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Covid19 pandemic has completely changed wedding planning ideas and you might be asking yourself if you should rearrange your wedding plans due to corona virus. I will also talk about what other wedding suppliers are dicussing when it come to uk weddings returning to normal after the corona virus pandemic is over.
Suppliers are all chatting about whats happening and when, so I openly chat about what everyone is thinking about!
Thanks for watching!!
So your wedding has been postponed! It a strange time, everything suddenly has gone in a different direction and it feels completely out of your control. If you had your date affected by Covid-19 lockdown here are some ideas just to help YOU get back on track and in-control and stay positive.
Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn’t seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator says, “Calm down. I can help. First, let’s establish that he’s dead.” There is a silence; then a gun shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says, “OK, now what?”
This was researched and found to be the worlds funnest joke by Richard Wiseman!! …. but what’s it got to do with this subject…probably not much but its a great joke and hopefully made you smile.
That’s Step 1. Smile…and Don’t panic!
First of all establish the facts, do you need to cancel?… If you haven’t already, give your venue a call and keep in touch with them. At some point we WILL get back to normal and some dates may not be affected. Don’t try and rearrange things if you do not need to. Speak to your venue and take their advice on this as they are the professionals and will be working closely to government guidelines.
OK, so it’s definitely not going to happen on your date and you have established the facts.
Step 2…Accept that its got to change… don’t stress about it but visualise your new wedding being Bigger and Better than before! Every supplier and venue across the country is in the same situation and also so are many other brides. Everyone knows the deal and hopefully will be on your side! So Let’s make it Bigger and Better than before!!
Just to clarify, this point. It doesn’t have to be bigger with more guests and busier. Better doesn’t mean that it wasn’t already great (your day will always be important to you and so totally amazing!) It’s almost a metaphor to get us in the right positive frame of mind and to renew our enthusiasm about several more months planning when you might be just ready to party. Better just means we have time to check every details cross the “T”S and dot the “i”s. So lets get thinking and visualising about making it Bigger and Better in those terms and it will be an Amazing time both the re-planning and the day itself!
Let’s find a new date! This may feel like starting again but as I mentioned above Don’t Panic!!! You are actually a long way down the line and have already done most of the hard work. Have a chat with your venue and work out some options. Work out availability and find 2 or 3 different dates. Do you want to move to around Sept or October or go for a full 12months and have the same week next year?
Increase your options further. Think about maybe a weekday wedding. Perhaps a Friday or maybe even a Monday. Again, thinks Lets make it bigger and better! A weekday or a Friday will give you more options and you are more likely to be able to get availability on these dates for suppliers and venue. You might also find that your venue has a better deal on these dates. If your budget is already set then why not use the difference to do a pre-wedding party for family and closer friends!! Make a weekend of your wedding!
Also think about a winter wedding. Late October, November or even December (but avoid second week December – its the busiest week of the year!!) These days in October and November are actually great times to have a wedding, its a quiet time of year and sometimes people want a good excuse to have a party and a pick me up! There are lots of theming ideas like, Halloween or Bonfire Night (Maybe swap the evening buffet for a Jacket Potato & Soup (outdoors catering), roast chestnuts, add some fireworks or even sparklers if your budget is not huge and you got an awesome evening! If you want to take the party outside maybe think about a Silent Disco!! check out https://www.silentnoizeevents.com
Also think about the dates in-between Christmas and New Year! Again, it’s non-peak and at a time where people are available, ready to party and at the same time midweek!!
By thinking a little outside the regular options you may find availability for your suppliers easier and it could be a case of just rearranging everything to just another date. This might be a chance to upgrade a package with your suppliers as you are now looking at a non peak date. They are most likely to be really glad to fill that date and might offer an upgraded package at no additional charge in return.
A quick word on suppliers here. Many suppliers to the wedding industry are smaller businesses or sole traders. Currently, for us our work has stopped, which of course is not great for the bank accounts although many professional suppliers are keeping positive, taking time to restock and replenish and are looking forward to working again to be part of your day. This is a great time to chat to them and work with them to get a great deal and build a rapport with them. A good supplier will be ready to work with you and your situation. If they start making unreasonable requests about deposits or rebooking fees then you might have just worked out whether they are suitable for you!
So you have some dates, at this point but don’t choose one just yet. Drop an email to your suppliers and get responses of who is available on what date.
If there is a date when everyone is available then job done!! If you have suppliers that are not available, work out the date that you have the most suppliers that you really want to be there! What suppliers do you really want at your wedding? This might not always be the order of necessity like when you first booked. For example quite often I am booked because couples know me and like what I do and how i do it. Where as they might not know another supplier on the same level or need “them” to actually be providing that companies service.
If you do need to look for other suppliers then again – Don’t Panic! You already know what you are looking for so it’s not like when you first started planning. In fact, if you believe in the power of attraction then sometimes knowing what you want makes it drop into your lap!
Ask your current supplier for a recommendations. I quite often work with other magicians and I am usually quite fussy about who I work with and recommend. I know they have got to not only reflect the standard of what I do but also compliment my style and ethos. Many suppliers are similar in this aspect and will know many professionals in their own respective fields. Also chat with your venue as they will have a list of recommended suppliers.
Rearranging and the details! Most suppliers will have their own systems and booking process, a good supplier that really wants to be at your wedding will have already thought about how to deal with rearranging. Quite often most of the details will remain the same and you just need to rearrange the date. A simple email is the easiest way but if you want a full reconfirmation then a professional will easily be able to PDF a revised contract at the press of a button so just ask!!
Of course let’s use this opportunity to make things Bigger and Better! This situation has affected everyone and we all have stories to tell. It’s a great time to chat again and build rapport. Chat through some more options, you may have some other ideas from when you initially booked or they might have new ideas that might work well for you.
Don’t forget to tell your guests! How you do this might be again down to your budget or how elaborately you want to do this maybe make it fun, get creative. You might want to just do a simple change the date postcard or do it digitally. If you have lots of time on your hands at the moment why not try a video call!! Again its a great way to brighten up your friends day and share!!
So everything is rearranged, dates set, suppliers confirmed its just a case of waiting now…which I totally understand can be a little frustrating as you might have spent a long time planning and were really building up to that date! You don’t want to loose your excitement so keep looking for ideas things that you can easily add to your day. Have you forgotten anything? or what can you squeeze in to make it Bigger and Better!
There might also be things that you didn’t think you could afford initially, so why not think about those things again and use the time to save a little and put it to one side each month. Of course if you haven’t booked your daytime entertainment this is a great time to plan and maybe get some quotes and ideas ????!!
Finally, don’t forget yourselves! You were really looking forward to your big day for so long, its gonna be very odd when you do get to that date and its no longer your wedding date!! So maybe plan something at home with your partner, something fun on your “wedding day”…and then make your promise to make your rearranged day Bigger and Better and of course Amazing!
We are going to have some amazing weddings and parties very soon!! So until then…and it wont be long! Have fun, Stay Safe and see you very soon!!
Find out how to make it Amazing…get in touch today and tell me about your wedding plans. brett@amazingmagic.uk www.amazingmagic.uk
It’s your event, or perhaps you have been asked by your boss to book the entertainment for your awards evening. So the person you hire is a direct reflection on you. You need someone that is going to fit in and be liked by everyone, be polite and respectful of your guests space and those moments that are as important to the event as much as the entertainment. As mentioned earlier a professional will always care more about his feedback, his living depends on it and ultimately thats feedback that you will be receiving from your guests or even the boss!
Good feedback only comes from being liked by everyone, it’s so easy to get this wrong by forgetting the basics. Being polite, not making fun out of people who they ask to help with the performances. Not interrupting the flow of the evening or dinner service or even conversations.
But what else makes the difference and why might it cost more?
Insurance – Public liability this is an essential! Most venues require at least £10million. But more importantly you need to make sure everything is covered because things can go wrong. Drinks can get spilt, bags might be tripped over even something as silly as a paper cut. These things can happen, particularly in an environment when there is alcohol around!
Being a member of Equity not only shows that your performer is a full time professional (these days the entry requirements are a little different but when I joined I had to provide 20 contracts or past and future work and do an interview!) Also it provides public liability of up to 10million.
The truth is though you never ever want to use your insurance, and is it hopefully just a tick box paperwork exercise. The more experienced the performer the more different situations they will have been in and recognise if things are not going to plan or any potential hazards so you don’t have to experience them again!
I have lost count of how many risk assessments I have filled in and scenarios I have had to imagine. For the British Grand Prix we even have to do a 3 hour course on Terrorism threats!! So all this goes into the the vast pot of experience that will means that you have less to worry about!
Personally I always mentally run through what i do from the point of view as an audience member. For example, there are great tricks that used borrowed items, if an audience member lets me borrow a ring for example I know i have to treat that item with the utmost respect. From down to how they feel if it magically disappears and end up in an impossible location. I will only perform this kind of routine if i know their objects are 100% safe looked after at all times while its in my care. They have my reassurance of this and will never be bullied into lending me their items! Even if i borrow a bank note and get them to sign it or if it ends up in the middle of a lemon it will always be restored clean and returned. Its a respect thing!
Accidents do happen, but they also can be avoided or dealt with appropriately. Beyond that imagine the difference between guests saying under the breath, “who booked that guy he is rude inappropriate and unfriendly” or you having guest telling you how amazing the event is, how much fun the entertainment is and you taking the credit for your amazing choice and skills in choosing the right entertainment!
Occasionally people ask me…is that your full time job… I understand why. There are many magicians around that can perform tricks and get paid for doing so, but on a monday to Friday they will go back to their desks and believe just because they get paid to do tricks they could be considered professional and so can market themselves as such! But does that matter to the guy who’s paid the bill? And what really is the difference between a part time performer and a full time professional?
In my opinion what makes a professional is someone relies on their trade as a primary income and therefore cares about it such to deliver their services to the highest possible standard to maintain their professional reputation. Its is some who knows their trade and lives it with the ability to deal with every situation almost without thinking about it! For example if I hired a plumber or the bloke next door they both might do a great job and I would never know the difference on that leaky tap. However, when things do go wrong and water starts p*ssing all over the floor the bloke next door is the one likely to be getting wet knees while the professional is the one who pulls the right tool out of the bag to ensure your feet don’t get wet. Oh, also a week later my wife will be either complaining about the wet carpet or telling everyone how great the bathroom shower is!!
So in entertainer term when are we likely to get wet feet and need those tools at the ready? Here are just a few examples.
- Straight from the initial enquiry I visualise the type of event and what will fit best. Making sure, right from the start you can be sure that what is agreed is going to work. A common example is when brides may try and book me after dinner to try and keep people entertained while the room is getting turned around. This sounds like a great idea and sometimes it works. However, if its been a long day and big meal you might find that most of your friends want to just chill for a few minutes and then they will be ready to party again later. Having someone to try and keep them going may not always work or be a good idea!
- It’s a different type of event to what was described? Again it’s being prepared. I always have a back up plan just in case. Sometime I have turned up to an event as a mingling close up artist and the agent has sold me in as a Cabaret act! (Yep, for some reason I felt I needed to pack more than a pack of cards…the hunch paid off!)
Agian, one of the most memorable times I can remember having adapt was when we (3 magicians) were booked at a “Scouse” University Graduation Ball. We all packed our pockets with bombproof drunk student tricks into our No 2 suits. Ready to start we chatted to the client who on only then pointed out the VIPs on each table, starting with the Liverpool Chief of Police working up to the Honorary Graduate…Cherie Booth!! (at the time the Prime Ministers wife!) At this point the professional magicians sauntered off to the dressing room, swapped No2 suit for No1 “pristine suit” and filled our pockets with a few different routines.
- No two guests are the same, you have to be able to improvise. Being able to stereotype your audience does help, you get to know the things the grooms men will be impressed by and the difference between them and your older Auntie and her friends. To have a good variation of routines means you can have lots of fun and hit the mark every time. Also having the ability to come off script and listen to the audience gives the magic rapport and adds a whole load more fun!
- Having the tools to spot whats happening elsewhere, when to step up and when to step back. Much of what I do is often done subconsciously. I can do many of my tricks or routines without thinking about whats happening next. This gives me a chance to think about what else is happening. It allows me to listen to the audience, see who is involved or if I need to adapt to suit them and often if they say something funny I can hear that, respond and include it, making them feel valued not ignored because I can’t go “off script”.
Also I can be aware of practical things like what stage dinner service is at, where the photographer is looking, is there someone about to start a speech etc. Being able to entertain and work around this is probably the most important tool in the box!
At the end of the day this is what you want from your professional. You wont notice how they do it but you do want your guests to telling you how much fun they had and then how amazing the magic is. This is when they will say “Thank you!” to YOU because you thought about how to entertain them and make them feel important. Most of all your party is a massive success they will remember for a long time to come.
Yesterday I was at The Midlands Wedding Show. This is a great show organised by Just Exhibitions www.midlandweddingshow.com There were over 250 brides and couples through the doors and it was great to be able to chat to so many of them.
To generalise most of the conversations fall into the categories of either, “No we haven’t thought about our entertainment yet..” or “How does having a magician work at a wedding..” with a few “Yes we have already booked someone” or “We love the idea, we are just looking for the right magician”. However one conversation stood out for me yesterday along the lines “ We really like to have a magician because we know it works so well. However, a relative recently had a magician and they were awful, the tricks were ok but it just was a little bit flat and not very good. So we want to make sure that we have the right person.”
We had a really nice chat about not just what I do but also about entertainment for events and weddings generally. It was great to be able to chat about what for me is the most important part of supplying not just entertainment but a complete service, also what make the difference between get what you pay for and not getting what you don’t pay for.
I hear so often about the soaring costs of weddings, and often this is because people know how important it is to get the basics right or when you are able to see the benefits of a higher priced item such as table decoration or flowers etc. But with entertainment it’s easy to think that a band is any band singing the same songs or a magician is just a guy doing tricks.
I believe the quality in the product goes far beyond the tricks. Although saying this a good percentage of the tricks that I perform variations of have been used on the “… Got Talent” shows across the world to secure places in the series finals. So thats a fairy good start! Ultimately It’s the bottom line basics that make that extra difference and you should make sure you look out for when booking.
A good booking system including plenty of wedding information to make sure not faux pas are made on the day plus good communication leading up to your day.
Arriving in plenty of time to be ready to start on time. In my experience things can also start early as often as running over!!
A smart appearance, some magicians may try and stand out from a regular wedding guest but I believe smart, tie and suit is always the best option, particularly at a wedding. After a short while if people are laughing and enjoying what it happening you soon get noticed as the entertainer.
Of course Public Liability and membership of trade bodies go without saying…but i just did!
Most importantly performing magic should always be entertaining and not about just bemusing an audience or talking through whats happening. It should be engaging, fun to watch and be part of what is happening.
That not only about the personality and charisma of the performer but also experience, likability and sense of humour.
So if you are looking for entertainment make sure you are not just thinking about the trick or songs being played being a professional with experience goes far beyond that and it what will ultimately make you wedding Amazing!