Auctioneering Fun:

Auctioneer song lyrics:
Artist: Leroy Van Dyke Tabs/Chords
Song: The Auctioneer Tab

THE AUCTIONEER
Recorded by LeRoy Van Dyke
Words and music by LeRoy Van Dyke and Buddy Black

[C] There was a boy in Arkansas
Who [F] wouldn't listen to his ma
When [G] she told him he should go to [C] school [G]
He'd [C] sneak away in the afternoon
Take a [F] little walk and pretty soon
You'd [G] find him at the local auction [C] barn.

He'd [F] stand and listen carefully
Then [C] pretty soon he began to see
How the [D] auctioneer could talk so rapid-[G] ly
He [C] said, "Oh, my, it's do or die
I've [F] got to learn that auction cry
Gotta [G] make my mark and be an auction-[C] eer."

[C] Twenty-five dollar bid it now, thirty dollar, thirty
Will you [F] gimmie thirty, make it thirty
Bid it on a thirty dollar, will you gimmie thirty
[G] Who'll-ll bid it at a thirty dollar [C] bid? [G]
[C] Thirty dollar bid it now, thirty-five
Will you [F] gimmie thirty-five,
To make it thirty-five, to bid it a thirty-five
[G] Who woulda bid it at a thirty-five dollar [C] bid?

As time went on, he did his best
And all could see he didn't jest
He practiced calling bids both night and day
His pap would find him behind the barn
Just working up an awful storm
As he tried to imitate the auctioneer.

Then his pap said, "Son, we just can't stand
To have a mediocre man
Sellin' things at auction using our good name
I'll send you off to auction school
Then you'll be nobody's fool
You can take your place among the best."

Thirty-five dollar bid it now, forty dollar, forty
Will you gimmie forty, make it forty
Bid it on a forty dollar, will you gimmie forty
Who'll-ll bid it at a forty dollar bid?
Forty dollar bid it now, forty-five
Will you gimmie forty-five,
To make it forty-five, to bid it a forty-five
Who woulda bid it at a forty-five dollar bid?

So from that boy who went to school
There grew a man who played it cool
And came back home a full-fledged auctioneer
And the people came from miles around
Just to hear him make that rhythmic sound
That filled their hearts with such a happy cheer.

His fame spread out from shore to shore
He had all he could do and more
Had to buy a plane to get around
Now he's the tops in all the land
Let's pause and give that man a hand
He's the best of all the auctioneers.

Forty-five dollar bid it now, fifty dollar, fifty
Will you gimmie fifty, make it fifty
Bid it on a fifty dollar, will you gimmie fifty
Who'll-ll bid it at a fifty dollar bid?
Fifty dollar bid it now, fifty-five
Will you gimmie fifty-five,
To make it fifty-five, to bid it a fifty-five
Sold that horse for a fifty-five dollar bill?

Hey, well alright sir, open the gate and let 'em out and walk 'em boys
Here we come with lot number 29 in, what'd ya gonna give?

Auction
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An auction is the process of buying and selling things by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder. Auctioning can be traced as far back as 500 B.C.[1] In economic theory, an auction is a method for determining the value of a commodity that has an undetermined or variable price. Auctions can be with reserve or minimum, or without minimums, or absolute or no reserve. In reserve auctions, there is a minimum bid or reserve price; if the bidding does not reach the minimum, there is no sale (but the person who puts the item up for auction may still owe a fee to the auctioneer or auction company). In absolute or no reserve auctions, the sale is guaranteed, with only the price left to be determined. In the context of auctions, a bid is an offered price.

History of the Auction
The first auction is argued by some to have first occurred when ‘Joseph of the Many-Colored Coat’ was sold into slavery by his brothers. However, according to ancient Greek scribes, the more generally accepted auction occurred first in Babylon in 500 B.C. During this period, auctions were held annually, and women were sold on the condition of marriage. It was considered illegal to allow a daughter to be sold outside the auction method. Women with “beauty” engendered higher bidding, women without “beauty” had to pay a dowry to be accepted into the auction, and thus the price would be negative.

During the Roman Empire, following military victory, Roman soldiers would often spear the ground to mark the location of spoils in which goods and property were seized. Roman business agents were said to have accompanied warriors into battle to help facilitate expected sales. The Romans also used the auction to liquidate their own property. For example, Marcus Aurelius is said to have auctioned off prized heirlooms and furniture, (an auction that, as legend has it, lasted over two months). The most legendary auction occurred in the year 193 A.D. when the entire Roman Empire was put on the auction block by the Praetorian Guard, (a special force of bodyguards used by the Roman Emperors). On March 23rd, The Praetorian Guard first killed Pertinax the emperor, and then announced that the highest bidder could claim the entire Empire. Didius Julianus outbid everyone for the price of 6,250 drachmas per Guard, an act that initiated a brief civil war. Didius was then beheaded two months later when Septimus Severus conquered Rome.

During the seventeenth century and emerging soon after the French Revolution, auctions came to be held in taverns and coffeehouses to sell art. Such auctions were held daily, and catalogs were printed to announce available items.

During the civil war, goods seized by armies were sold at auction by the Colonel of the division. Thus today's auctioneer carries the unofficial title of "colonel". click to read the entire article

Definition of an auctioneer (from answers.com)

Cool auction video of famous auctioneer Ralph Wade

In June 1963, Livestock Marketing Association held the first annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC). The purpose: to spotlight North America's top livestock auctioneers and to salute their traditionally important role in the competitive livestock marketing process. Auctioneers from the United States and Canada came to the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Denver, Colorado to show off their auctioneering talents. Twenty-three contestants sold the same 20 head of cattle over and over again. Awesome auctioneer audio - National Livestock Auctioneer Champions

Each year the National Auctioneers Association hosts the International Auctioneers Championship at their annual convention. Auctioneers and auction professionals converge to compete against each other in order to determine who is the best, Click here for the IAC video showcase

The auction profession was recently featured on the TODAY show auctioneers, students and auction professional were featured Click here to watch that video

An association for Michigan auctioneers and Michigan professional auction specialists. Visit the Michigan State Auctioneers Association