After the Auction

After the Auction

            After the art auction I put on for Rescue:Freedom, I have mainly been working on completing the very last tasks associated with the event.  I have also been ruminating over what I’ve learned from the experience.  I conveniently was interrupted for a week due vacationing in Las Vegas (of all places), but now I am back on track. 

            Before and during the auction, I really was not sure how the actual purchasing of won bids would work.  I could not decide if it was better for guests to purchase their winning bids during the event or after the event.  I thought purchasing their items after the event would make the auction itself less stressful.  I was even a bit stressed about how the actual payment process would work during the event, especially since we were allowing payment via credit cards.  But the risk for purchasing won bids after the event would be guests not following through on payment later on.  It turned out that most everyone purchased their winnings at the auction.  The actual payment process actually happened without issue.  Incidentally, the vast majority of guests paid with a credit card.  I have only had to follow up with five individuals about picking up and paying for their winnings, and they’ve been completely reliable.  Actually, I had heard it would be this way, and it was true.

            I should have all payment collected for each item by Thursday.  Once we have that, we’ll be able to advertise to our guests how much money we were able to raise for survivors of sex-trafficking.  Also, half of our proceeds will go to one of our auction’s featured guests, Arts Aftercare.  I’m excited to be able to tell guests how much we raised (especially since most won’t know what our goal actually was).  I’m also excited to have an excuse to get in touch with them.  It will give me an excuse to reach out to them and hopefully get them involved somehow with either organization. 

            I also have a few other follow up tasks to complete.  The first is to send thank you notes to our volunteers, our partners, and maybe even some of our art purchasers.  Another is to figure out what to do with the art that didn’t sell.  Hopefully Jeremy will want to use it at a future event.  I don’t mind giving it back to the original donors, but I’m also a bit sheepish about it. 

            Ultimately, I learned a few things from this experience.  The first is that in order to raise the amount of money you want, it is very helpful to match your event’s guests to what they are purchasing.  In the case of our auction, our more expensive fine art didn’t sell because we didn’t specifically have art buyers there.  It also can be hard for art auction guests to bid a lot of money on art because its value is so subjective.  I also learned that planning a fun, well run event does create an opportunity to share with guests about issues that need funding, such as sex-trafficking.  Last, I learned that even though I now know I can manage a large event, it is still important to not lose sight of future funding opportunities.  In our case, I was hoping to connect more auction guests to volunteering with Rescue:Freedom.  This could still happen.  I did just put a note about that on Facebook. 

During the Auction

During the Auction

            From the moment volunteers arrived to help set up for the auction to the moment we all left The Hub, people regularly asked me how I was feeling.  I kept replying, “I don’t know.”  I was so focused on operations that I really didn’t know how I was feeling.  However, I’ve since had time to give it some thought.

            To start, I’m really happy with how we scheduled the event.  I’m glad I’d prepared set up ahead of time by making sure all of the art was ready to hang and that I’d mapped out where each item should go.  I’d even mapped out where to put the admission table and the food.  I’d created various directional signs for guests.  Just enough volunteers showed up to make this happen by our 4 P.M. start time.  I also had scheduled my time leading up to the event so that I was not forced to stay up late the night before in order to finish last minute details. 

            Also, regarding the operations of the event, I kept waiting for something to go wrong, but nothing major happened.  The worst that happened was that some of the art fell down from the wall.  The humidity of the day had loosened the taped string, which was holding the work to the hooks.  Luckily there really was no major damage.  We just fixed how each item was displayed and moved on.  Moreover, volunteers and guests generally were on time.  More importantly, guests were able to bid, win, and purchase items with ease.  They were fed.  They mingled.  They gave to great causes, and they heard information about how to fight trafficking.  We cleaned up afterward and left the building early.  Throughout the day, I also got a lot of positive feedback from guests, which I was so relieved and happy to hear.

            I was also really happy with the entertainment and the speeches given during the event.  I could not have asked for more professional musicians in Candice Russell and then Curtis and Grace of Jubilee Band and Arts Aftercare.  I really thought they created a great ambience and were witnesses to how you can use creativity to speak against a heavy issue like sex trafficking.  I also really appreciated how Jeremy, the president of Rescue:Freedom, spoke with such conviction about helping women and girls leave sex-trafficking.  I also sensed guests making a connection with the work of Arts Aftercare as they learned how their art toolkit is helping trafficking survivors open up about what they’ve been through.  This could not have happened without the great relationships Jeremy has with all of these people.  It proves to me that good relationships are so important in fund-raising.

            I also thought the addition of Caffe’ Lusso and Sozo Friends also helped to give our event credibility.  Guests also learned that you can purchase great tasting, socially responsible coffee.  They also learned that you can purchase wine while giving to a good cause.  Again, this happened because of Jeremy’s good relationships.

            The main thing that I wish I had done differently is to figure out how to get art buyers to our auction.  I used Facebook, posters, and word of mouth to advertise everywhere else I could think of.  Interestingly, our guests bid more on our craft items and photographs than our more expensive fine art.  Part of the issue is that I, the event coordinator, just did not know enough high end art purchasers.  Also, the value of art is subjective.  I think this combination is why our guests purchased less expensive items like the jewelry and smaller art.  We’re still tallying the results, but it looks like we made close to $2,500.00, which is half of our initial goal of $5,000.00.  If we were to put on an art auction again, we would need to either focus on higher end art buyers or more specifically on what we think the general public would like. 

            Last, I also wish I had spent more time figuring out how to formally connect guests to Rescue:Freedom, so that opportunities for volunteering or fund-raising could happen in the future.  However, figuring out the operations of the auction took precedence from the moment I started planning until the moment the auction was over.  On the other hand, I did see guests having conversations with both Curtis of Arts Aftercare and Jeremy of Rescue:Freedom, and they did hear both men speak from the stage.  So it really is possible this happened organically.

            If you were to ask me now how I am feeling about the auction, I would say that I am proud of my accomplishment and what I learned.  We raised awareness and money for sex trafficking survivors.  I just wish I would have had the bandwidth to focus on art buyers and then facilitating future volunteer opportunities.  Now that I understand the operations of an auction, I could make both happen.

Before the Auction

Before the Auction

            In the days and months leading up to the Art Auction and Benefit for Rescue:Freedom, I put in well over 85 hours of preparation for it.  In so many ways the auction seemed to be a good fit.  We had a goal of raising $5,000 for a very good cause.  I looked forward to raising awareness about sex trafficking.  I hoped to move our guests into action beyond just donating money.  These are all things I cared about.  I also looked forward to seeing how many volunteers I could facilitate into meaningful involvement with Rescue:Freedom.  Moreover, I anticipated being around a lot of art and artists.  I looked forward to adding project management to my resume    I also just wanted to know if I could pull it off.

            I spent a fair amount of time looking for and organizing volunteers.  I eventually found many to prepare appetizers for the event.  Others committed to helping with set up or tear down for the event.  Some helped during the event, such as with admitting guests.  I mostly found help from immediate family members.  A few helped with advertising by putting up posters for the event.  Jeremy, the president of Rescue:Freedom, and Lindsay, a committed Rescue:Freedom volunteer, helped advertise by inviting people on the Rescue:Freedom mailing list.  But, much of the preparation fell on my shoulders.  One, I wanted to make sure things got done.  Two, I wasn’t totally sure how and when to delegate tasks.  We had no precedence for an event like this.  I think prior experience would have helped me know how to delegate.

            To market the event, I tried a few different things.  After all, the event is pointless if nobody shows up.  I sent press releases to various media outlets such as the Queen Anne News and the Seattle Times.  Admittedly, I never did check to see if anything made it into any publication I contacted.  I just had no time!  I spent a day distributing posters and flyers.  I also contacted area churches from Mars Hill to Quest Church to Bethany Presbyterian to a friend’s church in Renton.  Oh, and of course I used Evite and Facebook.  On Facebook, I did something I’d never done before, which was to create a Community Page for the event.  That seemed to help as it seemed to reach people I didn’t know. 

            I also emailed various sex trafficking survivor groups to invite them.  I’m not aware that any showed up.

            I also kept a somewhat lengthy list of things to do before, during, and after the event.  Some of the items on the list were trivial, such as finding out where the brooms were kept so we could clean up afterward.  Others were a bit more important, like figuring out how to accept credit card payment for won bids and who to trust with the sound system when the musicians sang.  I regularly emailed or called Jeremy or Lindsay, staff at the Hub, Candice Russell –one of our musicians, and the volunteers during the weeks leading up to the auction.

            Being that we had not discussed a budget at all, I also keep a somewhat long list of items to purchase or borrow: coffee cups, extension cords, cash box, drink tickets, artistic tape, thumb tacks, a drill, a hammer, a container or two for carrying art, etc.  The list goes on and it’s boring.  I purchased a bit more than I wanted to, but I decided to view it as a tithe. 

            One fun aspect was collecting the art.  I had pictured collecting more fine art, but instead I collected a surprising amount of photography, enhanced photos, and craft items, with some fine art added in.  I had initially asked for framed art, but quickly learned that people are not usually willing to provide that due to how expensive it is.  It is expensive to purchase frames, and framed art is expensive to ship.  I also got a lot of jewelry and craft items donated.  There is no framing needed, and they are easy to transport.  Admittedly, I was nervous about accepting those items due to a member of Rescue:Freedom really wanting to focus on having fine art.  However, I’d already told people I would accept craft items.  Moreover, being that we had no precedence for an auction, I felt we could not be choosy about what we auctioned off.  In the end, I’m so glad we used craft items, as those items received a lot of bids!  In hindsight, I also enjoyed meeting with art donors and the anticipation of being surprised and excited over what they gave.  The most expensive art given to us was Charles Fazzino’s serigraph titled Looting Las Vegas.  It is valued at $2,000 to $2,700.00. 

            Of course, let’s not forget the survivor made items.  Really, their hand made paintings and purses and trinkets were the highlight.  That’s how it should be.  Also, I just really enjoyed making the bidding sheets for all of their items and anticipating how the auction guests would respond to both their high aesthetic qualities and the story behind them. 

            So much of the coordination leading up to this auction was tedious.  Using the software on my laptop for making the event posters and flyers was boring and frustrating.  There was a fair amount of uncertainty.  I just had no precedence for how all of the moving pieces of this project would come together.  I had no idea how much of what quality of artwork I would get.  I really stressed out about enough guests attending or whether or not they would bother to bid on items.  I tried to counteract that by making sure there were enough items to bid on.  I had little idea of what to expect from volunteers, let alone the other people and organizations who participated.  In the days leading up to the auction, I completed tasks a bit by faith.

My Jaw Hit the Floor Today

We'll have four paintings made by Indian survivors of trafficking.  The paintings are of birds, sunsets, and trees.  I find them charming and representative of someone's hopes and dreams for a better life. 

I just found their website here:  http://sharansthan.org/programs.  One program they offer is Day Care.  Here is what they write about it:

This offers holistic care - education, physical care and medical attention to the children who are uncared for in the Red Light Area - Ganga Jamuna, at Nagpur. Outside of our daily care, the mothers are forced to induce drugs to their infants in order to entertain costumers. (Age group 6 months – 6 yrs; Timings 9am – 6pm).

Um, is that saying prostituted mothers are forced to give their children drugs in order to keep them subdued while they "work"?

I have even more motivation to put on the best art auction there ever was.

They Didn't Follow Through...

So, a few of my artists who said they would donate artwork didn't follow through with their donations.  The weird part is that I don't mind that much.  If I was still scrambling to find artwork, then I think I'd be more disappointed.  But, as James predicted, people have actually been pretty generous in what they've given.  For example, a painting I acquired yesterday retails for $800.00.  It's a good painting too!

In fact, the details are coming together.  I still have a bunch of things to print out, such as the bidding sheets.  I still have to prepare some of the artwork for hanging.  I could use a bit more help with people donating food for the auction and a few people to help with tear down.  I'm also a bit concerned about getting the internet at The Hub to support our credit card swiper.  Otherwise, I think I've done everything I can possibly do to advertise for our event.  At this point, about 75 people have RSVP'd yes.  That's not the 200 I was aiming for, but you never know. 

I picked up one painting and three framed photos for the auction today.  All are just beautiful, and acquiring them involved spending time with good friends.  Someone should pay me to do this.  =)

Jubilee Band

I just found out that Curtis Romjue and maybe even Jubilee Band will be performing at the auction.  Thank YOU Jeremy Vallerand for making that happen.  You all may remember Jubilee Band from the Justice Conference.  Part of our proceeds will go toward benefitting Curtis' organization Arts Aftercare. 

A generous friend of a friend donated a rather expensive painting by Charles Fazzino to our auction.  Somebody pinch me!  The artist's work can be seen here:  fazzino.com.  Now to just get people there to see it...

Here's yet another rough draft of a second blog post I created for the Rescue:Freedom blog regarding the auction:

We’re excited to announce that Thatcher Kelley will be one of the artists featured in our art auction and benefit happening on Sunday, August 18^th, 2013 from 4 – 7 P.M.  His work can be seen at thatcherkelley.com.  In fact, Thatcher’s photography is currently on display at the auction’s location in Pioneer Square’s The Hub, located at 220 2nd Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104.  And there’s a reason for that.

            In order for us to acquire The Hub as our auction’s location, Andrea, the auction coordinator, needed to curate an art show over the summer for The Hub.  Upon seeing Thatcher’s work at a solo show of his earlier this year, Andrea knew he was just the artist for the exhibit.  As a photographer, Thatcher writes, “Fresh perspectives are what I seek out with my camera.  I’m not interested in replicating photographs I have seen before.  I want to find perspectives that make me and others think and feel differently”.  One just has to view Thatcher’s stunning, larger-than-life photos of land and cityscapes to know this is true. 

            Thatcher’s work can be seen throughout the summer at The Hub and at the Art Auction and Benefit for Rescue:Freedom happening on Sunday, August 18^th from 4 – 7 P.M., also happening at The Hub.  For information on the auction, please visit facebook.com/ArtAuctionforRescueFreedom.

Here's a copy of the first draft of a blog post about my auction that will hopefully appear in the Rescue:Freedom blog:

What happens when you use your talents to work against the things you are most concerned about?  Well, in the case of Andrea Krook, these things combined to create an Art Auction and Benefit for Rescue:Freedom, which is happening on Sunday, August 18^th from 4 – 7 P.M.

            Andrea is a graduate student at Northwest University in International Care and Community Development.  The program is about two years in length.  Every summer break, the students complete a practicum in a field which interests them.  Andrea knew she wanted to acquire project management experience.  She’s a watercolor artist (andreakrook.com).  And, she has a growing concern for the local and international sex trafficking problem.  The chair of her department introduced her to Jeremy Vallerand of Rescue:Freedom, and, after much thought, it was decided to put on an auction as a fundraiser for the organization. 

            The event itself is free and is being held in Pioneer Square at The Hub (thehubseattle.com) at 220 2nd Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104 with plenty of street parking nearby.  The auction will feature artwork by over 27 artists, including an acrylic by Brad Dinsmore (brad-dinsmore.com/home.html).  He created a painting just for this event.  It will also feature high quality craft items made by survivors of sex trafficking from India.  We’ve seen their work, and it’s beautiful.

            The event will also feature music and a live performance by Candice Russell who made it as far as Hollywood during season 11 of American Idol (candicerussell.com).  It will also feature free food, wine from Sozo Friends Winery, and coffee from Caffe Lusso.

            To learn more about our auction, please visit   facebook.com/ArtAuctionforRescueFreedom.  To RSVP, to our auction, please visit facebook.com/events/485645704847066/.

            We look forward to seeing you there!

Generous

Yesterday I met with my friend Ann who donated both art AND craft items to the auction.  I was really kind of humbled by her generousity.  We'd met up at church beforehand (Bethany Presbyterian, of course).  I'd gotten there late and was sitting in the back.  You know how worship can move you sometimes?  Well, it had totally moved her, and she mentioned how excited she was getting for the auction.  It makes me feel not alone in this.  I sometimes wonder if I'm "calling in" too many favors for this auction.  On a broader level, I also wonder why no one cares or tries to make life better for others.  Ann reminds me that's not true.  I think sometimes you just have to create a way for others to be a part of change...

Darek Farmer Photograpny

Here's a link to a participating photographer, Darek Farmer:  http://www.darekfarmerphotography.com/
http://www.darekfarmerphotography.com/Photography/Landscapes/9112856_8S6VCQ#!i=2634938559&k=6nQLj3h

Marketing

I've also been learning about marketing recently.

I'm not going to get people to my auction unless they know about it.  Lindsay, of Rescue:Freedom, suggested that I come up with a Facebook page ALONG with the Facebook invitation.  She also suggested that I come up with a contest to drum up some interest.  SO, if you "like" my page AND share it on your FB feed, I'll enter you into a drawing to win a free painting.  The drawing will be at the auction.  I think that's helped, and I'll continue to post about that.

I'm also coming up with a flyer and poster for the auction.  I'm also coming up with places to display those.  SO, if you know of a good place, let me know!  I have no idea how many posters I'll need, and I'm not sure how many I can afford to print.  God will make a way.  I'll be putting them up at my previous church, friend's churches, in the Pioneer Square neighborhood.  I'll be advertising in community newspapers, and I'm not sure where else.  I'd thought of Craigslist, but that also creeps me out.  We'll see...

Candice Russell of the Hollywood Auditions of Season 11 of American Idol

So, one exciting thing happened this week.  I got a musician to perform at the auction.  Her name's Candice Russell, and she made it to the Hollywood auditions of Season 11 of American Idol.  Admittedly, I never saw her on TV.  However, I've recently seen her sing on YouTube, and she's very good!  You can listen to her at candicerussell.com. 

She reminds me of Clay Aiken, in that I watched his American Idol audition and thought, "there's your winner."  He got second place and now has a career in music.  Now, she looks nothing like Clay Aiken, but she's another one of those performers where you think, "Wow, this person's got 'it'."  So, we'll see where her career goes.  I'm just glad to have someone truly talented performing.

I got in touch with her in the first place because her dad knows Jeremy, the president of Rescue:Freedom.  That guy knows everyone!

Candice's album releases soon, and she's still learning the guitar version of all of her songs.  So, during the auction, we'll play her CD in the background.  Right before we give our "ask", she'll sing one of her songs live (to a recorded track).  It's perfect because the song is actually about trafficking. 

Also, one thing I'm thankful for that I didn't think too much about beforehand is the tone her music will set.  It's perfect for what we're doing!  Her music's catchy and upbeat, and she's pitch perfect.  I think playing her music in the background is also good because we'll be able to hear each other over the music when we're just talking to friends at the auction.  I personally hate it when you go somewhere (unless it's a concert) and you can't hear because the music's so loud.

She's also willing to play for free.  She's getting some exposure, helping out for a cause she also cares about, and getting a chance to sell her CDs at our event ($10 each).  So, it's turning out to be a win-win for everyone!

Today I collected ten more art and craft pieces for the auction.  I'm so glad that I'm have enough art to put on an auction.  I still need more as I really do want to provide folks with a variety of things to choose from.  I also want to have a variety of price points.  I want more expensive art for those that can afford it.  Also, expensive art has the potential to bring in more funding for Rescue:Freedom and their partners who are benefitting from this. 

I also want less expensive art for everyone else!  I think it would be disappointing to show up for an auction and then totally be priced out of participation.  Also, it all adds up.  Ten pieces going for $20 each is still $200.

So, variety for me is key.

Featuring One of the Auction Artists

Here's a link to an artist who's donated a sculpture.  I'm sitting next to one of them now!  Thanks for sending it, Merla:

http://merlafrazey-jordan.com/gallery-of-horse-sculptures.html

I got some good news yesterday.  You know how the singers who make it to the "Hollywood" stage are really good?  Well, because of a Rescue:Freedom connection, one of them has agreed to perform at my auction for FREE.  We'll play this person's CD during the event, and then this singer has agreed to perform one song live.  It's just what the event needs!  I wanted music there, but it needed to set the right tone.  It also couldn't be too loud or distracting.  I'm not a fan of not being able to hear the conversation at parties.  So, this person is perfect.  I can't say who it is yet!  But, I will soon.

Also, the artwork is trickling in.  As are the volunteers and the food.  Now to just get people there...

Elephants

 

 What can I say?  I love to paint.  I love elephants.  Might as well paint them...

Right now I'm learning about the importance of relationships, especially the importance of relationships with artists.  As I've sent out my "call to artists" for this auction, it's definitely been more of the artists who are my friends as opposed to acquaintances who have responded to me.

Andrea's Blog.

This is my blog.  It's profound.  It is saved routinely.  It can be previewed.  YOU can make comments on it.  YOU should read my blog.