Quoted from dothedoo:

I bid on a few items and won the Star Gazer overlay for $25. Honestly, I didn't expect to win anything since I knew I wouldn't be there to watch the items as the auction ended, I was just trying to get the bidding started. Kinda sad that I was the only bidder on it. I saw the guy that won a couple of the other overlays and he said the same thing.
Is it possible to have the tables out in the hallway? I don't know if the hotel would allow it, but it sure would make the auction more visible.
Another suggestion is to stagger the bidding end times for different tables. This entices people to come back and check their bids more frequently. Also, as items get picked up, the remaining items can be spread out and made more visible. For instance, I followed this thread early on, but missed some of the items added later. Kruzman's playfield kit was a late addition I didn't know about, and I didn't see it on the table or I would've bid on it.
The first year is tough. Need the word of mouth to get the excitement building. I hope you continue to have an auction every year. You raised an impressive amount this year and I see that continuing to grow with more awareness.