Sep 256 min read

POV of a Newcomer: Entering The Wedding Industry Awards as A Singer

Updated: Oct 3

TWIA entry

DEADLINE DAY...

Welcome to a very niche corner of the internet. A corner that myself am relatively new to, The Wedding Industry. For helpful context, I am a vintage style singer with a bit of a modern edge. (Feel free to delve into my website and archive of other posts to learn more about myself, my services and my singing life). As a professional singer, having performed for venues and events all across Yorkshire and The North of England for a few years now, I've only just within the past year dipped my toes into The Wedding Industry and began working with my fabulous couples. As a now wedding singer, I help my couples to achieve the perfect soundtrack for their day, that suits their own unique love story and personalities. Whether that's through classic vintage serenades or quirky era altering modern covers. Viva la Vintage is here to sing and share the love with music that is or at least feels as timeless as love itself. Bringing vintage vibes to the 21st century, as I like to say.

Whether you the reader, are a fellow supplier working and supporting couples in achieving their wedding day dreams, or are in fact one of said lovers planning your wedding. As I have, being a newbie, you'll quickly discover that the wedding industry is a field full of exceptionally talented, hard working, inspiring and quite frankly, friendly people. People who yes, thrive from helping others celebrate love. But people who are business moguls, who also deserve to be celebrated for their achievements too.

So after a few months of observing, researching the different bodies and in all honesty, fan girling over the success of some of it's previous years winners or nominees. A few months ago I did something kinda scary and entered The Wedding Industry Awards, in their wedding singer category. Perhaps the biggest awards in the industry. And I even wrote a brief initial feelings post about it too. (See at bottom) So it only felt right that in the name of accountability, I share my reflections on my entry and what it has taught me months later as the deadline day looms.

VOTING As the awards process is uniquely lead by client vote as opposed to exterior judging initially. Despite being only a small fry compared to some of my peers. With less than 10 weddings in the diary, this factor is what actually encouraged me to take the leap and enter. As the score is worked out on a ratio result, rather than number of bookings bias. It's also something that's inspired me to be even more involved and dedicated to my couples. As a wedding supplier who's actually present with my newlyweds on their, let's face it, very personal day. My ethos from the start has always been to create and has sometimes developed into, a natural friendship with my clients. However, with the weight of how important each vote would be for myself and my entry, I've been encouraged to asses even further how I can improve my couples satisfaction levels. With this in mind, I created a more structured client journey from my end with stricter deadlines and making note of significant and personal details. However, from my couple's point of view although organised, I never want them to feel pressured or stressed. The music part of a wedding day should be personal and fun. My couples will already be potentially overwhelmed with more "serious" parts of the wedding planning. So I've actively tried to ensure that when interacting with myself, the vibe is mostly relaxed, reliable and enjoyable. Sentimental and serious when needed of course, but stress free. As well as benefiting my clients, having this more structured approach has also allowed me as a supplier to feel more on track. Especially as my client list grows, managing each couple with the same level of service has become almost routine now.

CLIENT QUESTION FORM

Thanks to the TWIA voting form, filled out by my couples, which we have access to the questions (not their answers). It's also given valuable insight into what actually makes a considerably excellent supplier and what to consider from the couples point of view. Things like, expertise, repertoire range and online presence all come into play, which are things that I've had to asses within my own business. Please note, there is absolutely no correlation to when I first entered the wedding industry awards and when I began blogging on the regular...none whatsoever. In all jest, in writing a bi-weekly blog which discusses all things wedding whether that's advice for my couples, or just insights as a professional singing business gal. I've been forced firstly to step outside of my comfort zone and into the mode of advisory. Actively asking myself, do I really know what I'm talking about here? But also to consider what would be helpful for prospective couples, not just couples of mine but to all of the soon-to-be weds planning their days. It can be a whirlwind of confusion and options out there and I've been forced to decide whether as a supplier, do I want to be a helpful and active part of this industry and advise couples with their planning processes? Through my own reflections and said blogging, I've decided that I would like to be a part of it all. Perhaps a realisation that I wouldn't have come to, if I never began writing my pieces.

Additionally, by magnifying on my range of song choices and styles, although expanding my repertoire is always a constant and ongoing task as a singer. It's encouraged me to share a wider variety of the work that I do online, demonstrating or simply talking about all of the different options available to my clients. It's simple things like this that when thinking about my social media and marketing. These considerations have taken me out of my own brain as the artist/supplier and more into the mindset of my couples and what they might like to see. Couples mostly will be looking for variation and choice, which is something that I've actively tried to incorporate because of the entry questions.

MY QUESTION FORM

The most challenging part of the whole application process for myself, has been answering my question form as the entry. With questions such as "What is your company ethos?" and "What makes you stand out to other suppliers?". I've really had to hone in on who I am as a supplier, a brand, what my values and goals are within the wedding industry. Seemingly simple questions, but one's that I'd never deeply reflected on. Sometimes encouraging, as I was able to answer, (or at least write up a draft answer and then go back and edit profusely). But while trying to create the balance of being honest yet also wanting to sell myself as an entry. Let's not forget this is a competition in which winning or recognition could be a great business benefit. I've had to pull on my "big girl pants" and back myself. Which requires a scary level of inner confidence, forced to come out as part of the application. Which, yes, can feel a little icky, but overall a valuable attribute to apply within my work going forward!

So in honour of selling myself slightly and acknowledging my achievements. I'm very proud to admit that after celebrating and performing for their big days, all of my eligible and amazing, couples have taken the time to vote for me. A 100% track record. Which admittedly is much easier with a small handful of clients. But even from just a relationship and mutual support element, I'm really proud that I've created that vibe with all of my couples. So much so that they're all happy to participate in my entry.

There is also a judging element to the whole process, so this doesn't guarantee me success. As I sign off my entry as complete, I'm excited yet at peace with whatever happens next. As a solo musician based in Yorkshire, my entry will fall under this area for the Regional Awards and then onto the National if successful. I am fully aware of the extensive list of talented entries within the wedding singer category, so wouldn't ever want to get ahead of myself and what I believe is possible within my own capacity. There's still a lot for me to learn and improve on. However, as self admitted novice within the wedding industry, with my newly heightened level of inner confidence and big girl pants on. I openly have my eye on the once-in-a-business chance "New comer category". Which I'm automatically qualified for. This award is designed especially for applicants in my situation who may not be the most booked and blessed or biggest in their field, but have achieved great success in their first year. So let's manifest it, finalist, regional or national winner. That could be fun. In all seriousness though. Regardless of the result of my entry, as reflected upon for the past few paragraphs. Even by just entering these awards. Especially in my first year, the lessons have been invaluable in regards to helping me understand and therefore study my own business as just that, an actual business. And how I as a wedding singer can create the best service for my wedding couples. Who at the end of it all, with their perfect and successful wedding day soundtrack in tow, become the real winners.

Wish me luck!

Read more about Viva la Vintage and my journey as a Wedding & Events Singer - INITIAL THOUGHTS OF ENTERING TWIA