Brian A. Rigby, CAI, AARE
Brian A. Rigby, CAI, AARE, has a vision and a mission for the auction industry. And today, 15 years after launching his one-of-a-kind effort, he’s still at it.
Brian is the founder of PRI, the Professional Ringmen’s Institute, an organization dedicated to elevating the skill, professionalism and performance of some of the most important participants in the auction industry—the bid assistants, or ringmen.
“We became very aware of a serious void in our industry, which unfortunately, still continues to this day,” he says. “We address that void very thoroughly and professionally at PRI.”
The PRI website defines a ringman as ““A very important member of every live auction team, whose contributions and responsibilities include an accurate interpretation and an effective communication of buyer participation to his or her auction team.”
Speaking with RealEstateAuctions.com recently, Brian zeroed in on that definition.
“A good ringman can contribute as much to an auction’s success as the auctioneer,” he says. “In many cases a ringman is more important than a bid caller. Ringmen as a team can really make it happen. The important word is ‘communication’.”
Brian’s career in auctioneering began in 1975 when he conducted his first auction, but he was already steeped in the culture.
“I’ve been around it all my life,” he says. “I grew up on a ranch in central Missouri. My father loved attending auctions and I would accompany him with every opportunity.”
After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Missouri, Brian moved to Amarillo, TX and began working as Associate Director of Advertising for the Quarter Horse Journal of the American Quarter Horse Association. The move was pivotal in his career.
“I spent two years learning how to work the ring with some of the best purebred livestock ringmen in the business while working in front of the best equine auctioneers in the industry,” he recalls.
It was during his time in Amarillo that Brian became keenly aware of the difference between a true ringman and a mere bid spotter.
“I can make someone a bid spotter in two minutes,” he says. “There’s a big, big difference.”
In 1981, Brian set off on his own, continuing to work as a ringman for the auctioneers who knew him from his days at the Journal. A two-time champion auctioneer, Brian eventually founded his own firm, B.A. Rigby & Associates, which he still heads today. B.A. Rigby & Associates specializes in upscale residential, recreational, commercial, ranch and developmental properties. He has successfully conducted auctions in 32 states, Canada and Europe.
But when catching up with Brian during his busy day recently, he was particularly enthused and focused on talking about the Pro Ringmen’s Institute.
PRI’s curriculum runs three full days, covering all aspects of ringman training featuring a team of instructors including Brian, Neal Davis, Dustin Taylor, Randy Bush, Shannon Mays, Russ Moravec, Angie Meier, Dennis Bolin and Leroy Van Dyke, billed as the world’s most famous auctioneer.
“Our staff has over 200 years combined experience,” Brian says. “We teach trainees in three days what it might take 10 years to learn (in the field), if even then. People have joined us after serving in the auction industry for 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years. They are overwhelmed within a couple of hours because they quickly become very aware of what they didn’t know. And, they are very grateful.”
“It’s always very rewarding for myself and the instructors to observe the changes we make in people’s lives,” he says.
Headquartered in Rogersville, MO, PRI’s next training program will be held February 16-18, 2012 in Dallas, TX. For more information, call the Pro Ringmen’s Institute at 417-753-7653 or visit www.ProRingmen.com