Building a sustainable chant is critical to success as a live auctioneer and bid caller and, of course, it is a major component in winning an auctioneering contest.

The podcast linked above references ‘Building a sustainable chat’. What does that mean? Sustainability doesn’t only mean taking shorter showers or hugging trees, it also applies to auctioneering and bid calling

Consider these thoughts on a sustainable chant in the context of a contests:

1. Repeatable – An actor of even mediocre talent can mimic another actor for a scene or bit. The same is true for a chant. However if you can’t repeat it day after day, week after week it is not really yours. Be yourself and work on improving what comes naturally and what is authentically you. Trying to sound like one of the greats of our industry will be flattering but will not be sustainable in the long term.
2. Staying Power – There are contestants that would need supplemental oxygen if they had to sell 30 lots like they just sold the last three items in the contest. Having high energy and enthusiasm is advisable, being breathless from a 40 yard dash in the form of a bid call is not going to win many championships. Typically a contest is not won by who is the loudest or sweats the most on stage.
3. Keeping it REAL – There is a fine line when competing in contests between being your best self, demonstrating great salesmanship and just putting on a auction themed theatrical production. If you would never say ‘that’ or never do ‘that’ in any real auction setting than do not do ‘that’ in a contest. Consciously or unconsciously judges (and the audience) are able to differentiate between real skill and auctioneeringish production.

This blog post accompanies “How to Win an Auctioneer Contest: Part 6 – Everyone Sounds Like a World Champion in the Shower” and is offered in partnership with the Fast Talking Podcast and IACInsider.com.

Thank you to the series sponsor: