Photograph by Len Copland
Hello! I’m Antonia Burt
Empath, creative, foodie, optimist, ambivert and animal lover.
I’m a Civil Celebrant and Music Manager of Heritage Artist Jo Burt. I became an accredited Celebrant in 2020 after over 30 years’ demanding and high profile experience in other fields. I am also a natural empath, and have always been drawn to helping people. Running a successful independent music and marketing company for over a decade meant I rarely had time to myself, so when the COVID-19 lockdown put the brakes on my entire business for a few months, I jumped at the chance to take an intensive distance learning course and train to become a Celebrant – something I had been thinking about for a while.
My company name ‘Beauhemia’ is no accident. If you’re looking for someone corporate and jargon-based – I’m NOT your woman! I’ve been there & done that – it’s not me. If, however, you’re after intuition, passion, empathy and 30 years of extraordinary experience … you know where to find me.
I began my career in London working for an international event organisation company with major military defence contracts. After 3 years I moved into the media and music industry. Beginning with media contracts for various advertising, PR and production companies; numerous short term contracts for every major record label, including Sony and BMG followed.
In roles as diverse as A&R, Artist Liaison, Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing; when I was ultimately head-hunted by the Promotions department at Columbia Records I brought with me a unique understanding of the many varied elements of the music business.
In 2002, I made the decision to move on from my extremely successful career at Columbia, having spent many years working closely with artists such as Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child, Savage Garden, Aerosmith and many more of Columbia’s heavy-weight roster.
Striking out on my own as a freelance Promotions Consultant proved the right decision and I spent the next 8 years working with clients as diverse as hair and beauty salons, fitness studios and fashion houses, through to bands and musicians.
Developing my ability to digitally typeset and create promotional artwork during this time, I also began designing entire ranges of publicity material for many of my clients, the only part of my promotional activity that I have decided to continue since becoming an accredited Celebrant.
On moving from London to Dorset in 2009, I continued to work with my key London-based clients, until I saw an opportunity with Northcliffe Media South West & Wales, which I took for six months – and stayed for two years! When I felt it had run it’s course, I left Northcliffe to set out on my own once more as a freelance Promotions Consultant and ‘Beauhemia’ was born.
My broad experience over the years has involved working as a DJ for Total Rock radio; being a published columnist, a voice-over artist, modelling for various independent fashion designers, and performing and recording regularly with a professional touring and festival band. This all helps to make Beauhemia, Beauhemia!
As mentioned above, In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown gave me the ‘luxury’ of time to train as a Civil Celebrant, and add another string to my bow. The reason I chose to become a celebrant was to help people deal with the trauma of saying goodbye to their loved ones, and to try and ease the burden. It has proved to be the perfect decision for me and I’m thriving on helping families cope, and writing and performing wonderful ceremonies for them.
I’m also very happily married and love the idea of being an integral part of people’s commitment to one another.
Photograph by Terry Brisco