Developing An Auction Dinner (Part One - Continued)

 I have had the privilege of attending and working with thousands of auction dinners throughout North America for over 20 years. Some had several thousand attendees, while others only had fifty or so. The articles that follow are meant to give an overview of how successful auction dinners are conceived, planned and managed.

For anyone who wants a complete "Developing An Auction Dinner" package, complete with working manuals, workbooks, sample forms and PowerPoint presentations, visit my Festival and Event Planning website.

Event Development

11. Flow

It is important to consider the “flow” when developing the event’s agenda. Having a smooth flowing, well planned event will insure that attendees enjoy the event, spend their money and come back for more. This stage should be discussed thoroughly and a detailed “event map” should prepared. The “map” should take the event from start to finish and it should be referred to regularly throughout the planning process.

12. Awards/Rewards

Honoring your volunteers and sponsors is smart business. These people who volunteer are the backbone of your event. Their hard work deserves to be recognized. The chair should create special recognition awards for each member of the committee. The committee should create a special thank you for the chair. Hard work needs to be recognized for people to return to help in future events. Likewise, individual and corporations who contribute substantially to your event should be recognized. A reward system should be put into place at the beginning of the event and potential sponsors should be made aware of what rewards are available. Different levels can be put in place depending on the amount donated.

(To be continued)

Developing An Auction Dinner (Part One - Continued)

 I have had the privilege of attending and working with thousands of auction dinners throughout North America for over 20 years. Some had several thousand attendees, while others only had fifty or so. The articles that follow are meant to give an overview of how successful auction dinners are conceived, planned and managed.

For anyone who wants a complete "Developing An Auction Dinner" package, complete with working manuals, workbooks, sample forms and PowerPoint presentations, visit my Festival and Event Planning website.

Event Development

9. Ticket Sales

Preparing, printing and distributing your event tickets early is imperative. This is the key to having a great turn out to your event. The more people who attend makes for a better the event… more fun, more excitement, greater revenues. Additionally, the tickets must be numbered so that you can maintain tight financial control of the event. This will be discussed in greater detail later

10. Quality Control

The key to holding a successful event is planning and control.  Leave nothing to chance. This means considering all aspects (finance, agenda meals, activities, décor, etc) of the event and then preparing a detailed check list. This will allow the committee to maintain control of the event throughout the entire process. Maintaining tight control will translate into a quality event.

(To be continued)

Developing An Auction Dinner (Part One - Continued)

 I have had the privilege of attending and working with thousands of auction dinners throughout North America for over 20 years. Some had several thousand attendees, while others only had fifty or so. The articles that follow are meant to give an overview of how successful auction dinners are conceived, planned and managed.

For anyone who wants a complete "Developing An Auction Dinner" package, complete with working manuals, workbooks, sample forms and PowerPoint presentations, visit my Festival and Event Planning website.

Event Development

7. Ambiance

When decorating your facility create an ambiance conducive to the type of event you are holding.  If it is a formal type of event, lower the lights (except at the live auction), have a live musician playing in the background or greet your guests in formal attire. If it’s a theme event, create an ambiance that enhances the theme. You want everyone who attends to become an intricate part of the whole event. When considering your décor, make a list of all the elements that could add ambiance to the event. 

8. Atmosphere

When developing your event, put yourself in the shoes of your attendees. As you walk into the room, how do you feel? Are you excited and ready to be part of the adventure, or are you bored before you even start? Think about how you would want to be entertained, what kind of prizes you would like to win, what food you would like to eat. Remember, you are not just creating an event, you are creating an experience!

(To be Continued)

Developing An Auction Dinner (Part One)

 I have had the privilege of attending and working with thousands of auction dinners throughout North America for over 20 years. Some had several thousand attendees, while others only had fifty or so. The articles that follow are meant to give an overview of how successful auction dinners are conceived, planned and managed.

For anyone who wants a complete "Developing An Auction Dinner" package, complete with working manuals, workbooks, sample forms and PowerPoint presentations, visit my Festival and Event Planning website.

Event Development

5. Event Theme

By creating an event theme you also create direction. A theme allows you to focus on the final vision of the event. Being able to visualize the final look of the event makes planning it easier. Like planning a trip, if you know your final destination, the way there is just a matter how you get there.

6. “Little Touches”

When planning an event, don’t just think of the large details, but think of the small ones too. It’s the small details that make an event special, an event to remember and to talk about. During the development stages of the event, make a list of all the small details you could include in your event and then see how many you can implement. Here’s a start to your list, you finish it.

·         Flowers for the ladies – boutonnieres for the men

·         Flowers in the washrooms

·         Centre pieces on the table

·         Decorations on the wine glasses

·         Décor the hall

·         Chocolate on each placemat

·         Custom placements

·         Unique program

·         Name tags

(To be continued)