Page 15 - 1st Qtr Newsletter TAA_FINAL

TAA NEWS

FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE TO THE TAA CONVENTION 2016 RINGMAN CHAMP
By: Doug Bradford

Will 2017 be the year you attend your first Texas Auctioneers the hotel. It’s always good
Association convention? If so, you have picked a great to have little walking around
year as we celebrate our 60th anniversary. You will meet money with you.
some attendees who have been to most of these sixty Bring a positive attitude and
conventions. You will also meet some folks like yourself an open mind. Prepare to
who are attending for the first time. Here is a little absorb as much as you can
guidance on what to do, what to bring, how to dress, and in the time you are at the
what to expect from your first convention experience.
convention.
SHOW UP
As simple as it sounds, you have to show up at the WHAT TO DO
convention in order to experience it. This will be my Look at the convention schedule before you ever leave
eighth straight convention. I went to auction school in home and try to decide what classes and events you want
March 2010, passed my license exam in May 2010, and to attend. You may want to attend all of them, but you
attended my first TAA convention Arlington in June 2010. can’t. There is only of you and too many of them. Accept
I had a great time and a positive lasting impression was this fact and decide what classes you think will interest
made on me. you or benefit you the most.
Register as soon as possible to get the best price available Make a point to meet new people every day you are
by taking advantage of any discounts or early registration there. If you attend a luncheon or dinner, sit by someone
promotions. Many of your meals are provided in your new if you can. If there is a hospitality suite or if we
registration. If you stay at the Embassy Suites, you have gather in a common place in the hotel at the end of
a full complimentary breakfast each morning. Make your the night, join in and mingle. This is how you build
hotel reservations now for the same reasons – lock the relationships, forge long lasting friendships, and learn
TAA hotel rate in and make sure you have a room. If more about the business.
you are flying in from another part of the state or even Participate in the different activities going on. Sunday
another state, start checking flight prices now and get the night will be the President’s Welcome Party and Casino
best deal possible. Night. As part of the events for the evening, we have the

WHAT TO BRING fun auction. The fun auction helps raise money for TAA,
the scholarship fund, Fellowship of Christian Auctioneers
Make sure you have plenty of business cards. You will International, and Texas Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital.
need them to exchange with other auctioneers you meet You can bring an item (or two or three or more) to
and network with. You may also need them to give to auction off and help raise money for one of these causes.
vendors who sometimes have drawings or giveaways This is a great way for you to get in front of a crowd of
during the convention. You may think you will never your peers and sell. It’s not a competition, it’s just you
travel to Houston to work an auction if you live in Dallas, getting up and doing the best you can for a great cause.
but you never know when an opportunity will present You get exposure and you get practice. You will likely get
itself. An exhibitor may have a service you can’t possibly some advice and compliments afterwards too!
imagine using anytime soon, but six months later you
need that product or service and now you know a person Compete. Sign up for the auctioneer and ringman
to help you. championship competition. The auctioneer championship
Make sure to bring pen and paper for taking notes has a rookie, senior, and champion division. Depending
on your age and how long you have been licensed, you
in classes or jotting down ideas you have during the might be able to participate in four competitions if you
convention. If you prefer bringing your laptop or tablet, chose to. You can find rules and details on the TAA website
that’s ok too, but sometimes Wi-Fi will fail you. and within this newsletter. Competing is fun. For some
If you run out of business cards or just have a limited competitors it’s a thrill, a rush of adrenaline. For others,
supply, take a picture of your business card with your it makes their stomachs turn. It’s also an audition. I’ve
smartphone. You then have the ability to text it or email heard many stories of auctioneers who competed and
to someone. received job opportunities as a result of someone

In addition to your debit or credit card, bring some watching them compete and liking what they saw. They
didn’t necessarily win the competition, but somebody
cash with you in the event you want to get a snack or liked their chant or their energy and thought they would
something where you debit or credit card isn’t accepted be a good fit in their auction team. Buy your items early,
or isn’t an option. Sometimes technical difficulties practice your chant and your introductions, and have fun.
happen and systems will go down. An ATM should be
in the hotel. Banks and other ATMs are also close by to continued on page 19

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www.texasauctioneers.org 1st Quarter • 2017