With the economy suppressing charity fundraiser ticket sales, more and more organizations are looking to Live Auctions to help make up for lost revenue.  Many are huge successes, but here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning your own:

• If you have international travel packages, you will substantially increase the value by including airfare. If you have no participating airlines, ask your committee if they or their spouse are willing to donate miles. Remember that AMEX points can be turned into miles; if you get enough donors at, say, 100,000 miles or more each, you can put together some pretty great trips with even business or first class flights.

• Keep it as short as possible. If you figure 3 minutes per package, it only takes 10 packages to get to 30 minutes, which is a long time if it’s not the only activity at the event.

• Evening auctions are always more successful than those during the day. Why? You guessed it – more alcohol is consumed, and men get into the competitive spirit.

• Make sure your auction packages are unique, not available just anywhere. Examples of easy-to-create packages include:  In-home dinner parties: served by committee members with the meal cooked by a local celebrity chef.  Cellar Starter: Ask committee members to donate a special bottle of wine. You can even ask that the wines be within a particular varietal, year, or appellation.

• The flow of the auction is important to scrutinize.  Make sure the first package is exciting and has a high probability of being sold for more than the established value.  This further builds enthusiasm about the auction as a whole, and the buzz can roll over to a less-desirable package.

• On the big ticket packages, check whether donors are willing to double their donation. Even if you have to pay for the second item, it may be worthwhile if a bidding war propels the amount far above its value. A good Auctioneer can encourage bid bump-ups by offering top bidders the package.

• Get a professional Auctioneer, or at least someone who has successfully been an auctioneer before. They can easily make more than any fee they might charge (some will actually guarantee it).

• Try not to buy items that will be auctioned off. Many guests will know when something has been paid for (Pebble Beach Lodge stay, Abercrombie & Kent excursions).

• Start the minimum bids low – well below 50% of the value, it is more likely bidders will get excited by a low starting price and a bidding frenzy may ensue. Starting the minimum bid too high may preclude anyone from jumping in, and the Auctioneer uncomfortably may need to lower the minimum to instigate bidding.

• Consider having someone in the audience willing to start the bidding on an item, this is especially true with Funds-In-Need.

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3. Four Ways to Invest in Your Benefit Auction Success
4. Auction Action: Become a Police Officer for a Day
5. Live Auction Culture Shifts to Women