DATE SELECTION

With your commitee select a  date to hold your fundraising art auction with Marlin Art. Most organizations hold their fundraising art auctions on Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings. It is important to schedule your auction well in advance, as dates are limited. The time of year you determine to hold your art auction is your decision. 

Tips on choosing the right date include considering:

1. School breaks

2. Other annual fund-raisers & social events

3. Religious and National holidays

4. Major sporting events

A Marlin account representative can help guide you through the date selection process up to two year's in advance. Our calendars fill up quickly, so having a second date choice is a good idea.

Sign an agreement to reserve your date on the Marlin Art Calendar today!

CHOOSE A LOCATION

Schools, churches, synagogues and social clubs often have their own facilities which meet the Marlin room requirements.  These may be available to other organizations at a reasonable fee. If your organization does not have its own facility, consider a centralized location. Some organizations have used traditional large rooms such as banquet halls, conference centers,  and country clubs.  Other organizations have had success hosting fundraising art auctions with creative venues such as office building lobbies, car dealerships, and fire stations.  It is important to remember that the more attractive and appealing you make your event, the more enticing it will be for people to come to the event! You will attract a more sophisticated clientele to an upscale location whereas you may attract a more grassroots clientele to more humble room. Your committee, with the help of your Marlin account representative, should determine what is the appropriate type of room for your organization.  Your account representative will have many suggestions on how to secure a facility at the best value. Often, a non-profit organization can procure a lovely room at a nominal fee or at a complete donation. Remember, even if a room is not completely donated, the organization retains 100% of all ticket sales-so the room cost should be covered by this revenue.

ROOM REQUIREMENTS (Approx. 40' x 60') The room should:

• Accommodate seating for 125-150 adults arranged "theater style" with a center aisle.   

• Have space for refreshments to be served (in the same room as the art display and auction)

• Have 20-25 Banquet sized tables lining the perimeter of the room.  The art will be displayed against the walls on a 3-tier system.

• Have adequate lighting- the perimeter should be well lit.  All available lighting should be used during the preview.  Each piece of art will be brought up to the central easle during the live auction for bid.  During this time, many organizations lower the lights to create an ambiance where the viewer's eyes are drawn to the dramatic effect created by Marlin Art's specialized easle lighting.

• Have a podium from which the auctioneer can work.

• Have an adequate sound system with microphone (preferably wireless).  

• Have reasonable access to the street or parking lot for the artwork.

• Have adequate parking for the auction guests.

If you should have any questions regarding a potential location/room, please contact your auction consultant to help guide you through the process.