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Oct.14,2015This past Sunday I had the pleasure of talking with Elie Back. She is a really sweet and funny person and loves being an Auctioneer. Below are some question I asked and her answers!!
Q.When did you first start being an auctioneer?
A Elie Back: I started auctioneer oh I think 5 years ago or so at Mystic Bay. Tom was my partner then and he was old friends with Mallorie and some folks there and he took me to my first auction there… and I was hooked! laughs
Q.What made you decide to be an auctioneer?
A.Elie Back: Well… I would have to say i was pulled kicking and screaming into it… it was a very scary proposition! But Mallorie was a great teacher and inspiration and she thought I’d be good at it.. and honestly, it was kind of exciting and scary at the same time!
Q. When you first started auctioneering , what breedable were you auctioning for?
A. Elie Back: I started with the Amaretto Horses 🙂 They were my first breedable beasty and have always been my first love 🙂 I have also auctioneered for Fennux and ABC horses. I wouldn’t auctioneer something I didn’t actively breed and didn’t love 🙂 I think that would be more of a “job” and less “FUN!” And you GOTTA have fun!
Q.What do you feel is the most difficult thing for you, being an Auctioneer?
A.Elie Back: Time is always a killer! I wish I had more time to spend just roaming around and seeing what everyone is creating with their horses! I guess the challenges have changed over the last 5 years… when I started we all did those dang horrible cards! and it was so hard to get folks to bring their horses in time to learn something about them! But now the auctions I think are much more seller friendly… and auctioneer friendly too!
Q. What is your favorite type of auction to call?
A. Elie Back: I love the drop auctions! It’s the most unstructured and easypeasy type of auction for everyone… buyers, sellers and the auctioneers! It seems to me that folks have more fun at the drops… I’ve recently started doing the list boards for drop auctions and that’s a great way to do them I think. No standing in line or having to wait for half an hour for the auction to start.. just go in, get your spot on the board and then go have fun til auction time!
Q.What do you feel makes a good auctioneer?
A. Elie Back: hmmm that’s hard because there are so MANY awesome auctioneers out there and we are all different in our personalities and styles 🙂 I think to be truly good you have to enjoy the auctioneers.. you have to have just as much fun as the folks coming to your auctions — folks can tell if you’re just plodding through it 🙂 And also you have to know what your auctioneering… whether it’s chickens or dogs or horses… if you don’t know the breedable lines and what you can do with them then I think you do a disservice to the folks coming to the auction .. not just those selling but those buying. New breeders learn so much from auctions! And if the auctioneer is creative with what can be done with that horse and can share that vision with the buyers then they will have happier sellers AND buyers in the end!
Q. What is the funniest thing that has ever happen to you when calling an auction?
A. Elie Back: Well … I don’t think I could pick just one thing.. if you’ve been to one of my auctions… well.. we have fun! I love an interactive “audience” and when you have that, and the stars are in proper alignment… ANYthing can happen.. and usually does! I guess the most embarrassing.. and funniest thing for me when it happens is when people get me laughing so hard i snort! That is hard to live down!
Just by spending time talking with Elie, and the answers to the questions I asked, you can really tell that she really enjoys being an auctioneer and having fun too!
If you are an Auctioneer and would like to be interviewed, just send a notecard titled Interview of a Auctioneer with your sl name on it to Maleficent Farshore!
Until next week happy breeding , and go check out the auctions for some great deals and fun!
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