Shows / Black Tie and Tales
Black Tie and Tales
Black Tie and Tales takes you behind the scenes of the wonderful world of fundraising auctions to tell tales of triumph and tragedy. Your hosts Greg "Q" Quiroga and Devon "Devo" Bell have been friends for more than 43 years, and have been conducting charity auctions for over 30 years between them. They've seen some stuff, and they want to share it with you. Black Tie and Tales takes a storytelling approach to discussing fundraising auctions, and focuses primarily on reliving the moments that…
Episodes
- Black Tie and Tales
So Crazy, It Might Just Work
What does a crowd sound like when being pranked by their auctioneer? How late in an auction is too late to do the fund-a-need? In spite of everything we said…
- Black Tie and Tales
The Care and Feeding of a Golden Goose
Which is more important: making more money at your event or making sure your crowd is happy? Every decision you make, from the revenue enhancing games you…
- Black Tie and Tales
Sweet Dreams are Made of This
Food - especially sugar - plays an important role in fundraising auctions. Whether it's the instant gratification of an immediate sugar rush, or the mayhem of…
- Black Tie and Tales
Inside the Industry: Consignment Packages with Sojourn Ventures' Jill Boyer
Consignment travel packages have have become a reliable tool for non-profit organizations to round-out their fundraising auction offerings, thanks to providers…
- Black Tie and Tales
Time Keeps on Slipping...
The most valuable commodity at any fundraising gala is also the easiest to take for granted: time. Use your attendees' time wisely, and they will reward you…
- Black Tie and Tales
Ramping up
Get your board committed to ensuring your fundraiser's success and make the most of your fundraising event. In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, Stellar…
- Black Tie and Tales
The Best of 2025
We kick off a new season of Black Tie and Tales with a look back at the best of 2025. Stellar fundraising auctioneers Devon Bell and Greg Quiroga discuss the…
- Black Tie and Tales
Inside the Industry: Event Production with The Lux Production's Jared Villareal
Good A/V does more than just broadcast sound and images, good A/V sets an emotional tone and inspires your crowd to support your cause more deeply. If you are…
- Black Tie and Tales
My Way or the Highway
Where do you draw the line? When planning a fundraising auction, what is your absolute, deal-breaker, "has to be done this way or I'm out" element? In this…
- Black Tie and Tales
Gala vs Reality
Where does the line between reality and irrational philanthropy exist? How do you get your guests to focus on the value of the cause instead of the value of…
- Black Tie and Tales
Inside the Industry with Event Planner Beth Sandefur
What are the four keys to choosing a venue for your next fundraiser? How important is registration and check-out to your attendees? How many bidders does it…
- Black Tie and Tales
And That's Where It All Went...with Special Guest Kelly Russell of Artisan Auctions
What happens when Jay Leno mocks your biggest bidder? What do you do when your emcee calls in arrested and in jail? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales…
- Black Tie and Tales
Professionals vs. Volunteers with Bobby D. Ehlert of Call To Auction Fundraising
What happens when you get three fundraising auctioneers with mild ADHD on the mic at the same time? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising…
- Black Tie and Tales
Summer Tripping
What's the best way to get a ground floor room at the Ritz Carlton? Why do bidders love building relationships with chefs? What have you done with Greg's…
- Black Tie and Tales
Leaving It All On the Table
When the auction is over and it's time to go home, how much gas is left in your tank? Did you leave your crowd wanting to do more, or were they tapping out 45…
- Black Tie and Tales
Carefully Planned Spontaneity
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…
- Black Tie and Tales
Theme is the Theme
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…
- Black Tie and Tales
Out On a Limb
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…
- Black Tie and Tales
Inside the Industry with Vintner Suzanne Tate
What are the three things every fundraising auction should do when soliciting a winery for donations? What are the cardinal sins you should always avoid? How…
- Black Tie and Tales
Dancing in the Dark
After the auction is over, one gala mom insists on a little extra service from Greg. Devon crowd-sources the costs of going overtime. And dance floors, dance…
- Black Tie and Tales
Location, Location, Location
When it comes to fundraising auctions, where you hold your event can sometimes make or break it. There's nothing like being memorable for all of the wrong…
- Black Tie and Tales
Starting Over
Resets often bring unintended consequences, and in this episode we discuss what happens when a fundraising auction decides to start anew. A new auction chair…
- Black Tie and Tales
A look back on the most uplifting moments of 2024
Yay, 2024! Close out the year and our first season of Black Tie and Tales on a positive note with fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell, as they…
- Black Tie and Tales
Bidders Gone Bad
What happens to a fundraising auction when bidders go bad? When one person decides the rules don't apply to them? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales…
- Black Tie and Tales
The Hottest Lot in Fundraising Right Now
What is the hottest selling auction lot in a fundraising auction? What should you be selling to your crowd right now? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales…
- Black Tie and Tales
Decor Dreams and Nightmares
Decorations are the most important part of every fundraising gala...for *someone* on the committee. And their design decisions can have a huge impact on the…
- Black Tie and Tales
Back to School with Michelle Holman of Greater Giving
School crowds are some of the hardest partying crowds in fundraising auctions. And in this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga…
- Black Tie and Tales
The Great Outdoors
The cheese melted, no-one could see the crowd from the stage, and there was a threat of rain: hosting an event outdoors presents a slew of challenges for a…
- Black Tie and Tales
Red Alert! When Fundraising Auctions Become a Matter of Life or Death
Fundraising auctions are not usually life or death situations...but in the rare cases they are, how would you react? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales…
- Black Tie and Tales
Quantum Leap with Jonathan Moscone - Take Your Event to a New Level
Jonathan Moscone joins us for an in-depth discussion of how he took California Shakespeare Theater's fundraising gala to new heights. Jonathan shares the work…
- Black Tie and Tales
Competing for Donors
Check your calendar and set your DVR, in this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctions face competition for donor attention from professional…
- Black Tie and Tales
Auction Takeover: How to Prevent Podium Piracy
A drunk woman crawls onstage and decides to make the event all about her. A vintner takes over the fund-a-need pitch and turns it into a marketing opportunity…
- Black Tie and Tales
Agents of Change
Not everyone is thrilled when a charity decides to bring in a new fundraising auctioneer. In this episode one mom goes to ridiculous lengths to prevent Greg…
- Black Tie and Tales
Sounding Off ~ Tales of Triumph and Tragedy
Black Tie and Tales episode #1: where we meet our hosts, fundraising auctioneers Devon Bell and Greg Quiroga, learn the goals for the podcast (and maybe more…