Plymouth Auctioneering's Publications

• Training Options for Plymouth Auctioneering Associates, Plymouth Auctioneering January, 2011 Posted by Circa Gallery Associates with Plymouth Auctioneering receive training at the Park West Academy, which provides coursework in public speaking, fine art, and art sales. Trainees attend sessions in Southfield, Michigan, or Miami Lakes, Florida, each of which is an intensive 10 days of concentrated study. In only this short amount of time, new Plymouth Auctioneering associates receive the skills necessary to board a cruise ship with confidence and market Park West artwork to casual vacationers and seasoned art collectors. In addition to acquiring a thorough understanding of the artistic process, each trainee receives the tools necessary to build interest in art and secure a high final bid. Attending the Park West Academy does not qualify as a guarantee for contract work with Plymouth Auctioneering. Rather, it serves as the final stage in the screening process. Trainers expect all candidates to show the greatest dedication, preparedness, and diligence with all assignments. Plymouth Auctioneering provides candidates with a large percentage of training materials prior to their arrival in Michigan or Florida, and all trainees should demonstrate mastery of the material during their time at Park West Academy. About four out of five trainees will graduate from training and subsequently take a position on a cruise ship. Each training session covers a range of material, from producing an auction to techniques for stimulating the audience, including the basics of crowd psychology. Training incorporates a number of business basics, ethics, management, and marketing lessons. Candidates must know the basics of art history in order to speak fluently about each piece of fine art up for auction, as well as the fundamentals of medium. Each auctioneer must also know the histories and influence of all major artists, such as Durer, Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Dali, Cezanne, and Renoir. In addition, since each Plymouth Auctioneering associates are auctioning artwork from the Park West Gallery collection, it is imperative that he or she understand the company’s mission, history, and vision.

• Travel Trunks, Plymouth Auctioneering January, 2011 by Plymouth Auctioneering The creature comforts associated with travel in the late 1800s and the first half of the 1900s stand as some of the most memorable hallmarks of the period. Some of the most lasting and meticulously crafted travel accessories of that era include the often ornately decorated and compartment-laden trunks, which accompanied the fine ladies and gentlemen of the era on their global adventures. The work of dedicated craftsman, travel trunks employed ingenious sections for such items as hats, gloves, and shoes. To meet a number of needs, manufacturers offered a variety of types of baggage. Travelers in the know purchased such trunk options as bureaus with drawers, wardrobes with hangers, hat boxes, and custom choices featuring a variety of purposes. Prior to the advent of the golden age of travel, craftsman made trunks out of wood and often covered them in animal hide for added protection. Later, brass tacks and ironwork, such as locks and hardware, became standard issue on travel trunks. During the 1840s, manufacturers embellished so-called “gold rush trunks” with large brass disks resembling gold coins. While the flat-top trunk was the easiest type of baggage to build, clients for many years preferred round-tops because porters were more likely to place them on top of piles rather than stacking other cases over them. However, as cruise travel became more prevalent, steamer trunks with low, flat tops gained popularity because they could be shoved under a bunk in a ship cabin. At about the same time, craftsman developed specialty trunks that held specific travel items or served express purposes. The demand for such items reflected the need for travel trunks that could facilitate easy access to the wide variety of clothing and accessories expected of upper-class passengers on luxury ocean liners, yachts, and rail cars. Prime vintage and antique examples of travel trunks remain available to collectors, although prices for pieces made by such manufacturers as Louis Vuitton, Henry Likely & Co., and Florida Trunk Manufacturing sell for as much as $10,000. Many famous manufacturers continue to make specialty trunks, and while the prices indicate the custom nature of such products, a good travel trunk is an investment, which can last a lifetime.

• Plymouth Auctioneering, Plymouth Auctioneering's Blog on Bigsight April, 2011 Plymouth Auctioneering prepares and trains individuals for a life of travel and excitement in some of the most beautiful places in the world. One of the many locations that auctioneers have the privilege of visiting while on board a gallery cruise ship is the Caribbean. With more than 7,000 islands in an area of more than 1 million square miles, the Caribbean is recognized for its scenic allure and breathtaking surroundings. Situated just east of Central America, the Caribbean is also referred to as the West Indies, a name coined by Christopher Columbus when he mistakenly believed the islands were part of Asia (the Indies). The climate and geography of the islands can vary, depending on the time of year and location. In general, however, the Caribbean islands enjoy a warm and sunny climate, with high levels of humidity and rainfall throughout certain times of the year. The abundance of moisture and rainfall does provide for a tropical and extremely lush environment, especially during the wet season. Additionally, the waters of the Caribbean provide for unmatched fishing and wildlife adventures. Large schools of migratory fish as well as numerous and expansive reefs and ecological systems make for exciting wildlife experiences. The vibrant cultures adds to the appeal of the Caribbean, as many of the islands boast traditional cuisine, historic architecture, and island music to suit any occasion. Islands that tourists and visitors commonly visit include Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands. Antigua, Saint Thomas, and Saint Croix represent popular Caribbean destinations.

• About Destino, the Animated Short Film , Plymouth Auctioneering June, 2011 by Plymouth Auctioneering While the original production of Destino started in 1945, the short film was eventually completed and released in 2003. This project, which was worked upon by the Spanish painter Salvador Dali and the American animator Walt Disney, comes in at six minutes and follows Chronos as he falls in love with a mortal woman. The landscape, which is inspired by Salvador Dali’s paintings, often mutates into something the scene did not appear to be. Destino includes some original footage that was put together by the studio artist John Hench, and while the film mostly features a traditional animation style, some of the animation was completed on a computer. After the Disney company experienced financial trouble following World War II, production on Destino came to a halt. Hench, who collaborated with Dali on the storyboard, compiled an 18-second synopsis that he hoped would spark Walt Disney’s attention, but the short animation failed and the project was put on a hiatus. Later, when Walt Disney’s nephew started working on Fantasia 2000, he found the Destino project and decided to finish the film. Through the combination of a comprehensive study of Dali and Hench’s puzzling storyboards, research that pulled information from Dali’s wife’s journals, and input from Hench himself, 25 animators finished production on Destino and set forth to release the short film. Destino was first featured in 2003 at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France. It received acclaim as a short film and was later included in many Dali exhibits and added as a special feature to the Fantasia & Fantasia 2000 Special Edition Blu-ray discs.

• Plymouth Auctioneering: Tips for Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety, Plymouth Auctioneering June, 2011 A fear of public speaking keeps many people from realizing their true potential. At Plymouth Auctioneering, public speaking forms a major part of the duties of its art auctioneers. Overcoming public speaking anxiety can unlock the charisma and magnetism necessary to earn significant income as a Plymouth Auctioneering contractor. Here are some tips for dealing with stage fright. Focus on the positive aspects of performance anxiety Performance anxiety is the body’s natural way of putting you on high alert about a potentially important situation, and you can use this to your advantage. Anxiety before presenting at an auction will heighten your senses, allow you to think and react more quickly, and make you appear more engaging to the audience. Remember these positive elements and learn to embrace your nerves instead of fearing them. Such an attitude will put you in an optimistic mindset and help you to make the most of your stage fright. Remember that anxiety usually dissipates once you start speaking One of the best ways to calm down before a public presentation is simply to remember that stage fright usually goes away as soon as you start speaking. You can speed up this process by practicing your speech, talking to someone about your anxiety and/or going over the subject matter. Practice in advance and know your material The more prepared you are, the less reason for worry. Your nerves will calm down if you can remind yourself that you’ve gone over the material countless times and practiced your presentation in front of the mirror or your colleagues. Employ simple visualization strategies The most well-known visualization strategy involves picturing the audience naked. However, countless other approaches also work, such as thinking about what a great public speaker you are, trying to see yourself up on stage presenting, or remembering some of your most cherished memories. The goal is to focus your thoughts on anything aside from your nerves. Get some exercise beforehand Physical exercise releases a host of positive hormones that calm down the system and prevent excessive nervousness from developing. If you have the time, try going for a short workout before you present. Don’t work out so hard that you are exhausted and unable to function; simply do enough to warm up and break a sweat. This should be sufficient to calm you down.

• The Lifestyle of Cruise Art Auctioneers August, 2011 Fans of The Love Boat, a popular television show of the 1970s and 1980s, may have often found themselves wondering just what it would be like to earn a living aboard a cruise ship. Auctioneers for Plymouth Auctioneering have the opportunity to do just that, participating as independent contractors in Park West Gallery art auctions, under a partnership between the two companies. Living aboard a cruise ship for four to six months at a time provides an unconventional lifestyle with many benefits. What is life aboard a cruise ship like? 1. Work: First, it is hard work. While the ship may be luxurious and destinations glamorous, shipboard art auctioneers spend at least part of every day working. The work involves networking with passengers and other auction staff, educating oneself about the art, and, of course, selling the art in fast-paced auctions to passengers. 2. Time off: Although auctioneers work every day, including holidays and weekends, they also have time to enjoy the many amenities aboard the ship, as well as the excitement of the ship’s ports of call. Each assignment lasts about six continuous months, after which auctioneers receive four to six weeks’ vacation before moving on to their next assignments. 3. Meals and cabins: Auctioneers stay in small crew or guest cabins, often shared with other staff. If they receive crew cabins, they live in a separate part of the ship among other crew. The cabins are small, with single beds and small bathrooms. Cruise ships are known for serving great food, and auctioneers frequently have the opportunity to dine at any of the ship’s restaurants or buffets. The ships provide web access via Wi-Fi hookups, and they have medical personnel available should health issues arise. [Image by Jorge Andrade] 4. Entertainment: Cruise ships are set up to entertain their guests in style, and art auctioneers can participate in entertainment opportunities during their time off. This may include shows and nightclubs.

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