Get Silent Auction Rules

Live vs. In most cases, live auctions should present 7-12 items at the most. Presenting your guests fewer auction items that have a higher value and will sell well is always better than offering too big of a selection.

Once you've imagined the best possible displays, you'll need to write creative descriptions for your silent auction items. Start with catchy titles. Always lead with an eye-catching headline! ... Set the scene. Help your silent auction bidders imagine winning each item. ... Include the details.

Auction Items Rules Right to change items: Items may be added or withdrawn, without notice. All sales final: All sales are final, there are no exchanges, and all items are sold “as is.” No refunds: No refunds after purchase. ... Limits may apply: Gift cards or certificates are subject to availability and “black-out” dates.

What Goes in a Silent Auction Bid Sheet? Bidding number and name. Adding a line or section for the attendees' bidding numbers and names makes tracking who participated in the auction easier. ... Item number. ... Item title and description. ... Starting bid. ... Item value. ... Minimum raises. ... Buy-it-now price.

Too many items result in lower bids, low energy, and lack of “bidding wars” that add to the excitement of the event, as well as to the bottom line. Too few items and you may not achieve your target revenue, guests will be disappointed, and you could be leaving bidding dollars on the table.

What's the best number of items in a live auction? Most traditional auction fundraising events, like galas and dinners, include 7 to 12 items. That said, there's plenty of nuance to the best number for your event.

A silent auction is a fundraising event that allows donors to “silently” bid on items you've procured for a set amount of time without an auctioneer at the helm. Each auction item goes home with the highest bidder when the event ends, and because auction items are donated, your organization gets all of the proceeds.

A good rule of thumb is to provide 1 or 2 auction items for every bidder or spender at your event. For a guest list of 100 people (roughly 50 couples who'll be bidding and spending together), approximately 25-35 items would create an effective market that's competitive but not overwhelming.