Welcome to @Matt Kazam ! Im excitedto have him as a part of our community! He's hosting an auctioneer comedy workshop ill be attending next week. Wanted to let you all know He's giving us a special price of $229! Im excited for it!

Toastmasters is beneficial because it systematically builds communication, leadership, and confidence skills in a practical, low-risk environment. Its value comes from consistent practice, structured feedback, and progressive skill development—things most people rarely get in daily life. Here are the core reasons it’s so effective: 1. Builds Real Confidence Through Repetition Toastmasters removes fear by replacing it with familiarity. You speak often, in front of supportive peers, until public speaking becomes routine rather than intimidating. Confidence is not taught—it’s earned through experience, which Toastmasters provides weekly. 2. Improves Clear, Persuasive Communication You learn how to: Organize thoughts logically Speak with purpose and clarity Use tone, pacing, and body language effectively Adapt your message to different audiences These skills apply directly to work, leadership, faith communities, and everyday conversations. 3. Supportive, Constructive Feedback Unlike harsh criticism, Toastmasters feedback is: Specific Encouraging Actionable You learn what works, what to improve, and how to improve it, which accelerates growth far faster than practicing alone. 4. Leadership Development in a Safe Setting Members rotate through leadership roles—chairing meetings, mentoring others, organizing events. This builds: Decision-making skills Accountability Servant leadership mindset It’s leadership by doing, not theory. 5. Builds Listening and Thinking Skills Roles like evaluator and table topics sharpen your ability to: Listen actively Think quickly Respond thoughtfully under pressure These are high-value skills in business, ministry, advocacy, and personal life. 6. Inclusive and Accessible for Everyone Toastmasters works because: You progress at your own pace No prior experience is required All backgrounds and abilities are welcome It’s one of the few environments where growth matters more than perfection. 7. Personal Growth Beyond Speaking Many members report growth in:

Thanks to @Matt Kazam for a great workshop today!!! Highly recommended! We'll be doing an upcoming Q&A together...stay tuned!

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.

Hi Auctioneer Skoolers Here are your weekly Auctioneer Drills practicing 5s all the way to 100 and back Filler Phrase: I'm Bid or Imma Bid. This is a great phrase to set your tone for your chant as you get started with a number "I'm bid 5, now 10, bid 15 and now 20" Tongue Twister of the week: Baby bunnies bounce beside the bright blue blanket Keep practicing and progressing! You're doing awesome!