Paper bids · Tablet bidding · App bidding
Silent Auction
Staff.
EXECUTIONAL is a UK silent auction staff agency supplying lot hosts, bid runners and spotters to charities and event organisers for charity galas, awards dinners and fundraising balls across the UK, since 2007.
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Types of silent auction staff we supply
Six roles that keep the bids coming.
Silent auction staff are the floor team who look after the lots and bidding at a charity or gala evening: hosting the display, explaining the rules, spotting and recording bids.
Pick the roles your room needs, from registration to the close. Auction teams sit within our corporate event staff service, so one booking can cover the whole front of house.
Lot display hosts
Silent auction helpers stand with the lots during the reception. They explain what each lot includes and how bidding works, and keep bid sheets and the display tidy all evening. See our event hosts for hosting beyond the auction.
Bid runners
Auction bid runners take the auction to the tables between courses with lot cards or tablets. Seated guests still see the lots and bid on the organiser's system.
Bidder registration desk
Staff check guests in, issue bidder numbers, paddles or app logins, and point people to the lots before they sit down. For arrivals beyond the desk, see our meet and greet staff.
Live auction spotters
Bid spotters watch the room for paddles and raised hands when a live auction follows the silent one. They signal each bid so your auctioneer misses none.
Sponsor and donor hosts
Hosts look after a sponsor's or donor's presence at the reception. They talk guests through the donated lot and hand out sponsor gifts as guests leave.
Auction floor managers
One named manager runs the auction team to the organiser's running order. They work with the venue and the auctioneer, and handle the close and winner announcements on the floor.
How we brief your auction team
Briefed on the lots, managed to the close.
Right to work and ID checked for every person. Employer's and Public Liability cover on every event. DBS checks on request.
The team learns the cause and its fundraising goals, what each lot includes, reserves and increments, the bidding method and the running order.
We handle PAYE, National Insurance and HR in-house for every evening shift, so none of it passes to you.
Geo-tagged check-ins confirm the team is at the venue. Our 24/7 support line is answered day and night while your shifts run.
How our floor team keeps guests bidding
Your lots, our floor team.
Lots on a table with a bid sheet beside them rarely raise the money they could. Someone needs to draw guests over during the reception, tell them what a lot includes and remind them as the close approaches. For guests who never leave their seats, the team brings the auction to the table.
To run a silent auction, you bring the lots, the bidding system and the running order. We bring the people: chosen for a black-tie room, briefed on the cause, the lots and the bidding rules, and managed on the night by a floor manager who works with your auctioneer and venue.
We staff gala auctions nationwide across the UK
Ballroom to marquee, any gala.
Teams for charity events come from the staffing hub nearest your venue, across 40 hubs in the UK. Hosting somewhere not listed here? Tell us in your quote request.
Our compliance checks on every gala night
Insured and ready.
Galas and awards nights we have staffed
Galas and awards nights we've staffed.
Ballrooms and dinners where our teams worked the reception, the lots and the tables. See all recent work →
Organisers who book the same team again
Organisers who booked the same team again.
How we select your team for the night
From running order to team on the floor.
Venue, date, guest numbers, number of lots, the bidding method, the hours from reception to close and the roles you need.
Every role and shift set out, with no hidden fees.
Staff selected for a formal room on experience and location, with an account manager once you approve.
A brief on the cause, the lots, the bidding rules and the running order, and check-ins before the doors open.
Get a quote for your auction night team
Get a quote for silent auction staff.
Request a quote
Request your auction quote.
Send the venue, date, guest numbers, the hours from reception to close and the roles you have in mind.
We'll send an itemised quote in time to confirm the team before the seating plan closes.
Bidding and gala night questions we answer
Silent auction staff, bidding and the night: your questions.
What are silent auction staff?
Silent auction staff are the floor team who look after the lots and bidding at a charity or gala evening: hosting the display, explaining the rules, spotting and recording bids. They keep the auction moving, working alongside your auctioneer or host and your chosen bidding system, briefed on the running order before guests arrive.
How many staff does a silent auction need?
It depends on guest numbers, the number of lots and whether the team takes bids at the tables. As a starting point, plan one host for every group of lots on display and bid runners in proportion to the tables; we'll suggest a team size when you send the details.
Do you supply auctioneers?
No. Your auctioneer or host runs any live auction. Our team supports them: spotting bids, keeping the silent auction moving and managing the floor. We also offer auction spotters hire on its own for live auctions.
Can your staff work with our bidding app or tablets?
Yes. We work on the organiser's auction platform, whether paper bid sheets, tablets or a mobile bidding app, and brief the team on it before the doors open. We don't supply auction software.
When does the team arrive, and what will they wear?
Before the guests, to walk through the lots, the bidding rules and the running order with your team, and to be in place before bidding starts. The team wears black tie or the dress code you set, or your charity's branded clothing if you provide it.
Do your staff handle payments for winning lots?
No. Winning bidders pay for their winning bids through your system or your team; our staff point them to it and help hand over lots.
Can you staff the rest of the evening too?
Yes. Charity gala staff for registration, cloakroom, hosting and awards running can join the auction team on the same booking, so one manager runs the whole front of house. Waiting and catering stay with your venue or caterer.
What drives the cost?
Headcount, the length of the evening from set-up to close, late finishes, the venue's location and whether you need a floor manager. The quote sets out each line. We operate nationwide, across the UK, from 40 staffing hubs.