Auctioneering – General Meeting

I hold my hands up to not knowing who David Palmer, this month’s speaker was when he was introduced however, it soon became clear that he is a renowned and very experienced auctioneer and familiar to those who watch the likes of Flog It, Bargain Hunt and Cash In The Attic. He oozes charisma although it was probably his snazzy waistcoat (for which he is also identified) which caught my eye and attracted my attention first. As a speaker, he is animated, informal and humorous and, if he adopts this style when auctioneering, every audience member will fall for his witty banter without realising he is extracting every last penny from their pocket. His philosophy is that people need to be entertained when parting with their money so, he endeavours to make every auction into a spectacle and fun for all involved; this, he maintains, encourages buyers to bid ever higher for the lots on offer.
As a freelance auctioneer, David travels the length and breadth of the country and gives generously of his time particularly to charity auction events and, although a consummate professional, he did let us into some of an auctioneer’s secret tactics which I will certainly keep in mind if and when I attend another auction. An hour quickly slipped by as he beguiled the audience whilst reiterating amusing anecdote after amusing anecdote. I think it would be fair to say that we were sold on David’s inimitable eloquence and vivacity and the gavel would definitely have gone down in his favour.