Why do Auctioneers Talk Fast?
If you have been to a live auction or watched an auction on television, you know that the auctioneer usually speaks quickly and with a special rhythm that is almost musical. Do you know why?
Why do auctioneers talk fast?
That unique rhythm helps move the auction forward and keep bids coming in more quickly. Even at it's earliest conception during the Roman Empire, personal property and goods were usually sold by taking increasing bids. However, over the centuries, especially in the United States, the auction chant or bid calling has become faster and more rhythmic--especially at livestock auctions and auctions where there is a LOT to sell and little time to sell it in. Livestock auctions and tobacco auctions were a great place for the fast "chant" to develop.
Although not all auctioneers use a "chant", it can be helpful to auction attendees to understand what constitutes a chant.
What is the chant and how does it work?
The Auction Chant is what the auctioneer does as he or she takes a bid and asks for an increase. So you have a "current bid" and the "ask" bid. This reminds buyers of what the price is and what the increment will be if they desire to bid on the purchase. For example, if the current bid is $100, and the next increment is $110, the auctioneer will say something like this: "I have a hundred dollar bid, would you be one hundred ten?"
You might be wondering about all the other words or what you think is gibberish in between the numbers. I promise it isn't gibberish. Those phrases are called "filler word" and they are unique to each auctioneer. These help the auctioneer move from number to number, and it gives the bidder a little time to think before they make their next bid. In the example above, "bid, would you be" are the filler words. These often run together because of the speed with which the auctioneer is speaking. However, it works two fold--it ties the current bid and the asking bid together, and when done correctly, it keeps bidders bidding and customers listening for longer with its rhythmic movement.
If you have ever wanted to learn how to chant or "bid call," it's important to listen to a wide variety of auctioneers to get a good grasp on speed and what filler words you like. And it's incredibly important to get a solid foundation like that available on our website. "Introduction to Bid Calling" does not count toward state licensing but it walks you through building your chant word by word, piece by piece. Taught by Daniel Harrelson with over 20 years of experience as a live auctioneer, "Introduction to Bid Calling" will help you build a workable chant all from the comfort and ease of your laptop, tablet, or phone. Just click here to get started.
And as always, if you are interested in becoming an auctioneer, check out our "Pre-Licensing Course" or give us a call at 229-212-2036 for more information.
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