Auction

[lithiumdoll]

We're running the VidUKon auction again! The auction has a been a big success for the last few years, and we're hoping that with the help of some lovely volunteers, it can be again. Thanks to past auctions, we've been able to do things like buy our own projector and speakers - freeing us from the unreliable hotel av equipment - provide more tea and coffee and nicer food, provide a USB copy of the library, give donations to charity and generally add both bells and whistles. That's all thanks to you - the people who volunteered to be auctioned, and the people who bid on those auctions!

What does the auction involve? Basically, lovely people volunteer to make a vid for the person who submits the highest bid for that vidder. That the vid will be about is agreed after the auction, but the people being auctioned usually suggest things they'd like to vid, shows and fandoms they'd be happy to vid for, and so on. Enthusiastic people then bid on the auction, the vids are made, the con gets extra stuff, money goes to charity, and amazing bidders get lovely vids.

You don't need to be an experienced vidder to volunteer to be auctioned! We've had a range of vidders from the relatively inexperienced to the very well-known and accomplished, and every single person has been bid on multiple times. By volunteering to be auctioned, you help the con out immensely, and you get to make a vid that will delight the person who won your auction, and there's a pretty good chance you'll get extra jelly beans at the con too, if you're attending.

What Do We Want To Do?
Like last year, we’d like to be able to provide more tea and coffee, nicer food, quiz with prizes and so on - we’d also like to have a buffet lunch during the vidding workshop, to allow more time for our terrible, glorious, only slightly monsterous creation. Additionally, one of the con attendees has generously helped out by acting as a kind of con taxi for years, ferrying people around, providing lifts, and going on emergency runs when something catches fire or we find that we're missing something, and though they will continue to do so out of their own pocket if needed, we'd really like to try and contribute to their vehicle hire and running around costs. And, last but not least, we'd like to be able to donate more to charity.

Those aren't a hard limit or list of goals, though - if there are other things you think it'd be good for the con to do/have that could be auction stretch goals, please do let us know - both years the auction has run, we've raised more than expected, which is a measure of how lovely all of our bidders (you) are!

What Are The Timelines?
The site is open for people to volunteer already, sign ups will be open until the evening of the 20th (UK time), and then auction bidding will start on the 21st.

How Do I Sign Up?

Go to http://www.vidukon.co.uk and log in, and you should see an auction signup option in the panel on the left. If you are signing up, thank you - you're wonderful. Please don't be scared to sign up - some signups have been people who've never been auctioned off before, and hopefully they'll be willing to tell you that it isn't terrifying :)

Is There A Submission Deadline?

Auction vids can be shown at the con (and we love it when they are) but they aren't a guaranteed part of a show - we tend to show them during/after Premieres, but we don't demand that vids be shown. This tends to mean that for those vids that are shown, the deadline for submissions is a bit later than others - particularly if the vid doesn't need to be listed in the conbook or form a part of the Premieres DVD. The aim is for it to be a nice thing for those involved, and being shown at the con is a completely and totally optional thing - so there's no stress if the vid doesn't make it into a show. We want it to be a fun experience for all involved.

So, please, consider signing up to be auctioned off. Think about how happy you'll be making the person who wins your auction, and how much you'll be doing for the con! Plus, remember that we love you for signing up or joining in, and are willing to bribe people with jelly beans.