Interesting Experience
So the luncheon is over. I had a great time. Did not spend a lot of money on anything - these events tend to have little boutiques where the vendors donate money back to the charity (percentage of sales). 100 items up for silent auction. Which means, for those of you unfamiliar, there is a sheet of paper on the table by the donated item. You write down what you are willing to pay for the item. The next person comes by and puts a higher price down.
I decided not to hover over my donation. During the fashion show, I feel terrible for the photographer - too many p&s cameras and even some dSlrs but you can see them all on green box mode. I watch him trying to get good images in poor light, untrained models who can't see him at the end of the runway to stop and he can't get in. He was using an index card and rubberband on his flash (A better bounce card?) and the rubberband broke. I see he's been around the block but he keeps forgetting to take the lens cap off. I chatted up the women I know and I don't say a word.
My piece was given the most promient space for the auction. Other then a weekend at a golf resort, it was the highest price item. Only 1/2 the items sold at all and some were $20.00 small gift baskets. No one bid on my item. When I donated the piece, I told them if it did not sell, I would make a donation for it's cost. Since for me this was so personal, I felt sad about it.
And as I was leaving with it, and the centerpiece I won (a girl always likes flowers, yes?) there were two women talking about their day. One said to the other, "Did you see that painting of the couple dancing? I wanted to buy it so much - I wish I had but I would have a hard time telling my husband about spending that kind of money today. I took the artist's card and I will check with him to see if he would buy it for me for a gift later".
It's still for sale. Nik, the minimum start bid was $250.00 for the auction. As my high school math teacher told us, "Everything is for sale at the right price". I don't think I'd sell it for that price. I'd want more but I was testing the water and putting my name out. The photographer who shot the event had a portrait session and it didn't sell either. I learned that the attendees were not the right market based on my assessment of the goods that sold. The auctions I have attended usually have slightly higher end items for sale.
