You may have spotted a tall man with a camera visiting various Ruddington businesses over the past week or so – then asking the staff to sing!?
In a festive first for our village, Ruddington Village Centre Partnership (RVCP) contacted all of its Loyalty Card retailers asking them if they’d like to be involved in a localised Christmas music video to help promote themselves and their business. The first dozen traders who responded to the email got the gig!
The original inspiration came via RVCP founder Sally Beards of Phoenix Flowers {top photo} who told us: “My daughter saw the new Visa Christmas Ad – #KeepItLocalThisChristmas and, when she showed it to me, I thought it’d be wonderful if the Ruddington shops could do our own version. I was especially excited about this video because it features a florist! So I mentioned it to Louise Third when she popped in, since she works in PR, and it all went from there!”
Once the idea reached RUDDINGTON.info, we discovered the licensing cost of producing a local version using that Mariah Carey song was prohibitive. Instead, we suggested the idea of singing a traditional Carol – which could accommodate a dozen traders – as the basis of Ruddington’s own Christmas Ad!
With alternative lyrics especially written by yours truly for those taking part, adapted from “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, RUDDINGTON.info then asked Ruddington Community Choir if they’d sing a suitable accompaniment, and village videographer Paul Witney if he’d record and produce it. Thankfully both Bernie Bracha and Paul said “yes” – and the end result will be revealed this Saturday (December 1st) at Ruddington’s Christmas Fayre!
As there was zero budget, everyone involved in the production has given up their time and talent for free – to benefit our village shops by encouraging people to shop locally. Chair of RVCP Mike Ader said: “This is a fantastic example of the spirit of Ruddington – the village coming together, demonstrating its vibrancy.”
After the initial recording and filming of the Choir at Ruddington Methodist Church, staff from twelve local retailers then sang their line whilst going about their daily work – as you can see in the photographs below! The resulting video features contributions from Ruddington Village Butchers, The Post Office, Old Bakehouse Tearoom, The Black Cat Cafe with Jasper’s Cafe, National Car Finder, Perkins Hardware, David Richards Jewellers, The Frame Breakers Pub, Philo’s Deli, The Honeycomb Christian Charity Shop, Thomas James Estate Agents and, of course, Phoenix Flowers.
However, to HEAR them all perform, you’ll need to be at The Frame Breakers pub at 1.00pm this Saturday to enjoy the World Premiere of the “Twelve Days of Traders” Ruddington Christmas Ad 2018!
After that, you’ll find it available to watch here on RUDDINGTON.info. That’s when we’ll expect you to help us promote it by sharing it with absolutely everyone you know on social media so that, naturally, it can go “viral”!?
Have a “Ruddy Good Christmas!”
