This weekend saw 20-odd translators make the pilgrimage to the holy site of Avignon for a weekend packed full of networking, idea-sharing and general merriment. The Avignonaganza event was billed as a full-day professional workshop and networking session organised by Andrew Morris of Standing Out fame, and more than lived up to expectations.

Disembarking from the Montpellier train, I made my way to the aptly named Medieval Hotel, pausing only to claw at my hair and brush my teeth (the only dress code requirements listed by Andrew), before venturing over to Ginette et Marcel, a traditional French eatery where some of us were due to meet for dinner. I was immediately put at ease by the friendly translators who had already arrived, and we spent the next three hours or so getting to know one another, putting names to the Facebook icons and indulging in delicious tartines.

The next morning, we gathered at the five-star Hôtel d’Europe, a decadent 18th-century mansion Andrew had chosen as the venue for the workshop and lunch. We began with a few mingling exercises in which an in-demand interpreter found herself hounded into a corner, and explored the concepts behind the Translator’s Invisible Toolkit, Andrew’s vision of the personal qualities inherent to becoming a successful translator. The topic raised a number of points for discussion, and there was a lot of lively and thought-provoking debate as a result. Next, we looked back over how our careers and lives have developed over the past three years, and reflected on where we hoped to be in 2019. All of the exercises involved group work and a worksheet presented in a glossy folder complete with pretty stickers, which I managed to somehow lose. Not only am I disappointed in myself, I’m also slightly concerned that somewhere in Avignon, on a bench in a park perhaps, a stranger sat under the beating sun is currently wading through the hopes, dreams and fantasies of a random 29-year-old translator. I’m especially annoyed about the stickers, although as Andrew’s partner Brigitte apparently says, I should try to find the gift in the loss… I’ll get back to you on that one.

We lunched (the verb seems appropriate) in the hotel’s restaurant, a very elegant experience and possibly my favourite part of the weekend. The conversation flowed, as did the wine: the stuff seemed to magically reappear unsummoned, and dish after dish landed on the crisp white tablecloth before us. Salmon risotto, some kind of red berry delight, and my personal highlight, lentils. I hadn’t known a simple bowl of lentils could be so moreish. I was sat next to Andrew, and it was a great opportunity to get to know the brain behind the Standing Out community. Being able to talk freely with my fellow translators on all subjects, soaking up beautiful surroundings and enjoying delicious food: it was a moment I really appreciated.

I slip away for a cigarette, leaving Tizzy to walk Andrew through his new plans for world domination

After lunch, a series of exercises resulted in some interesting new angles for me to consider. “It’s good to know who you are,” Andrew said, “it’s also good to know who you can be.” He talked to us about this idea that there needn’t be a ‘script’ that each person feels bound to follow, and briefly touched on his own early insecurities, the way he used to second guess and doubt his own worth and abilities. One thing that resonated with me was when he talked about the need to take control of your own life and progress, to become “the architect [of your own] life […] or else [I’m] just going to be drifting.” The word ‘drifting’ really hit home, as it’s something I find myself all too eager to do, both professionally and geographically. The final section of the workshop concerned alignment, and although it made sense, the wine sloshing through my veins and my mild attention deficit issues made it difficult to focus.

Blurry action shot

A fatherly Andrew looks out over his young grasshoppers, urging them silently on to take the first hop that might set them free…

We retired to our various hotels, and met later that evening for dinner, which was inevitably less impressive than lunch (the entire group was force-fed vegan tagine and then there were no desserts for the vegans. Say whaaaaat?). Nevertheless, we had an excellent night, and I was thrilled to meet Andrew’s partner, who features heavily in his anecdotes and had taken shape, in my mind’s eye, as a very glamorous character indeed. I wasn’t disappointed. She emerged in a cloud of sandalwood essence, her mahogany hair glimmering in the candlelight, and proceeded to initiate me into the secrets of love in an esoteric end-of-table tête-à-tête. It was clear to me how these two complement one another professionally and personally, and that too was another unexpected source of inspiration.

The weekend was my first experience of an industry event, and I loved it. My priority was to meet the members of Standing Out who, over the past few months, have come to feel like real colleagues and friends. Coming away from the Avignonaganza, I feel like I’ve deepened my connection to many of them, and have formed the beginnings of new friendships with others – professionals scattered across France and Europe. I didn’t ‘set out to learn’, specifically, but learn I did. Meeting James Myatt, who runs Word Connection alongside Kaori Myatt, completely reversed my misconceptions of the way in which the industry is heading: he had a lot of interesting thoughts on tech to share, as well as some invaluable advice on getting the most out of CAT tools and TM upkeep. Irene McClure essentially fast-tracked me through everything I needed to know about the French tax system and freelancing in France. I found myself jotting down loads of new ideas for changes I wanted to make to my professional life, and on my way out of Avignon the next morning, I began outlining fresh points to consider for a different, completely translation-unrelated business idea I’ve had for awhile now. I realised that I wanted to invest in more technology, visit trade fairs, get a Swiss ball and stop procrastinating, possibly some time next week.

It was a frequent joke over the course of the weekend: there were only three men present. But I have to say, one of the other aspects I enjoyed, albeit in retrospect, was the sense of interacting and learning from some very successful, helpful, warm and accepting women, all self-employed, many of them also balancing children and distance from their families. I think that was a very inspiring aspect of my Standing Out experience in Avignon, although as I say, it didn’t occur to me until I was on the train home. I don’t want to promote Standing Out as some kind of beacon of feminism, but women are well represented in our industry, and the event felt very supportive on that level.

Finally, I should say a few words about Andrew himself, as the driving force behind Standing Out must surely be the power of his personality. I was expecting a kind of larger-than-life figure, and I get the sense that he may be something of a Marmite character in the industry. When I first began talking to him on the Friday evening, I immediately realised that this is a person without any ‘side’ to him, a person confident in his talents and abilities, yet nevertheless humble and always seeking to expand the contours of his life, both on a personal and professional level. Andrew’s talent lies in bringing people together, creating a warm atmosphere in which each person feels as valued as the next, and in sharing his boundless optimism and zest for life. His latest mystery-shrouded project, Fabula, would appear to be the physical manifestation of these gifts. He exudes a kind of energy that inevitably rubs off on you. I found him to be open, encouraging and attentive to every person present, and it goes without saying that an event like Avignonaganza, no matter how casual the vibe, most certainly required a huge amount of effort in its planning.

Avignonaganza was both fun and inspiring, the perfect combination of professional ‘skill-honing’ and socialising, and I’ll be back for Round 2. I’ll definitely try and meet up with one or two of ‘this season’s’ -aganza groups, not for the workshop as the material will be the same, but for drinks and dinner. These Standing Out events strike me as particularly well-suited to translators who are just starting out, as is the Standing Out Facebook group generally. Many of the more seasoned translators told me that this event is unlike any other in its intimacy, the general feeling seemed to be that the Standing Out sessions are smaller, friendlier and more upbeat than your standard industry conference, while nevertheless offering up great opportunities for learning and networking. It really did feel like becoming a part of a family. The Standing Out community has been key to making me feel better about my work and profession: these are people who laugh easily, accept willingly, and don’t equate professional experience with personal worth. Recommended.

Thank you to the translators and photographers extraordinaire Jane Eggers, Peter Bowen and Kaori Myatt for the pics.