Ask the Experts: What was the biggest challenge you faced leading up to your first auction?

Lamar Fisher, Fisher Auction Co.

Are you interested in getting into the auction industry? Are you an aspiring auctioneer wondering about what road blocks and obstacles you might encounter on your journey to run your first auction? In other words, do you wanna know what you’re signing up for?

You’ve come to the right place, partner. The truth is, auctioneers face many challenges leading up to their first auction – and that’s not where the challenges stop, either. But with some hard work and practice, you’ll find that being an auctioneer is a fulfilling, exciting, and worthwhile career path.

But don’t take it from us! Take it from some of the most seasoned auctioneers in the nation.

“You gotta be willing to work for nothing. It was so long before I got an actual payday. Probably 2 years later. I’d go there at daylight, we’d turn out a house, carry it all out to the yard, put on a jumpsuit over your good clothes, then you’d strip off those coveralls, sell all day, and then you’d help load up all that stuff that you’d sold. Then at the end of the day you’d get 25$… This is constantly thousands of miles, thousands of hours. If you don’t have ‘stick-to-it’, if you don’t have a branded desire to work, you’re not really gonna acquire being really good in the business. You’re only going to be so-so.” Barry Cole, United Country A.B. Cole & Associates Auction & Realty

“Stage fright. Once you start selling it goes away. I had long hair back then but they made me cut it. Appearance is important because you have so many people looking at you and judging you.” Scott Sykora, Sykora Auction Service, Inc.

“Did I book the deal right and are the buyers going to show up?” Lamar Fisher, Fisher Auction Company

“The biggest challenge as a new auctioneer trying to have an auction is to find consignors or sellers. When I didn’t have much to sell, I went out and bought merchandise from estates, storage, etc. to sell in the auction.” Stan Crooks, Auction America Inc.

“My Dad is a legend in the industry, and I knew there were going to be inevitable comparisons. That’s OK…. it’s normal. I put the pressure on myself to be as prepared as humanly possible, and act like I knew what I was doing. ” John S. Nicholls, Nicholls Auction Marketing Group