{"id":44,"date":"2010-11-07T04:30:15","date_gmt":"2010-11-07T04:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"urn:uuid:b004a69b-689e-450e-8e4e-be8bd7dc9189"},"modified":"2017-07-28T13:51:34","modified_gmt":"2017-07-28T13:51:34","slug":"increase-auction-proceeds-with-a-paddle-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.readysetauction.com\/rsablog\/2010\/11\/07\/increase-auction-proceeds-with-a-paddle-call\/","title":{"rendered":"Increase Auction Proceeds with a Paddle Call"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I\u2019m surprised by how often I speak with clients who have never heard of a Paddle Call. A Paddle Call \u2013 also known by names such as Fund-A-Need, Flurry, Special Appeal and others \u2013 is a highly effective tool for raising a lot of money for your cause in a short period of time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

A Paddle Call takes place during the live auction portion of your event. The auctioneer asks for guests to raise their paddles to make a monetary donation towards a special project, a scholarship fund, a large piece of equipment or a special item that is needed by your organization. Guests who would like to donate raise their paddles while an auction committee member records the paddle numbers. The auctioneer then asks again, this time for a lower amount. Typically, a larger number of guests will raise their paddles. This goes on for at most five levels \u2013 for example, $5000, $2500, $1000, $500, $100 \u2013 at which point the auctioneer should have reached a level where the majority of guests have their paddles raised.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Sounds easy. And it is. But to make your Paddle Call even more successful, here are a few tips and tricks:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Appeal<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Prior to the Paddle Call, have your auctioneer invite a speaker to the podium to make a short presentation about the specific cause or project for which you\u2019re raising money. The best speakers are those who can clearly define the need and elicit an emotional response from the audience. When selecting a speaker, look for a charismatic and trusted member of your community, a respected leader in your organization or an expert in the field. And don\u2019t hesitate to think outside the box. Slide shows, short performances and skits can be very effective as part of the appeal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Most importantly, never lose sight of the goal of the appeal: to pull at the heartstrings and purse strings of your audience.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Paddle Call Timing<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Your auctioneer is a good resource when establishing the timing of your paddle call. But here are a couple of things to keep in mind:<\/p>\r\n\r\n