Auction set-up - Page 2

Chris Saper · 04-12-2002, 10:28 PM

Hi Patt,

I hope your event goes well!

Just a twist on the silent auction concept...several months ago, the Titanic Exhibit came to Phoenix. As one of a very few silent auction items, I also arranged to be onsite, drawing a model from life, in an evening gown (both the model and me) who just happened to be wearing a fantastic jewel (me too). ( Any of the SOG people who have seen this movie, I am sure remember mainly the drawing scenes with the "Jewel").

It is fun to draw in an evening gown, (although I would never use ANYTHING but charcoal. ESPECIALLY if you are wearing black velvet). I repeated the event, (see image below) at a subsequent event.

Chris

There is nothing more fun than drawing from life with an audience. This image was printed in the paper the next day.

ps. If you don't have pearls, forget it.

pps. A dear friend of mine once said, "Chris, your main problem in life is figuring out how to get the Waterford into the backpack."

credit: The Arizona Republic 1/7/02; Will Powers, photogrphy.

Patt Legg · 04-14-2002, 09:18 PM

Well, here I am again and said that I would report of the progress of the auction that I was so nervous about. Let me say that I personally feel that it was a great success.

Quick Report:
I was there early and noticed that the certificate and the painting (for view) were separated, noticeing that the attendees were not resonding as I thought they should. So, before things really started, I found the person in charge and we placed them together. BETTER RESPONSE.

I noticed that I was definitely toward the end of the auction. I think this worked (for) me. When time came for my "certificate", the bid went up to nearly the total of the certificate amount that I placed on it. SO FAR, GREAT !! After a fantastic introduction (I had given a short bio to the auctioneer prior so he could know who and why etc., and after asking me to stand, well, I nearly fell over. A few items later and then my Limited Edition Print for bid and it ended at 4 times my price than I usually ask. COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

I approached the "winner" highest bid for the "certificate for portrait of your choice" and she was so excited. It seems that she and her husband are celebrating their 30th Anniversary in July and the portrait will be for him. Gave her my card, expressed my gratitude for the nice gift toward the function and said that we would get together within a week or so and discuss all the particulars.

Above all this, I ran into two of my prior clients who I had done portraits for about 2 years ago and one of them said that they must get back to me soon as possible as they wish to have other work done. By now, my knees are weak and mouth is very dry, but I think I was able to conceal my absolute excitement. I was approached by the head Art Director of the local Carnegie Hall (where all of the arts, music, plays, special events are offered) and I will be having a one-woman show once again there soon. Where was that door, I NEED FRESH AIR. Ha ha.

So, I definitely say thanks to all of the suggestions you gave me. I had never quite handled a donation such as this and it seemed to have worked great.

With much gratitude,
Patt

Stanka Kordic · 04-15-2002, 06:11 AM

Yahoo Patt! Good going!!

Michele Rushworth · 04-15-2002, 12:02 PM

Great for you! Sounds like the event was a big success on many levels.

Patt Legg · 04-15-2002, 12:20 PM

Michele and Stanka

Thank you for all your good wishes.They are very much appreciated.

Patt

Michele Rushworth · 04-22-2002, 05:11 PM

Stanka, how many auctions do you do a year?

I'm signed up for five this year and I thought I'd wait and see what comes from them before I do any more or sign up again for next year.

Stanka Kordic · 04-22-2002, 06:44 PM

Michelle,

So far 2. Possibly one in the fall. As I mentioned, one sank, the other just this past weekend went well. For me, the auctions help (albiet with its share of headaches), but word of mouth has by far been my best advertising.

BTW, I've stopped hauling a sample portrait. No adverse effects...

How have yours gone?

Michele Rushworth · 04-22-2002, 11:06 PM

I've had mixed results so far. I'm learning -- mostly from this thread -- how to make each one more successful than the last. Most of the auctions I'm participating in are attended by very well-off folks so I hope to start getting word-of-mouth business in a circle of people who can afford portraits!

Cynthia Daniel · 04-23-2002, 09:25 AM

At the fundraiser auctions I did as a portrait artist manager, we always had a table available to us in front of or beside our sample portrait (which we always brought lighting for so it was well-displayed). I would include the PR book on the table that I mentioned in the Business, Marketing and PR section: http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...=&threadid=653

I also would put out a guest book. Guest books are a non-confrontational way for interested visitors to ask for more information or if you're busy talking with someone else, it's a way for them to leave information for further contact.

There's another point to this. We all tend to have a hard time tooting our own horn. Having another person at the table saying how great your work is can be a plus. Also, some people will talk to a rep before the artist because some have a consideration that if they talk to the artist they should buy something otherwise it's a insult. But, the artist should also be there because some people love to talk to the artist and don't have that consideration.

Mike McCarty · 04-24-2002, 04:44 PM

This Friday night I am donating a charcoal drawing at the annual auction of the local private school where my daughter attends. In addition to a sample drawing on an easel I will have on the table multiple copies of this photo which I doctored up in photo shop to include the lettering. The girl in this portrait is the 2001 valedictorian of this school.