Review Fix chats with musician and auctioneer Steve Little, who discusses his life and how the two worlds intertwine.
Review Fix: How did you get involved in auctions?
Steve Little: I saw a tobacco auctioneer at a state fair. The tobacco auctioneers
in particular had a very musical, rhythmic auction chant.
Immediately my heart started to beat faster and I thought it was one of the coolest, most exciting things I’d ever heard. At the time I was working as a musician and radio DJ, and I knew right away this was something I could do. So I started going to auctions and talking to auctioneers, and they were a big help pointing me in the right direction. The first place I applied took a chance on me, made me an intern selling Buffalo Nickels out in a country pasture, and here I am, thirty-one years later.
Review Fix: How hard is it to stay calm when you see the value of something skyrocketing?
Little: I do not find it difficult to remain calm when the price is skyrocketing, but this comes from a certain strong determination to stay focused on the process.
I guess it’s a matter of channeling nervous energy into concentration. Before the item hits the auction block there can be nervous energy, but once it starts its focus time. Probably other endeavors have similar arcs like this, too.
Review Fix: What have been some of your favorite auctions?
Little: Certainly the auction I did on behalf of RR Auction for the seat on the Blue Origin spaceflight is way up there. Also some gala benefit auctions in Washington DC, New York City, and Palm Beach that were massively successful. I managed an antique auction we had every week back in the ‘90s where we were like a big friendly family of bidders and sellers and we had fun!
Review Fix: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever auctioned off?
Little: A storage unit of a Central or South American strongman whose executor failed to pay the rent was pretty intense. Also a lock of Abe Lincoln’s hair. One auction sale had a shrunken head from Africa, but I refused to sell it.
I once sold a ring Clyde Barrow made for Bonnie Parker when he was in prison. While it wasn’t weird at all, in fact quite wonderful, I’ve done several exclusive auctions of rare Italian truffles to a select group of ambassadors, all for charity.
Review Fix: What are you working on now?
Little: I have been playing music for our elder population for several decades, and I have a one man show about it I put up in the Capital Fringe Festival. I have so many wonderful stories about people’s response to music, even when they are apparently shut down by dementia. It’s called Dementia Melodies-“It A’int Over ’til It’s Over.†I want to revive that, along with a chapter about COVID.
And I’m always busy with booking the fall and spring auction seasons.
Review Fix: How has COVID affected your business?
Little: COVID has been…wait for it….wait for it…rather bad for business. One of my specialties is conducting the huge Gala affairs, you know, fundraising affairs for non-profit and charity organizations. I often had 2 or even 3 in a week’s time. The virtual approach has helped, but I think a lot of us miss the big parties with 600 people. They are starting to come back, though.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of the year?
Little: For the remainder of the year, I will conduct as many auctions as I can, and hopefully book some all around the US. I feel very confident and enthusiastic about this coming spring and the years ahead.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Little: I’m always looking for ways to expand my work and customer base, and to learn new things.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Little: The auction method of buying and selling can really be really exciting. The auctioneer is at the nexus of buyers and sellers. Together, they not only determine item’s values, but where the new home for an item will be. It is particularly useful when esoteric factors like rarity and beauty come into play. On behalf of all the auctioneers out there, I invite you to come visit your local auction gallery. It can be really fun and interesting.
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