Auction Night Tutorial (for events assigning bidder numbers at check-in)
The instructions below will help prepare your volunteers for key event responsibilities when bidder numbers are assigned at check-in.
Volunteers will be guided through three primary tasks: checking in guests, awarding gala items by adding them to guests’ carts, and checking out (in-person) guests.
The tutorial uses a practice “Playpen” site with video instructions and hands-on exercises, and typically takes 20–30 minutes to complete, helping volunteers feel confident and prepared for auction night.
Thank you for volunteering to help with one of the most visible and important assignments for our event! This tutorial provides video instructions for check-in, placing gala items in carts and check-out. You'll also have an opportunity to practice each task on a "Playpen" site.
The tutorial generally takes about 20-30 minutes to complete and should equip you to handle your auction night tasks with confidence. Let's get started:
1. Log in to the Playpen Site:
The Auction Night screen provides easy-to-use tools for all of the tasks you may need to handle during your event. Feel free to explore each button - most are fairly intuitive and self-explanatory and the help button provides quick instructions, if needed.
Link to Practice Site: Playpen Site
Login: train
Password: train
If you need assistance, help buttons offer quick instructions, click the “?” icons on any screen to view FAQs.
This tutorial will focus on the three primary tasks you'll be handling: Check-in, Awarding Gala Items, and Check-out.
2. Checking In Guests at Your Event:
Go to the Playpen Site:
1. Check yourself in, using one of ABC Sponsor's guest tickets. Assign a bidder number of your choice and store a credit card, if applicable. (Be sure you understand how bidder/paddle numbers will be distributed at your event.)
2. Sell a Single ticket to Kelly King and link Kelly to your bidder number.
3. Awarding (Selling) Gala Items (Adding Items to Guests' Carts):
Record these sales on the Playpen Site:
- Kelly King had the highest bid for the Champagne Celebration basket! Award Item #228 to Kelly for $85.
- You bought 3 raffle tickets. Use the Record Bulk Sales/Donations button to add them to your cart.
4. Checking Out Guests During Your Event:
Check yourself out on the Playpen Site:
- While reviewing your order, you realize that your paddle raise hasn't been recorded yet: Add a $250 paddle raise.
- Round your bill up to $400
- Pay $250 cash and put the remainder on your credit card.
- Be sure you know the protocol for providing receipts and how to instruct guests to pick-up their items and gift certificates.
Well done! Completing this tutorial equips most volunteers to handle their auction night duties with aplomb. If you like to be prepared for anything, feel free to continue to practice on the Playpen site (the auto-search fields will display many other guests you can check in and items to be sold), or refer to our complete training materials.