Among your items, you might sell a small haggis. People really ARE ambivalent about it, but all it takes is two guys hoping to give it to each other as a joke to run the price up. I think some of the best parties have both live and silent auctions. Again, the excitement of a live auction, with two people lifting their legs higher and higher is a fine evening's entertainment.

Also, a little pipe music is not a bad thing at all, as long as you give people other music as well. Most of us enjoy the pipes for about 10 minutes, maybe twice in an evening- and then, something to dance to.

Just be sure to pay your piper. He needs the money.