3416 and counting!

2006 Convention

“Phil, it’s almost midnight and we have to get the van packed to leave for Coventry. You can keep picking up Convention bookings when we get there!”

Pre-registrations had gone nothing short of wild this year. At best estimate we were expecting a top end of 3,000 attendees, but never in our wildest dreams could we have anticipated the astronomical sum of 3,416! By 1pm on Saturday 14 January, the girls on reception had run out of ‘Trade Only’ red badges and were getting busy with felt tip pens amending the other colours we had in reserve.

Convention Picture

Juliet was heard to say, “ I had two and a half thousand red badges, are you sure they’re all gone?” An air of disbelief spread throughout the Convention team as the event had evolved into a truly international affair with attendees from 21 countries converging on Coventry for what has undoubtedly become the best Convention outside the Continental United States. As for Phil, in his usual laid-back manner…”I think it’s going OK, don’t you?” – as ever a modest master of the art of understatement.

With the event utilising over 1,000 bedrooms in the Coventry area, I really felt sorry for anyone wishing to visit that fair city on the off-chance that weekend. Certainly a case of ‘No room at the inn’.

The event kicked off on, of all days, Friday the thirteenth! Certainly not unlucky for the SWPP & BPPA as a lively audience packed the marquee to listen to Australian guru, David Anthony Williams. Attendees were piling into the Royal Court Hotel as the trade delegations desperately fought to set up their stands while being bombarded with questions from information-hungry delegates. So much for the Trade Show opening at 4pm!

Imagefile

Luckily there were few last minute changes to the programme. American marketing dynamo and lord of the ‘Big Whopper’ (you had to be there folks!), Mitche Graf, was unavoidably delayed due to the fact that a French air-traffic controller had mistaken a sliver of cheese and a caper for an outgoing 737 bound for Birmingham and immediately ate the evidence! The larger-than-life, Malcolm Mathieson not only stepped into the breach to fill the gap, but also agreed to repeat his programme the following day to put us back on schedule.

In fact all the speakers acted as though we were one big family, offering to help wherever and whenever they could to ensure not only the success of the event but the enviable camaraderie that is fast becoming the hallmark of the Organisation and Convention. Walt Malone from Canada even stood at arrivals at Birmingham airport welcoming the incoming international delegates who were being shuttled to their respective hotels. Thanks Walt!

And so the die was cast. Seminars bursting at the seams with delegates anxious to take in as much as they could over the next couple of days. Morning, noon and night there was no shortage of choice on that front. Marketing and presentation, weddings, portraits and other specialist disciplines made up the menu for this feast of training.

attendees

It would take pages just to list our distinguished speakers and their achievements so I will content myself with plagiarising the well-known words of our greatest statesman… ‘Never has so much been done for so many, by so few.’ Thank you to each and every one, from all of us.

Not content with a feast of training opportunities, entertainment was also high on the agenda with Saturday's ‘International Party Night’. Delegates could dine in the good old U-S of A, a French bistro or indulge in Caribbean cuisine, with floorshows to match each area. So whether your tastes were for black jack and roulette, accordions and table magic or even the art of limbo dancing to the rhythm of a steel band, the choice was yours.

Seminar Pic

Early on Sunday afternoon there were a series of clandestine meetings taking place in Tom Lee’s room as the finishing touches were being put to the Award's Dinner presentation. With three very special awards being made that evening, the need to keep our hawk-eyed editor, Mike McNamee, out of the loop, became of paramount importance. Tom and President Terry worked frantically to ensure this year’s dinner would be a memorable one, and how they succeeded!

With a little over 500 people in the room, the atmosphere was electric. Both the international and domestic awards illustrated some fine photography and very worthy winners. Overseas Canadian supremo, Walt Malone, had already scooped a handful of awards but was nonetheless shocked to receive the ultimate accolade. And as for the UK winner? Well, Gordon McGowan has won his fair share over the years, but was totally shocked at this latest addition to his considerable collection. The pride and humility shown by all the winners was a tribute to the quality of membership of a truly International organisation.

And for dessert? Over 150 tireless and enthusiastic delegates attended an all-day seminar by Bambi Cantrell. What a way to close this special event!

For me to sum up the 2006 Convention…well, I have made so many new friends and renewed relationships with even more old ones too. I am sure that I am not alone. To some of the new ones I say, thanks for all the Mentoring CD’s constituting excess baggage with Ryanair! No rest for the wicked eh?

Well, this year we have been spoiled with fantastic seminars from some of the world’s leading exponents of our craft, entertained in style and mesmerised by the final night show. In truth, we were bursting at the seams at our delightful and trusty Coventry venue, but times march on. So, next year we move to London in an all-encompassing venue, which is ideal for our needs. I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be spilling out onto the streets of London in 2007.

David Anthony Williams

I cannot close without paying tribute to the trade, who by their attendance in such numbers, added lustre to the event, and without you it would not have been possible to put on such a great show. I know that many of you will have done well, in some cases exceeding all expectations. So much so, that when we finally arrived back at Head Office in Rhyl, the emails and phone-calls had already begun. So, a mere 24 hours after the event, bookings are flying in at an astonishing rate and for that support, I know that Phil and Juliet thank you from the bottom of their hearts.

By the time you read this, Phil and Juliet will have attended the Professional Photographers' of America Convention in Austin, Texas and will probably just be getting back from PTO in Madeira in time to finalise the preparations for Focus. Their non-stop determination is the driving force behind the success of the SWPP & BPPA and for that I am sure we are all grateful.

The moral of the story? Don’t miss out in 2007! Follow the lead of our fantastically loyal trade sponsors and book in early to enjoy what could well be the world’s greatest photographic Convention.

The SWPP 2008 Convention was an outstanding success,
we have 189 days to get ready for the 2009 convention - which starts on January 14, 2009

Photo Quote: A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words. - Ansel Adams