What value added, yet still cost effective, auction platforms do you recommend for small companies who do both benefit AND traditional auctions- particularly real estate properties and their associated estate items? I'm in a smaller rural area with many small non-profits who don't have the staff and technical bandwith to pay, learn, set up, and navigate the technology of an online fundraiser auction platform just for one event. They are asking if we can run everything through a benefit auction account of our own and simply disperse their funds to them afterwards. Please advise. I don't wish to pay for both an AuctionZip, HiBid, etc, etc type platform for my traditional auctions AND a separate benefit auction platform. Thanks!

That’s right Auctioneer Skoolers…yet another perk of being a premium member, access to upcoming educational opportunities before the public! You also get a 25% discount for being a member of this community! Check out this offering. Join us June 28-30 in Indianapolis, IN with the latest in Fundraising Auctioneer performance and profitable business training. Learn from Kelly Russel of Artisan Auctions and myself (with some special guests TBD) as we discuss the art and science of Fundraising Events and how your performance on stage and offstage can make you a more Impactful Event Fundraiser! Let me know if you are interested!

Just had a great event without an Auction…eek! Raised 140% more than goal! This is why you hire a professional asker not just auctioneer. Also testing out some new gear, the Small Rig mobile monitor to help me frame my shot. So far so good! Maybe we’ll do another raffle for one of these;) https://amzn.to/4srgykH Hope everyone is having a great fundraising season and impacting some amazing organizations…one bid at a time;) Happy Friday!

This is so important as we are building our Auctioneer Chant, is knowing when to be silent... Here is a description from the internet about silence in building rhythm in your performance. Super important tool to use as you are being the best Auctioneer you can be! Silence in music is a powerful tool used to create tension, structure, and dynamic contrast, functioning as an essential rhythmic element rather than mere absence of sound. By using rests, gaps between musical phrases, or sudden "drops" in production, composers and performers build anticipation, highlight melodic ideas, and provide breathing space for the listener. Key Uses of Silence in Rhythm and Composition: - Building Tension and Expectation: Unexpected pauses, such as the famous silence in Beethoven's “Pathetique Sonata”, create dramatic tension and increase the emotional impact of the following notes. - Creating Structural Phrasing: Silence (often indicated by rests) separates musical ideas, making phrases easier to understand and improving the structural organization of a piece. - Contrast and Emphasis: Dropping out instruments before a "drop" in electronic music, or resting during a solo, brings, highlighting the subsequent sound and making it feel more powerful. - Rhythmic Definition: Rests act as placeholders within a rhythm, defining when not to play. They allow notes to stand out with greater clarity and, for example, enable staccato notes to be more effective. - Intentional "Drops" in Production: Modern production often uses a sudden silence to stop the groove briefly, as famously done in Count Basie's recordings, allowing the rhythm to hit harder upon return. - Artistic Expression of Space: John Cage's piece "4'33”" is a famous exploration of silence, which actually highlights the ambient noise of the environment. Using silence allows for a "breathing space" for both musicians and listeners to process complex musical ideas, and it ensures that the music remains dynamic and engaging, rather than flat.

Check out this great video that feels like a real auction: