By :
Tom DiNardo
I have been asked by many auctioneers, “What are your thoughts about auctioneer contests?” This is obviously an emotionally loaded question with many possible answers, depending upon which side of the fence you stand. My response(s) are often varied, as my answer usually depends upon the scenario and conditions in which the Auctioneer Contests take place.
For the record, I have been asked to participate in Auctioneer Contests before, but to date I have yet to participate in one. My personal opinion has always been that, for the most part, they are often political. There are many stories that circulate in the auction industry about auction contestants who have either won, and or lost, due to the prevailing undercurrent and political agenda pursued by those contest producers. Personally, I have usually been too busy (i.e. performing an auction for a client) to participate in one. I approach Auctioneer Contests with the following question in mind. “Why do I need to win a contest to prove I am good, especially if I am already getting more business than I know what to do with?” I have my client’s approval, and therefore my clients must obviously think I am good. Isn’t this what really matters (business)? Auctioneering is an industry right, or did I miss something when I went auction school?
On the negative side, Auctioneer Contests can be a very political, an act of vanity, and worst of all, not even a true measure of an auctioneer’s talent and ability. I know of many auctioneers who share this opinion! I have known some auctioneer’s who won contests because of who they knew, or because they come from well known auction families (politics). I have even known some auctioneers whose only goal (vanity) in their careers was to win to a major contest. My question in response to these auctioneers is this: “When are you going to work on developing your actual auction business?” I have observed that some of these contest winners still have yet to have any real auction business to speak of to this day, but golly gee they won a major contest. The worst case scenario on the dark side of Auction Contests is a talented auctioneer, who attends one of these contests, and is passed over because of one the above mentioned situations. I have witnessed some real talented auctioneers lose to lesser qualified contestants. Major auction contests are definitely not for those new to the craft and profession. Like showbiz, be prepared to accept rejection.
On the positive side, Auctioneer Contests have the potential to promote the Auctioneer Industry, healthy and positive competition, create opportunity for the winners, and they can be an unbiased gauge of an auctioneer’s ability in the right setting. The best contest’s I have seen have been those that the contestant’s did not take too seriously. Everyone had fun and a good time. Perhaps even a charity was being supported through the items being sold during the competition.
In 2000 I had the opportunity to meet Lori Kiko, one of NAA’s past Women’s Division International Auctioneer Champions, at the Northwest Auctioneer’s Association Conference. Out of all the auction contest winner’s that I have met, I was most impressed by her. Given the accolades of her achievement, she has consistently maintained her humility, grace and poise. Most impressive was the fact that during this time period of her achievement, she also maintained and ran her very successful auction real estate company in Ohio. Now that’s success!
If you are considering participating in an Auctioneer Contest, then ask yourself what your true motivation is for participating? Is your participation for fun, money, accolades, or some other reason? Just be honest with yourself. Believe me everyone will know in time what your true motivation really is. Make it selfless and for good. No matter what the final outcome is, just remember it is not a true reflection on you or your successful business.
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