Why doesn't Groovy Entertainment have any Wedding Industry awards in the Wedding Awards Australia?

During the first ten days of July, the Western Australian Wedding Awards for 2025 were announced. This is a time to encourage your clients to vote for you, enhancing your recognition as a professional in the wedding industry. However, Groovy Entertainment choses not to promote or request support from my valued clients for these awards.

The Wedding Industry Awards - Western Australia 2025

When I was first nominated, possibly in 2021 or 2022, I actively promoted myself on social media. Unfortunately, it became apparent that winning required a financial commitment to participate. While those who do pay and win are certainly deserving, this approach does not align with my business philosophy.

I acknowledge the benefits and understand the value of this initiative. The publicity would indeed be beneficial, but I am not willing to pay for an award. My priority is to provide exceptional service to my clients.  I much prefer to put my hard earned cash back into my equipment that directly effects my clients rather than an award that sits on a shelf.

There are several reasons why I do not support these awards, which I will outline below:

1. I believe I do not need an award to validate my expertise.

Recognition as an outstanding vendor is appreciated by many. It serves as a powerful marketing tool, such as being ranked #1 in Western Australia. However, having sustained a successful career for 27 years in this competitive industry is a testament to my professionalism and skill as a Wedding DJ. If my services were lacking, clients would not hire me or express their satisfaction.

2. Are the awards a fair representation of the industry for me?

I have not thoroughly investigated the voting process, but it seems inequitable. For instance, I can only perform at one event per night, whereas other companies may handle 8-10 events simultaneously. This disparity provides an advantage to larger companies. If the scoring requires a certain number of votes, a multi-DJ company can achieve this more easily than I can.

3. The criteria for these awards are unclear.

Do the awards assess punctuality, equipment quality, or the professionalism of the setup? Do they consider the subtle aspects of an event, such as sound management during dinner, or the appropriateness of song selection and mixing? As a broad award with various categories, it is difficult to see how it truly evaluates my performance as a DJ or MC.

4. What happens at a national level with these awards?

If you win at the state level, you advance to the national awards. However, how does what occurs here in Western Australia measure up against the rest of the country? What are the criteria for comparison? What aspects of your work with clients are being acknowledged compared to those in other states?

5. This is not my full-time occupation.

Unlike many DJs or companies, I do not work full-time in this field. I operate independently without a support team. I personally handle all client communications and manage my business alongside my full-time teaching career. I give my time as much as I can where companies have people devoted to website maintenance or social media promotion. It is unclear if the awards account for these factors or focus solely on business presentation.

To be clear, the wedding awards have a significant role in the industry. Many individuals rightfully earn the recognition they provide, and they strive to deliver exceptional client experiences. However, they do not align with my business approach and these are my own personal feelings on the awards.

If you seek a personalized touch for your event or special occasion, please feel free to contact me.

Gavin Poole

Groovy Entertainment