Thread: What's your occupation?

Release and Maintenance Engineer for a company making assisted technology. AKA Software Engineer. I don't know if it's kosher to post product names.

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

I believe the correct term is "jibber-jabber" an auction.

I'm just kidding.

I actually have some questions for you, since you're a licensed Auctioneer. I know they have many different skill levels, because I've been to auctions where some are really good and some are... well, just awful. This woman auctioneer I saw recently simply repeated the exact same up and down rhythm and let the last syllable drag, almost like a sing along. It was embarrassing to watch and listen to.

What's an auctioneer's main goal when they're up there? Is the purpose of "calling" as they traditionally do supposed to speed things along, or is more to do with creating a sense of urgency amongst the bidders (even there are only two people bidding, for example) so they're more aggressive and drive the price higher?

When an auctioneer "calls a sale" the "chant" is the term applied to how the auctioneer delivers his voice. The main goal is actually to bring the highest price for each item, while doing so in a speedy manner because every auction has ebbs and flows where excitement rises and falls. During most every auction I have ever called or attended (over 1000) there have been those lulls when a rather nice item goes for next to nothing and people are kicking themselves when the gavel goes down. On the other hand a particular item can build a crowd of even the two final bidders to a frenzy and the winner bidder pays SUBSTANTIALLY more than the item is worth. I wanted to be an auctioneer ever since I was a young boy in the late 1960's. My favorite auction to call is the multigenerational family farm auction where we sell the land, the cattle, the tractors, automobiles, and equipment, old tools, grandma's dishes, etc... the kind of sale in the Midwest in early May with the ladies from the local Methodist church preparing Sloppy Joes and hot dogs ( and homemade pies) to be sold to the bib overalled crowd. It is true Americana!

IT Sys admin here,

Razors are something that actually get me away from the computer

Former IT Project Manager for a large multinational conglomerate which shall remain nameless . . . now an independent Commercial Real Estate Appraiser and loving it.