The Ebb and Flow of Energy

It took me a few Auctions to take note of a phenomena that takes place during every Live Auction. Energy in the room grows and diminishes, cycling through out the event.
Auctioneers know this very, very well.

When the Auction starts the energy is rather Mixed up and crazy. People wanting to look at things walking all over, others trying to find a good seat, still others gathering up Pop Corn and Hot Dogs. Kids are running rampant, their mothers having long ago given up trying to keep them in their chairs. ( Give me an Auction where CHAOS rules any time! )

By the time the bidding starts, folks are still unsettled, and the lots the Auctioneer brings up are normally of little interest to most bidders. Bids are low and little competition. Low Energy ( as far as the AUCTIONEER SEE IT )

Fifteen to twenty minutes in, people are getting settled in and start to pay attention to whats being offered. This is a High Energy Time... the Auctioneer starts to bring up the nicer, better stock and the bidding goes a higher, and takes longer. You'll see 3 to 4 people drive a LOTS prices up during this stage.

At some point the Auctioneer just HAS to dispose of the 20 Terry Redlin Prints, this is where sleepy time starts. As he brings one Print, ( Or Hummel series or Dept.56 sets what ever ) people start talking to each other, joking, going to the bathroom, buying more Hot Dogs and generally ignoring the Auction, now the Energy is VERY LOW.

By the time he has hammered down the last of the " I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH" Figurines, the gallery is comatose.

Boy is it hard to get em back! But he does get them back when the sleepers wake up after you took a very nice Red Wing Vase for $10. The Auctioneer brings out the better part of his offerings when the 2nd wind comes along, the energy is picking up again.
Better Lots, Better Bids. Bidders are once again looking for "Their" lot to come up.
Highest Energy is during this part of the event. You can still get good deals, but your going to have to use this EBB and Flow to your advantage.

During these HIGH ENERGY segments your going to have be Mr./Ms. I WANT IT, jumping up and shouting your bids loud and clear, so everyone knows your in the hand. Sometimes you can just fluster the others, by waiting JUST until the Hammer falls, and Scream Out $55!

This can backfire, because if your timing is right the Auctioneer will knock it down to you, or if your off, he won't and give it to the last bidder before you, you don't win the lot, but you don't pay anything either. What you want to happen, is to confuse your opponent, not the Auctioneer! If that happens then he has to sort it out and you don't want anyone sorting anything. Confuse your fellow bidder not the Auctioneer. If you come in RIGHT on the SOLD, you will most times loose the bid. The Auctioneer does not want to haggle between two parties over when the "LAST BID CALLED " was! He in most cases gives it to the bidder before the SOLD Confusion started and you make your self look bad if you contest it. Being tricky works, but it goes both ways!

Or you can Jump Bid( thats what I call it, ) kind of like raising in POKER. This works best again if you can wait until the lot is almost hammered down. It''s also important to KNOW that the other Bidder would have other wise called, or in other words he would out bid you in a NORMAL round of bidding. If his last Bid is 100 and you know if you bid 150 he'll go 200. So you fake like your not sure you want it at $150, you hem and haw... all the while watching the Auctioneer, just about the time he's going to knock it down to your nemesis, you go $200.

Also just like in POKER, this is best played HEADS UP, or when only one other Bidder is in the hand.

If your like me and can keep an Auction Lively and fun ( HIGH ENERGY ) you can control much of what happens, at least as far the hands your in. Some Houses simply are not conducive to this type of shenanigans, they don't allow kids. Won't let you act like a clown, tell jokes, walk around or anything other than sitting in a chair and bidding.
Lord Keep me free from Boring Auction Houses! Can't get an edge in that environment.

Personalities play a large roll in HOW You Bid and also " Your Room Image "
Room Image is one if not the largest factor in winning a LOT at YOUR PRICE!