When I visit with some organizations about their auction, they insist that their event is unusually loud.
"Our crowd likes to party," one will say, or "We can't ever get them to pay attention.
" Truth is, I've yet to see an auction which really is louder than I imagined.
Let's talk straight up: Your guests see the benefit auction as a party.
It's a celebratory event ...
a chance to honor volunteers ...
a roast to tease a community leader ...
a chance to see friends ...
and -- by the way -- an auction.
It's no surprise they are loud.
Your guests want to have fun, and I want them to have fun, too.
The key point is to plan for it.
1.
Invest in the proper sound system.
If we assume that 10% - 20% of the crowd are bidding in the live auction, it means the other 80% - 90% of the audience are chatting with friends.
The sound system needs to cut over the din of the audience and allow the auctioneer to be heard with clarity and distinction.
Guests won't bid or follow directions if they can't hear.
2.
A dynamic auctioneer If you want to have a prayer at keeping your audience's attention, put someone on stage who has some personality.
Benefit auctioneers should not simply be "calling the numbers," but must have good rapport with the crowd.
If the auctioneer has poor rapport, the crowd will get louder and louder as they talk to their neighbor and try to be heard over the sound system.
As a benefit auctioneer, it doesn't bother me that the crowd is visiting while I'm selling.
As long as I have a good sound system, I know I can engage the interested bidders while others chat.
3.
Stick to the timeline Guests will be less likely to pay attention when the schedule spirals out of control.
They'll start talking to their friends, "What time do you have?" they'll ask, "Weren't we supposed to be eating by now?" Stay on task.
When it's time to start the program, start the program.
If the Board Chair has 3 minutes to speak, ensure he really only speaks for three minutes.
Keep the program moving at a good clip.
4.
Change the layout; change the experience The loudest auctions I conduct are when guests are seated around a table.
The quietest auctions are those in which the guests are seated theatre-style.
If you are concerned about the sound level, consider having guests sit in a theater layout.
This drops the sound level because guests cannot as easily converse.
"Our crowd likes to party," one will say, or "We can't ever get them to pay attention.
" Truth is, I've yet to see an auction which really is louder than I imagined.
Let's talk straight up: Your guests see the benefit auction as a party.
It's a celebratory event ...
a chance to honor volunteers ...
a roast to tease a community leader ...
a chance to see friends ...
and -- by the way -- an auction.
It's no surprise they are loud.
Your guests want to have fun, and I want them to have fun, too.
The key point is to plan for it.
1.
Invest in the proper sound system.
If we assume that 10% - 20% of the crowd are bidding in the live auction, it means the other 80% - 90% of the audience are chatting with friends.
The sound system needs to cut over the din of the audience and allow the auctioneer to be heard with clarity and distinction.
Guests won't bid or follow directions if they can't hear.
2.
A dynamic auctioneer If you want to have a prayer at keeping your audience's attention, put someone on stage who has some personality.
Benefit auctioneers should not simply be "calling the numbers," but must have good rapport with the crowd.
If the auctioneer has poor rapport, the crowd will get louder and louder as they talk to their neighbor and try to be heard over the sound system.
As a benefit auctioneer, it doesn't bother me that the crowd is visiting while I'm selling.
As long as I have a good sound system, I know I can engage the interested bidders while others chat.
3.
Stick to the timeline Guests will be less likely to pay attention when the schedule spirals out of control.
They'll start talking to their friends, "What time do you have?" they'll ask, "Weren't we supposed to be eating by now?" Stay on task.
When it's time to start the program, start the program.
If the Board Chair has 3 minutes to speak, ensure he really only speaks for three minutes.
Keep the program moving at a good clip.
4.
Change the layout; change the experience The loudest auctions I conduct are when guests are seated around a table.
The quietest auctions are those in which the guests are seated theatre-style.
If you are concerned about the sound level, consider having guests sit in a theater layout.
This drops the sound level because guests cannot as easily converse.
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