A New-World Celebrant
Apparently, there weren’t many celebrants in the 15th Century.
celebrant’s love story
Well, actually, there weren’t any. But there were quite a few explorers, especially in Europe. Some of them were focused on finding a new, less complicated way to reach what we think of as the far East. Their aim was to find more profitable access to the spices that were imported from that part of the world. Success would lead to great wealth. Various expeditions set off to the west with the intention of sailing possibly several-thousand miles into the unknown – and then start asking. *
How is this connected with celebrancy? Don’t ask me! Well, actually, you can. In a way, the step into the unknown that those 15th-Century explorers were taking is not unlike the experience of a lot of modern-day celebrants.
Those explorers were definitely heading into the unknown. It became thought of for a while as the New World, but they were hoping for the Promised Land **, but had absolutely no idea where they were going. Newfoundland? The West Indies? Tierra Del Fuego? Disneyland?
Like those adventurers of 600 years ago, many people on their celebrant journey know what they know, and they, too, have an idea of what they don’t know. But there’s a step beyond that: “The Great Unthought Of”.
** Older readers might think I’m quoting the lyrics from an old Seekers song – I’ll Never Find Another You!
*Even older readers might be familiar with the Icelandic legend of Lief Erikson (c. 970 – c. 1020) who reputedly was the first European to set foot on Continental America. He was also famous for his catchphrase: “May the Norse be with you”. Obviously, no photographs exist of Lief.nd
How do I know this about a lot of celebrants? I’ve taught them! Well, maybe not all of them. But I do know that many have little idea of how inadequately prepared they are both in general; and specifically. Most have had either no training in my specialist subject: voice and communication skills, or what they have had is perfunctory – and certainly not on a meaningful one-to-one basis. How can a celebrant do justice to a ceremony if their voice is hard to listen to? And even more importantly, if their communication skills are inadequate? Would a mountaineer climb the north face of the Eiger in trainers? Would a surgeon be allowed to practise if they weren’t skilled in cutting and stitching?
Just like the explorers of the 15th Century, most celebrants don’t know that there’s a vastly better way of connecting with their audiences, and bringing their scripts to life! An experienced celebrant of many years asked me “Why has no one ever told me this before? Why isn’t it common knowledge?”
At the moment, it’s Uncommon knowledge. What I teach is a synthesis of the relevant skills and experience I’ve accumulated from the various professional voice careers I’ve been successful in over several decades: actor; celebrant; broadcaster; singer; voiceover artist; comedian: vocal coach; and ventriloquist (yes!).
I’m surprised that no one (as far as I know) has come up with at least some of the techniques and ideas I’ve developed. They’re not particularly difficult to understand – although they do take a fair amount of guidance and practice to master. But it’s worth the effort because they raise the quality of the presentation of ceremonies (and other forms of public speaking) exponentially. The celebrant’s promised land. I’m not particularly keen about blowing my own trumpet,
and I know I’m banging on about this, but I want people to know about what I’ve discovered and refined – to the extent that I’ve put a lot of what I used to think of as my “secrets” into seven blogs: under the title Top Tips For Celebrants. I’d hate for my “secrets” not to be available when I’m no longer on the planet. (I’ve written other voice, communication, and celebrant-related blogs as well.)
Mind you, it’s one thing to have access to the information contained in my “secrets”, it’s another to know best how to make it work for you. Just as the explorers of all those years ago would have benefited from having guidance when they reached uncharted lands, I wish that I’d had someone to show me how to master the aspects of voice and communication that led me to be able to read a script while sounding natural and spontaneous.
It would have saved me years of finding out what works and what doesn’t. It’s the same with what I teach. I can show you my promised land, and guide you how to achieve the Holy Grail of bringing your ceremonies to life.
I’ll let someone else blow my trumpet now. This is a message from a working celebrant who did a few sessions with me not too long ago. If I’d written a testimonial for myself, I’d have come up with something like what she wrote!
Paul, despite being a celebrant for three years, no matter how much care and creativity I’d put into the writing, I felt that my presentation style was missing something. It didn’t engage the listener as much as I’d have liked, or me, in the delivery.
Since working with you, my perspective and scope in relation to celebrancy has totally transformed. You’ve helped me to add a quality to my delivery that I previously had no idea about. I don’t think I’ll even call it delivery anymore.
Someone who came to one of my recent funerals said to me “Were you reading that? Well, of course you were, you must have been; but it just didn’t seem like you were.”
To have such a marked change within a month is a massive testament to your teaching style – which felt informal, open, tailored to my needs and rooted in so many years’ experience that you have with voice and communication. The toolkit you’ve given me (which will keep me busy and improving for years to come) has given the whole celebrant journey a new layer to it. I feel more engaged in the art of presentation, storytelling and communing with the listener than before. Which in turn makes my work feel more personally fulfilling as I continue to grow within the role.
Areas I’d assumed which just came along with the package of the celebrant role are actually rich in their possibility. There’s a lot more to it than I’d even thought about before.
Thank you, I’ve been recommending you left right and centre, not just for celebrants but for anyone needing to present to others, at whatever stage of the journey they’re at. Ali C
As well as being the voice and communication person at Heartled Celebrants, as I mentioned, I work with celebrants who’ve trained elsewhere. Their comments are similar to the ones above. They’re generally astonished at what they’ve not been told.
If you’re interested in working with me, here’s a link about that.
How Much? How Many? – Paul Robinson Voice Coaching
I’m happy to talk with you by phone or Zoom to see it this is something that would suit you.
07469 957 199 paulyrobinson@outlook.com
For full two-on-one celebrant training, in person or on line, see Heart-led Celebrants – Heart-led Celebrants (heartledcelebrants.com)