Christeby's was holding auctioneer training today and they needed bidders, who did they call upon but their student body.
AKA: Willing volunteers who will do most anything for insider information and a cup of tea.
And so we did. We watched while some people had their careers ripped up and shredded into little itty bits by their non-capabilities in crowd control whilst simultaneously performing calculations to ensure landing on the right foot. Other soon-to-be auctioneers soared and blossomed up on the podium, as did the bids.
Out in full force were the four of us: Afghan Hound, Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever and myself. And while it was clear that we were all friends to any of the other people in the room, our bidding styles were all dramatically different and possibly a reflection on our personalities.
Kinda like the Sex and the City girls - they all have different complementary personalities, only our story involves a lot less sex and a lot more city.
Afghan Hound was the cool, sleek and hawkish professional. Nothing deterred her will or her gaze from the bid. Her paddle flicked up with grace and ease.
Next on the scale, was me. I lacked the refinement, but not enthusiasm. Quite the opposite, when I did bid my paddle went flying up, as if in a spasm and usually at some inconvenient moment that created either a nuisance (as any ex would tell you) or reeked of comic timing (as any friend would tell you).
Cocker Spaniel was less keen and overall reserved. She smiled and kept her nerve, but was an early bidder on popular lots, driving them up and then, while it was pretend bank accounts, she refused to pretend outside of reason. Cocker Spaniel is lovely in that she's willing to play make believe, but is more apt to play the 'How would you spend the money from a contest?' Rather than the 'What would you wish for from a genie in a bottle?'
Cocker Spaniel and reality are in close contact without the necessity of a first name basis.
Golden Retriever decided she was to be the observer today with only one item 'bought' to her paddle. She smiled and laughed when I'd jump in and frustrate someone else's last minute bid, or how Afghan Hound's steely gaze made even the auctioneer flinch a little. She'd coo a little sigh of sympathy when Cocker Spaniel gave up because reality set in and generally encourage all of us to bid.
We backed off her Signac.
But hey, what are friends for unless to make you smile and let you buy pretend art with pretend money?
Someday we'll get around to those Manolos.
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