How you start the evening will have a direct effect on the rest of the night.  Consider that your guests have just been herded into the ballroom even though they were having a great time socializing with friends in the reception/silent auction area.  They arrive at their tables and lo and behold there’s a new […]

For those of you not familiar with table auctions, it’s a very popular revenue enhancer at many events.  The way it works is, you place an inexpensive centerpiece  at each table then mark a chair or place setting to decide who the “auctioneer” is and then conduct a mini-auction at each table to bid on […]

When people ask me about my job, I tell them that I work for fundraising auction consultants, handling client support and scheduling the consulting time for two auctioneers. And, I get to work from home, along the banks of the Russian River. Sound easy? Sometimes, but sometimes not. Founder Colleen Buckley calls us “wranglers”; she […]

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 […]

(Reflections on the eve of the Inauguration) We are hired by Democrats to raise money from Republicans.  Ok, I admit that’s a gross generalization, but we do have our feet firmly in both camps.  Colleen is at times surprised by the comfort with which I move between the two.  I find it relatively easy.  Except […]