{{Short description|American auctioneer (born 1968)}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2019}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Laura Dotson | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|5|13}}{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) --> | death_place = | other_names = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Auctioneer, television personality | years_active = 1988-present | known_for = ''Storage Wars'' | television = | spouse = Dan Dotson | awards = | website = {{URL|americanauctioneers.com}} }} '''Laura Dotson''' (born May 13, 1968) is an American auctioneer who has been in the auctioneering business since 1988. She and her husband, Dan Dotson, run American Auctioneers, a full service auction company in Riverside, California. She is best known for being the auctioneer on A&E Network's ''Storage Wars''.
== Early life == Dotson was raised in Thousand Oaks, California and became familiar with auctioneering, having been around the business since 1988.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
== Career == === American Auctioneers === In 1996, she met Dan Dotson, who later became her husband. She also became Dan's business partner and now is co-owner and manager of American Auctioneers.<ref name="aucabus"/> Dan Dotson started American Auctioneers in 1983.
American Auctioneers specializes in auctions of storage units, estates, business inventories and equipment, plus legal/foreclosure auctions, fundraisers and appraisals. Dotson averages two auctions a day, six days a week.<ref name="npr060529"/> Dotson is also the owner of StorageAuctions.net, an internet portal focusing on providing self-storage auction listings throughout the United States and Canada.
=== ''Storage Wars'' === In December 2010, both Dotsons began appearing on A&E's ''Storage Wars'', a reality series which follows four professional buyers and their teams as they bid on storage units that are in default. Ordinarily, she is the ringman and Dan acts as the auctioneer, but these roles are occasionally reversed (often at her request). Dan's auction chant on the show utilizes slurred multi-syllabic filler rattled out very quickly, while her auction chant uses more distinct filler words and therefore sounds slower than her husband's.
Her involvement in ''Storage Wars'' has led to her being featured in several news articles including ''The Washington Post'',<ref name=washingtonpost.com>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/30/AR2010113007228.html |author= Hank Stuever |title= 'Storage Wars' and 'Gold Rush: Alaska' are mining at the recessionary frontier |date= December 1, 2010 |newspaper= The Washington Post}}</ref> ''USA Today''<ref name=usatoday.com>{{cite news |url= http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2011-01-28-storage28_VA_N.htm |author= Marco R. della Cava |title= The treasures people dig up from storage units |date= January 28, 2011 |periodical= USA Today}}</ref> and TMZ.<ref name=tmz.com>{{cite news |url= http://www.tmz.com/2014/06/22/storage-wars-dan-dotson-smoking-quit-done-brain-aneurysm/ |author= TMZ Staff |title= Double Brain Aneurysm Scared Me Straight |date= June 22, 2014 |periodical= TMZ}}</ref> In 2015 Examiner.com reported that "Thom Beers came up with the idea for Storage Wars, but said that Dan and Laura Dotson inspired it."<ref name=examiner.com>{{cite news |url= |author= Mandy Robinson |title= Exclusive interview: Dan Dotson talks 'Storage Wars' and American Auctioneers |date= July 13, 2015 |periodical= Examiner.com}}</ref>
== Television appearances == *''Storage Wars'' - 2010 to present *''Happening Now'' - Dan and Laura discuss gold treasure found at auction <ref name=YouTube>{{cite news |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPn18-NBCLc |author= Jon Scott |title= Real Treasure Found in Storage Auction Dan & Laura Dotson American Auctioneers on Fox News |date= January 1, 2012 |periodical= Happening Now}}</ref> *''Hot in Cleveland'' - Dan and Laura cameo in third season episode titled "Storage Wars"<ref name="tvg120416"/> *''Fox & Friends'' - Dan and Laura are guests <ref name=youtube.com>{{cite news |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfaVuElXNlQ |author= |title= Fox & Friends Storage Wars Dan & Laura Dotson |date= May 21, 2012 |periodical= Fox & Friends}}</ref> *''Anderson Live'' - Dan and Laura are guests on the episode along with Jimmy Fallon<ref name=tvguide.com>{{cite news |url= http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/anderson-live/episode-163-season-1/cohost-ana-gasteyer-with-storage-wars-and-jimmy-fallon/328820/ |author= Ana Gasteyer |title= Cohost Ana Gasteyer With Storage Wars and Jimmy Fallon |date= May 23, 2012 |periodical= Anderson Live}}</ref> *''The Home and Family Show'' - Dan and Laura are guests <ref name=hallmarkchannel.com>{{cite news |url= http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/today-on-home-family-frankie-moreno |author= Mark Steines & Cristina Ferrare |title= Outside the Lines and SportsCenter offer looks back at an eventful 2013 |date= January 22, 2013 |periodical= The Home and Family Show}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="aucabus">{{cite web |publisher=American Auctioneers |title=About Us |url=http://www.americanauctioneers.com/company/ |accessdate=September 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830173929/http://www.americanauctioneers.com/company/ |archivedate=August 30, 2012 }}</ref> <ref name="npr060529">{{cite news |first=Gloria |last=Hillard |publisher=NPR |work=All Things Considered |title=Storage Facility Bidders Betting on Hidden Gems |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5437864&ft=1&f=1021 |date=May 29, 2006 |accessdate=September 5, 2012}}</ref> <ref name="tvg120416">{{cite news |first=Kate |last=Stanhope |work=TV Guide |title=Exclusive: ''Hot in Cleveland'' Packs In ''Storage Wars'' Cameos |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Hot-Cleveland-Storage-Wars-Dotsons-1046087.aspx |date=April 16, 2012 |accessdate=September 5, 2012}}</ref> }}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.americanauctioneers.com/company/|American Auctioneers official website}} * [http://www.aetv.com/storage-wars/ ''Storage Wars'' on A&E] * {{Official website|http://www.StorageAuctions.net/|StorageAuctions.net official website}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dotson, Laura}} Category:Living people Category:People from Thousand Oaks, California Category:Storage Wars Category:American auctioneers Category:1968 births Category:Female auctioneers