In segment two of Best Practices: SAY NO, this item addresses frequent tunnel vision of wedding venues. Tunnel Vision Syndrome (TVS) is a function of filtered awareness: Seeing only what venue staff are directly responsible for, and nothing else.

The overarching premise is this: A wedding reception ballroom should be functional and easy on the eye. Unfortunately, some vendors have a tendency to litter the room with their gear, road cases for their gear, or other assorted stuff (that’s a technical term).

This issue is not just about aesthetics, it’s also a potential safety a liability problem. For example, when photographer or videographer gear or cases are just strewn against a wall, it creates a tripping opportunity for event guests.

Here are some of the common offenders and violations:

Bands and musicians: Members often arrive individually, depending on the degree of difficulty for set up for their instrument (i.e. drummer vs. trumpet). Depending on security at the property (think LARGE hotel), it’s a long schlep to and from their vehicle. In these cases, it’s helpful for the venue to provide a small room, closet or other area, away from the reception room to store road cases. Cables should be secured, neatly, with Stage Tape (not Duct Tape). No glassware should be on the stage. Preferably only bottled water, and not on the stage, itself. Mobile DJs: DJs tend to come more self-contained than bands; however, the same guidelines apply about storing cases, hand-trucks, etc.,. (also see DJs make an impression by cleaning up their act) Bands and DJs: Speaker Tripods should be recessed, slightly away from the dance floor. Venues should allow for this, so that there is NOT encroachment, creating a tripping hazard on the dance floor.

Hide necessary gear, nearby

Videographers and Photographers: Many of these fine folks are famous for walking up to the DJ or Band Leader and asking: “Hey, is alright if drop my gear, here (on the stage or adjacent to the entertainer)?” This is code for: I need some place to put my stuff, and if I drop it by you, I know it will be safe. The entertainer, will usually grumble, perhaps give a dirty look, and usually relent. Here’s the thing. A videographer or photographer need access to their gear throughout the event. Changing a battery, swapping out a non-functioning item with a backup, or any other quick need is key. Therefore, storing gear in a separate room isn’t going to get it done. A simple solution can be to set up a nice 3-panel screen in a corner, defining and shielding a specific space. The thought that a photographer or videographer have their own screen is not a bad idea, either.

Banquet staff: There are occasions where the entertainers and photo/video crews have handled their business, set up neatly, and put away their extraneous gear. Then, a random banquet staff member opens up a bussing tray right next to the stage or DJ console. Really, this item isn’t invisible, either. It should be positioned in a less prominent area. Another bad habit for waiters is to interrupt a ceremonial moment by walking in front of the photographer or videographer. This is simple room awareness. One can avoid this by taking a longer route to one’s destination or simply pausing for a few moments (depending on the situation).

Vendors and Venues are inextricably linked at events. It doesn’t matter whether a vendor was referred by the venue, guests typically look at vendor performance as an extension of the venue. They will rarely remember the vendor’s name (unless they have particular need for that service, in the near future). But you will hear someone say, “I attended a wedding at the XYZ Hotel last weekend and the stage looked like a mess. That will look bad in the photos. Can’t believe the hotel allowed that to happen.”

The hotel gets bad-rapped because they have the biggest name recognition. It’s a shame.

This discussion points out the importance of team effort and discussion. Life is smoother when vendors and venues act in concert, on everything. It starts with simple things. Like putting away your toys.

Presentation of everyone and everything is part of marketing. And if everyone isn’t on board, all wedding professionals at that event get tainted. It’s pretty simple stuff. Don’t get lazy. And don’t let your counterparts get lazy, either.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: Andy Ebon, band leaders, business identity, clutter, duct tape, gear, live bands, mobile DJs, photographers, Public Relations, road cases, Say NO, stage tape, videographers, wedding marketing, Wedding Marketing Authority, wedding venues

Several weeks ago, The Wedding Marketing Blog posted an item, noting the disinformation contained in a Chicago Fox TV interview with Bella Pictures, former VP of Business Development, Jenny Lefcoourt. In that discussion, Lefcourt self-promoted Bella Pictures, and then went on to give some very ragged advice on saving money in other areas of a wedding. The low-light was its entertainment segment, suggesting that bride might ‘dump the DJ’ in favor of using an iPod.

Subsequently,The Wedding Marketing Blog posted another Lefcourt interview with a Los Angeles Fox TV Affiliate showing brides how they should pose to ’shed a few pounds.’

Despite being first aired, in 2008, these interview had been missed by many wedding professionals. Representation of the clips caused a fresh firestorm about a variety of issues. Links to these blog posts popped up on many industry message boards and discussion groups.

Today, there is  something new to report. On the Open Source Photo message board, a message was posted by former Co-founder and Chief Photographer of Bella Pictures, Bob Davis.

The carefully worded message made some of the following points.

Analysis and Opinion: Bob Davis left Bella Pictures quite recently. You should read his entire post to get the full flavor of it. I read the tone as a lament. He is clearly expressing that Bella Pictures has strayed from its original concept and he was no longer comfortable with it.

His ‘warning to photographers’ should further concern about the practices of Bella Pictures. Davis does not address brides, as the Open Source Photo Message Board is a forum for professionals; however, one can only speculate what he might tell them.

In my study of many online comments of brides on various other forums, the random satisfaction of their customers makes continuity and consistency the major bugaboo with Bella Pictures. The major one, but there are others.

Despite the fact the Bella Pictures has an inconsistent track record in their core competency, photography, they have expanded into videography.

When you hear such sad comments from Co-Founder and former Chief Photographer of Bella Pictures, it should give you great pause for concern.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: Andy Ebon, Bella Pictures, Bob Davis, Chief Photographer, DIY weddings, dump the dj, ethics, iPod wedding, Jenny Lefcourt, mobile disc jockey entertainment, philosophical differences, Wedding Marketing Authority, wedding receptions

I only have $500. Will you take it?

A couple of days ago, I posted an item about the differences between money (price), value, budget and result. It generated lots of traffic, a comment or two, and plenty of direct email.

It also caused me to consider the phrase, ‘budget bride.’ Along with DIY Bride, these are two of the most annoying and poorly used descriptors in the wedding industry. To a great degree, I lay that at the feet of my friends in mass media for the wedding industry. Mass media tends to be a popularization tool as much as an information source. If you repeat a phrase, such as ‘budget bride,’ often enough, it becomes part of the wedding lexicon, for better for worse.

The problem with these phrases is they paint the bride’s resources with the grayest of brush strokes. So, at the risk of being more precise, I’ll break it down from my experience.

A budget is not:

A budget is:

A line budget item is not:

A budget is:

Budget does not necessarily mean low budget. A budget can be…

The Wedding Report publishes ongoing data about spending in the wedding industry. It consistently reports that brides spend close to 50% more than they had budgeted for the wedding, with an average wedding expense running  just under $30,000. This shows a major discrepancy between the original money allotted, from reality of their desires.

I would assert the reason for this is that their original money allotment was not a budget at all. It was dart throwing at a bank book.

Here’s the challenge from every wedding professional, wedding media outlet, and industry trade association:

The naked truth about satisfaction vs. money spent: When a wedding day is over, either the bride and groom are happy with a particular product or service or they are not. A vendor is not wearing a price tag around their neck. There is not a dollar cost at your place card, showing the price of each dinner. There is not a little flag in your slice of cake, showing its cost plus a cake cutting fee.

In retrospect, most wedding couples can point out decisions they made, that were off-the-mark. There are hundreds of decisions, big and small, involved in a wedding. Amazingly enough, it only takes one or two really bad decisions to create an unhappy outcome. And, amazingly enough, a really bad decision is often not related to money.

It would be outstanding if all wedding industry professionals would embrace educating the bride to realistic and exciting expectations, rather than than just fanning the flames of fairy tale dreams. It is true that if the wedding budget is spent disproportionately, bad things usually happen.

A bride with $12,000 to spend, should be able to experience as much happiness on her wedding day as one with $50,000. But that supposes she has enough information, common sense, and critical thinking to make consistently good decisions, and then does so.

Come to think of it, that’s a pretty good operational mission statement for the wedding industry.

Don’t you agree?

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: Andy Ebon, bridezilla, budgeing, budget bride, DIY Bride, luxury, wedding industry, wedding marketing blog, wedding planning