| Whether you're organizing a live auction, a silent | | | | brainstorming about potential behind-the-scenes ideas. |
| auction, or both for your charity, one of the best types | | | | Behind the Scenes auction tip #2: Check your local |
| of items to sell at your benefit will be something that | | | | cable companies show line-up |
| can't be purchased anywhere else. "One of a kind" | | | | Your nearby cable company likely produces shows |
| items are always intriguing to guests. | | | | airing on local cable channels. A Website search of |
| One of the most popular types of items we sell are | | | | local Channel 6 in Lawrence, KS led me to find six |
| items having to do with the entertainment industry, | | | | shows being produced by Free State Studios |
| such as "behind the scenes" activities for television | | | | Productions. Shows like Jayni's Kitchen (a hairdresser |
| shows. A behind-the-scenes activity usually refers to | | | | who has her own cooking show) or The Drive (an |
| the guests watching the producing of a television or | | | | unscripted sports talk show featuring four local pundits) |
| radio show. For someone who hasn't worked in the | | | | might be willing to have guests sit and watch one of |
| media industry, these can be exciting to watch. | | | | the episodes being taped. Research to see what is |
| Here are some ideas on securing sought-after behind | | | | shooting in a 2-hour radius from where you live. It might |
| the scenes items. | | | | be that one of your committee members even knows |
| Behind the Scenes auction tip #1: Ask family, friends, | | | | someone working on the show. |
| and everyone on the auction committee | | | | Behind the Scenes auction tip #3: Call the networks. |
| Even when you think no one has a connection, you | | | | If you live in a city where one of the larger networks |
| might be surprised. An email to your contacts might | | | | has a presence, ask if you can have a facility tour. |
| bring out a potential link. A group I worked with in | | | | Even if your tour takes place when nothing is shooting, |
| Washington, D.C. had a former costume designer from | | | | still fun to have a tour! You can see the cameras and |
| New York among them. When we asked her if she | | | | sound booth, and perhaps have your photo taken in |
| had any way of getting some behind-the scenes | | | | front of the green screen. (Remember: If you wear |
| activities, she immediately thought of friends she could | | | | green, you'll be invisible.) It's not uncommon for schools |
| ask. She secured two passes to Saturday Night Live's | | | | and business groups to take tours (I've been on a few |
| dress rehearsal in New York! It was easy for her to | | | | of them myself), so clearly the studios are set-up to |
| get those passes, and she hadn't even thought of | | | | process requests. The worst they can do is say "no." |
| asking her friends until the committee started | | | | Good luck! |