Why We Stopped Chasing Awards — And What We're Focusing On Instead

In the wedding industry, awards used to mean something. A trophy, badge, or “Top 10” list spot signified excellence, hard work, and skill. Unfortunately over the last few years, things have changed. We at Vegas Entertainment have decided to stop chasing awards—and here’s why.

The Harsh Truth: Accolades have become a business

Time to be real: many awards are no longer based on talent or results. Instead, they’re driven by paywalls, popularity votes, or sponsorship deals.

Here’s what’s really going on behind the scenes:

Paid Placement for Top Spots

Many "top-ranking" websites now charge businesses to be featured in the #1 spot (sometimes #2 - #5 spots for a lesser charge). You’re not winning based on merit—you’re buying exposure. Now that these websites have become "reputable" and high ranking in search engines as "authorities" based on their past, their web traffic and "exposure" have now made them monetarily valuable. Below is an email thread I had with one such website.

At the time of writing of this article, no where on their site is it made known to the reader that the top spot(s) have been paid for.

Interestingly enough, where we were once ranked within the top 5 on this particular site, we are now ranked 10th. I wonder why...

Vote Farming

Other awards are now decided by who can gather the most votes, not who delivers the best service. It’s become a popularity contest, not a quality contest. The only ones that benefit are the award websites as companies flood them with traffic to receive votes from their friends, families, and past clients in an attempt to get more votes than their competition. Not surprising, these "award givers" also provide opportunities for monetary sponsorship.

Fake Credibility

Unfortunately these badges and seals no longer guarantee excellence. Some companies win simply because they paid the fee, or ran a voting campaign—not because they were the best at what they do in that particular year. This is the sad reality of awards these days. It's no longer about a pursuit of excellence in your field, it's just how well you can field an award claiming excellence.

We’re Done Playing That Game -

Why We Stopped Chasing awards

At Vegas Entertainment, we’d rather focus on real client satisfaction than fake industry clout. As of 2025 we are no longer chasing awards, or external "industry" ratings. There will never be another ask for people to vote for us. Instead of buying badges and playing in popularity contests, we’re investing in:

✅ Unforgettable live DJ experiences

✅ Authentic 5-star client reviews

✅ Superb customer experiences

✅ Content that helps real people plan better events

✅ Outreach that earns trust and visibility without shortcuts

What Matters More Than Awards

Client experience. Reputation. Word-of-mouth. Why? Because that’s what lasts.

Every party we hype, every dance floor we fill, every life we impact through our unique brand of entertainment — that’s our reward. Those moments matter more than a paid listing on someone’s website, or another badge to add to our already huge list of earned accomplishments.

When you book Vegas Entertainment, you’re not getting a company that buys its way to the top. You’re getting a team that has earned it the old-school way: through passion, results, and nonstop hustle.

Final Word: Choose Real Over Recognition

If you’re a client looking for the best DJ, or live entertainment in Calgary (or any city for that matter because they do this all over), beware the badge—check the reviews, the videos, the social media platforms and get the real results.

Also, if you're a fellow business owner tired of feeling like you have to “keep up” with awards—stop it! Trust in yourself and the service you provide. The best recognition comes from repeat clients, referrals, and reputation. Real results beat rigged rankings—every single time.