This is so important as we are building our Auctioneer Chant, is knowing when to be silent... Here is a description from the internet about silence in building rhythm in your performance. Super important tool to use as you are being the best Auctioneer you can be! Silence in music is a powerful tool used to create tension, structure, and dynamic contrast, functioning as an essential rhythmic element rather than mere absence of sound. By using rests, gaps between musical phrases, or sudden "drops" in production, composers and performers build anticipation, highlight melodic ideas, and provide breathing space for the listener. Key Uses of Silence in Rhythm and Composition: - Building Tension and Expectation: Unexpected pauses, such as the famous silence in Beethoven's “Pathetique Sonata”, create dramatic tension and increase the emotional impact of the following notes. - Creating Structural Phrasing: Silence (often indicated by rests) separates musical ideas, making phrases easier to understand and improving the structural organization of a piece. - Contrast and Emphasis: Dropping out instruments before a "drop" in electronic music, or resting during a solo, brings, highlighting the subsequent sound and making it feel more powerful. - Rhythmic Definition: Rests act as placeholders within a rhythm, defining when not to play. They allow notes to stand out with greater clarity and, for example, enable staccato notes to be more effective. - Intentional "Drops" in Production: Modern production often uses a sudden silence to stop the groove briefly, as famously done in Count Basie's recordings, allowing the rhythm to hit harder upon return. - Artistic Expression of Space: John Cage's piece "4'33”" is a famous exploration of silence, which actually highlights the ambient noise of the environment. Using silence allows for a "breathing space" for both musicians and listeners to process complex musical ideas, and it ensures that the music remains dynamic and engaging, rather than flat.

Check out this great video that feels like a real auction:

What you measure is how you can know if your event was a success. Here are some ideas that you can present to your clients to really dive deep into their data and see what areas they can improve on. Being a better consultant/strategist helps you provide more value and you know what more value means...bigger paycheck:) Let me know any thoughts you have with this or if I missed anything.

Here's a recent video from an Anti-Gala. No stuffy black tie affair. No tables or chairs. No boring program. Just pure fundraising and fun!

I was debriefing with an executive director and a couple of board members today about this weekends gala, and received one of the best compliments. They said “I can tell you truly care.” What is one of the best compliments you received after doing an event?