The organizations that think they can’t afford to hire a professional auction company are the ones that usually need us the most. A volunteer auctioneer is generally worth what you pay them while a professional auction team is worth ten times what they cost. Think about it this way, you wouldn’t ask your local television celebrity to build your house so why would you make him responsible for your biggest fundraiser of the year? There is an art to a benefit auction and only a professional auctioneer with years of experience is able to obtain the most money from your supporters. You are paying the band and the caterer because they are professionals, but the auctioneer is the only one in the room that’s actually making you money, do you want to leave that in the hands of a volunteer?
2.
What about sound and lighting and even an MC or Announcer?
Your sound system is important, critical actually. If your crowd can't hear us or understand what we are saying, they can't bid and support you. We can provide a basic sound system rental for a small room but when you want the best, we can steer you the right direction. You want someone that understands auctions, not just a party DJ service. The sound is different, the pace is different and the needs for the equipment are different. Our go to vendor: http://www.djjayturner.com/. Visit his page and then call us for package prices!
3.
Will Central Coast Auction Service help us with planning, timelines, seating arrangement and live auction sale order?
Absolutely! The earlier in the organizational process you get us involved the better we can help you maximize the revenue from your event. We want your fundraiser to succeed as much as you do and always encourage you to take advantage of our experience in the planning stages. The seating arrangement matters, so does the timeline and auction sale order. Every piece of the event is important in making the most money possible for your organization.
4.
What are professional Ringmen and why are they better than our volunteer “spotters”?
If you aren’t sure what a ringman does, they are the men and women that are in the crowd relaying bids to the auctioneer. A professional ringman is worth his or her weight in gold for your event. A professional ringman is trained and experienced in relaying information between the auctioneer and the bidding audience. They add excitement, enthusiasm and energy to the live auction. The ringmen are an extension of the auctioneer and are able to get right next to your bidders and make the bidding process more exciting while letting the bidder know exactly where they stand and where the bid is. There are very few successful auctioneers that don’t work with professional ringmen these days. Central Coast Auction Service only hires professional ringmen that fit seamlessly with your audience and have the personality and energy to make your event more exciting and profitable. Some of our ringmen are graduates of the Professional Ringman Institute in Springfield, Mo. and every one of our team goes through rigorous training to be the best they can be.
5.
We have an auctioneer already but can we hire your team of Ringmen?
Absolutely! Our ringmen work for a number of auctioneers around the country and can be hired separately of your auctioneer. Give us a call or have your auctioneer get in touch with us, you’ll be amazed the difference we will make to your event.
6.
Does Central Coast Auction Service work on a percentage instead of flat fee?
The simple answer is no, we work on an agreed upon fee. There are a couple of reasons for this but the main reason is that it is easier for an organization to budget when they know what the cost is ahead of time. While percentages can work in consignment or livestock sales, it just doesn’t have a place in a benefit auction. We have a lot of faith in our ability to exceed your auction goals and don’t think it’s appropriate to take advantage of a very successful event by charging a percentage.
7.
How important is the timeline for our event?
The timeline is critical. You have a very limited time to keep your audiences full attention and gain the maximum return for your organization. It is important that dinner starts on time, that the live auction starts during or immediately following dinner, before dessert even, and that the fundraising portion of the event is completed by 9pm or so. We can help with the best order of events for your fundraiser if we are involved early enough in the planning stages.
8.
How many auction items should we have and does the order they are sold in matter?
The number of items depends on your crowd and the quality of your items. We do auctions with as few as 5 items and as many as 200. Ideally you want 10 – 15 items but again, the number really depends on your specific event. Don’t get in the mindset that more items means more money, it is frequently exactly the opposite as more items can dilute the values and cost you money in the end. The order of sale is also very important as you have a limited window to have your crowd’s full attention. We recommend you arrange your items in a “bell curve” according to their value. Don’t save your high dollar items for last!
9.
What do you think about those auction packages that we can buy online and resell?
Those packages can often be used to fill holes in your list of items but if you don't have holes, why pay for an item? Consider it this way, if a package costs the organization $2,500 and they sell it for $3,000, they have taken $3,000 out of the bidders budgets but only earned $500 from it. Multiply that by three or four of those packages and you can see where your auction may look like a huge success on paper but the reality is that you didn’t get to retain a very large percentage. If you do need a headliner or special item, be sure to shop with reputable companies, most will let you have the package and only charge you for it after you sell it. If you don't sell it, there's no fee. We can help point you toward the best companies for your event.
10.
If we shouldn’t use a pre-purchased auction package, then what does make a good auction item?
The best auction items are experiences or packages rather than items your bidders can go buy on their own. If you have a round of golf for four people, consider combining that with a breakfast or dinner, maybe a room at a nice place near that golf course. If you have tickets to an out of town sporting event or maybe Disneyland, throw in a rental car and hotel and you’ll do much better than just selling the tickets alone. When you hire Central Coast Auction Service, we’ll work with you to package your items to obtain the highest bid possible.
11.
What is a Fund –A- Need?
A Fund –A- Need is a call for support for a specific purpose. You may have heard it referred to as a Paddle Raise, Special Appeal or any variety of names. While an organization’s fundraising goals are for general expenses, the Fund A Need portion of the evening is for a specific need. While the live auction is a time of fun and laughs and excitement, the Fund A Need becomes a serious time where a particular need is explained and fulfilled. For many organizations, this can be the most important part of their entire event. It takes a skilled and experienced auctioneer and ringman team to maximize the money pledged during the Fund A Need and Central Coast Auction Service understands this as well as anyone. We will walk you through all the steps to make your Fund A Need successful.
12.
What’s with the cowboy hats in your pictures?
We do love our western roots and our cowboy hats, khaki slacks and crisp white shirts certainly stand out in a crowd! While we’re comfortable in our hats, we’ve conducted auctions wearing tuxedos to togas, cowboy hats to berets and even the occasional beach attire complete with flip flops. We are the chameleons of the auction world, you tell us what you want at your event and we’ll work with you. You have to admit though, those cowboy hats look good in a crowd!
13.
So how do we contact you for a quote?
That’s simple, just send us an email using the “contact us” link, call the phone number listed on the top of every web page or flag us down the next time you see us at an auction in your area. While we’re based on the Central Coast of California, we travel wherever you need us!