January 20, 2006

Curious George: Silent Auction I've volunteered to put together a set of items for a silent auction, and I'd like to do something interesting.

My professional association is having a national conference, and each local chapter is invited to put together something tempting for the silent auction. All proceeds go to charity. Locally, we have vendor sponsorships that could help with funding or open up relationships to a variety of celebrities, businesses, or memorabilia. I'm told successful auctions items from years past included items of local significance. I'm in Nashville, TN. Auction attendees would include office managers, accountants, and attorneys from all over the US. Items need to be easily packed for airline travel or in a pinch, easily shipped to Canada (site of the conference). Any suggestions, monkeys?

posted by Mickey 18 years ago
  • Bill Monroe autographed mandolin. Damn, that'd be awesome.
  • not sure if it'd be appropriate, but i noticed that jack daniels has started selling some single barrel whiskey (i haven't tried it). there's also the country/western/folk music angle.
  • Silent auction? Canada? Calling Moneyjane!
  • Sorry, this doesn't fall under easily packable, but one popular item I've seen at silent auctions is a week/weekend's use of someone's scenic/lakeside/mountain/etc. cabin or place in the city. If someone in the local chapter has such a home and can offer it at no or low cost, all the more proceeds for the charity. (Alternatively, perhaps offer a complete camping package - supplies, car rental, food, maps, passes, etc.) Given the mention of past success with local items, maybe some people would pay big to actually visit and experience the local stuff firsthand? I remember a non-silent charity auction bidding war that erupted over jewelry - I think it was custom-made, or antique-heirloom type so maybe the allure was due to the item being one-of-a-kind. If food can be shipped without much difficulty to Canada, a meal to be Fed-Exed at some future date from a distinctive local eatery might go over well too. Good luck.
  • Promises of services - such as guava's idea - which can be given out as certificates might be easier to handle than goods themselves.
  • A piece of the studio where Elvis recorded his first hit song? Hurry. Who knows how long that pile of rubble will stick around. :-P
  • Pave paradies . . .
  • Since moneyjane didn't come through for us (!), we have settled on a bottle of Jack Daniels that looks like this, signed by Master Distiller Jimmy Bedford. Hopefully it will be a hot item. I know Mr. Mickey is already bidding. Thanks, monkeys, for all of your ideas!