Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post - Auction set-up

Stanka Kordic · 04-02-2002, 09:18 AM

Hi Patt!

Well, you certainly got things together here! Looks good, here's a couple of more ideas.

I would suggest including your price sheet on the display, along with your promotional items. Hopefully your prices are simple enough to not be confusing. By that I mean, say, START your prices at $1500, that way you'll get at least something and won't worry about it.

As for minimum bid, ask the committee how they base that. I usually reguest it to be started at 50% lower. For example, yours would be starting bid at $250. up at $50. increments. You have to decide it that's OK though.

A word of caution: yes you do run the risk of no one bidding. BUT, your cards are out, and this is a learning experience, someone MAY follow through later. Miss big-time donater here (ME) just this weekend donated where no one bid. Fortunately, I have a sense of humour and decided that because I wasn't there (it was in GA) everything went wrong. They must of thought the sample painting was for sale, and it didn't match the couch..

Go to the event and make sure that everything is in order, the bid sheet NOT COVERED UP (yes, its happened to me). Your sample painting near your table with a note that it is a SAMPLE (yes, mine has been clear across the room before, unexplained). In other words, it helps to be there to take care of your own interests. The auction committee is usually to busy to be taking care of details.

As for other towns..Go to the phone book and look for national charities foundations, like the Cancer Society or Diabetes or whatever. Call and ask if they do "Gala, Silent Auction Fundraisers". These are typically high-end functions that bring in $200 a ticket just to attend.

Good Luck Patt! Hope this helps.

04-02-2002, 09:18 AM	#6
Stanka Kordic SOG Member FT Professional Joined: Sep 2001 Location: Cleveland Heights, OH Posts: 184	Hi Patt! Well, you certainly got things together here! Looks good, here's a couple of more ideas. I would suggest including your price sheet on the display, along with your promotional items. Hopefully your prices are simple enough to not be confusing. By that I mean, say, START your prices at $1500, that way you'll get at least something and won't worry about it. As for minimum bid, ask the committee how they base that. I usually reguest it to be started at 50% lower. For example, yours would be starting bid at $250. up at $50. increments. You have to decide it that's OK though. A word of caution: yes you do run the risk of no one bidding. BUT, your cards are out, and this is a learning experience, someone MAY follow through later. Miss big-time donater here (ME) just this weekend donated where no one bid. Fortunately, I have a sense of humour and decided that because I wasn't there (it was in GA) everything went wrong. They must of thought the sample painting was for sale, and it didn't match the couch.. Go to the event and make sure that everything is in order, the bid sheet NOT COVERED UP (yes, its happened to me). Your sample painting near your table with a note that it is a SAMPLE (yes, mine has been clear across the room before, unexplained). In other words, it helps to be there to take care of your own interests. The auction committee is usually to busy to be taking care of details. As for other towns..Go to the phone book and look for national charities foundations, like the Cancer Society or Diabetes or whatever. Call and ask if they do "Gala, Silent Auction Fundraisers". These are typically high-end functions that bring in $200 a ticket just to attend. Good Luck Patt! Hope this helps.