1. KEEP IT BRIEF Most experts suggest a limit of five to 15 items for a live auction, with no more than five minutes dedicated to each lot. "Too many items is a snooze," says VissEvents founder Visse Wedell, who recommends a maximum of seven for a sale at a sit-down dinner. "People get disinterested and the auction loses all its momentum." Amy Todd Middleton, vice president of event and sponsorship marketing for Sotheby's, suggests closing the bars during the auction so guests stay focused.
2. GROUP WISELY If you put too many items into one lot, you risk diminishing the return you might get by auctioning them separately. But too few items in a package can make buyers hesitant to bid—it's hard to sell a week in a hotel if it doesn't come with the airline tickets to get there. So find the perfect middle. "If you've got Broadway show tickets up for auction, throw in a driver and a meal. Anything else—like a spa or hotel—would be overkill," says Doyle auctioneer Sebastian Clarke.
3. CREATE A TEMPTING SET-UP Many bidders buy on impulse, so presentation is critical. "The live auction items must be up front and center, prominently displayed," Clarke says. "If buyers can't see something they like, they can't buy it." Wedell suggests using props to generate excitement—like ski poles, gloves and a hat for a ski vacation package. While the experts at Christie's recommend producing a catalogue to accompany the auction, they warn that many people will be too busy to read it.
4. OFFER WHAT MONEY CAN'T BUY Bidders won't usually pay top dollar for stuff they can buy anywhere. One-of-a-kind items generate the most excitement and bring the highest bids. "Whether it's a business experience or a cultural experience, always offer something different," Middleton says, recalling recent auctions that offered internships with Nicole Miller and Russell Simmons, a bowling trip with Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's Fab Five and an outgoing voice mail message recorded for the bidder by a celebrity.
5. HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Offer items within reach of all guests' budgets, because they can't bid on what they can't afford. "You can't auction a Mercedes-Benz at a [typical] school fund-raiser," Doyle's Clarke says; such a mismatch wouldn't fetch a fair price. And if the live auction items are pricey, Wedell says, "there should absolutely be something for everyone in the silent auction."
—Alesandra Dubin
2. GROUP WISELY If you put too many items into one lot, you risk diminishing the return you might get by auctioning them separately. But too few items in a package can make buyers hesitant to bid—it's hard to sell a week in a hotel if it doesn't come with the airline tickets to get there. So find the perfect middle. "If you've got Broadway show tickets up for auction, throw in a driver and a meal. Anything else—like a spa or hotel—would be overkill," says Doyle auctioneer Sebastian Clarke.
3. CREATE A TEMPTING SET-UP Many bidders buy on impulse, so presentation is critical. "The live auction items must be up front and center, prominently displayed," Clarke says. "If buyers can't see something they like, they can't buy it." Wedell suggests using props to generate excitement—like ski poles, gloves and a hat for a ski vacation package. While the experts at Christie's recommend producing a catalogue to accompany the auction, they warn that many people will be too busy to read it.
4. OFFER WHAT MONEY CAN'T BUY Bidders won't usually pay top dollar for stuff they can buy anywhere. One-of-a-kind items generate the most excitement and bring the highest bids. "Whether it's a business experience or a cultural experience, always offer something different," Middleton says, recalling recent auctions that offered internships with Nicole Miller and Russell Simmons, a bowling trip with Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's Fab Five and an outgoing voice mail message recorded for the bidder by a celebrity.
5. HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Offer items within reach of all guests' budgets, because they can't bid on what they can't afford. "You can't auction a Mercedes-Benz at a [typical] school fund-raiser," Doyle's Clarke says; such a mismatch wouldn't fetch a fair price. And if the live auction items are pricey, Wedell says, "there should absolutely be something for everyone in the silent auction."
—Alesandra Dubin
At a House & Garden event at Splashlight Studios last year, Anderson Hannant created silent auction tables in berry hues inspired by a story in the magazine.
A multitude of floral arrangements enlivened silent auction tables at the Regent Wall Street for Henry Street Settlement's Giardino di Primavera benefit.
