When charity auctions go wrong

[Michele Rushworth]

Almost all my commissions are out of town these days and I haven't done an auction in several years. My out of town clients find me through the portrait agency I work with, through word of mouth, or on the web.

[Patricia Joyce]

I would love some of your views on attending the auction. Do you insist? Do you pay for the event or does the event let you be there gratis? This has always troubled me, because I often cannot afford the expensive tickets. Usually a family member or friend commit to taking care of my portrait and talking me up.

Another frustration you will find with auctions are the ones who never call for their portrait. Seems hard to believe but I have had three go that way in the past three years. It's a shame because usually when I get a client from an auction they end up purchases portraits of the family, not just one person. Right now this is how I get all my business!

[Amanda Grosjean]

Patricia, I'm figuring that that was a question for Michelle but I wanted to add that for one of the auctions the ticket was for a dinner and I was able to attend for free by assuring the people running the auction that this was a business engagement for me and I had no intentions of eating dinner or drinking. I was attending to simply answer questions and sell the idea. I also hinted that it was best for me to be there with the portrait example for insurance purposes. That worked well.

-Amanda

[Patricia Joyce]

good idea!

[Chris Saper]

Hi Patti,

Yep, those auctions can definitely go wrong. When possible I want to go do my own set-up and take-down. I want to be sure that everything is displayed properly, that the picture light is on, and that my display stuff doesn't "disappear". Most importantly, I want to review the bid sheet in advance. I have resrictions that I am very clear bout -on the auction form, on the bid sheet, an if someone doesn't see them, I also put up a placard telling exactly what the gift certificate is for - a credit toward, and that the price to the winner to redeem the certificate is to put in the difference.

Despite my being very specific, I occasionally still find an error on the actual bid sheet once it's placed at the auction table, so I want to be sure it is corrected before I leave for the evening.

Still, there will people who don't read it, and think they are getting a giant oil painting of everyone in the family, sigh.

Sometimes I have to depend on the auction committee to handle the display, and I hope for the best.

I have had only one really awful experience - an auction where none of the restriction were stated, and the bidder won a certificate for which she was not eligible. When I called the auction chair later, she said that the auction catalog bid sheet was new, and make a mistake but that she expected me to honor the certificate anyway, because the winnning b idder was important. ( Seems to me that regular donors are pretty important too.) I refused to honor the certificate and suggested she award it to the next highest bidder. The auction chair was very angry- at me. Needless to say, I never again paritcipated in any event the woman chaired.

Regarding the starting price: every auction handles things differently. Some set an opening price at a percentage of the retail value. Some start everything at a common price, say $50 or whatever. Some don't seem to have any plan at all. There are some auctions that look at the event as a way for rich people to get good stuff for next to nothing. Others see auctions as way for rich folks who have a charity donation in mind, amont ito find a fun way to spend it - and , yes, that a charity auction's purpose is to raise money for the charity.

If you give a credit toward purchase, it doesn't matter - (at least to me) if the certificate sells for $10. If you are donating a whole gift - a completed portrait, then it matters much more.There's an advantage to having a lot of completed portraits in homes, but if the family can't afford to really buy one, then it's less likely that their social circle will be in a vastly different economic state. You just have to figure your own market and placement strategy

[Patricia Joyce]

Very good info Chris. I specify what they are bidding on, a one person head and shoulder drawing in graphite with a value of $$$. I have been pretty fortunate to have had the top bidder willing to pay me to do portraits of multiple family members.

I think when it gets up into a higher price bracket, as with oils, it is a whole new ball of wax.

I have had the most luck wth private schools, in wealthy neighborhoods..

[Debra Jones]

This whole thread brings up an issue I heard addressed at a function of what I remember to be the "Arts and Business Council" or something with ABC as their initials. They pointed out that artists often subsidize the arts by the amount of freebies they offer without thinking.

I WILL contribute freely to charities I believe in. Usually, as Chris does, a certificate of finite value TOWARD purchase. But I am beginning to ask a cut of the take. The first time I offered to give 15% of sales back to a charity I opened a huge ball of worms. They called it a "kickback" and said it would be very sticky. I finally said I had a set price and they could write my deposit in two checks half to me and half to the charity. They got the deduction and I got enough money to make them understand they were going through with the commission. It covers cost of stretchers, nails and canvas! After only ONE taker, I stopped offering the percentage. Nobody cared!

Most of the charities I donate to, understand I am not doing it completely out of the bounty of my wealth! I explain why. I say I have found that word of mouth is my best advertising and that I can't actually deduct any of this as the tax laws are screwed up. When I get a good organizer, they work hard to get me the proper position and visibility.

I was approached to do a few rescue groups (like I said, I do equal animals and people portraits) and I am asking them to take the orders on site if I do an adoption event and PAY ME as an expense. Much like charity bazaars which sell merchandise as a not for profit. THEY can write the final product off. When the painting is done, I bill them the cost, which is half, and they reimburse me . If it is never done, they keep the donation. I don't work, I don't make money, but they could conceivably come out way ahead.

Like I said, I am ASKING. Nobody has worked out the logistics but I think it is a great plan, especially as I am doing a pretty good Christmas miniature business. It elevates it from street art and I am doing a very reasonable quantity income.

[Alexandra Tyng]

I've only participated in two auctions and neither experience generated further commissions.

One of them was at a private school with many wealthy families. The school had a silent auction to raise money to help a teacher pay for her medical expenses because she had run through the maximum allowance on her health insurance. I had a sample portrait up on an easel and was right there answering questions. Lots of people expressed interest. I had a reserve on the portrait--half my normal fee. During the auction, the art teacher came up to me all excited. She said a parent had offered her 1/4 the reserve. "Should we accept it?" I was annoyed, but I thought, "Well, it would go to the teacher, and it's better than nothing." But then I thought, "Wait a minute! This woman knows the money is for the teacher and she's trying to bargain me down--that;s not right." So I said "no" and then someone else bid the full reserve bid! The people were very happy with the portrait I did of their daughter--but nothing else came from it.

The other experience was at a major charity benefit. The people there were dressed to the nines and there was news coverage, etc. I brought a portrait of my son, and my son came in person so people cold see the likeness. He helped talk to people before the bidding started. This was a live auction. Most of the items were things like a week at a private resort, season tickets to the baseball games, and expensive luxury items like jewelry and cars. I wondered if anyone was going to be interested in art. The bidding went up beyond the minimum to about 2/3 the actual price. Not bad.

But the people who bought it didn't want a portrait of one person--they wanted me to paint their four children, at the same price. They had several conversations with me about it, trying to figure out ways they could get around paying more. Could I put the children in the background? Yes, but it would cost more. Etc. Finally, after a year, they decided that the wife would have her portrait done. There was only one problem: she didn't want to have her portrait done! Finally I said to her, "Look, let's make this fun." She went out and bought a dress and began to get involved. The portrait turned out pretty well. The husband and wife both were thrilled with it. They had an unveiling party. But guess what? I wasn't invited! They just happened to mention the were having one. I said, "Let me send you some business cards." They said "Oh, sure," very offhandedly.

In both these cases, I could have done more follow-up. This is not something I'm very good at. I'm kind of slow at thinking about what I could do (or should have done). But I also sensed, in both of these auctions, a lack of interest in art, or at least spending money on art. I think, to be successful, you have to aim for an auction where people are interested and expecting to buy art.

[Stanka Kordic]

Hi Everyone

Charity auctions and I go way back, albeit not all of them good. Overall, I consider them a necessary endeavor, kind of like art competitions and more positively- my yoga practice. I'd much rather try a handstand in the middle of the room than be in attendance during a live auction. Kudos to you Amanda for being there with your ears unplugged!

Overall, my experience has been good. I have donated a full-head and shoulders twice, both times they generated more work. Most often, I offer a discount that is applied toward their total commission. My worst experience there was the winning family thought the entire portrait was worth that much. NOT. Once they fully understood, it went to the competing family.

I had a client in Chicago ask me to donate for a fundraiser she was chairing. I sent along a portfolio, my brochures, and she talked me up to people there. It became an intense bidding war thanks to her efforts- and a bunch of good wine I suppose. That was nice. I usually do not ask to be in attendance. I show up to set up, and run. Otherwise, I'd be hanging out at the bar with my eyes and ears shut, a nervous wreck. I'm sure I'd even smoke a cigar if offered.

Its frustrating to understand that our heart and soul efforts are competing with hot air balloon rides. People don't get that after the big event, we go and MAKE the donation. Alex is right, trying to find a charity that appreciates art is important. Otherwise, we are competing in an arena that is looking for something for nothing.

Not to mention the whole tax -deduction issue. Don't get me started on that one...

[Julie Deane]

I've had mixed results.

The first auction I ever participated, the winner was a grandparent who wanted her grandchild painted. But mom apparently didn't. End of story.

Recently, I've had a grandma buy one 25% certificate at an auction and used it towards an oil painting. And then she put money down on a second painting because I told her my prices were going to change considerably at the beginning of the year. So, she got two bargain paintings, but that's okay, as I'm starting out and want portfolio pieces.

Usually, I do a head and shoulders certificate at the Christmas event I do every year. It's a silent auction, and there is no question about what is being auctioned, because a sample is available to see.

Be aware that your art could get damaged and try to do the setup and take-down yourself. I had a frame ruined due to carelessness from one school.