|
 Resignation Letter from Celebrant
Hi Rona,
I’m beating a dead horse looking for Celebrant work in X, so I’m not renewing. Reasons are;
X'S weddings are mainly sold in packages and some Celebrants here seem to have this tied up. The venues even say on their website “Our preferred celebrants because we know they’ll do a good job” perhaps not those exact words, but they are there which definitely suggests a celebrant not listed on their site may not do a good job. So much is tied up here you wouldn’t believe. Some places even had their own people (on their pay role) trained as Celebrants. To top that new celebrants are still being registered and living in X.
Celebrants here can afford to take their own stalls at Bridal Expos, I can’t and I don’t want to sell my wares like a common merchant, etcetera.
I’ve advertised in yellow pages but can’t get Sensis to fix my ad they’ve botched. I’m advertised in a bowls club magazine and on their paperwork, but that’s got me nowhere.
OPD’s are ridiculous and it is obviously a government ruse to push money around.
Thank you Rona for you care, your work and your concern for the industry.
Warmest Regards,
Name and Address Supplied
Dear Celebrant
I can understand your frustration in trying to offer your marriage celebrancy services in such a competitive environment. The latest questimates are less than seven weddings per celebrant per year, based on the latest figures. This is a far more difficult situation than we predicted in 2000 - see the 1999 Statistics.
Given your knowledge, skills and experience as an established celebrant it would be a shame for the community to lose you. Only you know your personal circumstances best and whether you have the energy to try something new.
If you has planned to work the next 10 years, and can afford the basics to keep your celebrancy practice going, then you may like to consider diversifying into newer ceremonies. By the basics we mean your website, office set-up (phone, email, computer & printer), basic stationery (business cards, certificate paper), appropriate clothing and transport, and OPD.
Most new businesses take 3 to 5 years to become established and moving into a new area, is like starting again.
Also newer ceremonies need promotion by celebrants generally, and by a team of local celebrants with a marketing plan to use local business, sporting, recreational, charity, seniors, schools and other networks to promote change.
The Australian Celebrants & Celebrations Network is based on the premise that there are many other special occasions that would be better served by having a ceremony to start, like and wedding or a naming, followed by refreshments. Rather than the traditional Aussie tendency to have a "booze-up" and throwing a few words in the middle. The "baby boomer" generation is a target market that celebrants have not specifically developed ceremonies to suit their specific lifestyle changes and needs.
In particular 40, 50, 60, 65 70 birthdays and wedding anniversaries, NOT renewals - the latter is not likely to be popular with the "typical Aussie bloke" who is rather shy of that "mushy stuff".
The other aspect to this is that by becoming the "Family Celebrant" by doing these Birthdays and Anniversaries, one will have a much better chance of being asked to do the family's Funerals. After all 50 years ago one dd not ask the undertaker who could do their ceremony !
To look at the statistics of the senior age group see http://www.accn.com.au/why-you
Do you have celebrant colleagues you can work with in your area to develop and implement a Birthday and Anniversary promotion strategy ?
Consider being part of our ACCN support service if you've not joined already.
However if you do decide to retire from celebrancy to pursue other interests, please send us a photo and a summary of your celebrancy work, with some of your memorable highlights.
The ACCN would love to feature you and others who choose to move on, in our "Those Before Us" section of this e_magazine.
Kind regards
Rona Goold
ACCN Director.
|
