Seth's Blog : The perils of doing it live

The perils of doing it live

[Relevant aside: If you get this blog by email, apologies for the glitches of the last few days caused by my provider. If you ever see a broken link or something that doesn’t render, you can visit the blog. It always has the latest version, typos fixed. It’s much easier to fix the blog over time than it is to re-send an email due to an error. The irony of ‘live’ in this post is not lost on me. Thanks for your patience.]

Charity auctions are an odd hybrid. They take a lot of focus, and when done live, a lot of logistical support.

It’s all of the charity’s best “customers” in a room, at the same time.

Not just in a room, but at something that’s supposed to be a party, an event that’s not only supposed to be fun and demonstrate hospitality, but one that might involve our feelings around status, insufficiency and perfection.

As a result, months are spent making sure everything is just right. Date certain has baggage. Sign up to host live events with care.

That’s time and effort the nonprofit could be putting into engaging with donors directly. Or even in connecting donors to one another in a way that’s generative and useful.

If something goes wrong, plenty of people are triggered. And the responses have to happen with urgency.

GOODDBIDS positive auctions can bring some of the real-time energy and urgency of a fundraising event, but without the emotional or labor overhead.

Yes, the auction is happening right here and right now. Bidders can’t snooze or they miss out. The clock is ticking, but not at the expense of the hardworking folks at the nonprofit. It’s working for them instead.

“What’s it for” is a question that’s worth asking, again and again.

Today, three superfun auctions join the list:

Claire Saffitz teaches you to bake.

Also, this Bob Dylan Slow Train Coming official tour jacket. It’s hanging in my office, and has been for a month or so. It’s magical and I’ll miss it. Thanks, Greg.

The first rule of GOODBIDS is that we create the conditions to talk about GOODBIDS. Ed Norton donated a signed Fight Club movie poster…