The “evolution” of Texas Twins Events and The Pawning Planners happened after I recognized that many folks still could not afford the low cost alternatives I offered at Texas Twins Events- Low Cost Event Services & Wedding Ceremonies.
Over the past 2-3 years, I’ve been contacted by reporters, writers and even production companies regarding my unique dive into the wedding and events industry and how “I make everything work?” Occasionally, I’m asked if my blogs or journey can be used by other writers and “are you really protected by copyright and trademarks or do you just list legal pages on your sites?”
My sites are all copyright protected and, I knew “going in” that my journey would make an interesting story so I did use every means available to me to protect what is actually an autobiography of my life and my family. I’m currently working on a book based on the compilation of my blogs titled Travels of The Texas Twins- My Autobiography.
Although all of my sites are Copyscape Protected, I find photos taken from blogs of my family all over the Internet. Photos are generally copied from posts on Instagram, FB, Pinterest and Twitter and because these are public posts, I have no problem with copied photos. In fact, I post photos of our events specifically so friends and families of our clients can get their own copy. My photography team consists of my son and his wife- Robert and Stephanie Hafele. However, my writing being reproduced or altered is another story altogether and therefore, I’ve taken steps to protect “my story.”
What are the #Cindyisms that are featured on Pawning Planners Apparel is asked frequently by social media contacts followed by “Can I Copy That?” My twin sister created her sassy #RedneckReality sayings to feature on our line and sell to fund families. Because of the association of #Cindyisms and Pawning Planners Apparel, these funny hillbilly quotes are also protected by Trademark and Copyrights and have been used in many of my blogs Cindy Daniel- Creator of #Cindyisms For Pawning Planners Apparel.
#Cindyisms are based entirely on our experiences in the wedding and events industry coupled with her home life and family. Examples of the truth behind #Cindyisms:
“Don’t tell me my roses stink, if you haven’t been to my garden”
“Don’t throw trash over my fence, when you are living at the dump”
“You can’t make gravy out of water”
“He is like a blister showing up when the work is all done” “You can’t lead the chuck wagon, if you don’t know how to cook”
“You can’t be the trail boss, if you don’t know how to ride”
Gives you an idea of how funny Cindy Daniel really is. We are Serious (me) and Silly (Cindy) City (me) Country (Cindy) Twins.
I answer a lot of questions regarding how and why this whole business got started. My basic “dive” took place after my son’s wedding when my husband and I were struggling through the real estate crash. Advising my twin sister that “if I can get through this- I can do anything!” After selling our dream home, I used funds to start Texas Twins Events and set up websites. For my entire life folks have told Cindy and I “ya all should write a book!” I decided to mark my journey by blogging our adventures with real people and their real stories. My entire family help me at all of our events because we never know from one day to the next what type of event request we are doing- from Pawning Parties to Estate Liquidations, House Blessings, Baptisms, Birthday Parties, Anniversaries, Weddings, Divorce Parties and everything in between- we’ve had some fairly interesting requests while scheduling Appraisal Appointments, Refinishing and Listing Existing Trades and dashing off to our next event!
I blended Texas Twins Events with Texas Twins Treasures to create The Pawning Planners upon realizing that 40-60% of our clients couldn’t afford the low cost options at Texas Twins Events. My product knowledge of buying trends was learned from a lifetime of selling anything and everything from luxury cars to high end furniture. One of the keys to making a profit is knowing what the trade requires to refurbish and what the market value of a finished product is.
All three of my businesses work together to give the gift of a Dream Event. The Pawning Planners are two sets of twins with compensating personalities.
My Texas Twins Events Team consists of my son and his wife, and my nieces.
Texas Twins Treasures where refurbished items are sold offers daily priority shipping on items that fit in a priority box or envelope. Larger items require us to meet your freight company.
Yes we’ve had a fairly interesting journey as a family helping other families but it has also been my life story.
Meet My Team- The Pawning Planners- A TwinTeam and Texas Twins Events Team. I had the “bright idea” to provide our own wedding cakes but, it didn’t work out too Cooking With Wendy And Cindy. You see, trying to overcome every obstacles for these families has been a “journey” of trials and tribulations for me to try to go over or under whatever stood in my way.
Writing blogs about our adventures was a way for me to document what went wrong on location (banjo playing boyfriend, big mouthed bridesmaid, bee sting bride, etc.) as well as what went right! We’ve learned over the years that every wedding can’t be perfect but, we try to get as close to perfect as possible.
What is a “Wild Card Wedding?” Well, it’s a wedding where we are going in blind. We haven’t met the couple or had an Appraisal Appointment. We don’t know if there are inlaws and outlaws. Anything can happen and it usually does! No two events are alike and our clients are as diverse as our event services.
Everyday is a new adventure for The Pawning Planners and My Texas Twins Events Team.
But, let’s get back to why protecting your writing is important…
The best protection for a writers work (I write four blogs: Texas Twins Events, Texas Twins Treasures and this blog for The Pawning Planners) consists of three elements (a) common sense, (b) copyright protection, and (c) a good paper trail.
Common sense means that you don’t share your story with just anyone. Make sure that you’re dealing with reputable people and companies, and don’t sign releases that give away your rights. Intellectual Property isn’t easy (or inexpensive) to come by with copyrights, trademarks and registration with the Writers Guild of America.
Why you need both documents may seem somewhat complicated, the WGA script registration service is a service run by both the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAA) to establish the date of the creation of literary property, which can be useful in the entertainment field.
Registration with the Guilds has become important in lawsuits for copyright infringement especially where the degre of copying is very loose or vague or conceptual. Although registration is an important part of assisting in protecting a writers rights to his or her work and determining compensation, registration is not the same as a US Copyright. Registration is not proof of copyright protection or ownership. Additionally, an official Copyright registration with the U.S. Library of Congress is required to invoke the jurisdiction of U.S. Federal Courts, where most copyright infringement cases are adjudicated.
I hope this better explains why I will not give permission to plagiarize my life or blogs by other writers.
Wendy M Wortham
Comments by Wendy Wortham