FAQ
Questions, Answered.
The things event chairs and development directors ask us most. Do not see yours? Just ask.
Ask Us AnythingDo we really need a professional auctioneer, or can a volunteer handle it?
A volunteer can run an auction. A professional raises more, often tens of thousands more on a single night. Reading the room, pacing the increments, and building the Fund-A-Need are skills that take years of live stage time.
How much more can a professional actually raise?
Industry studies put the lift at 15 to 50 percent over a volunteer or general auctioneer, and the fee comes back many times over in the final number.
What is the difference between a benefit auctioneer and a regular auctioneer?
A commercial auctioneer sells to buyers who know an item's value. A benefit room runs on generosity, and most guests have never bid in their lives. Working that room is its own craft, which is why the Benefit Auction Specialist designation exists.
What is a Fund-A-Need or paddle raise?
It is the direct ask, the moment you invite the whole room to give to the cause itself. Timed right, it often outraises the live auction. It is the most important revenue moment of the night.
Why does the timing of the ask matter so much?
A room gives at its emotional peak, not after it. Every tradition that ever passed a plate understood that. Place the ask at the peak and the same room gives at a level that surprises everyone who planned the night.
Do auction games really raise money, or are they just filler?
Both, done right. Games like the Golden Ticket, Heads or Tails, and the Dessert Dash pull in the guests who will not bid on a big lot, and they routinely add thousands while keeping the energy up.
Do you emcee the whole event or just call the auction?
Either. Justin hosts full evenings, from the welcome to the final thank you, or steps in just for the auction and the ask. We also book professional emcees when a different host fits your room better.
Do you book other entertainment and talent?
Yes. Beyond Justin's own show, we source, vet, and book premium variety talent, comedians, magicians, speakers, and specialty acts, for events of every size.
How far in advance should we book?
The sooner the better. The biggest results come from the planning we do in the weeks and months before the doors open. That said, call us anytime. We have turned events around on short notice.
Do you travel?
We work coast to coast, in all 50 states.
What does it cost?
It depends on the event, the date, and what you need. Tell us about your event and we can get you an accurate quote. For most organizations the fee is recovered many times over in what the room gives.
How do we get started?
Tell us about your event. We will talk through your goals and how to raise more.