THE “AMAZING” BLOG
Are you looking for some new ideas for your wedding entertainment!
Keeping your wedding guests entertained is so important. It shouldn’t just be limited to the evening entertainment, the Wedding DJ or a regular wedding cover band. I see so many different entertainment ideas at many other events, although for weddings they often don’t get included or thought about. Sometimes this is because couples don’t have the experience in planning weddings or copy ideas straight off the pinterest posts. Alternatively they simply don’t have the knowledge of what fun wedding entertainment is available.
I cover here a few suggestions for your wedding to make it really memorable and fun. Things that I have seen at many other successful events and used by leading event planners and wedding planners. Including Themed entertainment such as Circus themes, medieval theme, Vegas, Hollywood themes. Festival themed weddings are also getting increasingly popular. Then there are mingling acts such as magicians, jugglers stilt-walkers, Cartoonists Caricaturist, Silhouette artists, balloon artists and Lookalikes.
When it comes to musical acts then think outside the box. There are unique ideas like tribute bands or street bands and singing waiters or comedy waiters. Finally my favourite is a Silent Disco for weddings. Awesome!
Please drop in and subscribe to my you tube channel. Tips and Advice for wedding couples advice learnt from over 20years of experience in the events industry as an entertainer. New videos every week. If there is a topic you would like me to discuss then let me know.
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The Latest Video is up! Check it out!!
Just a quick posting to say! Check out the latest video and please subscribe Please share to help the channel grow and in doing so help it become visible to more and more lovely wedding couples!!
Thank you!! xx
An announcement…helping you with your wedding planning!
Things are slowly picking up, a few enquiries are arriving to the inbox. Although I haven’t been sitting around doing nothing during lock down. I have still been thinking about how I can add something to future events, particulars weddings. If I cannot do this currently as a performer, I can still share my knowledge to those who are planning their weddings.
Planning a wedding isn’t actually that hard if you have the experience from being at 1000s of previous events. Unfortunately many couples don’t have this experience to hand. So the big announcement is that from this week I will be sharing my tips and advice to help couples with their wedding planning. Absolutely for free! So just click on the link to my first video and I will tell you more about what is coming up.
I want to share my 20+ years experience of working in the event industry to couples planning their weddings or even just private parties. I will be releasing a new video roughly every week with loads of tips and secrets to help with your wedding planning. Tips of the Wedding industry from a suppliers point of view.
Click here to let me introduce you to my Youtube Channel
Ideas that will help you with your planning and keeping your day running smoothly. Secrets on how to get the most from your suppliers and even save you money!!
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Thank you!
Despite the lockdown…I am still keeping busy… and please vote for me!!
Despite lock down I am still keeping busy! Taking booking and helping couples rearrange their bookings if they have been unable to make this years date.
It’s also been nice to have some time to create new ideas, hopefully I will be able to share these very soon!
In the mean time if you like to help me… I have been selected to be a finalist for the 2020 Events Entertainments Awards! Please will you vote for me!!! It taks a few seconds just to click on the link below and scroll down to the “Best Entertainer” Section!! www.bookentertainment.co.uk/awards/2020-west-midlands-finalists
Thank you.
Also while we are talking awards, I have also been nominated for the 2021 National Wedding Awards. I was a finalist in 2018 and hopefully I will be able to get even further in the process ad get to the National finals!
Keep Safe!!
How to deal with your Covid-19 postponed wedding!
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
How to Spot a good Wedding Supplier…from a suppliers point of view.
Its still wedding fayre season! There are of course several aspects to wedding fayres. Firstly being there to meet Bride and Grooms 2B and listening to their stories. There are so many different plans and ideas which is what keeps the wedding industry so interesting.
The other side of the wedding fayre from the point of view of the supplier is getting to meet other suppliers. (which sometimes mean tasting cakes and ice cream!) What looks like a room of different suppliers to a bride, in reality is sometimes a bunch of hard working small business owners having having a day out of the office at their own networking event. (i.e. having a laugh together away from the family and calling it work!) In fact I can recall, one quieter fayre, it was like a bunch of school kids misbehaving and having a laugh, then as soon as a bride entered the room it was like teacher had arrived and we all went back to our best behaviour. I remember leaving that day with my jaw aching having laughed so much. I wont tell you which suppliers were there tho!!
I digress, as usual! This weekend was again a smaller venue with less brides but these fayres are often the ones which have the better quality of suppliers as they are hand picked by the venue. So Tip #1 for today. Don’t ignore the smaller wedding fayres, because quite often they will contain gold!
So what makes a good supplier and how do you spot them. I think before anything you have to remember most suppliers are small businesses so tick box #1 has to be The Person behind the product. I am going to mention a few suppliers just for example (this is not a paid advert!! 🙂 ) I taste a lot of cake and so being just across the room from Victoria Brook from Victoria’s Sponge Henley www.facebook.com/pg/victoriasspongehenley She was always smiling always chatting but also open and to me that suggests that is a business I would buy from. If they are interested in not just their product but also getting to know others and being fun and friendly then you know they will go out their way for you the client.
Secondly is the product. So for me I try a lot of cup cakes and samples, i’m not really a big cake fan. So of course out of politeness I tried a cup cake sample. Expecting the usually sweet butter icing and a bit of sponge. Not here! Wow immediately the difference in product hit home! (In fact I almost swore!) Victorias sponges totally took me surprise, actually taste, not over sweet and not dry but actually really Awsome! Find out her next fayre and try for your self.
So the day is good, cake and coffee flowing and a great backing track (kind of pop swing type music? Stuff that you love to listen to but not cheesy, dunno what that genre is 🙂 !)
Its filling the quietness of a room perfectly…then suddenly this guy walk past singing into a radio mic. My tiny brain puts the pieces together. It’s not a prerecorded track it’s actually live. Like Wot!
www.leeosbourne.com or if you prefer www.facebook.com/leeosbornesings or @leeosbornesings
Let’s break this down….When you are at a wedding fayre as a supplier the worst thing you can often have is a musician or DJ in the room. They have the ability, if they want, to make sure you know they are there, they ignore the fact others want to talk, they just fill the room. It’s not often their fault, it’s just a REALLY hard thing to get right. Show off their product but without over imposing. It’s kind of like if I did a trick in the room that makes everyone shout and applaud loudly and using my experience I CAN do that! It’s easy if you know how, although it also kills the room and everyone stops for a short time. Gets me noticed and causes a moment however its not my job and its often its not the right thing to do!!
So just this fact shows me Lee knew his stuff, how to play to the room perfectly.
So I got to chat to Lee later on when he wasn’t singing, turns out he fills rule #1. He’s a great guy, great fun to chat with. I can also tell he has a lot of experience straight away. (He told me he had been singing for over 20 year!) but apart from that, he knew his product, ie himself. He knew what worked for him and what he can use best to do his job well. Right down to which was his best side when it came to instagram photos!! 🙂 Seriously though if you just try and do the latest Micheal Buble track because it works for them but you are of course not Mr Bubbles then it wont work!! Experience and learning to be yourself only teaches you that.
Then there are the extra bits that only a supplier notices! Appearance, yes Lee looked immaculate and again perfect for his style but there is a reason for this. It’s not just attention to detail but it’s about caring about that image. So I noticed Lee didn’t just grab a sandwich at the bar, he took his time to step away from his stand, take off his jacket and then take a break. You don’t want to see a supplier scoffing next to the stand but also when that tomato does slip out of the butty its not down the front of the suit!! That’s not a metaphor btw!
Also, I noticed while setting up his stand and equipment (which was GOOD equipment, not just cheap stuff) before and after he found a side room in the venue to change out or into his suit. To a non supplier this will totally go unnoticed but I believe its important point that many over look! Sadly I do know many performers that will travel and set up in their performance suits. If you want to look good you and appropriate for your client then you shouldn’t be sitting in a car travelling for maybe a couple of hours and then setting up in what you are going to then perform in. It just doesn’t make sense. Golden rule. (Even though many at weddings venues a change room isn’t always available but it’s easy enough to change into a fresh shirt and jacket, even just by the car).
So there it is, just a little insight of my thinking what might make a good supplier from a suppliers point of view and also the things I try to think about when it comes to what I do and that why I notice when others take on those values. In this case Lee Osborne gave a perfect example for me to say here is a guy that is getting it right…in my opinion of course! I know just from seeing Lee in action I’m am sure he has loads more performer “habits” (speaking from my own experience) that make what he does unique but also a reliable quality product.
Lee has a great product. Have a look at his videos and website. www.leeosbourne.com
He is a great guys and friendly in addition to this had the experience to deliver (and most likely deal with the unexpected).
He has has the awareness to that attention to detail that makes a professional truly look and be “professional”.
If you want to book Lee of course just get in touch and give him a call!!
Thank you, Lee for giving me a the material for another rambling blog!!
Welcombe 2020…It’s wedding Fayre Season!!
Welcombe to 2020! No its not a spelling mistake! (See below!) Just as things quieten down following the business of December and Christmas it is time to start to get organised as the wedding fayre season kicks in!
Its been busy right from the start of the new decade. First starting with a wedding fayre on first weekend of the year and a fayre every weekend since.
My routine is something like this…Maybe a busy Saturday or a gig on Saturday evening. Then a wedding fayre on Sunday. Monday look through and recall everyone I have chatted to on the day before. Send out some details and quotes if they have asked. A trip to the Magic Circle club night on that evening. Tuesday and Wednesday follow up ay other quotes, a bit or prop building and the usual distractions. Then from Thursday and Friday its thinking again about the next wedding fayre.
So when i think about January I usually think about chilling, recovering and getting things back in order! The reality is, the more time I have the more time I have to think about new ideas and getting creative. So I just get busier!!
This weekend will be a very nice wedding Fayre at the Welcombe Hotel in Stratford. on Avon I love this venue and already with just 6 weeks into the new year it is my second visit. The first was for a lovely corporate event in the second week of January!! So it truly has so far been a Welcombe 2020! Maybe see you there!!
As for creative ideas, the next update will be a hand idea for helping to plan your event!! See you soon or at the Welcombe!!!
A funny thing happened to the experienced entertainer!
A memorable part of the evening was also when the host decided to introduce me to the whole room! Something as a close up magician that rarely happens, in fact NEVER. So I am being introduced with pockets full of close up magic, reception drinks type magic and I can see where this was going, the guy was going to introduce me and then expect me to do a big visual trick for the whole room! My brain was in Prof Steve Peters “Chimp” mode, i.e. PANIC this guys about to stop talking and all i got on me is a few elastic bands, string and cards…help!
So the he stops talking and with a big flourish “And I give you Brett the Magician!”
It was at this point two things happen! The whole room applauds and stares at me! The next thing…the Chimp shuts up and I go straight into Entertainer mode! I do a polite and quick introduction then go straight into a prediction routine that sits in my back pocket as a classic “goto in any situation” routine. It goes flawlessly and even though it was an awkward room layout and I had my back unavoidably to some of the audience they loved it!
So what the heck just happened! In all truths experience happened! That moment of panic and thinking things through literally just disappeared as I went into a routine without even thinking about what to do. It really happened like that, I just went into entertainer mode and did it!
I know it so easy to say experience is what you pay for and thats the difference between a working professional and a guy that does gigs at the weekend. However, this is the first time that I had actually experienced it for myself in such a natural but quite bizarre way. The reality was that I was actually still thinking what am I going to do here when my subconscious brain is already performing the routine! Weird or what!
It great to have challenges and new experiences but so rewarding when stuff happens that the audience really doesn’t see! It really is amazing!!
Why the Dog?
Another gig over and I am sitting in the car trying to update my social media, as every good business should when something amazing happens. As always I heard got loads of verbal feed back, “wow you ARE Amazing!” “That is just incredible!”, “You are simply incredible!”, “Shut the Front door!” (it wasn’t even cold?..huh! All this feedback and I have NOTHING to show for it on social media!
A lovely Cotswolds venue, a group of 32 very fun American family and friends (thats as much as I can share!). And also very vocal, but genuine in their responses and reactions. I was lucky enough to have a “crew/green” room right next door to the dining room. I spent a lot of time enjoying hearing what they “thought” I had done as they chatted all night about it. After all that is my job to create converstartions!
The party flies over from the US and has done so every year for the past 35 years. The host was actually telling me that they can’t travel all together because some go off elsewhere after the week but also his jet only seats 13 people. I though “that must be annoying!!”
Memorable moment;…I had a lovely volunteer who signed my £10 called “Butch”! A great American name and so much comedy material “ohh you are Butch” etc etc. An english audience would find this weirdly amusing but here just wouldn’t work! So I didn’t and my brain just didn’t those jokes privately to myself! (its also not my style of comedy perfomance!)
So at this point what I am missing, as I try and post to social media, is photos, videos hashtags or even a link to the venue!!
Firstly, for me pulling out a phone and getting a video or a photo while I am performing or even getting someone to video never feels right or comfortable. Getting venue staff to hold a camera, it just doesn’t sit right with me. My feeling is, it’s my job to entertain without being over imposing. I know many people just accept cameras these days but there are many that still feel uncomfortable with this. So for me it’s often a no go, keep it safe option. My job is to entertain and not to start trying to focus on self promotion, its annoying at this point but thats the gig!
In addition to this, once again I am in the, not so rare, situation (for me at least) where the client has asked for photos or social media not to be shared of them or the event, mostly for security reasons etc. In this case as they are staying for the week I cannot even share the location! Doh! So once again I am struggling for a social media posting. Once again It a picture of my Dog that will make the front page instead!!😂😂
On the plus side I get to make a blog post out of the experience and appreciate and be grateful that I am working at these types of gigs! May there be many more to come!
If you are not famous but want to experience what they do…I guess you will just have to book me!!
Adding that extra to make the difference!
Wow a busy August, Holidays are over and September is manic! I am super excited with loads of new ideas coming to fruition as a consequence of being busy but also having time off to get thinking ideas.
Just one of these is a special gift or trick that I can perform for a Bride and Groom! Before I reveal (or don’t reveal this) let’s go back a bit. I have always found that many weddings it is incredibly hard to spend enough time with a bride and groom to involve them in the fun. Usually they are being pulled in so many directions either socialising or having photos taken or even getting stuck in a dress in the loo!
So finding the perfect time to chat to a couple can be difficult. Until recently, the solution, like much of what I do evolved! I was working again at a venue who recommends me they know what I do and I know how they work, their format really quite well. Over a series of weddings we worked out a perfect way of finding time for me to meet the couple but also at a time which helped the venue with the running order. Just as everyone is called in to dinner the venue wedding manager wants to keep the bride and groom ready, but not waiting around bored on their own and also not wandering off. They have to get all the other guests herded into dinner and then get service ready etc. Essentially be in 3 places at once, its a manic time 5 minutes for them!!
So we worked out a clever plan that if we get things right I can get to meet the bride and groom, entertain them while the venue manager sorts out everything else. The last thing a Bride and Groom want is to be stuck in a corner on their own and told to wait while their friends are getting on with the party. Everybody is happy, and the bride and groom don’t even notice our cunning plan! Nowadays what ever venue I am working I always try and suggest this plan to the venue manager and they always love it!
So now my problem, I needed something to totally wow the bride and groom, it has to be fun and not awkward for just 2 people. Also quick and fun and tie in with other tricks but unique for them. I like the idea of souvenirs but didn’t want the here’s just a card with your name on it type item to “give away”.
Again like much of what I do something evolved over time. Its similar to what the rest of what the guests might see, so the Bride and Groom can re-share the idea, however its like a gold plated version. It also has a big WOW factor and is great fun. Its also not a tacky give away but encapsulates the moment and wedding vibe!
Now my OCD kicks in! This has to be just right, I want it to be unique for each couple and personalised. Ignoring the hours of research and sourcing items, I am currently finding each time I prep this trick its taking me probably about 45mins… if not more! Although it will get quicker!
However…This is the thing…I love doing it and I love the time it takes and the opportunity to get something perfect for someone else! I love the idea that a Bride and Groom will choose me to be part of their wedding day. I feel that I owe them what every I can to make it special for them. To just chuck a box of cards in a case and turn up and just do tricks really isn’t my thing. I want to add something extra and put that silver lining to what I do. If this means taking extra time to prep things then thats totally cool with me! Not just for the Bride and Groom opportunity but for all their friends who will constantly feed back about how much fun things are. It’s taking that extra time to make sure things are perfect and add the finishing touch that people notice, talk about and rebook me time after time! As I said…I’m cool with that!
So at your wedding If you want to find out what’s in the box…get in touch!
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