Months of careful planning set the stage for a successful fundraising auction, but as soon as you open up the doors to your crowd, anything can happen...

In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell are joined by special guest Leslie Peterson, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, to discuss all of the work that goes into Carefully Planned Spontaneity. Leslie, Devo and Greg discuss the many events they've done together, and those magical moments of spontaneity they worked so hard to achieve.

Read the accompanying blog post to this episode on our blog: https://www.stellarsf.com/2025/4/25/carefully-planned-spontaneity

Presented by Stellar Fundraising Auctions (http://www.stellarsf.com) and brought to you by Sojourn Ventures: Consignment travel for charity auctions, done right: https://www.sojournventurestravel.com/

Take a peek behind the curtain of the wonderful world of fundraising auctions with two auctioneers who have seen it all. https://feeds.captivate.fm/black-tie-and-tales/

How important is a theme for a fundraising event? Can a good theme help you raise more money? Will a bad theme cost you money? And what even is a "bad" theme, anyway?

In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell are joined by special guest, Michael Irvine, VP of Development & Marketing for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, and this episode Theme is the Theme. Michael shares his strategy for creating a theme that incorporates the tastes and likes of the honoree, recognizes donors, and provides opportunities for marketing and decor. Oh, and Greg and Devo share some colorful stories as well

Read the accompanying blog post to this episode on our blog: https://www.stellarsf.com/blog/2025/3/30/theme

Presented by Stellar Fundraising Auctions (http://www.stellarsf.com) and brought to you by Sojourn Ventures: Consignment travel for charity auctions, done right: https://www.sojournventurestravel.com/

Take a peek behind the curtain of the wonderful world of fundraising auctions with two auctioneers who have seen it all. https://feeds.captivate.fm/black-tie-and-tales/

What happens when you decide to gamble with your fund-a-need? When you opt to go fishing for donations above any known commitments? How does your crowd know what to expect in your live auction?

In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell discuss the ways going out on a limb can succeed wonderfully, or fail miserably. From a donor who insists that the opening level of the fund-a-need was off by $90,000 to the crowd that was not prepared to donate at all, join Devo and Greg as they go Out On a Limb.

Read the accompanying blog post to this episode on our blog: https://www.stellarsf.com/blog/2025/3/20/out-on-a-limb

Presented by Stellar Fundraising Auctions (http://www.stellarsf.com) and brought to you by Sojourn Ventures: Consignment travel for charity auctions, done right: https://www.sojournventurestravel.com/

Take a peek behind the curtain of the wonderful world of fundraising auctions with two auctioneers who have seen it all. https://feeds.captivate.fm/black-tie-and-tales/