Why do auctioneers make that noise

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Thank you for your information. Your privacy is important to us, and we will never give or sell your information to anyone. All Rights Reserved. Between a story of a young auctioneer coming of age, Van Dyke does show off some real auctioneering and you can find the full lyrics here. While nobody knows exactly where auctioneer chant comes from, it is distinctly North American.

One theory is it comes from midth century tobacco auctioneers who sold their goods in Virginia, and the chant spread from there. The style is still highly associated with the southern United States , and not all auctions use it. Those bid callers use a quieter, slower European style of selling items. Auctioneer chant is, above all, efficient.

While electronic methods like eBay can outstrip human ability, the most prolific auctioneers are able to pull off impressive feats of mass sales. The laws vary by state, but you may indeed need to get a specific license, which you can do through an accredited auctioneering school.

Most of the written questions deal with auctioneering ethics and legal obligations. The auctioneer's cadence must be learned and practiced. Start by chanting pairs of numbers in ascending order 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, etc. When you can work in conversational banter without breaking your rhythm or losing track of the count, you've got it down. Take brief, shallow breaths at regular periods in between the bid calls. Avoid difficult sounds that strain your throat, like K or a hard G.

The pros keep their vocal cords loose by chanting in the shower or in the car on the way to a show. Tongue-twisters are a great way to stay in shape. Try this one: A big black bug bit a big black bear. Say it faster and faster, but keep a steady rhythm, holding the final syllable for an extra beat before starting again.

A professional must also learn how to squeeze out every last dollar from a sale. If two people are bidding each other up, for example, a good auctioneer will start talking directly to them, cocking his head back and forth and gesturing to them as he urges them on. The sense of competition is thought to move people past their predetermined price limits.

No one knows exactly when auctioneers started talking that way although the National Auctioneers Association has made a serious effort to investigate the question.