Auctioneers: How do they do it? I went to a land auction for the first time and I was fascinated by the?

Question

auctioneer. He sounded just like those old time tobacco auctioneers that used to be on the Lucky Strike commercials. He talked really really fast. What impressed me most is that he auctioneered for over five hours without a break and at the end he sounded exactly like he did when he started. He wasn't hoarse of raspy or any less loud and rapid-fire than when he started. Does he have stainless steel vocal cords or is there a technique (or drug) that enables him to do that?
BTW I wasn't sure what category to put this question in; it doesn't really fit any of the normal categories.

Answer 1

Here a link to the National Auctioneers Association.

http://www.auctioneers.org/becomeAuctioneer/school.php

They certify auctioneers and schools that train auctioneers.

In WV you go to a school and then apprentice for a period of time before getting your license.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You may be amazed, but there are professional auctioneer training programs. Call up that auctioneer and express your admiration and ask for a referral. (If that auctioneer doesn't know where to send you, try another. Or maybe that auctioneer will offer you a job as a novice assistant and you can work your way up.)

The auctioneer's rapid patter and vocal stamina are a function of proper voice and diction training. You can find college courses in voice and diction at any school that has an acting or speech pathology program; you will only need an intro. course to get you started, and afterwards the discipline to practice breathing, vocal production, and tongue-twisters daily.