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

Michele Rushworth · 04-12-2002, 05:54 PM

Just call up the national organizations and offer to be a donor.

I'm participating in five auctions in the Seattle area this year and I'm learning from each one. At the first auction there were no bidders on my work -- I should have done more homework before offering to donate to that one! All the other items were very low-priced.

The second auction happened a month or so ago and my work was purchased, but for much less than I would have expected. The good news is that the people who saw my work at the auction and the winning bidders live in a very expensive part of town. Exactly the right demographic where I want my work to be seen. My sample was not prominently displayed, though, and my item came up in the live auction at the end of the night, after 60 other items. I think the reason my item didn't go for much is that people had spent all their money by then!

For the third auction I made sure to put a sign on the my sample saying it was an EXAMPLE of my work and that the winner would get a portrait painted of a person of their choosing. Even if it says so in the auction description, people still think the sample is the piece that is for sale! The private school that held that auction is the one that Bill Gates sends his kids to, so it's the right demographic too! The school won't tell me who won the bidding or how much it went for so I have to wait for whoever it was to contact me. I think I'll try to attend the auctions myself from here on out to see who bids, and lso to try to set up my display myself too! I have no idea how the work was displayed for that event. I sent two framed samples, a portfolio binder and some postcards.

The next auction coming up next month is a big black-tie gala where people spend $400 just to get in the door. They have strict rules about "no advertising" so people wouldn't know how to contact me later if others were interested in my work. Obviously I don't like this set up, but it is THE big event in town.

We'll see how these pan out for me and what kinds of referral business it leads to down the road!

04-12-2002, 05:54 PM	#8
Michele Rushworth CAFE & BUSINESS MODERATOR SOG Member FT Professional Joined: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,460	Just call up the national organizations and offer to be a donor. I'm participating in five auctions in the Seattle area this year and I'm learning from each one. At the first auction there were no bidders on my work -- I should have done more homework before offering to donate to that one! All the other items were very low-priced. The second auction happened a month or so ago and my work was purchased, but for much less than I would have expected. The good news is that the people who saw my work at the auction and the winning bidders live in a very expensive part of town. Exactly the right demographic where I want my work to be seen. My sample was not prominently displayed, though, and my item came up in the live auction at the end of the night, after 60 other items. I think the reason my item didn't go for much is that people had spent all their money by then! For the third auction I made sure to put a sign on the my sample saying it was an EXAMPLE of my work and that the winner would get a portrait painted of a person of their choosing. Even if it says so in the auction description, people still think the sample is the piece that is for sale! The private school that held that auction is the one that Bill Gates sends his kids to, so it's the right demographic too! The school won't tell me who won the bidding or how much it went for so I have to wait for whoever it was to contact me. I think I'll try to attend the auctions myself from here on out to see who bids, and lso to try to set up my display myself too! I have no idea how the work was displayed for that event. I sent two framed samples, a portfolio binder and some postcards. The next auction coming up next month is a big black-tie gala where people spend $400 just to get in the door. They have strict rules about "no advertising" so people wouldn't know how to contact me later if others were interested in my work. Obviously I don't like this set up, but it is THE big event in town. We'll see how these pan out for me and what kinds of referral business it leads to down the road! __________________ Michele Rushworth www.michelerushworth.com [email protected]