If you’re like many of us, you attend at least one benefit auction – in addition to the one you are helping to plan – every year. Why? Because, like all of us dedicated volunteers… you love a good cause.

Auctions are fun – at least, they should be fun.

Buying stuff can be fun as well (there’s a reason we have more of it than we need, after all). But at some point, most of us reach the conclusion: I don’t need more stuff!

Many auction goers would rather have a great experience and a treasured memory than another “thing” to carry home at the end of the night. This increasingly common mindset lends itself to community building and unique offerings in both the Live and Silent portions of your event.

For example, the most popular Live Auction “items” are actually experiences. Bidders go nuts for real life opportunities like lunch with a notable person, vacations, a “ride along” in a fire truck, or a chance to be “Principal-for-a-day.” It’s hard to put a dollar value on experiences, but if properly promoted they fetch a handsome price during your school auction event.

Likewise, the Silent Auction provides another great opportunity to include fun and unique experiences such as Signup Parties.

Signup parties have become increasingly popular because they are easy to procure, bring groups together in a fun and festive way, and create pure profit for your school or organization. Here are a few popular Signup Party ideas:

1) Murder Mystery Party -Dinner and beverages will be served for 10 adults along with a murderous plot. Find out who killed who where. Maybe it is you! Character invitations will be mailed before event.

2) Cocktail Mixer - Learn how to make five different cocktails from a former professional bartender and have a kid-free night out. Each person brings a bottle of liquor. Snacks provided. Sampling optional!

3) Kid Fun and Parent’s Night Out - Bring your kids for an evening of pizza, games, a movie and kid fun. The host family live 2 blocks from the local playground. Drop the kids and go have fun with your spouse!

Thanks to our friends at Rieki Elementary for sharing their list of unique Signup parties – Rieki auction volunteers do an exceptional job putting these together. Take a look and get inspired!

Watch this blog as well as our Facebook page for more great ideas. And please, take a moment to share your Signup Party ideas with us!

Until next time,

~Delila