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Auctioneers who bid call can bid call for 30 minutes, an hour, two hours, five hours … and even more. Yet, should they bid call continuously for long periods? They shouldn’t. Maybe nobody knows more about this than Greg Rice, 1996 International Auctioneer Champion, who recently said this:

To all you people bragging about how long you can sell it doesn’t really matter. Because you cannot be fresh and on top of your game the entire time. I’ve been doing this for a long time and yes can I sell for 8 hours straight but choose not to. The people you are hurting are yourself and your clients.

Auctioneers working for clients (sellers, consignees) should be loyal and work to maximize their client’s position over proudly proclaiming they can sell for 10 hours straight. The point is, you cannot be mentally sharp for such long periods, and as such, should trade-off with other auctioneers …

Further, any live auction that continues much past 5-6 hours creates undue demands on bidders, who have other obligations such as work, sleep, and family. Not only does an extraordinarily long live auction wear on the auctioneer but the bidders as well.

Yes, things happen. Maybe that other auctioneer doesn’t show up. Maybe 1,000 more lots show up. However, other auctioneers are ready, willing, and able to come help that may be as little as minutes away. It’s all about the client, not the auctioneers wanting to show off or not providing sufficient services to that client.

Finally, bid calling for extended periods tends to damage vocal cords and can lead to other serious health problems for that auctioneer.

  1. https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/six-auctioneer-vocal-cord-myths/
  2. https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/vocal-cord-medical-conditions/

Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, CAS, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, Brandly Real Estate & Auction, and formally at Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. He serves as Distinguished Faculty at Hondros College, Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School, and an Instructor at the National Auctioneers Association’s Designation Academy and Western College of Auctioneering. He has served as faculty at the Certified Auctioneers Institute held at Indiana University and is approved by The Supreme Court of Ohio for attorney education.