Latest / Wedding Pros who are ready to grow - with Becca Pountney / Behind the scenes of the Wedding Industry Awards with Damian Bailey

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Behind the scenes of the Wedding Industry Awards with Damian Bailey · Wedding Pros who are ready to grow - with Becca Pountney

0:00
Damian: And that is just incredibly gratifying, because
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that's not about winning, that is about developing yourself.
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learning that it's not easy to run your own business and you have to look yourself
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in the mirror and be honest and say, how do I, you know, I need to improve.
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I'm going to do that.
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How?
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And TWIA can really help with that, that mentality, but also giving you the,
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the, the tools almost to do it through voter feedback and things like that.
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Becca: I'm Becca Pountney, wedding business,marketing
0:26
expert, speaker, and blogger.
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And you're listening to the wedding pros who are ready to grow podcast.
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I'm here to share with you actionable tips, strategies, and real life
0:35
examples to help you take your wedding business to the next level.
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If you are an ambitious wedding business owner that wants to take your passion
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and use it to build a profitable, sustainable business, doing what you
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love, then you're in the right place.
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Let's get going with today's episode.
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Today, I'm chatting with Damien Bailey.
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He's a wedding photographer and the founder of the Wedding
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Industry Awards here in the UK.
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Now in its 13th year, the annual awards celebrate excellence in the wedding
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industry, both regionally and nationally.
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Today, I'm going to peel back the curtain and hear more from Damien about how these
1:07
awards are run and whether your business could benefit from being part of it.
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Damien, welcome to the podcast.
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Damian: Thanks, Becca.
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How are you?
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Becca: I'm very well.
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I'm really excited to have this conversation.
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I talk about awards with my clients quite a lot over my podcast, and
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I'm very excited to have a little bit of a behind the scenes look
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at what goes on in your awards.
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And we will get to that in a moment.
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But before we get there, I want to start by finding out a bit more about
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you, the person behind the awards.
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So tell me, how did you end up in this wonderful world
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that is the wedding industry?
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Damian: Ah, well, like most people, I'd never dreamt of being in this industry.
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I stumbled upon it.
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I got given a camera in just after we got married in the year 2000
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and I quit my job, which I had briefly and went full time in 2003.
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So it was a pretty short run up.
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So I've been a photographer for just over 20 years.
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I'll shoot my thousandth wedding next summer.
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I've worked that out.
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So I've been around the block and I realized When you find yourself
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in this industry, you sort of look around and go, this is fantastic.
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I get to go do my hobby for a living.
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I go to some amazing parties in beautiful places with people who are
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all dressed up and ready to party.
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Don't tell everyone, because everyone will want to do it.
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So, I've, I've I feel like I have not worked a day as I've been a photographer.
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So yeah, I love it.
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And through my experience of wedding photography, actually I entered
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an award similar to Twitter back in 2007, which I won wedding photographer
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of the year and business took off.
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I think I understood how to use it.
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I doubled my prices and I doubled my bookings in that following year.
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And I've never looked back really.
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Those awards disappeared.
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And I said to Anna, my wife, who both of us are from an
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event management background.
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I said, look, that was amazing for me, but our industry doesn't have a proper awards.
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We should do one.
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How hard can it be?
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Famous last words.
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And here we are 13 years later.
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Becca: Incredible.
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And you're still shooting weddings today.
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You haven't given up the wedding photography just to focus on the awards.
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You're still going with that as well.
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Damian: Yeah, very much so.
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I, I shoot, I shoot far fewer than I used to.
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I at my peak, I was probably 80 or 90 weddings a year.
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And now I'm 30, 25, 30, which is, which is plenty for me.
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I feel, first of all, I really enjoy it, all aspects of it.
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It's also really important for me to be a wedding supplier,
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just like everybody else.
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I think that gives the awards more credibility.
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And also, I can see what's going on in the industry when I'm at a wedding.
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I see every aspect of the wedding, from hair and makeup at the
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beginning of the day, right through to bands and DJs at the end.
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My job, I am paid to look at stuff that's going on at weddings.
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So, I think it's really important for me to do that, and until someone
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doesn't want me to shoot their wedding anymore, I'll keep doing it.
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Becca: And a thousand weddings, that is a massive achievement.
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Are you going to do something to celebrate?
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Are you going to celebrate with the couple?
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Will they know that they're your thousandth couple?
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Damian: Well, I've worked out currently on my diary what that thousandth
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wedding is, but of course, if something gets booked up in the meantime,
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then they'll get pushed away one.
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So I'm, the thing is for them, and this is the same for every single wedding
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that I've shot, you do one wedding.
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a thousand times.
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So for that couple, it is their one day.
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They do not care that I've done a thousand weddings.
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In fact, for some, I think it might put them off.
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Oh God, he must be really old if he's done a thousand weddings.
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So I'll quietly raise a glass this end.
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Will I get to 2000?
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I doubt it.
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It's taken me 20 years to get to a thousand, but it's a nice milestone.
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And not many will get there these days because of the proliferation of wedding
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photographers all over the country.
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It's hard to do the volume of weddings that I used to do that got me that volume.
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So yeah, I'm pretty, pretty pleased with it, but I'm glad I'm
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not doing 80 or 90 a year now.
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That would be a bridge too far for me.
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Becca: Yeah, especially with the awards going as well.
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Now you said that you won your own award back in the day.
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Just tell me a bit about that experience, having been a photographer, having
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been up for an award and won an award.
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Looking back, what was that experience like for you?
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Damian: That's a really good question.
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It's the driving force.
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Behind what we do with Twear, actually.
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I entered the awards because I understood that it was an opportunity for me to raise
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my profile as a relatively young business.
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It's common sense to me.
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And I think it is to others, but not to everybody.
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And I understand that reputable, rigorous, Badging, which is effectively
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what an awards is, can help you differentiate in a competitive market.
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And it definitely helped me.
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I enjoyed the process.
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I enjoyed re engaging with my couples because I had to get them to vote
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for me, just like we do on Twitter.
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And hearing that feed, seeing that feedback at the end of the awards,
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which we also do with Twitter was.
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wonderful because it's very different to getting a thank you card.
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They're, they are, they were actively trying to help me win something.
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So they were much more detailed and effusive in, in their comments.
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So that was lovely.
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So when I was made a finalist and we went to the event, I remember it
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so clearly, it's given me goosebumps actually, just thinking about it.
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I went, Anna and I went and that feeling of standing there waiting
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to hear if my name would be read out was Both exciting and nerve wracking.
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And back in, but remember this is pre social media pretty much.
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So there's no, none of that to worry about.
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It was just, God that makes me, that does date me to be fair.
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But It was a wonderful feeling to hear your name read out as the
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winner just went absolutely mental.
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It was, it was so, it was so fantastic.
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It felt like such a great pat on the back and a real boost towards where I
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wanted to try and take the business.
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Now, it's not going to get me there on its own.
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You have to use that and you have to use and market your success
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in something like that, which I think I understood and which I did.
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And as I say, never look back, but that feeling Both the enjoyment of
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going through the process of looking at my business, because I had to
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answer a series of questions, be introspective, which so is hard to
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do when you run your own business.
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That whole process right through to standing in that room and hearing
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my name read out was wonderful, not to mention the, the benefit
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it had to my business afterwards.
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So yeah that that sits, when I'm at our events and I'm standing on stage,
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I want people to feel that excitement and that joy at our events too.
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And I think they do.
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They're fairly raucous affairs and part of that is the, is the joy.
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Becca: Yeah.
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And I've seen some of the clips online on Instagram of people
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winning their awards and there is definitely that feeling in the room
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from what I can see from the outside.
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And I think, you know, one of the joys about having a podcast, one of the things
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I love about having people like yourself on this podcast, on this platform, it's
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actually finding out a little bit about.
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The person behind a business because people can look at the wedding industry
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awards or Twitter as you call them and think it's this big corporation.
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It's a big business trying to run this thing or trying to take
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money from wedding suppliers.
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But actually a lot of people probably don't know that it's you behind it.
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Someone in the wedding industry themselves and that you are a man running a
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business who loves the wedding industry and love the fact that he won an award
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and therefore started his own award.
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And I think Yeah.
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That's commendable.
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It's not an easy job to do what you've done and you're in your 13th year.
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How have things evolved since that first one that you did
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right up until present day?
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Damian: Oh, wow.
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Where do I start?
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In so many ways.
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I think the first thing that always springs to mind is when we
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first started, it was very key.
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We, we understood we, we wanted to do regional and national awards,
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so two levels because the industry operates on original basis.
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I don't, I go all over the country, but if you make a cake or.
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Lovely flowers for weddings, you're going to operate in a fairly local region.
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So it also enables us to recognize so many more talented businesses.
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So regional and national, that then led to, to begin with, we
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didn't have any awards events.
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We'd have a national, but we didn't have regionals.
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So people would find out in the queue of, You know, Sainsbury's, you know, obviously
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other supermarkets are available, but people would find that in the queue
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somewhere that they won an award.
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And it sort of struck us that that wasn't good enough, that we weren't,
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that we could have regional events too.
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So I, Anna who runs our events said, you know, she was merrily just doing
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one event a year and I said, we're gonna do nine events next year.
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We're gonna have eight regional events and won national.
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And she went, yeah, great.
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And then, and wanted to throttle me I think when the, when the time came.
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But that is.
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That is the biggest change.
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Those regional events sit at the very heart of what we do.
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There are, it's full on, we do eight events in three weeks.
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In fact, this year, it's going to be more like 10 or 11 events
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because we've got some new regions, which we may come to later.
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Getting out there and being able to look people in the eye and put
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a face to a name and to say hello.
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People's faces when they say, Oh, it's your Damien.
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Yeah, well, I'm there on the door saying hi to everyone,
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checking them off the list.
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And then I'm on the stage doing the presentation and then
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I'm available afterwards to answer questions and whatever.
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I think people.
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want to see that and they like to see that.
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We love that whole process and the community that we've
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created purely by chance.
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That was never something that was on our list of things to do.
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People enter the awards to try to become a finalist so they can come to our events.
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So that they can be in that community.
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It is incredibly supportive.
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I'm a big fan of community over competition and you see it in that room.
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Never.
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When you go to a business event, which is effectively what it is,
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where there is more joy and support.
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And I know that people, you know, the industry runs on networks
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on recommended recommendations.
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If you can be in that room and make those connections with people, I
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don't like the networking word.
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It's a bit of a dirty word these days, but if you can make.
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those connections, connect with people within your
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category, outside your category.
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It, it's only going to be good for business.
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And the people that do best out of our awards are the people who do that best
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who, who who connect rather than compete.
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So that's the first thing.
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If I'm not waffling on too much, the judging panels, the other thing, when
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we first started, we had a judging panel of about 12 and we judged.
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We all got together in a room and we judged every category
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for the national awards.
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It was really difficult because obviously we didn't have expertise across all
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the categories and, and it struck me that that is not how you do it.
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Now that's how most other so called awards do it, but it's not right.
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So we set about having a, creating a panel of specific experts for each category.
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It's 27 categories.
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We have 140 plus judges on the panel now constantly evolving, although I'm proud to
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say that we have a very low dropout rate.
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So the judges get a lot out of it, I think.
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So having that expertise on the panel on specific for specific categories is key.
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If you're a hairstylist, you need to have recognized, reputable, experienced
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hairstylist on the judging panel because they'll understand you and
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they'll understand your business.
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So those two things are the main way it's changed, but otherwise client
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voting, expert judging, great awards events, offering value at every
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stage of the competition from entry right through to national winner.
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That's always been at the heart of what we do trying to help
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couples make, find the right.
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the best supplies for their weddings is the end game and recognizing all those,
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those brilliant businesses out there.
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Becca: Fantastic.
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And that is huge for you guys to organize, having all of those different
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judges, all of those different events.
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But I do see huge value, especially in having the regional events, because I see
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my clients going off to their regional events and, you know, you're right.
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We are regionally based and people want to make friends and find people in
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their local area that work at the same venues and work with the same couples.
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And I think that's a great place that they can go and do that.
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Now I want to dive a little bit deeper and go a little bit
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into the process of awards.
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Now, anyone that listens to my podcast or has worked with me, heard me on
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stage, knows that sometimes I can be a little bit skeptical about some awards,
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because as you will know yourself, Not all awards are created equal.
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So therefore awards can get a bad reputation because you have really
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great awards with really reputable things, but then you have other awards
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where we always have a joke in my membership community sometimes where
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someone will get an email and they're a wedding photographer and it says,
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congratulations, you've been shortlisted for wedding hairdresser of the year.
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You know, you've, you've seen it all before.
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And we laugh when we joke about it.
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But not all awards are created equal.
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I know that.
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I've been on judging panels myself.
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I am on judging panels for awards, and I see the hard work
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that goes on behind the scenes.
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So for the process of transparency on this podcast, I want to
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go through your rewards.
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Let's talk about it in detail so that people are totally clear about how
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it works, how it operates, and we can talk about the benefits and how
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people can use it to their advantage.
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So let's start with Right at the beginning, entry.
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So if someone's thinking about entering an award, or entering
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your award specifically, now is the time to be doing it because
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entry is open for the next award.
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What does that actually look like in terms of saying, yeah,
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I want to enter this award?
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What do they have to do?
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Damian: Okay, good question.
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And also, you're right about all those other awards, so maybe
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we'll come to that later, because they're, they are not created equal.
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To enter the awards, you go onto our website and you click on the enter button.
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There's a three step process.
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The first one is you create an account, give us your name, email
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address, pretty straightforward.
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And the second page takes you to what can be the elephant in
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the room, to the payment page.
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There is an entry fee for entering the Wedding Industry Awards.
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It still amazes me a little bit that People think it should be free.
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People say, Oh, you're paying for an award.
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No, you're not.
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You're paying to enter a rigorous competition.
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That is a full time job, pretty much for two people and a
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part time job for four others.
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So in like any business, we are offering a product and a service
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that is valuable and has value.
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So there's an entry fee.
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Let's just leave it there for now.
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You pay the entry fee, you then go on to choose your category and complete a
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little bit more of your profile, click on complete, you're entered the awards.
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You'll get a confirmation email as such, and away you go.
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You'll then go into an email stream, automated email stream, that will
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feed you once a week, an email with a useful piece, thing, something to
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think about to do with your entry.
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So, here's what you need to do now, here's how to create your directory listing,
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which we give you for free, and and the directory's only for businesses that have
15:07
entered or been a finalist or won TWIA.
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It's a very attractive prospect to a bride or groom.
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There's all sorts of other things.
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You need to upload photographs, upload videos if you like, answer some
15:17
category specific questions about your business as well, all of which you
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can dip in and out of before voting closes on the 30th of September.
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The, and all the time you can see you have a you can be getting your votes in.
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Client voted, only your wedding couples who got married between the 2nd of October
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2023 and the 30th of September 2024 can vote for you in the current awards.
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One vote per couple and only after their wedding.
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There's a couple of exceptions to that, like stationary, which is all
15:50
provided before the wedding, but generally we think you should have to
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be at your wedding and have your hair and makeup done on the wedding day, or
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have the photographs taken and see the photographs afterwards in order for
16:01
someone to vote for you effectively.
16:03
So there's a link.
16:04
Which each entrance given specific to them, they send
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that web link to their voters.
16:09
They vote for them.
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Voting is not just a I vote for X, Y, Z.
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It's a little bit more in depth than that funnily enough.
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We ask each voter to vote to score their wedding supplier out of 10 in seven
16:24
different category specific criteria.
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They then leave a comment.
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general comment that the judges will see, and then they leave what we call
16:32
a constructive criticism comment, if they want to, that the judges don't see.
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What we want is to try to get some pointers for businesses that can help
16:41
them improve and grow and develop, and the clients are the best people to give that.
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Now, clients don't like to often give that because it seems
16:48
like they're being critical.
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They love their wedding supplies in general and they vote very strongly
16:52
and they leave lovely comments.
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But we really do try to push those constructive criticism comments because
16:58
we know how helpful they can be.
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I know several businesses who said to me that, that, They have made
17:07
my definitive changes to their business because of the feedback
17:10
they've got from voters and Twitter.
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And we give, sorry, I should have mentioned we give all that voter feedback
17:16
to the entrant at the end of the awards.
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So you're not just paying for an award.
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You're not doing that at all.
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You're paying to enter a competition that has recognized has value and
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we're giving you stuff that you wouldn't normally get as well.
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So that's the, that's the entry process and that.
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You can dip in and out of that.
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See, once you've entered, you can dip in and out of answering the questions,
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uploading photos, videos, etc.
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Right up until voting closes.
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When voting closes on the 30th of September at 5pm, that's
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when the judging process starts.
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So it doesn't really matter when you enter.
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That's another thing.
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Oh, what's the, there's no point entering.
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Oh, I'm too late.
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You know, I'll never win.
17:55
Well, we, there's a, several people, several regional winners,
18:00
last year, entered in the final week, one entered on the final day.
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And she said to me, I never thought I'd get anywhere because
18:07
I had to do the final day.
18:08
And here I am.
18:09
So, you know, I would say, well, we've worked it out about 30 percent of entries
18:15
come in the final two weeks, and about 40 percent of the 25, 000 votes will
18:19
receive come in the final two weeks.
18:21
So it's human nature to respond to a deadline.
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Becca: Okay, I've got some questions already before we go on to the next part.
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Damian: Go ahead.
18:28
I thought I better stop because I felt I was waffling there.
18:30
So go ahead.
18:31
Becca: You weren't waffling.
18:31
I just want to get my questions in before we go to the next stage
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because I know that people already will be listening to this and
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thinking, Becca, ask this question.
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So here we go.
18:40
First up.
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Does it matter how many votes you get?
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So is it quality or is it quantity?
18:48
So if someone's only done three or four weddings this year, is it still worth
18:51
them putting their name in the ring?
18:53
Damian: Excellent question.
18:54
What I should say as well, all of this that I'm telling you is on our website.
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Now, I know that people find it hard to read reams of boring web pages.
19:02
I get that, but it is all on there.
19:03
We are super transparent about how we do this.
19:06
sometimes to our detriment because other so called awards will just go
19:09
and lift bits and use it themselves.
19:10
Anyway, just so you know, go to our website.
19:13
How many number of votes?
19:15
We appreciate that wedding businesses do different number of
19:18
weddings for all sorts of reasons.
19:20
I know some that don't work on their birthday.
19:22
I know some that don't work on their anniversary, some limited to 20 year to
19:26
a year to ensure they are giving their couples optimum service and product.
19:31
So to run a credible awards.
19:33
We have to accommodate that into the process.
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So how we do it is when people enter and they get their clients to vote for them,
19:41
they give, they get that score out of 70, remember out of 10 in seven criteria,
19:46
they get a score out of 70 for each voter.
19:49
We, we then calculate the average, their average voter score.
19:54
So their total score divided by the total number of votes gives them an average.
19:59
And we use that average score during the judging process.
20:04
So, some people will say, Oh, but if you have more voters, you're
20:10
going to have a higher average.
20:11
Well, no, not necessarily.
20:13
It depends on how well they score you.
20:15
So, what that average does, as best we can, is remove the
20:20
need to have lots of votes.
20:23
It is not a most votes wins awards.
20:25
That is pointless.
20:26
Just because someone has more weddings than you, doesn't mean they're better.
20:30
Far from it.
20:31
So we accommodate that.
20:33
So what I would say to people with, who are perhaps new businesses, who've
20:36
got a handful of weddings that they've done within the time voting timeframe,
20:42
think TWIA as you just use it in whatever way you need to, to raise your
20:49
profile and grow bookings and grow.
20:52
So grow inquiries and grow bookings to turn 10 next year.
20:56
It is a really good way to boost and help your marketing.
21:00
It's not gonna do it on its own.
21:01
It, it, it's, people aren't gonna book you just because you've went to an
21:05
awards, but it gives them another reason.
21:08
It's differentiation and I and I, and it is powerful.
21:11
It works.
21:12
So I would think of as a relative newcomer or someone with a small number of votes.
21:17
Do it, go for it and help and use it to help that grow.
21:21
One other thing we do, I should mention, is we, we do take into account
21:25
the proportion of couples that vote.
21:28
So if, as an example, if a photographer has 20 couples 20 voters and 20
21:37
vote, we see that as better than if someone else has 20 and 10 vote.
21:42
So we expect and want to see, or the judges want to see, a good engagement
21:48
with couples that it's indicative of couples being happy with Products
21:54
and service if they're happy to get back in touch and to vote.
21:57
So that proportion is taken into account.
21:59
It's not the be all and end all, but because obviously venues
22:03
will be doing some venues will do 200 plus weddings a year.
22:06
It's unlikely they're going to get 200 votes, but.
22:09
It shows an engagement with the awards process, it shows an engagement with
22:12
couples, so the proportion of those votes is taken into account by the judges.
22:17
But it doesn't matter if you've got five, you need to have at least one,
22:20
and I would probably suggest at least two but, but you then don't expect to
22:25
win, but use Twia to help your business in whatever way you want to help it.
22:31
That's how I would say it.
22:32
Becca: Okay, that brings me on to my next question.
22:34
So one of the pushbacks I get from people sometimes is that they're
22:37
worried about how hard it is going to be to get their couples to vote.
22:41
How easy do you make that process?
22:43
Do their couples have to sign up and register?
22:45
Is it just a link that they can fill in?
22:47
How are you making it easier for couples to vote?
22:50
Damian: Oh, good questions, Becca.
22:51
I'm liking this.
22:52
Okay, so we make it as easy as possible, I think, is the theory I would say.
22:56
We have to make them jump through some hoops because we're asking
23:00
them to score on different criteria and then leave comments.
23:04
We do ask them for their wedding date, their wedding venue, and their contact
23:08
details because, and this is something that not many people realize, we do
23:13
random spot checks in every regional category to check that vote, so.
23:18
Legitimate.
23:19
We get 25,000 votes.
23:21
We can't check every single one, but every year I, through that process, I find a
23:27
handful of people who fabricated votes and remove them from the competition.
23:31
So it, it, we are, we try, we, we do our best to make sure that,
23:36
that, that everything's above board.
23:38
I think most people are decent and work really hard to make
23:41
sure the right people are voting.
23:43
As for getting people to vote it, it can be tricky.
23:46
Wedding couples get married and move on.
23:48
You know, often to big stuff like job promotions and buying a house and having
23:52
children, it, you know, it can be, it can be a little bit of a distant memory.
23:58
We have a blog post that has all sorts of tips about how to get
24:02
your couples to vote for you.
24:03
We don't, we frown upon incentivizing couples to do so.
24:07
It's not really in the spirit of the awards, but if you're.
24:10
nice and polite and, and, and ask them kindly.
24:14
They, they want to vote for you.
24:16
They're just busy.
24:16
And I know everyone's busy, but they're really busy, obviously, because it's them.
24:20
They will vote for you.
24:22
And as that deadline looms, They will get their act together.
24:25
And that's why some people who enter very late in the process find that process
24:29
easier because there's a deadline.
24:31
You need to vote by this time next week.
24:33
And they'll do it.
24:34
Other, other entrants will enter at the very beginning.
24:37
And then after every wedding as part of their, their feedback loop, they'll
24:41
say, please, can you vote for us?
24:42
And they collect their votes as they go through the year.
24:45
So it really is horses for courses, but your couples.
24:48
love you.
24:49
They, well, if they love you and they love what you've done for them, they will
24:51
want to help you win an award because they will bask in your reflected glory.
24:56
They will be able to say to their friends and family.
24:58
Oh yeah.
24:58
Well, of course, our photographer, wedding photographer of the year,
25:01
but we found them before, you know, which makes us really cool and know
25:05
we know what we're talking about.
25:06
So they will vote for you.
25:07
We get more votes, client votes than, than other awards get.
25:12
and where anyone can vote.
25:13
So don't let that put you off.
25:15
You just, just, and it's nice to reconnect with them, to be honest.
25:18
Becca: Yeah.
25:18
And like anything you get out what you put in.
25:20
So the more you ask people to vote, the more chance they are that they'll
25:23
remember, because we've all done that where someone said, can you vote for me?
25:25
And then you go, yep.
25:27
And then you go off and you do something else and you forget, and then they
25:29
send a second message and you go, Oh yeah, I did say I would do that.
25:31
And then you stop.
25:32
So if we just send one email out and say, please vote.
25:35
Chances are we won't get a lot of response, but if we put a bit of thought
25:38
and effort, it sounds like you've got loads of resources to help with that.
25:40
Then we're much more likely to get a result from it.
25:43
Okay, I've got one more thought on this because I think I'm spending a
25:47
lot of time at the beginning because I think this is the process that happens
25:50
with clients is that it actually takes them the longest to decide whether
25:54
or not they want to be part of it.
25:55
Because once they're part of it, they'll go through the rest of
25:57
the process that will happen.
25:58
But they think, right, awards, yeah, I'm going to enter.
26:01
As you said, they get to that payment page, 108 pounds, I think it is
26:04
this year, something like that.
26:05
And then they go, not for me, or, oh, I don't know now.
26:07
And they panic and they can't decide.
26:09
So quite often people come to me and say, Becca, do you think
26:12
I should enter this awards?
26:13
So I just wanted to have a little discussion about what people should
26:16
be thinking about when they get to that payment page or when they get
26:19
to that point in order to decide.
26:22
So whenever someone asks me that question, I always say, right, you need to think
26:25
of it as a marketing and PR opportunity.
26:27
It's an investment.
26:28
So before you decide whether or not to do it, Think of a game plan about
26:33
how you're going to get the most out of that investment, the same way that
26:37
you would if you paid for an advert in a magazine, and do your research.
26:40
Have you got any other tips about what people should be thinking
26:43
about as they make that decision?
26:46
Damian: Becca, great question again.
26:47
So, First, I think the first thing is to just remove the idea that
26:53
you're trying to win an award.
26:54
Just take that away, take that out of the equation to begin with.
26:57
That'd be nice and beautiful cherry on the cake.
26:59
And there's plenty that you can do with that, but let's think
27:01
about all the other stuff.
27:02
Now, some of it we've touched on already.
27:04
So business introspection.
27:07
As business owners, we, it's very hard to find time to spend on the business because
27:11
we're too in the business all the time.
27:14
So through answering the profile questions, that's part of your entry
27:17
submission, you'll have to think quite hard and concisely about you
27:21
and your business and why you do stuff and what, how you do stuff.
27:24
And where'd you see yourself in 12 months time?
27:26
And that, how are you going to get there?
27:28
And that sort of thing.
27:29
I know lots of.
27:30
Lots of suppliers enjoy that process and will do it communally with their team.
27:35
The community aspect that we've talked about is, is so important.
27:39
If you know, it can be isolating and isolated being a wedding supplier.
27:44
And as a photographer, I sit at my desk, editing photos on my own, wondering if
27:48
what I'm doing works to be able to connect with others, and I know you can do it in
27:52
Facebook groups, but it's not the same as doing it face to face in an environment
27:56
with like minded people, because they've also entered the awards and done well.
27:59
They're at the top of their game.
28:01
Then that is a real bonus to content creation.
28:04
Gosh, I mean, that's the special source for social media.
28:11
How do you create content?
28:12
It's easy if you're a photographer, if you make a product, but how do you
28:16
engage with on social media with people?
28:19
Well, taking them through your journey or through an awards
28:21
process is engaging by definition.
28:24
It shows the It projects self confidence.
28:27
It shows that you care passionate about what you do and that you're
28:30
prepared to put your hand up as one of the best in the business,
28:33
which is attractive to audiences.
28:35
They want to share that with you.
28:38
And then people say, Oh, what if I don't win?
28:39
What will that look like?
28:40
I said, would you have to just get in front of that and go, I didn't win.
28:43
It wasn't my year, not my time.
28:44
I'm going to go away.
28:45
I'm going to learn from the people that did win and they
28:47
come back stronger next year.
28:50
Again, positive sort of words there.
28:53
So.
28:54
That content creation, so we'll give you.
28:57
There's an entrant you get, we've entered logos, the finalist logos,
29:00
winners logos, all that stuff.
29:01
And then if you come to our events, there's so much there.
29:04
There's selfies, there's branding everywhere, there's videos of all sorts.
29:08
There's so much content.
29:09
Even on the, what you're, what you're going to wear, the journey to, I mean,
29:13
the national event is, our social media is full of people on the train
29:17
with a bottle of champagne, with a load of other national finalists.
29:20
hammering down to London.
29:22
And, and of course, if you tag us in any of this, we're going to share it
29:26
and your promotion, that's part of your industry profile being raised.
29:30
So none of that is about winning an award because the winning of
29:35
the award, the winning bit is easy.
29:37
That's obvious.
29:38
Or being, even actually being a finalist, cause it's still a heady space.
29:41
Not many people get that far just to put it in perspective.
29:44
Each year around about 1, 200 to 1, 300 businesses enter the awards and about two
29:49
thirds of those become regional finalists.
29:52
It's another myth, everyone thinks that, people think that everyone becomes a
29:55
finalist, that would just be stupid.
29:56
So about two thirds, so you're talking about the tiny percentage
30:01
of the roughly 80, 000 wedding businesses There are in this country.
30:05
That is very good, credible differentiation.
30:08
So yeah, I think those are the main things I would say on that.
30:10
Not many people have, I don't think I've been asked that question, Becky.
30:13
So I was just sort of on the fly there, but there is so much more to
30:17
entering the awards than winning.
30:19
That is how I would sum it up.
30:20
Becca: Yeah, absolutely.
30:21
And yeah, I like to go deep on these episodes, Damien.
30:24
I like to find out, ask the questions that other people are asking.
30:28
So let's go to the next stage.
30:29
I've decided I'm entering, I've paid my entry fee.
30:32
I filled out my form and I've got people voting for me.
30:35
Presumably now we enter the judging stage.
30:38
So just talk to me about what that looks like.
30:40
So say I'm a cake maker based in Bedfordshire.
30:43
I filled out my form.
30:45
Now what happens?
30:47
Damian: So if you Cakemaker in Bedfordshire, you can see the panelists
30:51
on their cake category on the website.
30:54
The judging panel log in, all judging is done remotely and online, so they
30:57
log into the judging area of our website and they're presented with
31:01
your entry profile that you, the judging profile that you've created.
31:05
So photos, videos, all the voter scores and comments, links to external
31:09
sources like websites, social media, they are presented with that for each.
31:15
Initially each entrant as part of the the way we work out the who the regional
31:21
finalists are I can go into that.
31:23
It's quite long winded and it is on the website, but in effect, as I mentioned
31:27
before, we, we use the average voter score throughout the judging process,
31:32
all entrants that are above the category average automatically become finalists.
31:37
regional finalists.
31:38
Any that are below that category average, albeit slightly most of the time, they get
31:43
shown to the judging panel at this stage.
31:45
The judging panel can then assign wildcards to, to ensure that we're not
31:50
just because someone got one, you know, it's a tiny percentage below that average.
31:55
We're not losing a great business slipping through the net.
31:58
So they can assign those wildcards and those, those people, those
32:02
businesses become finalists.
32:04
So that's how we do the finalists.
32:06
The judges then look, look at everybody who's been made a finalist in their
32:10
category and they look through all that data and they make their decisions.
32:13
We do not place any criteria on the judging.
32:17
I think that is to prejudge personally.
32:20
What I have learned over the years is that more Within reason, the more
32:24
respected expert varied the judging panel with the more judges we have as
32:29
well, the more rigorous the results, and because they're judging remotely,
32:33
there's no one big personality.
32:35
You can override everybody else, which is really important when you're judging.
32:38
You've done it yourself as if I.
32:40
Some big personality tells you you're wrong.
32:42
Well, hold on, I'm a judge here too.
32:44
My, my voice counts.
32:46
So how we work it is each judge selects their top three gold, silver, bronze,
32:51
eight points for gold, four points for silver, two points for bronze, and
32:55
the winner in that category, regional category, is the one with the most points.
32:59
So in order to win the all regional category, you have to garner points.
33:04
lots of points from most of the judges.
33:07
Mathematically, that's how that works.
33:09
If there's a tie I contact the judges and we talk about it a little bit more.
33:13
We'll exchange and, and if there's, we still can't decide, as chairman of the
33:17
judging panel, I have the casting vote.
33:19
That has never happened.
33:21
Very often, it's very clear cut.
33:24
Which I love because there's lots of judges, you know, there's
33:29
some categories, there are more than 10 on each on the panel.
33:33
If they're all pretty much agreeing that that person is
33:38
either their gold or silver.
33:40
then they've got all the by far the most points, then they are the winner.
33:44
If it's very close, we'll also have what we call a highly commended.
33:47
We don't call it a runner up because it doesn't happen in every category.
33:50
So highly commended to acknowledge the fact it was very close.
33:54
And that's done on a per category basis.
33:56
So I ask a lot of the judges, would they volunteer?
33:59
for this.
34:00
But I think they find it interesting.
34:02
They tell me they do and they stay on the panel for years.
34:04
So that's good.
34:05
And they take it very seriously.
34:07
They know they're putting their own reputation and brand on the line here.
34:11
So they take it seriously.
34:14
I know plenty of judges who'll go to company's house to check
34:16
that every single entrant is.
34:18
a bona fide business, all sorts of cross referencing going on.
34:23
So they take it seriously.
34:25
They berate me because the standard gets higher each year, so they find
34:28
it harder to make their decisions, but the decisions are made.
34:31
And what I need to do is when I'm standing there saying hello to everyone as they
34:35
come into the event, standing on the stage, doing the presentation of the
34:38
awards, I need to trust that process.
34:42
I need to know that all of our judges have done that job.
34:45
The ones that don't take it seriously, and I can tell, for instance.
34:49
I'm able to see how long they spend in the judging area.
34:52
And you can tell whether people are taking it seriously or not.
34:55
I politely asked them to step away.
34:58
It happens very, very rarely.
35:00
Because TWA has a reputation and it's a strong brand in the industry.
35:03
People, if they get asked to be on the panel, they want, they
35:06
know they had to do this properly.
35:08
And in return they come to our national event for free and
35:10
I buy them loads of drinks.
35:11
So at the end of the day, it's There's booze involved and that for
35:16
my, for our judging panel seems to do the trick for quite a few of them.
35:21
Becca: Sounds excellent, David.
35:22
I need to get on your judging panel so I can come and have
35:24
lots of drinks in London.
35:26
Damian: You'll be welcome.
35:28
Becca: Fabulous.
35:28
And I know that it's hard to be a judge.
35:30
So again, for anyone listening, judges do take this stuff seriously.
35:33
I have been a judge on some big wedding awards and it takes me to heartbreak.
35:37
ages to go through to watch the videos, to look at the photos.
35:40
And sometimes my children will come and sit next to me and watch the
35:43
photos and look at the videos with me because it takes so much time, but
35:47
you really care and you want to make sure you're doing everyone a service.
35:50
But equally, not all entries, a bit like not all awards, are created equal.
35:55
And I've judged some where quite honestly, the people who've entered the
35:58
awards obviously couldn't be bothered to fill in very much information.
36:02
And so some people have obviously taken loads of time and they write
36:04
out loads of information about what they do and all that kind of thing.
36:07
And others, you just get one word.
36:09
And so if you are entering and you've got an opportunity to fill
36:11
out boxes, Fill them out properly.
36:13
Give those judges the best chance of being able to review not only what
36:17
others have said, but what you've said about your business as well.
36:20
Look like you care, because that is going to come into play.
36:23
If you can't even be bothered to fill out the form, why should the judge
36:25
spend that long looking at your stuff?
36:28
Damian: Yeah, pretty basic stuff, isn't it?
36:29
Really?
36:29
Yeah, as a judge, you'll know, you'll get little bug bears as you're looking through
36:33
the things that you don't like to see.
36:38
You know, okay, let's say bride or retailer, it's a good example.
36:41
Don't just upload photos of dresses.
36:44
The, the judges know what dresses look like.
36:46
They want to see your, your boutique, your, your shop.
36:49
They want to see you and your staff.
36:51
They want to maybe see a video of you explaining who you are and what you do.
36:54
Showing the judges around your shop.
36:57
Don't be shy.
36:58
Get it.
36:58
Get use that little tool in your hand, that little video camera on our phones
37:02
and, and show the judges who you are.
37:04
Yeah.
37:05
Uploading photos of dresses is, is not enough.
37:07
I don't think similarly things like not using professional photography.
37:11
There's no excuse these days.
37:12
You can contact the, the wedding photographer.
37:15
Don't expect to have it for free.
37:16
Or, you know, just for a sort of You know, a credit on on social or something but
37:21
you should have good relationships with photographers at the weddings that you're
37:23
supplying and use their photographs or learn to do it yourself, even with your
37:27
phone, things like that can really make you stand out ahead of everyone else.
37:31
And as I said, we have this blog post that highlights all those, those top
37:35
tips, but you're absolutely right.
37:36
You know, even if you're the best supplier in the world, if you haven't
37:39
made an effort on your entry, you're not going to do as well as you might hope.
37:44
Becca: Yeah, absolutely.
37:44
If you're going to go for something like this, you've got
37:46
to absolutely put the work in.
37:48
You've paid the fee, you've, you've done the work, actually put the work in to try
37:51
and make it the best it possibly can be.
37:53
Okay, I'm going to whiz through some of the other things that I want to ask you
37:56
about because I know we've been on here for quite some time, but there's so many
38:00
questions and I think this is excellent.
38:03
So you said that not everyone gets shortlisted.
38:05
Is it quite a high percentage of people that get shortlisted?
38:08
What is the chances of me saying, right, I'm going to enter this awards,
38:11
I'm paying 108, get people to vote for me, and then nothing happens?
38:16
Like, is that high risk or low risk?
38:18
Damian: No, I think, as I said, two thirds of entrants, roughly
38:22
two thirds, get, become finalists.
38:24
But that depends, because we're using some maths based on average
38:28
voter scores and stuff like that.
38:31
It depends on those average photo scores and the average
38:35
of the category as to how many.
38:37
So there's no, we don't say, right, maximum of 10 regional
38:40
finalists per category, because again, that's to prejudge.
38:44
So in some categories that are more populated than others, that
38:46
photography is the biggest category we have because everybody's a wedding
38:50
photographer these days, aren't they?
38:52
The, we'll get more entrants and we'll get more finalists than other categories.
38:58
So there's no set number.
39:00
But about two thirds, so roughly a two in three chance of becoming a
39:03
finalist, which I think's pretty good.
39:06
I mean, they're pretty good odds.
39:08
And, and the key thing here is if you don't become a finalist, you
39:11
have to try and work out why and look yourself, be honest with yourself
39:15
and go, How, okay, let's go look at the people who are finalists.
39:19
What are they doing that I'm not?
39:21
Can I, can I?
39:22
learn from this.
39:23
I could give you so many examples of people who've come up to me at the awards
39:27
events, regional ones, particularly, and said, I can't believe I've won.
39:31
I've entered this for five, six years.
39:34
And the first year I didn't become a finalist.
39:36
And I was so cross with you, first of all.
39:39
And then I actually thought, hold on a second, I need to get better.
39:43
So I then improved different aspects, entered again, got made a
39:47
finalist three years as a finalist.
39:50
And then finally I've won and I can't believe it.
39:52
And it's not, that's not about boosting her business.
39:55
That's her own personal development.
39:58
As I say her, because it was this person I'm thinking of.
40:02
And that is just incredibly gratifying, because that's not about winning.
40:05
That is about developing yourself, learning that it's not easy to run
40:10
your own business, and you have to look yourself in the mirror and be honest
40:13
and say, how do I, you know, I need to improve, I'm going to do that, how.
40:17
And TWIA can really help with that, that, that, that mentality,
40:21
but also giving you the, the, the tools almost to do it through voter
40:24
feedback and things like that.
40:25
So.
40:26
I think, again, you have got a good chance of being a finalist if you're good
40:30
at what you do, your couples, and your couples love you, and they vote for you.
40:34
Make an effort on your judging profile.
40:37
I think, you know, you'll do well.
40:38
People do.
40:39
Becca: Excellent.
40:39
Right.
40:40
Some quickfire questions for you.
40:42
If I get shortlisted for a regional final, do I then pay to come to the event?
40:47
Damian: Yes.
40:47
Everyone who has, wants to come to the event needs to buy a ticket.
40:50
Ticket prices around about 50.
40:52
We don't do sit down dining because our industry doesn't come in
40:55
tables of ten, and that's boring.
40:57
Anyway, we do theatre style, we're standing room only for people who are
41:01
nervous, particularly nervous, and need access to the bar and the toilets.
41:04
And they're raucous.
41:07
parties.
41:07
There's a lot of noise.
41:08
It is a very supportive environment, but yes, tickets are extra.
41:11
Becca: Excellent.
41:12
And can I win even if I don't attend that night?
41:15
Damian: Great question.
41:16
Another one.
41:16
So many, Becca.
41:17
Yes, we pride ourselves on this.
41:19
Just because you don't want to come or can't come to our party
41:23
doesn't mean you can't win.
41:25
It is one of my, the biggest bugbears with these other so called awards
41:28
is you basically only they're free because you then pay a large amount
41:32
of money to go to the event and you only win if you go to the event.
41:36
That is ridiculous.
41:37
So every year there are a handful of quite a few regional finalists who
41:41
can't come, a handful of whom end up being announced as a regional winner.
41:45
And what we do is we give them a virtual high five and a huge virtual
41:49
hug and we give them a cheer and we send them their trophy in the post.
41:54
And we hope that next time if they enter again, they'll, they'll think,
41:57
Oh, I'm really missed out there.
41:58
So yes, you don't have to come.
42:00
Becca: Excellent.
42:00
Damian: But we like you too.
42:01
It's fun.
42:02
Becca: Yeah, excellent.
42:03
But that's good to hear.
42:03
People want to know these things.
42:04
And I think as well, as people are thinking about whether to enter,
42:08
bear in mind that really, if you want to get the most out of this
42:11
opportunity, you need to be in the room.
42:12
So let's put all of these costs together when you're
42:14
deciding whether or not to come.
42:15
If you enter those awards, assume that you're going to want to go to that night
42:19
because the social content and the stuff that you're going to get out of it, the
42:22
connections is well worth being there.
42:24
How do I get into the national awards then?
42:26
So if I've, I've done something at the regional awards, how
42:28
do I qualify for national?
42:30
Damian: Well, simple regional winners become national finalists.
42:33
So let's say up until this year, we've had eight regions.
42:36
So in the K category, which you used earlier, in theory, there'll be a
42:40
maximum of eight regional winners, therefore eight national finalists.
42:44
So the judging process starts again because the judges are now looking across
42:48
regions rather than just within regions.
42:50
So they haven't compared these eight.
42:52
And they judge, they judge again, and again, they do gold, silver, bronze,
42:56
and the winner, the national award is the one with the most points.
42:59
So yeah, pretty simple and straightforward that one.
43:01
Becca: Amazing.
43:02
And I attend one of your events, either regionally or nationally, if I haven't
43:06
entered, can I just come for fun and networking, or do I have to be an
43:10
award shortlisted person to be there?
43:12
Damian: Yes, you can, in theory.
43:14
Not many do.
43:15
One of the biggest issues we have is we can't, we sell out of tickets every year.
43:19
We get around about 250 people to each of our events, and whilst what we
43:23
try to do is showcase wedding venues, particularly ones that have won in
43:28
the past, because we want to showcase those venues, and so do the venues.
43:32
So the problem is, Bums on seats and capacity.
43:35
We try it.
43:36
We also need to make sure that finalists take the priority there.
43:40
But we don't.
43:41
What tends to happen is if someone tries to buy a ticket and they're not original
43:44
finalists that gets flagged up and I would contact them and just say, we
43:48
just need to wait until We've, we make sure we've got the finalists in the room
43:53
and then, yes, we can get you a ticket.
43:56
And anyone can come.
43:57
You can bring as many as you like.
43:58
First come, first served.
43:59
Your entourage, your family, your colleagues, obviously
44:02
venues would bring event teams.
44:03
They bring the chef, the cleaners, everyone, because without
44:06
them, the venue doesn't exist.
44:07
So it's a good excuse.
44:09
You know, our events are like, are really for people who spend, they're parties
44:13
for people who spend their whole time at other people's parties or organizing them.
44:17
So things do get a little loose, which I like.
44:19
Becca: Yeah, that's good fun.
44:20
And if you've got the budget, I would pay for a content creator to come with you and
44:23
create content of you being at the awards, because again, maximize this opportunity.
44:27
If you're going to go for it, go for it full, full out and
44:31
get every ounce out of it.
44:33
Even if that's,
44:34
Damian: sorry, even if that's a friend, sorry, Becca, I'd interrupt.
44:36
Even if that's a friend rather than your other half, remember we talked
44:39
about community connection, networking.
44:42
If you go with your other half, you're not going to do that.
44:44
Go on your own.
44:46
In inverted commas, but take a friend with you who's good on their phone.
44:49
It's a really good idea.
44:50
You can then go off and do the connections.
44:53
make those connections.
44:54
Your friend can be taking the photos, doing the videos of that.
44:57
If you go with your other half, as nice as that is from a business perspective,
45:01
it's maybe not the right thing to do.
45:03
Becca: Yeah, absolutely.
45:04
Go alone and be uncomfortable and you will end up having much better conversations.
45:08
Now, before we wrap up, there is one other side that I do want to talk about because
45:11
I want this to be a balanced conversation.
45:13
And very occasionally when someone asks me about whether they, you
45:16
know, enter, should enter in awards.
45:18
I say no.
45:19
And it's for a very specific reason.
45:21
Because I think, as we've said all the way through this, for me and for you,
45:25
these awards aren't about winning.
45:26
It's about the process.
45:27
It's about the network.
45:27
It's about the content.
45:28
It's about everything.
45:29
But very occasionally, someone who maybe is struggling with their mental health,
45:33
or is not feeling in a good place about their business, puts themselves into these
45:38
things and then ends up feeling worse.
45:40
because maybe they didn't get the votes they wanted or the comments they wanted
45:43
or they didn't win and they wanted to win.
45:45
And so I think it's really important that when people make that decision,
45:48
they come at it from the right headspace and don't put them in a situation that
45:53
might maybe escalate those feelings.
45:56
Have you got any thoughts or advice on that?
45:58
Damian: Yeah, that's a good point again.
46:00
And you're right, I think it comes back to taking the stress to the end goal changing
46:05
that perspective, changing the end goal.
46:07
So just take out, take, remove the word awards.
46:11
From your just and competition.
46:15
Think of it.
46:15
You know, you're not trying to win an award.
46:17
You're trying to see how it feels even to go through this process because you
46:22
don't know until you've, you've tried it.
46:24
And of course, for some people, it will just be too much.
46:26
And I, and I understand that.
46:27
I had someone yesterday.
46:28
He said she has dyspraxia and dyslexia.
46:30
She finds it hard to type in cohesive, comprehensive, you
46:35
know, answers into a web page.
46:38
So I said, okay, she said, could we do voice notes?
46:41
I said, well, we can't really, we don't have the function for that, but
46:43
I would suggest you get a friend to help Dictate to them and they'll type
46:48
it up for you and they will help you.
46:49
And she went, Oh gosh, I hadn't even thought of that.
46:51
And so off you go.
46:52
I think I would go back to what are you trying to get out of this?
46:58
Realistically, if you're a new business, especially, are you trying
47:01
to, do you think you're going to win?
47:02
Yeah, I know you think you're, you're good at what you do and you are.
47:05
But he is room for improvement almost certainly.
47:07
So come at it thinking I'm just going to get out whatever I can and and anything
47:12
like getting in the room at an event as a finalist or as a winner is a bonus and
47:17
and you may not even I get we've had some people he said, I'm not coming to the
47:21
event because I I can't handle that sort of environment, absolutely no problem,
47:27
and that's part of the reason we have, well, you can win if you don't come.
47:30
Similarly, we've had winners very occasionally who've, who've said to
47:34
me, if I win, I won't be coming up to the stage to pick up my trophy.
47:38
And I, and I get, I hear, I know the results maybe a day before, so
47:43
not long before and I can note on my script, ah, right, I remember.
47:48
That's why I, the person that does the stage bit as well,
47:50
because I can remember this stuff.
47:52
I guess she won't be coming up, but we give her a round of applause
47:54
and she stays sitting in her seat.
47:56
So we're very accommodating to that.
47:59
And I think you go back to what you said at the very beginning.
48:02
We project ourselves as this big national awards.
48:05
Of course we do.
48:07
Right now I'm sitting in our office.
48:08
It's just me.
48:10
It is me and and Anna when she's here working on all our events.
48:13
She's our event director and then we have a few other people who work part
48:16
time doing various different things.
48:17
We are a small team.
48:19
We care about this stuff.
48:21
We care about this industry and we care about running the awards in
48:24
the right way for the right reasons because frankly in this industry
48:28
no other awards come close and that is important to us, that integrity.
48:33
So if you have or are faced with any issue that that you're uncertain about.
48:37
From a mental health point perspective or any aspect and you think Twi is just
48:42
not for you, get in touch with us, email us, because it'll be me that answers it
48:45
and I'll be able to help you, I'm sure.
48:47
Becca: Thank you, Damien.
48:47
It's really helpful to hear that and to hear all of the things you're doing
48:51
to make it more inclusive as well.
48:52
Damien, we have talked for ages.
48:54
I've loved it.
48:54
There's still so much more I could talk to you about.
48:57
We may have to do a follow up episode.
49:00
Before you start your regional events, because there's so much, I
49:03
want to talk about how people can get the most out of coming to those
49:05
events once they've been shortlisted.
49:07
So let's get a date in the diary and we'll do a part two.
49:11
But in the meantime, now is the time for people to decide whether to enter.
49:14
So just give us those dates.
49:15
If people are thinking, yeah, this sounds like it's for me.
49:17
What is the last date that they can get their entry into you?
49:20
Damian: Entries close on the 23rd of September at 5 p.
49:24
m.
49:24
Now that means you have to have completed that three step entry process.
49:28
It's not just paying the entry fee, you have to then log in
49:31
and complete that little bit.
49:33
You then have until voting closes on the 30th of September at to get your votes
49:38
in and to finalize your judging profile.
49:40
Becca: Excellent.
49:41
So when this goes out, you'll have a couple of weeks still
49:44
to get all of that stuff done.
49:45
So don't delay if you think this sounds exciting, get involved.
49:48
Now I'll put all of the links in the show notes.
49:50
You can go and do that.
49:51
And exactly as you said at the beginning, Damian, people need a deadline.
49:54
So sometimes having less time for your couples of votes.
49:57
actually works in your favor because they're more likely to do it rather
50:00
than put it on the back burner.
50:02
Now, I always end my podcast episodes with the same question, Damian.
50:05
So I'm going to put that to you now.
50:06
And it's this, what's one thing you wish you'd known sooner
50:09
in your own wedding business?
50:11
Damian: Okay.
50:12
So for the, for the wedding industry awards I, for me, the thing I, I wish
50:16
I'd known when I started was how powerful the community can be, just to sum
50:20
it up and give you a little example, because It was such a lovely moment.
50:24
At our Southeast event last year, down at the Ravenswood in Sussex, on the front
50:29
row, and it's always, no one wants to sit at the front row, it's like going to
50:31
a comedy gig, no one wants to sit on the front row, but on the front row were all
50:35
the finalists in the celebrant category.
50:37
They were sitting together.
50:38
Now, that is rare in itself.
50:41
We talked about, you know, connection over competition, but there they
50:44
are sitting on the front row, and I clocked them, and I know, I know them
50:47
because I've seen their faces on their entry forms, and blah, blah, blah.
50:51
And, When we came to the celebrate category, there was a highly
50:54
commended and the whole row went bananas for that person.
50:58
It was so lovely and I always make everyone go right on the long way
51:01
so they get to come down the aisle.
51:02
So they had to go all the way around the edge and come down the aisle to
51:05
high fives and rapturous applause.
51:08
And then she went back to her seat and everyone was just,
51:11
oh my god, congratulations!
51:13
And then they wouldn't shut up for me to announce the winner.
51:16
And the winner is X.
51:18
And they went mental again, obviously, for that person.
51:21
And I think that's, this is a business event.
51:24
And this is the sort of vibe that's in the room.
51:27
I wish I'd known that.
51:28
It is so gratifying that we change through Twia.
51:33
People are able to change their businesses, but they're definitely
51:35
able to change themselves as well.
51:37
They're able to be better in so many different ways.
51:40
And that sort of community really helps people.
51:43
I think who need people who need it and want it, it really helps.
51:46
And it's hard to get somewhere else.
51:47
So I wish I'd, I wish I'd known that we would do that from the beginning.
51:50
Cause I think we would have tried to instigate it a bit more as we came
51:53
along, but it's happened organically.
51:54
So that's probably the best way anyway.
51:55
Becca: I love that.
51:56
It's all about connection and celebrating each other.
52:00
Absolutely fantastic.
52:01
Damien, it's been such a pleasure to have you on the podcast.
52:04
Do come back.
52:04
We will do a part two nearer to the time when you start doing your regional events.
52:09
And thank you.
52:10
And I will make sure I put all of the show notes and all of the links
52:13
that you've mentioned in underneath.
52:15
So if you need to go and find those links, it's not too late to enter.
52:17
You can do that now.
52:19
Damien, thank you so much for your time.
52:21
Damian: Thank you.
52:21
I've loved it.
52:22
Some brilliant questions back out.
52:23
I very much look forward to doing part two.
52:27
Becca: I love that episode with Damien.
52:28
How good is it for us to go behind the curtain and find out how these things work
52:32
instead of listening to what everyone's saying in Facebook groups, let's go direct
52:36
to the source and hear from the founder.
52:38
And it's just a guy who wanted to do a great thing doing something amazing
52:42
for our industry and well worth you looking into getting involved.
52:44
So don't think it's too late.
52:45
Go and check out those links.
52:47
And hopefully I'll see some of you winning awards at the national final this year.
52:51
Take care and I'll see you next time.