Auction 101: What to Expect?

If you have never been to an auction before do not fret—you are not alone! Once again this year, we are offering a Mock Auction for those who may be new to auctions or unsure about what to do and how to participate. Join us on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. in the Farmhouse at Redmond Campus for a practice auction. You’ll get a sample catalog, learn how bidding works, then practice bidding in mock live and silent auctions. All participants receive step by step instructions from check-in through picking up your items at the end of the evening. There will be plenty of time for your questions, and plenty of opportunities for fun and fellowship!

Silent Auctions give you a chance to see items on display and bid on those items for a short, specific amount of time. There are different Silent Auction sections. At each item is a description and pertinent information. New this year, all bidding for silent auctions is done on your cell phone. You can search for items on your phone in different ways. Bidding is done in incremental amounts or you can set a Max Bid, and the site will automatically bid on your behalf up to that amount. You will receive a text message if you have been outbid and also when you have won the item.

When all the guests are seated and dinner begins, our auctioneer will launch right into the Live Auction. You will hear the description of the item that is being auctioned and see its image on the big screen. The auctioneer will scan the room for raised bid cards and announce the bid number and the amount being bid, until there is a winner for the item.

There are all kinds of treasures to appeal to all kinds of tastes. Find one—or more—that catches your eye and simply raise your bid number to buy it!

Bid Card – In your registration packet, you will get a card with your bid number printed on it. Use that number to bid for silent auction items and lift the card above your head to bid on live auction items.

Bid Number/Bidder Number – Every guest (or couple) is assigned a bid number to use for bidding on items in the silent auctions, live auction, and to participate in the Fund-A-Need. You will find it on the label on your registration packet and on the bid cards inside that packet.

Catalog – A book with all the items available for bidding. It also contains information on the schedule, Fund-a-Need, Auction Rules, and much more. It will be sent home to guests with their Lower School students a week before the auction. Middle School and Upper School parents will get an email telling them it has been put at the front desk for them or their student to pick up. The catalog will also be available on the website.

Certificate Auction Item – If you buy an auction item that is not a thing, it will usually be a certificate. After the auction, stop at the Information Table outside the Ballroom to pick up your certificate(s). Some items have both a tangible portion and a certificate portion.

Closing – The time when a specific section of the silent auction is over. Bidding is closed and no more bids are accepted.

Dessert Dash – Each table will combine individual guest’s bids to claim one of the delicious desserts available at the auction. The desserts are on display at a special table in the Ballroom. Each guest adds his or her bid to a sheet at the table. Bid sheets are collected and totaled. The table with the highest total gets first chance at dashing to the dessert table and picking the dessert of their choice! Every table—in descending order of its total bid amount—will have its turn at a dash. In the end, every table will have chosen their dessert for the evening.

Fund-a-Need – Every year during the live auction, guests are asked to donate to a special project that directly benefits our students.

Heads or Tails – Once person will win a special item, to be determined each year, during this fun game during the live auction. To play, write your bid number on the sheet on your table. The cost to play is $15 per person. Stand up and choose “heads” or “tails” by putting your hands on your head or your hands on your pockets. The auctioneer will flip a coin. If it is heads, all with their hands on their heads remain standing, and everyone else sits down. The fun continues until only the winner is standing.

Live Auction – Bid from your dining table by raising the Bid Card in your registration packet.

Online Registration – Buy tickets, sponsor a teacher’s ticket, or if you can’t attend, donate to Fund-A-Need or underwrite the auction.

Best of Live Raffle – Only 100 tickets will be sold for $100 each. The winner gets to choose any live auction item as their prize before the auction starts. Buy raffle tickets in the main office the week before the auction or at the auction if any are available.

Registration Packet – An envelope with your name on it will be waiting for you at your assigned dinner table. Inside are your bid card(s) and meal ticket(s), and any last-minute information you will need.

Silent Auction Section – Several sections with about 300 items usually valued under $1000 are available for bidding before the dinner and live auction starts at 7:00 p.m. Bid on these items displayed throughout the venue using mobile bidding on your cell phone.

Tangible Item – These items are things, not certificates. You will see them on the table where the items are displayed. If you buy a valuable item in the silent auction, it will be taken to the Information Table for safe keeping during dinner and you may pick it up there on your way home at the end of the evening.