Auction Games     |     7 May 2024

5 Auction Games To Make Your Event a Success

Have fun and increase participation with these top auction games

12 minute read

Auctions have long been a cornerstone of fundraising for nonprofits, schools, and community groups. As anyone who has attended more than a few can attest, traditional bidding sometimes lacks the excitement and engagement needed to maximize fundraising potential. Enter auction games — dynamic activities that infuse your events with enthusiasm and competitive spirit, making giving both fun and rewarding.

Auction games explained

Auction games are specialized activities integrated into fundraising events to promote interaction and spirited competition. While traditional auctions often involve straightforward bidding, auction games introduce an element of unpredictability and excitement, such as a chance to win a surprise item or a playful challenge among participants. The primary aim here is to raise money and ensure that participants enjoy the process and feel more connected to the cause they support.

Auction games mark a distinct departure from traditional fundraising approaches. Instead of silent bids on paper or a monotonous sequence of item presentations, these games make each bid part of a larger, more engaging experience. For instance, a game might allow bidders to win prizes instantly or compete in a friendly contest to "earn" the right to bid on exclusive items.

Why integrate games into your auction?

Enhancing attendee engagement

Engaged attendees are likely to stay longer and participate more actively. Auction games keep the energy high and make participants feel like an integral part of the event’s success. This ongoing engagement is often reflected in the lively bidding wars that both entertain and encourage higher donations. Even if they aren’t actively participating in a game or auction item, they may stick around to see others play just to see the action. 

Increasing fundraising potential

When attendees have fun, they’re generally more open to opening their wallets. Auction games create a positive atmosphere that encourages spending. Whether it’s bidding on a mystery box or joining a wine pull, the added excitement can lead to increased funds raised.

Adding a fun and competitive element

Competition can be a powerful motivator. Games like “Balloon Pop” or “Silent Auction Bingo” tap into this by pitting guests against each other in a friendly manner. This competition adds a layer of fun and intensifies the bidding process, as no one wants to miss out on the joy of winning.

By blending competition with charity, auction games make fundraising events more lively and memorable and significantly enhance their financial success. In the following sections, we'll delve into some popular auction games that can transform your next event from ordinary to extraordinary.

Top five auction games for your next event

Dessert Dash

The Dessert Dash offers a sweet spin on the auction format. In this game, each table at the event collectively bids money to claim the first choice of a variety of delectable desserts. The table with the highest total bid gets first pick from a tempting array of cakes, pies, and other treats, with the action continuing until all tables have made their selection.

How to play:

• Gather a wide range of dessert donations from local bakeries or talented amateur bakers within your community.
• Display all desserts attractively with clear descriptions and perhaps a story about the baker or the inspiration behind each dessert.
• Provide each table with a bid sheet where they can jot down their collective bid secretly.
• Announce the winning table and allow them the first pick, creating a lively and fun atmosphere as each table eagerly awaits its turn.

Wine Pull and Ring Toss

These games are perfect for wine aficionados and can add a sophisticated yet fun element to your event.

Setting up a Wine Pull:

• Secure various wine bottles, ensuring a mix of high and low-value wines.
• Wrap or disguise the bottles to hide their labels, ensuring each pick is a surprise.
• Sell tickets that allow guests to pull a bottle at random, turning the selection process into a game of luck and excitement.

Organizing a Ring Toss:

• Arrange wine bottles in a challenging layout.
• Provide rings to toss over the bottles for a set donation per toss.
• Winners can take home the bottle they successfully ring, encouraging more participation and fun.

Balloon Pop

Balloon Pop is an exhilarating game that can be customized for outdoor or large-venue events. Each balloon contains a number corresponding to a prize, ranging from small tokens to larger rewards.

How to play:

• Fill balloons with slips of paper that have prize numbers on them.
• Charge a nominal fee for each balloon a guest chooses to pop.
• Once popped, the participant receives a prize matching the number in their balloon.
• Offer a variety of prizes, such as gift cards, small gadgets, and vouchers for services from local businesses.
• To encourage more participation, ensure a few high-value prizes can act as major draws.

Silent Auction Bingo

Incorporate the mobile bidding feature to transform the classic bingo game into a thrilling auction experience. Along with giving your participants a fun and exciting game, you encourage more bids on more items, which means more competition and greater funds raised per item. 

How to play:

• Create bingo cards that list various auction items instead of numbers.
• As participants bid on items using their mobile devices, they mark them off their bingo cards.
• The first to complete a line wins a special prize, adding an extra layer of fun to the auction.

Creating engaging bingo cards:

• Include a mix of items on each card to appeal to different interests and budgets.
• Ensure that the bingo cards' design is clear and visually appealing, making it easy for participants to follow along.

Auction Item Roulette

This game introduces a dynamic pace to the bidding process by featuring random items for a limited time.

How to play:

• Periodically select an item to feature at a special auction station or highlight it online for a set duration.
• Participants have a limited time to place their bids before another replaces the item.
• Keeping the excitement high:
• Use a countdown timer to add urgency to the bidding process.
• Announce upcoming items to build anticipation and keep the audience engaged throughout the event.

Bonus game: Progressive Jackpot Auction

The Progressive Jackpot Auction is a thrilling twist on the classic auction format. It starts with a base item—perhaps a sought-after piece of art or a luxury travel package. As the bidding progresses, additional items or experiences are added to the lot each time a specific monetary milestone is reached. The winner gets all of the items in the lot. This game encourages ongoing engagement as participants watch the lot grow more valuable and exciting.

How to play:

• Begin with a compelling item that will attract initial interest.
• Set predefined milestones for adding new items, clearly communicating these to your attendees.
• Use mobile bidding to allow real-time updates and engagement, keeping the excitement high as the auction jackpot becomes increasingly lucrative.
• The final bidder wins everything in the jackpot, creating an exhilarating climax to your fundraising event.

Enhancing auction games with expert tips and tricks

Seasoned auctioneers and event planners bring a wealth of knowledge to the table, especially when ramping up the effectiveness of auction games. At Silent Auction Pro, our team has decades of combined experience in nonprofit fundraising. We’ve planned and executed every auction game you can imagine, so we put together some tips on managing your next game.

Timing is everything; launching your games at the peak of guest attendance ensures maximum participation. Keep the energy high by spacing out games and using moments of high excitement to introduce new bidding opportunities.

Using technology can significantly streamline the event's management and participation experience. For example, mobile bidding systems facilitate an easy bidding process and allow guests to participate without standing around a bid sheet. This tech-friendly approach appeals to a modern audience and can keep the momentum going with real-time updates and alerts.

Adapting Auction Games for Different Audiences

The key to successful auction games lies in knowing your audience. Customization according to the demographic can dramatically improve how much people get involved.

Corporate donors often appreciate sleek and professional games, perhaps with a competitive edge that colleagues can enjoy. Consider high-stakes games where higher-value items are up for grabs within a limited timeframe. On the other hand, community groups might enjoy more family-oriented or inclusive games. 

Young professionals may be drawn to tech-driven, fast-paced games. Integrations with apps or social media can attract this demographic, offering games where quick, spontaneous auctions are held entirely online or via an app.

Troubleshooting common challenges

Even the best-planned auction games can encounter hurdles. Here are some common issues and how to handle them:

Technology glitches: Always have a backup plan. If your mobile bidding platform goes down, be prepared to switch to manual bidding or have a secondary system ready to deploy. Regular testing before the event can prevent many of these issues. It also helps to work with a company with extended support hours and someone available during your events. Silent Auction Pro is available to help from 9 a.m. Eastern to 7 p.m. Pacific, and we always offer night-of-event support. 

Overly competitive bidding: While spirited bidding is encouraged, it can sometimes get out of hand. Setting clear rules and perhaps even caps on certain items can keep the environment fun and fair for all participants. An experienced auctioneer or emcee who can read the room and keep things light can also mitigate this issue.

Low participation: If certain games aren’t attracting your desired attention, be flexible in your approach. Offering incentives or spotlighting these less popular games during peak times can increase interest and participation.

Explore new possibilities with Silent Auction Pro

Whether planning your first auction or looking to spice up your annual fundraising event, incorporating auction games can significantly improve the experience and add something new for everyone. From Dessert Dashes that sweeten the deal to a Progressive Jackpot Auction that builds suspense, these activities entertain your audience, bring in more money, and create a memorable event. 

Silent Auction Pro is a tool designed to help you easily manage your fundraising events. With features like mobile bidding, customized communications, detailed analytics, and the ability to help effectively manage auction games (including the ones listed in this article, plus many more), Silent Auction Pro can help you increase your fundraising return on investment. Request a free demo and see what new heights your next event can reach with these creative and effective auction games.