is based upon each and every interaction they have.  From the moment they arrive until the moment they checkout, every volunteer and staff member at your fundraising event is helping set the tone for the evening and shaping your guests’ perceptions of how things went. And while it […]

At more than one recent event, I have been handed a catalog with inflated values on the live auction packages. There is an inherent danger in this, as it stretches the boundaries of trust with bidders. The desire to establish a high value for the auction packages one works incredibly hard to obtain is understandable, […]

At the end of Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-award winning western, Unforgiven, Little Bill Dagget (Gene Hackman’s character) finds himself about to die at the hand of Edward Munny (Eastwood), one of the very criminals he’s spent his entire life protecting his little town from. “I don’t deserve this… to die like this,” Dagget says. Munny pauses […]

Reynolds & Buckley will be conducting a workshop entitled Fundraising Auctions in Hard Times on Tuesday, February 24th at the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County. Company founder and nationally recognized fundraising expert David Reynolds will be on hand to discuss the challenges facing anyone conducting a fundraising auction today, along with associates Greg Quiroga and […]

The question always comes up as we start working with a new client; “In the catalogue should we list value or opening bid?” In fact the choice is broader than that.  I have used the following options over the years, each has it’s own advantages and disadvantages. Value.  The advantage is that it is straight […]

As a result of the downturn in the economy, many events are finding it more difficult to get auction donations. In many cases the number of donations has declined, or the quality of some of the donations has declined. Still wanting to fill their auction with good lots, many events turn to consigned auction items […]

One of our consulting services most utilized by clients is helping put the live auction lots in order. We always strive to create a natural flow to a live auction that readily engages the audience and builds to the ultimate climax, the fund a need. Our ability to do this is based on our knowledge […]