I always wanted to be an auctioneer.
The only problem was, I thought you had to go to Missouri to do it.
That’s where the school was—or at least, that’s what everybody in my area believed. I didn’t realize auction schools were scattered all over the country. Missouri was the only one I’d ever heard of, so Missouri felt like the only option.
Life kept getting in the way of that option.
When I was working on the farm, I couldn’t leave. Later, when I became a whitewater raft guide, I didn’t want to step away from the river long enough to sit in a classroom.
I’d already spent about ten years teaching, and I was ready for something that would actually let me make some money. I just wasn’t sure what that something was.
Then I talked to my brother Ray.
I told him I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next.
He said, “You know what we ought to do? We ought to be auctioneers.”
That was the light-bulb moment. Brotherly, simple, and exactly what I needed to hear.
I came home from teaching one day still thinking about those students—I genuinely loved them—but wondering if there was a better way for me.
So I decided I’d find an auction house to work for and learn on the job.
I flipped open the yellow pages (remember those?) and started scanning. Most of the ads were for auction houses. Then I spotted this tiny little ad—about as cheap as an ad could get—for the Florida Auctioneer Academy.
There’s a school in Florida?
I don’t impulse-buy anything. If I’m buying a pen, I’m going to compare them first. So I called. They were nice enough to let me break the eight-day course into weekends: two weekends plus one more to finish it out. That was 1994.
In Florida back then, they only gave the auctioneer’s test twice a year. When my second class ended, the next test was the following Monday—but you had to already have your completed school certificate on file to sit for it. That left me with a full six months where I couldn’t legally work as a paid auctioneer.
The only thing I could do was fundraising auctions, and I couldn’t get paid for those either. I figured if you don’t use it, you lose it. So I started looking for places to practice.
One day I’m driving down Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers and I see a little sign for a church auction coming up in about a week.
I pulled in and asked. The lady running it said they didn’t have an auctioneer yet—she’d just figured she’d do it herself. I told her I was there to help if she wanted.
That was my first auction. A charity auction at a church on Bayshore.
I didn’t even know fundraising auctions were a real specialty at the time. I just knew I needed to keep the skills sharp. By 2000 I’d gone full-time and was doing fundraising auctions exclusively. Looking back, it all makes sense now, but none of it felt planned while it was happening.
What I’ve learned is that the path usually shows up when you’re willing to stay open.
I’d never whitewater-rafted until I became a guide. I didn’t know fundraising auctions were a thing until I needed somewhere to practice. Both times I said yes to what was in front of me, then put in the work.
I’ve read every book I could find on fundraising auctions—especially in those early years.
I’ve taken classes all over the country, including every class Kathy Kingston has offered. (Her book A Higher Bid is still the best one out there on the subject.) I’ve also taught classes all over the country. Teaching forces you to understand something well enough to explain it to people who learn at different speeds.
As I like to say, I can teach anything I know. My problem is I don’t know enough.
That’s still true. I’m still a student of the game. The light-bulb moments keep coming if you keep paying attention.
Ready to Raise More at Your Next Event?
If your school, nonprofit, hospital foundation, or charity is planning a fundraising auction and you want an auctioneer who still gets goosebumps every time the bidding starts, I would be honored to help.
Scott Robertson, CAI, BAS Founder & Chief Auctioneer
Champion Fundraising Auctions
Serving Nonprofits Nationwide
📞 (239) 246-2139
🌐 www.championauctioneer.com
Let’s make your next auction the one people never forget.
Watch me tell this story from this clip from our “Serving with Purpose” Podcast!
