I Have Arrived...

In Lewisville, Texas that is. After 5 1/2 hours of drive time, I have checked into the hotel and settled in for the week.

This past week was a blurr. It takes a great deal to leave for 9 days. Schedules were typed up for the girls. Laundry had to be done. Dry cleaning had to be picked up. Carpools, horse lessons and dance lessons had to be communicated. Teachers need to know I was going to be gone. Whew...

I love it when people ask "who is going to help Brent?" No one asks me that when he travels. Suddenly, I am going to be gone and people think he is incapable! The fact is, he is very capable & an amazing Daddy. He has it under control. All is well in Amarillo.

As for me, I did my number drills (from the CD mentioned in my last blog), and I think I am ready as I will ever be. So let me answer a few questions I have been asked.

Is it like camp & you room with someone else? No. I am in a great hotel and have a huge room all to myself! The classes are in the same hotel, so it is very convenient.

Do you have an auction chant before you arrive? Some do, but I do not. I am a blank slate ready to learn from the best. I have the number drills down, but not a chant exactly. Hopefully, that is not a bad thing.

Are you in class all day? We will go from 8am to 7pm everyday according to the literature. I am sure some days will vary, but it is a rough idea of the schedule.

Will Brent be your instructor? YES! At the end of the week, Brent will show up and teach. No pressure, huh? Actually, after being in the auction business for over 10 years, I am going to know a lot of the instructors. I am not sure yet if that is a good thing or a more stressful thing. I will let you know on that one.

Overall, I am ready to start! I am excited and anxious all in one. I am excited about all of the information I will learn & all of the insights I will gain. I am very anxious about the auction chant, but I will work hard at it! Good night, and I will report back tomorrow.

A Newbie Who Has Been Here 10 Years

Welcome to our new blog! This area will discuss market trends, auction advice and overall insight from our industry. However, it will begin this week chronicling a new journey.

This is Ashley Graves writing, and this week I begin the adventure of going to Auction School. I have been in the auction industry, with Brent, for 11 years, but my role is behind the scenes. You have seen me in the auction trailer when you register. I am the one who prints your invoice at the end of the day. On occasion I clerk your bids, and on even fewer occasions I have been a ringperson. However, I have never called bids! So, why now?

I am protecting what Brent & I have built together. An individual cannot own an auction company in the state of Texas without an Auctioneer License. Therefore, if God forbid we lost Brent, I could not own the business we built. Well, that is completely unacceptable, so here I go to the Texas Auction Academy!

To say I am terrified is an understatement! However, Mike & Lori Jones of the Texas Auction Academy do things right. You receive a CD and a book to start practicing. So my girls and I have been working through the exercises for weeks now. I am still terrified, but at least have some time under my belt in the car.

Stay tuned, and I will let you know what Auction School is like; what you learn, what it feels like and how I progress. Wish me luck!