We use our kids to "show the items". As the auctioneer is talking about it the child will walk around the room with it so people can get a closer look. The kids line up and once they have had their turn, they go to the back of the line for the next time. Even some of the older kids (7-8 grade) and outsides that have come get involved in this. Can be a bit crazy at times, but we have two volunteers in charge of handing the items to the kids and keeping them calm in line. For the bigger items we use one of our cafeteria carts and they push it around the room.
Do you have any other space options? For our Spring Fling, the auction is set up on tables lining the foyer and part of the hallway. The cafeteria is used for concessions and Bingo. The gym is a sock hop. Everyone has something to do.
Our school auction will be held on a Friday night. We usually have "open doors" for 1/2 hour so people can see what is in the gym that is up for auction. We then open up the auction to all and have some special things that are "early bird specials" we close those off in 1/2 and so on. The problem is having some kind of draw to bring the parents in and keep them. We have also found that if we can keep their children busy they will bid more and have more fun. Any ideas of how to do this. We thought about having a speq dinner but we can't fit all in at one time and so some would be able to bid and others not. Also thought about bingo for the kids and juice. Last year we did a movie, popcorn and drink. Was ok but hot in the cafetria with the many kids and the movie was more for younger kids. It is hard to find one for a range of 5-11 yrs.
Any thought or ideas for a successful auction are appreciated.
Duffy
VP FSO
Send ideas to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I am also interested in any new "national" donor lists that have been created. Many of my letters last year came back - wrong address or no. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
