Hello,
Welcome to the Rural&West first blog! Thank you for being here, you might want to make a cuppa before you start, its a long one!
This years start was absolutely awful... or so I thought.
For some reason there is a stigma that people in events have very glamorous lives and it's an easy role to fulfill.
Just to clarify it is neither!
I won't go into why i thought it was so awful because whereas i state facts and evidence there is too many that love to gossip, and well quiet frankly if your talking about me at least your leaving everyone else alone! (one of my favourite sayings)
But as one door closed my goodness did we get a treat when the next opened! With some research, hard work and commitment It went from 0-60!
The highlights for this year have been working with the new venue in Bristol and having The Whiskey Brothers play for us in Wales. 2 achievements, that i am proud of.
The Bristol venue is just phenomenal and has a great community vibe, the neighbourhood is expanding rapidly and the community venue is one of the best I have worked with. The venue management team have been really supportive and pushed me, a little out my comfort zone at times!
The managers at the venue have helped me grow and taught me so much in a short space of time, something i am very grateful for, and look forward to learning more. Everyone has a different way of working and I really like seeing things from a new perspective.
Working with new traders has also been so much fun, connecting with new people and seeing so many brilliant businesses. Including 2 new small business owners who choose to do their first markets with Rural&West in Bristol, one sold out in 2 hours and the other sold more books than Waterstones in a week! Ok slight exaggeration but it was amazing! Both of these businesses went from idea to setting up start ups and being market ready in about 8-10 weeks. Super proud!
You are all probably sick of hearing about The Whiskey Brothers, but i am so damn proud i was the one who got them to do their first gig in Wales. Such a proud moment! We even had people fly from Australia to Mwnt just to see them!
The night was incredible, The Shed was buzzing and the feedback was amazing, having hundreds of people there to see something i organised was a tear jerker, i still have to pinch myself that i put all that together!
The Shed at Mwnt is such a gorgeous venue and the owners have been really supportive over the past 2 years and for that i am so grateful. Excited to be holding Oktoberfest with them again this year. (Tickets are now available online).
A few weeks have past since TWB gig and it's been horrible! As an organiser the months of hardwork comes to an abrupt end, the acts go home, the venue becomes empty and suddenly all the hard work has gone, in just a few short hours! 6 months of work now a distant memory.
The adrenaline crashes and your left to fill this void of knowing you achieved something great but its over... Until the next one!
It's a really weird and uncomfortable lull, I am still recovering and trying to get back to some sort of normality, rest would probably help but who has time for that?
On a more positive note i have finally focussed on the website and bought everything together in one place; markets, events, party planning and personalised gifts.
I have even added a trader enquiry form, go me!
Must admit i detest AI but i certainly would not have been able to achieve the website without it! *she says begrudgingly.
That being said I refuse to use it for generic advertising... Anyone else only want the real deal?!
Are you using AI for business ads? There is nothing unique about them... But you all have one thing in common, people just keep on scrolling past! Where is the soul, the human connection, the why, the passion? That's all in YOU not computer software. YOU know your business better than anyone.
When can we go back to pen and paper, the essential post it note stash and a groovy chick pencil case?
Much love,
R&W xx