| Hosting a charity auction takes hours of planning and | | | | take the risk of losing any revenues at your fundraiser |
| effort to organize. Some important details that should | | | | due to an insufficient sound system. |
| not be forgotten are the sound system, lighting, and | | | | Lighting is very important both for the auctioneer and |
| staging for the benefit auctioneer. Far from insignificant, | | | | the audience. For the auction, get those house lights on |
| these elements of your fundraising auction can have a | | | | full. The dim lighting common at dinner events is not |
| positive affect on your bottom line if used correctly. | | | | conducive to an exciting auction event. It tends to |
| An adequate sound system is an essential but often | | | | make the audience feel drowsy and subdued when |
| overlooked ingredient for a successful benefit auction. | | | | you need them to be energetic and excited! They |
| The type and setup of the sound system is unique for | | | | must be able to easily see what is going on. Also, it is |
| different uses. For example, the music entertainment | | | | important to direct the lighting toward the crowd and |
| will require a different setup than your auctioneer. Do | | | | auctioneer. An auctioneer that is being blinded by a |
| not rely on the in-house system either. A professional | | | | spotlight is not going to be able to "read" the crowd |
| sound company can increase the quality of your event | | | | and is going to fail to see bids. |
| immeasurably and are well worth the cost. Remember | | | | Ideally an auctioneer should be placed on a stage that |
| that auctions should be fun and loud, but bidders need | | | | does not have seating behind or to the sides of it. He |
| to know exactly what is going on in order to feel | | | | needs to have all members of the audience within |
| confident enough to bid. Keep in mind also, that most | | | | visibility at all times. When an event has a platform or |
| professional auctioneers will not conduct your auction | | | | stage that is in the middle of the crowd, more |
| event with an in-house system or the sound system | | | | professional auctioning staff will be required to work |
| of the musician because they will not adequately | | | | with the audience. |
| distribute the sound throughout the audience. Do not | | | | |