By Maureen Koh

WANTED: A motor-mouth with a strong voice, good stamina and the ability to rattle off auspicious phrases in dialects - especially Hokkien - spontaneously.

Those are the basic job requirements for being an auctioneer for the Hungry Ghost Festival.

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During the month-long festival, auctioning of fu wu (Chinese for good luck items) is the main source of income that determines the scale of celebrations the following year.

Money collected from the auction go towards paying for the event. And if there's extra to spare, staging a getai.

But the number of auctioneers has halved - from nearly 400 in 1997 to fewer than 200 today, lamented festival organising committees.

In fact, auctioneers are a dying breed, said nine veterans who spoke to The New Paper on Sunday.

"You need more than just the voice and stamina," said Mr Lim Ah Boon, 60, who began getai auctioning at 19.

"It's not only about shouting out the figures. You have to excite the people and get them interested in what is being offered for bidding. That in itself is an art."

The getai auctioneer Click on thumbnail to view

Mr Lim added: "You must be able to rattle off idioms and auspicious phrases. There is no script - everything is impromptu."

Smaller budgets

Some organisers with smaller budgets rely on their own committee members to run the auctions.

But those who can afford it hire professional auctioneers.

Mr Wayne Choo, 50, chairman of Thye Hui Merchants And Retailers committee, said: "Spending that extra sum is nothing compared to what is eventually raised."

Professional auctioneers charge between $400 and $500 for a night's work, with a hongbao token of at least $80.

Veterans can command up to $1,200 a night, including the hongbao.

Madam Tang Yee Moi, 48, treasurer of Cai Shi Zhong Yuan Lian Hui, said the difference in bids jumped by more than 25 per cent when a professional auctioneer was brought in four years ago.

She added: "As a result, we could afford to have a getai show on top of the lavish dinner menu."

Typically, auctioneers must move anything from 80 to 100 items in under 2 1/2 hours. Auctions by temples, business and clan associations can sometimes offer more than 120 items.

Usually contributed by members, staples are usually the prosperity urn and "or kim" (black gold, or charcoal). There are also elaborately decorated oranges, electrical appliances and even toys.