Do you know of a lot of people who plan on attending whom have not purchased tickets yet? In my experience people tend to wait to the last minute to buy tickets. Usually 2 weeks before our auction is when the tickets start selling like crazy. Also, is this your first time doing this type of event?
One thing we do to try to get people to purchase early is offer a discounted rate on the raffle tickets if they purchase them by a certain time. This helps to motivate some people to get their ticket orders in earlier.
Hi All- Our PTO is trying to raise over $100,000 to purchased permanent covered shading for our elementary school playground. We have raised $20K so far. We are holding a Gala & Silent Auction- tickets are $60 per person or $100 per couple. We can accomodate 200-300 people but have only sold 65 tickets so far and the event is less than one month away. We have received in over $10K in donated items for the auction. I am afraid if we do not sell enough tickets we will not reach our fundraising goal for this event of $20K.
Looking for suggestions on how to boost ticket sales- we have sent home an invitation; mailed home a reminder flier; it has been in the newsletter each week.
We also want to raise as much money as possible...here are a few ideas we are bouncing around:
[1] Buy It Now option for the items at face value or slightly greater than face value. This might encourage people not coming to the gala to bid on some items.
[2] Silent Auction Preview event from 4:30-5:30 p.m. before the Gala to get the bidding started.
[3] Raffle- pull some of the items from the silent auction and sell raffle tickets at the school...$5 for single ticket; $20 for 5 tickets