Back of the net! … It’s a hat trick

On Wednesday night, I won Entertainer of the year (non music), for the whole of the South West, at The Wedding Industry Awards.

This is close on the heels of winning the Bristol Close Up Magician of the Year earlier this month and the Bath Magician of the Year back in March. Three awards in nine months! My first ever hat-trick 🙂

Damian Surr receiving The Wedding Industry Awards Trophy

The Wedding Industry Awards 2016

[Yes, they call them the 2016 awards. If you want to know why, you can ask them!]

This award is great for 3 reasons:

1) Unique voting system

Unlike most awards, only actual brides and grooms, from weddings over the last 12 months, are allowed to vote. And it’s not just a simple click of a button. For The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA), the voting involves writing detailed information about different aspects of the service provider.

Not every couple will have the time or the inclination to do this. The thing I am most proud about, with this award, is the number of couples who did take the time to vote for me.

After the voting deadline, TWIA judges read all of the customer comments. The decisions on the winners are all based solely on the comments of previous brides and grooms.

2) All entertainers, not just magicians

The second difference is the broader category. My other awards have been from competing with other magicians. For TWIA, all magicians and any other wedding service providers can enter! For the Entertainment (non-music) category that can include services like caricaturists, photo booths and firework displays.

3) Size of the geographical area

The other awards I’ve won this year have covered the whole of Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas. That’s a pretty big chunk of land, and a whole lot of people. This new award covers the entire South West!

That’s the top of Gloucestershire to the bottom of Cornwall. Chipping Campden to Penzance (via Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset and Devon)

TWIA 2016 – Entertainer of the year (non music) – Regional Winner

Damian and Cait with The Wedding Industry Award Trophy

Also, this win automatically makes me a finalist for the National TWIA awards! The award ceremony for this will be in London in January.

The Wedding Industry Awards 2016 – National Finalist

Services nominated for TWIA don’t get to see what their customers wrote about them until they are out of the awards. So as a national finalist, I wont get to read the comments until January. Whatever they wrote seems to be working so far!

I am so happy to have won the South West Wedding Entertainer of the Year from The wedding Industry Awards 2016.

Here’s the full list of the South West Regional Winners for 2016:

Wedding DJ of the Year – Andy Collins Wedding Entertainment
Town/City Wedding Venue of the Year  – The Italian Villa
Bridal Retailer of the Year – Clifton Brides
Wedding Entertainment of the Year (Non-Musical) – Damian Surr
Wedding Florist of the Year – Wedding Flowers In Cornwall
Wedding Menswear Supplier of the Year  – Mens Hire
Wedding Transport Supplier of the Year – Dorset Dubhire
Musical Act of the Year (Solo/Duo) – Dinner Jazz Sax
Wedding Planner of the Year – Bellissimo Wedding Planners
Wedding Videographer of the Year – Ray McShane Films
Wedding Caterer of the Year – Sausage & Pear
Wedding Venue Stylist of the Year – Wedding Creations UK
Wedding Cake Designer of the Year – Cut Me Off A Slice
Wedding Dressmaker/Designer of the Year – Abidemaids
Special Touch of the Year – Pudding Bridge
Marquee Provider of the Year – Abbas Marquees
Wedding Accessory Designer of the Year – Victoria Fergusson Accessories
Wedding Hairstylist of the Year – Tracy Pallari Hair And Makeup Artist
Wedding Make Up Artist of the Year – Amazing Face Bridal Hair And Makeup
Wedding Band of the Year – Quite Brazen
Wedding Event Team of the Year – Manor By The Lake
Wedding Stationery of the Year – Oyster & Pearl Design
Countryside Wedding Venue of the Year – Upton Barn & Walled Garden
Wedding Photographer of the Year – Alan Law Photography
Wedding Industry Newcomer of the Year – Upton Barn & Walled Garden

You could sort your entire wedding with no more than that list!