Sentiment - Video and photo montage production

Looking back to April 2006 when I set up Sentiment Ltd, we were the only UK company on the web that was related to funeral event planning and tribute video production. At the time, Sentiment was being run from the website sentiment-farewells.co.uk with the business model of being funeral event planners and offering memorial video tributes and photo slide-shows.

To get any financial backing, we needed proof that there was a market, this meant researching other companies that offered the same service.  In 2005 and 2006 there was nothing out there. The closest I could get was a company called Lights Enterprises in the USA.

In the UK there were some great funeral related businesses – Green Fuse (who back then, were celebrants offering training from a flower shop website). There was also a website offering online obituaries and of course there was the then fast growing Colourful Coffins and the trusty Natural Death Centre and its affiliates of radical funeral directors, woodland burial sites and Eco coffin manufacturers. The NDC was and still is very successful in promoting the  green funeral movement as was Judith Pigeon who was at the time developing a network of holistic  funeral and farewell affiliates.

I researched Lights Out and was excited to see that I wasn’t the only crazy person in the world trying to make my way in what was essentially a ‘non-existent market’.  I contacted Lynn of Lights Out  and we had some good chats on email. She had done so well to get where she had. She was a real inspiration, something that kept me on the path of trying to kick holes out of the brick wall that is the UK’s funeral industry.

The past 4 years has been amazing, watching the change unfolding on the Internet today, seeing a growth of fantastic and inspirational memorial and funeral planning options and the media interest.

The idea of changing funerals was certainly not original to Sentiment or to all the other companies that have surfaced and set up over the past few years – It’s a natural progression, a natural change, a shift in attitudes that has created a demand. If anyone has ever read ‘The Tipping Point‘ you will understand that Gladwell defines a tipping point as “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.” The book seeks to explain and describe the “mysterious” sociological changes that mark everyday life. As Gladwell states, “Ideas and products and messages and behaviours spread like viruses do.“

I have found myself amongst very good company of some great ‘Farewell Innovators’ – The Fantastic Funeral Company, Phoenix Diamonds, Much Loved, The Good Funeral Guide,  Colourful Coffins, Volkswagen Funerals, funeral celebrants, My Last Song,  The Natural Death Centre, Heavens Above Fireworks and OneLife Ceremonies to name a few (sorry if I’ve forgotten you on here, feel free to reply to the blog and give me a cyber slap for forgetting you!)

There is now an abundance of resources available to the consumer there are so many new products available that there are books and even websites showing you just a handful of the products out on the market today such as Funeral Inspirations who have a clean website offering a choice of products.  The Transitus Resource List have a PDF full of their network of funeral innovators, and then there is The Good Funeral Guide which offers not just a blog and websites full of information and advice and help but also a book too!!!

So signing off today, I’d like to say a huge congratulations to everyone who has taken the plunge and set up unique business in the farewell, funeral and memorial industry (both in the UK and to those of you in the USA) You are all the reason why this industry is now at a very positive Tipping Point.

Here is the last installment of  Sentiment Music For The Soul – Part 10

This is part 10 of 10 play lists complied by Sentiment staff, Sentiment clients, our social network (twitter and facebook) and  friends and family from all ages, generations and walks of life.

Perfect songs for everyone – be it funerals, bereavement, or just thinking about life.

Enjoy

If you would like to view the play lists 1- 10 please  view the links through the Sentiment blog

for those who don’t have spotify here is a copy of  the track listing

Here is this weeks installment of  Sentiment Music For The Soul – Part 9

This is part 9 of 10 play lists complied by Sentiment staff, Sentiment clients, our social network (twitter and facebook) and  friends and family from all ages, generations and walks of life.

Perfect songs for everyone – be it funerals, bereavement, or just thinking about life.

Enjoy

If you would like to view the play lists 1- 9 please  view the links through the Sentiment blog

for those who don’t have spotify here is a copy of  the track listing

Here is the 3rd installment of  the 10 playlists we plan to share with you over the next few months. - 

 Sentiments music for the soul – a collaberation of funeral and healing music gatherd from all ages, walks of life and from Sentiment.

 Life is a terminal condition… So do the best you can with the time you have left, with the things you have, with the people you love…

I found this quote a while back and kept it, and today it seems appropriate to share it. 

We had some sad news this week, a family friend died suddenly on Monday. she was all of 54, my mum’s age. Jane was one of my mum’s oldest closest friends, It’s a shock and everyone is wondering around feeling totally lost.

My heart goes out to her husband and kids and all her friends

The thing i will always be grateful for is that Sentiment  changed my attitude, I have what’s seen as a ‘different’ and sometime unnerving  attitude on life and that sometimes can makes my friends and family feel awkward – I face that I may not be here tomorrow, yes its morbid eyes, but for me it works, it helps me live a positive life, ensuring there is peace with everything and everyone.

We just don’t know when we’re going, where we’re going or how – so even if for today,  treat it like it’s your last, call those people you love, do something simple and beautiful like look out the window and actually see the colour of the trees – because you’d be sure to miss it when its gone

My Next playlist music for the soul playlist is dedicated to Jane, her family and the friends she left behind

Music for the soul part 3 playlist is in the next blog here is the link

Hi to everyone,

This is the 2nd installment of ‘The Power of Music’.

There are a total of 10 playlists to be shared over the next few months.

Sentiment’s Music for the Soul playlists are complied of music choices for funerals and celebrations of life, shared by everyone who follows us on Twitter, Facebook, friends, family, clients past and present and funerals we have worked on in the past 4 years.

There is a wide age of people who have added to these playlists from 90 year old to 19 year olds – enjoy the variety

The Power of Music – Playlist 2

If people ask me why I set up Sentiment the usual reply is ‘Music’!

Knowing how music can vastly change an image you are watching, an event you are attending or an emotion that you are experiencing is the main reason for driving Sentiment forward.

The right music at a funeral or an event can leave an impact that will last forever in your heart. The right music set to photos or video means you will watch it over and over again feeding from the comfort of both music and imagery.

Music has the power to influence your mood, manipulate your perceptions and make a situation greater.

I am well aware that not everyone is a music boff, in fact I have been incredibly surprised that about 50% of our clients struggle with choosing the music they want for their tribute videos and photo montage DVDs. In this instance we get the honourable opportunity to understand their tastes and help them choose something that’s appropriate and meaningful.  Whatever age, generation or walk of life, music is there for everyone. Music for a Funeral or Video Tribute  or just to listen to does not have to stick to the traditional songs that is set by the ‘Norm’ nor to the words need to reflect the exact moment – there are a million of songs out there, if its your / their choice there will be no question that it is right -  music is personal and beautiful and there to be enjoyed – we all have music that represents us.

Here is our first instalment of ‘Sentiment’s Music for the Soul (Part 1) ‘… There is something here for everyone. It’s taken from past clients and music ideas from friends and  family.  Please do send us your music choices and we will be sure to add them to our playlists.

It’s the 1st compilation of 10 playlists to be launched over the next few months.

The Power of Music (Part 1)

for those of you without spotify - I would recommend joining – if you love music you’ll love spotify, its free!