What Does It Take to Be an Auctioneer at Sotheby’s? | Meet the Auctioneer: Phyllis Kao 

I think this is why people gravitate to watch these auctions on video, it's an art form in itself. Little parts of a conductor, a performer, a psychologist, a businessman and even a comedian, but always to the point of getting that next higher bid. It is entertaining to watch the different auctioneers and their styles when they do their thing.

love how she commands the room with grace, elegance and quiet confidence that stems from a deep understanding and appreciation for her work ❤

I absolutely love videos about jobs just because coming from a regular middle class family who’ve all worked the same jobs over and over again from retail to fast food and even nannying I don’t realize how much other jobs there are out there in the world and how much work is out into it. I’ve heard of an auctioneer but not once thought how it works, pretty cool stuff~

What an amazing speaker. She oozes with charisma, gravitas

I gotta say the team did a great job with this. Music, editing, everything.

The hair thing for her was spot on 👏🏾 it’s become her uniform. She presents totally different off the clock with her hair down. This was very interesting to see.

The HAIR is EVERYTHING 💕

She is incredible. She inspires me with her composure, humor, and charisma

Having her being Taiwanese is even more inspiring, she's so awesome

I was there at the beginning with you, Phyllis! so happy to see things working out sway, you’re a gift to the auction world!

no idea what i'm doing here but this is lit. love her

It's a joy to watch Phyllis Kao stir the energy in the room, she is among the best! Add to that, the art direction and production quality of the video is fantastic.

I loved this already and then I spotted her Kaweco fountain pen. She's pure class, what a talent!

What a wonderful personality.

She is so elegant. 🫶

Ooh loved this piece! So fascinating! I would love to attend an auction and just observe

Greetings from Toronto. Phyliss Kao and Helena Newman, her colleague at Sotheby's, are wonderful auctioneers. They add a sense of style, sophistication, gravitas and an added hint of levity at times. The one element of the video left out was the theatrical and dramatic art of the rostrum lean to each side. Oliver has that nailed to perfection. I just started watching the auction videos and appreciate the artist profiles which precede the auction. It helps to place context when the art arrives for its sale moment. Listening to Helena and the amazing international team discuss the art is bliss. I would love to be invited to be in the auction showroom just once. Add to bucket list.

Sounds and seems fascinating! What a lively and powerful position to have! I'd like to know how you deal with people who are difficult to work with.

The auctioneer is great and Sotheby's looks like great place to work if you're okay with ignoring how many of the artifacts get stolen from other countries to magically appear there. Sotheby's literally created a hidden industry of robbers who steal artifacts well after colonization

I love you Phyllis!! So proud of you!! 😍

That's the home tour that would make Millions on youtube!

What an amazing video seeing a pro do what they love. Great insights to a usually secret world.

Why did it sound like I was turning on my 2006 Windows computer in the beginning 😂

Phyllis! I just came upon this by chance. I’m glad I could see you in your element. Stunning

I am most fascinated by the bay area accent that has just a little bit of RP in it

Wow, she is definitely charismatic. Loved this video because it reminds me that there really are a lot of interesting jobs out there beyond the standard set of healthcare and high-tech jobs my family recommends to me.

She’s so talented and charismatic

I had no idea! So illuminating for only 6 mins. PS: Phyllis you did that girl, continue to slay.

Here I thought I was gonna hear people talking at a mile a minute.

It’s crazy how much money people have and the ease in which they spend it… every aspect of their life is elevated

shes very entertaining to watch auction items, cheers

I just watched a video of Phyllis selling a dinosaur skeleton and now I'm entranced by her charisma

Nice to know about a world I’ll never be able to touch

@sotheby’s I pray and hope I can work for a prestige auction house such as yours! And I’ve been finding antiques with my family since 1993! Not terrific but giving a chance I can amazing you with what I was self taught!

I really want an international spy thriller action movie where the auctioneer is the action hero, starring her.

Please post more of such videos

so inspiring!!! love it!!!

Live auctions are and will be the best. It will as be classic. No one does better than Sotheby's

She is elegant and snazzy! A joy to watch

Communication skills , eloquence in English language. Linguistics of the highest calibre

Wonder how much is she making as an auctioneer...

I wish there was more behind the scenes and info shared....While she is well spoken, educated and has a gorgeous presence about her it was a let down of a vid.

I love the way she leans so intently.

are the transitions ai-generated?

She’s very good at her job! You can tell she’s established the brand of who she is and has a certain charisma at what she does that is very engaging.

More videos on the back workings of Sotheby's people are interested!! loved this video Phyllis is adorable!

let's binge some Phyllis Kao.

So charming, graceful, and intelligent ❤

Asian excellence. Preach queen!!

Loved this video, nicely done.

She has class

This was very well done

She is SO classy oh my gosh

She is so sophisticated!

She is Absolutely Beautiful. She has a Fun Personality and I think that helps a lot. Most Auctions and Auctioneers I've seen are so Serious. She seams to have really put the Work in and Loves what she's doing. That makes it Fun and Exciting to Watch.

Thank you so much for your presentation. I have often wondered about this interesting topic for many years now. Sotheby's gives me the rush needed to keep me engaged. How shall I say it?, "others do not." (L0L) Sincerely and best, Mr. Holliday at 81+ years old. (Sentebay)

Very, very interesting. Now I'm going to see when the next auctions are at Sotheby's Hong Kong ❤

What a load of rubbish I never heard so much crap

Good content 🔥

She's amazing, having been to auctions, it's imperative to be personal. I'm shocked the amount of money in that room, on metal chairs. 😂😂😂

1520 Sat 11/05/24 excellent 👍🥳👌👏

Such a mesmerizing and intelligent woman. I am in awe!

Such a lovely well spoken lady to represent beautiful Taiwan 💕🇹🇼

High end Auction: We have a stunning painting by Leonardo da Vinci for $3.5 million dollars. Price starts at $3 million, anyone? $3 million dollars. Oh! We have bidder! $3.5 million. (Then sip on tea with pinky out) We have $4 million. Going once, twice and we’re sold! Thank you good sir/maam! Normal Auction: We got this horse seat made by a famous horse breeder Sir Horse and the price starts at Shtfjejcrifgifr 200 dhibesgjjvd 250 gircbfscyjvd 275 SchtdvujgrDCJDHGUFDHX SOLD!

Really enjoyed the insights

Taiwanese keep the thousands years of traditional Chinese culture, that is an internal strength people cannot see. That part of our cultura has been destroyed in mainland

Don't ask where it came from.

I'm not sure about this

👑K👑A👑O👑

She’s so brilliant

God, I wish I could have lived this life.

Privledge

She is so inspiring make me want to put in more work so I could one day become a successful person in my traits too

This is fascinating. I had no idea this was a job!

Loved this!

👏 👏 👏 👏

Cool.

超讚

Is this the modern day transatlantic accent

First of all, you have to love the smell of money. A lot of people don’t.

What a stunning way to showcase how sad the world is. Millions for objects while millions starve to death.

Stolen artifacts

😎

Show a non-stop minute video clip of her actually working!!! Clicked DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS CHANNEL.

There is a transaction taking place , a buyer and seller , so it's finance , investment decisions ,and the dynamic of a market . Musicians usually talk a lot of crap.

Nah nothing to do with being a conductor, conductor is an insignificant job in the grand scheme of things .