Auctioneer & Auctions & Selling 01 Mar 2010 03:39 pm
Memory Monday – March 1st
Ever have one of those MOMENTS that just sticks with you? I have one of those moments regarding my auction career! The first time I “auctioned” something off.
I was 6 years old and my Grandfather, Gene Carman, always enjoyed showing his grandsons off, as well as teasing them. Part of the “trip to manhood” included a little jiving at an auction. He would always ask if we were interested in selling something at the auction, in front of the crowd of course. If we seemed a little shy, he would egg it on by saying “your brother or cousin did it!” So, in a sense you were stuck.
I was sure I could handle it, but was not very bold about standing in front of a crowd. So, Pa handed me the microphone and told me what to sell. I turned and instantly was frozen by the faces of the crowd, so I jumped behind the biggest thing I could find at the moment, and that was Tom Garrett, Pa’s faithful handy man / hardest worker I have ever known, for the past 30 years. I stood as still as I could behind Tom and began selling the item.
Needless to say, I was nervous as a cat, and it did not help any when my uncles started calling bids out faster than any 6 yr old could count. By the time I was done, I was sure I would never make it in this business. But, it was all fun and looking back, I imagined everyone had a good laugh that day, and so did I!
And just to let you know, I have passed this on to my oldest daughter, who at the age of six sold her first item ever at auction. However, she does not suffer too much from stage fright, and if she wants, has a GREAT career ahead of her as an auctioneer!
See you next week!