Should the big trip go in the live auction or the silent auction?

A live auction lets an auctioneer work two bidders against each other. That is where a big trip belongs. The energy in the room, the back and forth, the pause before the final bid, all of it pushes the number higher than a silent sheet ever could. For a Police & Fire Foundations banquet or golf outing, where the room is full of local supporters and business owners, that live dynamic matters. A silent auction is for volume, not for the headline item that can change the night.

Silent tables work best with about one item per seven guests. They are for quantity, not for the package that needs a spotlight. The cost of a travel package depends on the experience, but you set the starting bid 15 to 20 percent above cost. That means profit from the very first bid. If the bidding gets hot, the same trip can sell to more than one bidder, doubling or tripling the return. You only pay for an experience if it sells, keep 100% over the cost, and can sell experiences multiple times if the bidding gets hot. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event.

This week, put the headline trip in the live auction. Pick one or two serious experiences, like a Bourbon Trail trip, a major sports event, or a golf excursion. Those are the packages that sell for Police & Fire Foundations. Giveback XP has over 140 experiences you can reserve with no money upfront. You get a one-page display PDF with photos and details, plus marketing help before the event. After the event, you send the winner details and the Travel Team handles the rest.

Once the trip is in the live auction, you can stop worrying about format. The night flows. The auctioneer drives the price. The silent tables fill in the rest with volume. And your foundation walks away with more for the mission.