By Brian Kelm
Before I took Bill Hermann’s Entertainment Experience Workshop in 2011, performing a wedding was a far different experience for me. I thought I was lacking in my performance. I’ve always been curious about things and wanted to know about them on a deep level. I was a sponge and up for any training, drawn especially to the workshop because it embraced a theater and performing arts perspective — and that was intriguing.
I thought that looking at my craft from a different lens would make me better as an artist and performer. It did — and I learned some things that I’ve never forgotten.
- Every event and performance comes down to OUTCOME.
- All the ideas, creativity, plans, flow, and collaboration of people involved points to the end result and either blows the client away — or it doesn’t, period.
- All the responsibility, integrity, and taking ownership comes down to what guests will walk away with and either you’ve made a profound difference in the way their wedding appears — or not. It’s just that simple.
- The noise shows up when there is blame and excuses from those who are unwilling to take complete ownership and responsibility for the success of the event.
At a wedding I performed at after my training, my couple, Jackie and Mark, didn’t know the significance of the cake cutting ceremony, all that went into instilling this moment with purpose, intention, and the desired emotional result.
I explained to them that their wedding, like a theatrical production, has a beginning, middle, and end, and their cake cutting was a part of that. They were all ears when I told them how it can be presented to their audience — before the end of dinner, where we explained the tradition and the reasons why they chose the specific cake.
How did I get there? By being in the moment, and open to creating something the client had never seen before. It began with a conversation, and then it turned to action, and ultimately the delivery created an outcome.
Collaborating with your client offers amazing opportunities to help serve them, to create an event together just like in theater or any stage performance no matter how big, small, simple, or complex.
“Being different” is something I review daily and work very hard to share with the world.
Bonus tip: Winning Idea for your Wedding
If there are out-of-town guests, make it so simple for them to feel part of the experience. Take ownership so they have the information, plans, and logistics to get around with ease. This hospitality will go a long way and they will feel appreciated.
Brian Kelm, CWEP, CGWP, CWED, WED Guild is a 25+ year wedding entertainment and planning professional who’s has been all over the United States.
To check out more business tips, click here.
DJ Times Magazine is copyright © 2020 by DJ Publishing, Inc. www.djtimes.com
