Episode #30 - Why Charity Aucton Items work

BEHIND THE SCENES: How the Autograph Industry really works

Do you remember when you were a kid and you went to watch your favorite professional player while hoping to get his autograph?  You got as close as you could to the dugout, hoping he would pop his head out and possibly give you an autograph. 

That’s what most people think how companies like BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising gets items autographed, it’s the direct opposite.  Around the world, autographs of professional athletes are highly sought after.  In North America, there are millions of Sports Collectible stores which mainly specialize in the local teams. 

How it truly works may make you mad, but the athletes maximize their earning by conducting autograph signings.  In reality, the normal NFL career only spans 3 years.  Plus the athletes have to pay their agents, publicists, trainers etc.  So in order to earn more money, they respond to what the fans want – paid autograph signings.

The reality of how these are conducted honestly is mechanical.  The Athlete is paid a certain amount to sign a certain amount of items.  Routinely, it’s 1,000 total pieces or more.  The items range from Helmets, Pictures, Jerseys, balls, bats etc.  At some autograph signings, the national shows, there could be as many as 50 well known athletes.  These "Bulk Item" autograph signings for wholesalers are referred to as "the Back Room."

At the signings, autograph authenticators such as JSA & PSA/DNA are asked to be present to actually witness the items being autographed.  It’s truly amazing, there will be stacks of pictures & jersey’s for each athlete.  Rows and rows of helmets, cases of baseballs.  How do you think businesses like ours actually get the items autographed?

However, celebrities and musicians rarely sit down to do an autograph signing.  The main stream or ultra famous stars do not do autograph signings at all, they truly don’t need to.  In order to get their autographs, companies like ours employ “Chasers.”  The people watch to see what celebrity is in town and wait outside a venue that they are appearing and ask for their autograph.  They are normally 8x10 photos.  The celebrities or musicians will sign the items in passing with their autographs looking more like “Chicken Scratch.”  The “Chased” autographs are hard to authenticate.  Furthermore, they NEVER EVER sign more than a few 8x10’s.  Chasers cannot carry stacks of guitars or stacks of 16x20 large photos. 

However, it is incredibly rare to get an entire cast of a certain movie or even harder, the entire band to sign one item.  You can find autographed guitar pick guards that one of the band members signed, but you will NEVER find a “Body” signed guitar (which means signed around the large part of the guitar) signed by the entire band.  You will find them true, but you will also find Big Foot autographs and Loch Ness Monster being ridden by Elvis autographed photos too.

Another important fact, when a celebrity or athlete dies, their autographs become extremely rare for obvious reasons.  The prices skyrocket!!!  As time passes by, the autographs are harder and harder to find.  But then this is easy to understand right?

So, I hope this gives you a “Behind the Scenes” explanation of how Authentic Autographs are actually acquired.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising leader in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Auction Item leader, providing everything a charity could want and be successful with including 100% authentic, 3^rd party authenticated auction items from athletes and celebrities.  BW Unlimited also carries a wide array of Décor and Jewelry.  In order to better serve charities across North America, BW Unlimited formed its own Travel Package company – CharityTravelPackages.com.  Offering a wide array of Charity Travel Packages ranging from “Once in a Lifetime,” Concerts, Vacations, VIP Experiences and much more.   

If we can help you, contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com.  Check out our Charity Travel Package website at www.CharityTravelPackages.com.

Episode #30 - BEWARE of Counterfeit Autographs. The Reality of Autographs.

The “Grinch” who stole your Success

The Grinch who stole Christmas is probably one of the most popular Christmas movies of all time.  Then after Jim Carrey brought the cartoon into reality, the popularity of the movie skyrocketed.  But as in the movie, the Grinch’s job was to ruin a merry Christmas for everyone.  And with fundraising event planning committee, we all have a Grinch.

If you’re reading this, I bet you already are thinking of your very own Grinch.  You know the Negative person who is the wet blanket.  “That won’t work”, “I don’t like that idea”, “We shouldn’t do that”, “I disagree”, “What happens if we don’t sell tickets” and on and on and on.  I see them all the time; in fact, sometimes it’s even the person in charge of the event or the charity.

When I’m initially meeting with a charity, I try to shake the trees to find the hidden “Grinch” because there will always be one or several.  Here are several reason why there is always a “Grinch”:

#1 – They were in charge in previous years of planning and hosting your fundraiser.

#2 – If your NEW ideas are successful, that means they were not.  No one wants to look bad.

#3 – Fear of change.

#4 – Fear of the unknown.

#5 – Fear of Failure.

All of the above are viable reasons why “Fundraising Grinch’s” exist.  But, you shouldn’t let them deter you.  Build a committee around positive, supportive people.  Building a happy committee is the key to your overall success. 

Your “Fundraising Grinch” will be the “wet blanket” and their negativity will take over your committee.  The best way to change them, is don’t even try.  Recruit the people you need to be successful and will support the mission you are on.

Remember – NO FUNDRAISING GRINCH’S.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising Leader in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising can and will assist you by helping you build a positive, educated, supportive committee who will carry out the mission of the event toward its ultimate success.  To learn more, contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com.

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Episode #25 - How speeches negatively affect your fundraiser