Toastmasters?

[yourdj]

I am fed up with toastmasters being rude to me when i mention that I run weddings. I want to get the best guild qualification possible so I can whip out my medallion and tell them that I must know what I am doing as i have attended a 3 day course and got a medal for it (despite the fact i have run tons of weddings already and spent many days/money in workshops/training). I don't really intend to wear the fox hunting suit but I suppose its a nice thing to have for future benefit? Learning the formality of toasting a royal banquet would be nice not that i ever will need that either.

My question is whats the best guild to get as there seem to be lots of break off ones, that are probably not that well recognised?

[funkymook]

I am fed up with toastmasters being rude to me when i mention that I run weddings. I want to get the best guild qualification possible so I can whip out my medallion and tell them that I must know what I am doing as i have attended a 3 day course and got a medal for it (despite the fact i have run tons of weddings already and spent many days/money in workshops/training). I don't really intend to wear the fox hunting suit but I suppose its a nice thing to have for future benefit? Learning the formality of toasting a royal banquet would be nice not that i ever will need that either.

My question is whats the best guild to get as there seem to be lots of break off ones, that are probably not that well recognised?

When do you mention this to them? Hopefully it’s at off-duty social occasions rather than when discussing a wedding you’ve both been booked on.

[Excalibur]

When do you mention this to them? Hopefully it’s at off-duty social occasions rather than when discussing a wedding you’ve both been booked on.

Martin!!!!!!!! I'm shocked. I do so hope you're not implying that Toby would give less than 100% to his customers! Heaven forfend. It's clear that the lad is versatile and more than capable of keeping numerous balls airborne simultaneously. Had you aimed your remark at someone like me, whose train of thought is single track, it would be justified.

I know more than one DJ who is also a toastmaster, and it's a valuable string to your bow.

[ppentertainments]

Do you actually day that you 'RUN weddings' ?
I don't know about you, but my all day services are entirely different to the role of a professional toastmaster - in fact a few toastmasters recommend me.

[yourdj]

Do you actually day that you 'RUN weddings' ?

It is quite a tongue in cheek really - although this depends on the wedding, but especially the barns, marquees & private residencies where there is no management. I coordinate the wedding as well as do the announcements and other management. I could come up with a whole list of very strange things i have done over the last few years to help at weddings. its often the small things that make the most difference. I have written a book on it called the 'Ultimate wedding MC' (available next week). Generally the better the venue the less work there is to do on C&B as the management is better, so NO I don't run every wedding, but some I do.

The more demanding weddings the better - I had this email this morning which was nice, I feel my fee will be justified at this one:

Our venue is an exclusive hire and doesn’t come with a co-ordinator so we really like the sound of your all day package. Ideally we would like someone to act as a co-ordinator, calling guests for dinner, introducing bride and groom, announcing speeches etc as well as doing the ceremony music and the evening DJ.

Despite having 3 days toastmaster training in 2010, I want to do the national guild training to see what all the fuss is about. If anything I will gain some good skills and have an internationally credible qualification and a shiny medallion LOL. I have done about 20-30 all day weddings year since 2010/11, and when working with toastmasters (as DJ only) it is a very similar job. From the ones i have seen toastmaster are much more formal/scripted and less personal, but the bare bones of whats organised/managed its very similar to what I would do. i am no expert so it will be nice to have another string as excalaber said.

See my article in this months Promobile on this.

To answer the first post - I would probably not mention it to them, unless they ask. If we were having a chat and they were a reasonable character then i might discuss guilds etc. My main fear is that they may be threatened if I pull out a medallion or think I am being cocky as i don't use it as a toastmaster in a red coat? it more for my own benefit really and nice to have on my bio on the website. If on the odd occasion i have to work with a toastmaster (normally as they are on the package) i sink in to the background and do what I am paid to do - press play and make sure the microphones are working

[ppentertainments]

In that case Toby, if you really do all that and take that responsibility, your fees are comparable to sixty quid sid in my opinion - like most other DJs who take on this huge responsibility.

[funkymook]

I am fed up with toastmasters being rude to me when i mention that I run weddings.

So from what I can gather from your posts you don’t run weddings and no toastmasters have actually been rude to you.

Drop the waffle!

‘Has anyone had any experience of the various toastmaster guilds, do they all offer the same training, are any more highly regarded in the industry than others?’

would have given you the answers you wanted without needlessly denigrating toastmasters.

[yourdj]

So from what I can gather from your posts you don’t run weddings and no toastmasters have actually been rude to you.

Drop the waffle!

‘Has anyone had any experience of the various toastmaster guilds, do they all offer the same training, are any more highly regarded in the industry than others?’

would have given you the answers you wanted without needlessly denigrating toastmasters.

And my reply directly after that says its very tongue and cheek, i just want anyones advice on any toastmaster guilds.

[funkymook]

And my reply directly after that says its very tongue and cheek, i just want anyones advice on any toastmaster guilds.

There’s a massive difference between tongue in cheek and making stuff up - hopefully a good toastmasters course will teach you the difference because you really don’t want to make that mistake at a wedding.

[yourdj]

There’s a massive difference between tongue in cheek and making stuff up - hopefully a good toastmasters course will teach you the difference because you really don’t want to make that mistake at a wedding.

With all due respect to you you don't know me or my business. I just worded the first post inappropriately, so apologies for that.

I have been 'managing/hosting/MCing' 20-30 weddings a year since 2010 and have attended at least 10 courses in that time as well as ongoing tutoring from my resident venue wedding manager, whom has been doing the job for 20 years. I initially organised the toastmaster training in 2010 and found it very limited and over formal, so moved on to toastmasters international, Marbecca and so on.

I am very good at my job, but there are always things to learn and would like to learn more about other formal functions that are not wedding related.

i am, not making anything up! 2 weeks ago I had a very disorganised caterer and if you were there s a guest you would have thought I was 'running' it as he made so many little mistakes throughout the whole day. This video was shot 3 years back and despite having a venue manager there the father of the bride actually says 'toby ran the wedding' at 45 seconds. That was actually quite an easy one too.





All the best - i will duck out of this thread unless anyone has any guild suggestions.