Our Bid-Spotting Team | The Bay Area's Principal Auctioneer | Marin & San Francisco Bay Area Benefit Specialist

When it comes to your auction Bid Spotters…go PRO!

When you rely on volunteers, alone, to act as “Ringmen” a.k.a. “Bid Spotters”, you are leaving thousands of dollars in the room!

Professional bid-spotters significantly increase your revenue, by acting as an extension of the auctioneer into the audience! The spotters, will ensure that the guests surrounding them receive special attention– making sure their bid is not missed, and help bidders (who may be tipsy) to not lose track of who has the last bid. Pro-spotters help captivate the audience’s attention and increase audience participation and excitement, using professional strategies, some of which are listed below. Plus a pro, will act as a great model for your volunteer bid spotters to try to emulate!

To help guarantee our auctioneer’s success, and thus your success(!), each gala will receive at least one of our pro bid-spotter team (we make zero from this choice, as you will pay them directly, but they will help us raise SO much more money!)!

“The energy they (bid-spotting team) brought to the event was electric and we look forward to working with them again next year.”

Incline Village High School

Sharon Schrage, Gala Chair

EXCITEMENT AND ENERGY!

Auctions are very fast paced, and noisy. Our pros not only keep track of bids flying across the ballroom, and point to where the bid is, but they “yip” and call bids loud enough to let the auctioneer know if a bid has been made in their area. Be assured that their style will fit perfectly in any setting, from a small school gala, up to huge and posh celebrity events with very refined guests.

Backup eyes for the auctioneer!

It’s difficult for volunteer spotters to keep their eyes on the guests in the way that an auctioneer needs. Firstly because it takes great courage to encourage guests to bid, and secondly they often find the auctioneer far too entertaining to miss and get caught up in the action!

THANKING WINNING BIDDER (AND RUNNER-UP!)

Our Pro’s graciously thank the winning bidder, and runner up, with thank you’s and with triumphant cheers and clapping!

Helping Bidders keep track of bid!

It’s not easy for the non-professional spotter, or guest for that matter, to keep track of where on the floor and at what the dollar amount the current bid stands. The pros keep track of this as backup for the auctioneer, but equally important help your guests keep track, especially after a few cocktails. The pro-spotter lets the bidder who’s “in” know when he or she has been outbid, and knows the current dollar amount of the bid, in-case he/she asks.

Acquiring Bid Number!

Often, a bidder is lost in the excitement of winning, and doesn’t realize their bidder number hasn’t been recorded, their paddle is turned to the backside, or the auctioneer cannot read the paddle number. The Pro spotter will already be next to the table to thank the winner and ready to retrieve their number if needed.

Smiles, cheering, and encouraging bidding wars!

Our spotters are gregarious, and look bidders in the eyes with smiles. They cheer on the crowd, and jovially encourage guests to give/raise their paddles—egging them into fun bidding wars, in the name your great cause!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I hire a pro?

When you go Pro, you’ll raise more funds, and your guests will be more engaged… and entertained! We receive compliments, all the time, from guests, on how they love watching the spotters and the extra ZING they add to the gala!

Can't I just use volunteers as spotters?

When you rely on volunteers alone, to do bid-spotting, you are leaving thousands of dollars in the room! Over the years, we have found that most volunteer bid spotters (about 99%), will become quiet and shy during the auction. The work simply requires an extremely high level of “social courage!” Even when volunteers try their best, please realize they will not have the professional skills or the experience, to keep up with the bids, nor the same interaction with the guests and bidders that help start and keep up the “bidding wars” that we want to see!

How many Pro-Spotters should we use?

We strongly suggest 1 Pro-Spotter for each 75 guests. For example, for a crowd of 200 we would suggest 4 Pro Spotters (5 tables of 10, per pro-spotter). If you hire 2 pro spotters, for a crowd of 200, then you will need about 3-4 volunteer bid-spotters to fill the space of 2 pros. While most galas have at least a few volunteer Bid Spotters, AND we have a great 10 minute training to help them be effective, be aware that there is no substitute for an experienced professional.

How much extra do Pro-Spotters help us raise?

Over the years, we estimate that each Pro Bid Spotter helps increase funds raised by an average of $3k-$5k each (often MUCH more). Other than when Carolyn serves as a Pro Bid Spotter, we do not make ANY money or profit from this choice, as you will pay them directly.