Elegant Entertainment Advice

Little Pink Book welcomes our first guest blogger Simon Greenhill. Actor, singer, entertainer and MD of several entertainment businesses in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London, including Dancing Bears Records and Elegant Entertainment. Having trained as an actor, Simon has worked in London’s West End since 1996 before his entrepreneurial spirit was born. Elegant Entertainment is an entertainment management service and their speciality act is Operatic Singing Waiters. Simon has kindly offered us an insight into what makes the entertainment at weddings a success.

“I recently read an article on this very website from the very talented Stefan Steenkamp, from ZaraZoo Exclusive Wedding Photography, who wrote a compelling piece on “why choose the expensive photographer?”

Without wanting to recreate his exact piece, I was really delighted that he brought up the 10,000 hour rule from my favourite book ‘The outliers’ by Malcolm Gladwell. The colleagues in my office get sick and tired of hearing my references to The Beatles playing all of those gigs in Germany every night for 3 years. Here lies the reason that they were and still are THE Greatest band of all time, there I got it in!

If you haven’t already, I would suggest having a look at ‘The Tipping Point’ and ‘What the dog saw’ by the same author. They are equally fascinating and worth swapping thoughts over a beer (or two).

So what does this all say? Well, it’s very simple really. You get what you pay for!

When booking your wedding entertainment, before rushing in and booking a band or musicians that your work colleague saw at her best friend’s cousin’s wedding and “apparently” they were “pretty good”, it is wise to step back and understand the power that your entertainment can have on the entire feel of your day.

Music has an overwhelming ability to communicate with the human emotions. It can also facilitate emotional bonding between human beings. Nowhere is this demonstrated more beautifully than the underscoring of the music in films and on TV. When you switch on the TV tonight, whether it’s Top Billing, Idols or CSI, pay particular attention to the music and try to understand its power.

The entertainment should serve to enhance the overall experience at your event. Before choosing – time, care and consideration should be taken. Enjoy and indulge in the experience. You only get married once (hopefully). You have the power to write the libretto to your own wedding, perhaps with a little help from an expert.

So, where does the 10,000 hour rule come in? Practice makes perfect.

Music is amazing and is a massive part of my everyday life and I could not live without it. However, when it is badly performed, it shatters everything. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and they like to play in their own little band, which is quite cute. I would like to tell you that I am wildly proud of the sound they produce. Sadly, it gives me a resounding headache, particularly when you throw our screaming and hungry 2 week old baby into the mix. I have massive hopes for them though, so, only another 9,998 hours to go.”

Article by Simon Greenhill.

For more Elegant Entertainment Advice or bookings contact: Simon Greenhill