We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Heather Burkett-Ocasio . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Heather below.

Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

I launched Events With A Twist *knowing* there was nothing else like it in Northeast Florida. Score! I thought I’d corner the market and see booming business in no time.

But it took me eleven grueling months to book my very first client.

The challenge? My services were *so* niche that people didn’t even know to look for me. Sabotage Mystery Parties, Video Scavenger Hunts, and Photoshoot Parties weren’t on anyone’s radar. If they didn’t know these existed, they couldn’t search for them—or realize they’d want them once they did.

To address this, I shifted my marketing to education. I joined Facebook groups, distributed brochures at networking events, and talked to anyone who’d listen about my business. I also created explanatory Instagram Reels and committed to posting on social media once or twice a day.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive—people were curious and intrigued. But hesitation remained. The issue? I thought my services were amazing, but without client reviews, people weren’t ready to commit. They liked the idea but didn’t yet love it enough to book.

The breakthrough came when I focused on offering my services to the general public. I knew once people experienced what I had to offer, they’d be hooked. But it wasn’t easy. My first public Sabotage Mystery Party drew just 8 guests, and while 50 people expressed interest in my Video Scavenger Hunt, not a single one submitted a video.

The takeaway? Succeeding in a niche market is just as challenging as thriving in a crowded one. Be prepared to hustle, educate your audience, and offer samples of your services to encourage engagement. If you believe in your idea, keep pushing until others do too!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Heather, and I’m the owner of Events With A Twist! I don’t have children (though I adore them!), so my incredible husband, Angel, and I shower all our love on our two cats, Catsanova and Catsyayana. We’re South Florida natives who made the big move to Jacksonville in December 2022—and haven’t looked back since!

I was always close to my parents, who nurtured my love for theater, games, puzzles, and parties. They also encouraged my creativity and imagination every step of the way. In 2018, after helping to plan my cousin’s wedding, I finally felt confident enough to pursue formal training. I enrolled at the New York Institute of Art and Design, where I earned certifications in Wedding and Event Planning in May of 2020. Timing being what it was, I used my economic stimulus check to open Weddings & Events by Heather.

Looking back, starting a party business during a pandemic wasn’t ideal! But I learned a lot, and when we relocated to Jacksonville, I was ready to take a fresh approach to event planning. With years of personal Video Scavenger Hunts under my belt and a new idea for a spin on traditional Murder Mystery Dinners, I began researching the local market. One year later, *Events With A Twist* was born.

Here’s what we offer:

– Sabotage Mystery Parties: Inspired by Murder Mystery Dinners, but less murder and more fun! Guests adopt quirky new identities and play party games to uncover who’s secretly the Saboteur. It’s a lot of laughter and intrigue with none of the gruesome drama.
– Video Scavenger Hunts: These shake up the classic scavenger hunt by asking players to complete challenges on video. Once the hunt is over, everyone gathers to watch the hilarious footage, swap stories, and crown a winner.
– Photoshoot Parties: In partnership with award-winning photographer Tina Minshall, these events combine personality-filled mini photoshoots with lively party games. Guests leave with cherished memories and professional photos, from digital albums to keepsake prints.

At Events With A Twist, we’re all about creating experiences that help people connect in unexpected ways. I want our events to be a safe space where guests can step outside their comfort zones, embrace their silly or wacky sides, and—most importantly—have a blast!

If you’re looking for an event that’s fun, interactive, and unforgettable, I’d love to entertain you!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

About seven months into my first year in business, I was incredibly fortunate to have a coaching session with Nata Salvatori, also known as The Accidental CEO. I’m so grateful for the knowledge and experience she shared with me during that time.

One of the most valuable lessons I took away from that session was her reminder that “You are not your ideal client.”

This insight completely shifted my perspective. It meant that my branding and marketing needed to reflect what my ideal client likes and wants—not necessarily what I like and want.

For instance, the services I offer—Sabotage Mystery Parties, Video Scavenger Hunts, and Photoshoot Parties—are luxury services. But, in my effort to save money when starting out, I designed my own logo and branding. While I did some research, I was a total novice and ill-equipped for the task.

That experience taught me a hard but crucial lesson: trying to do everything myself to save money wasn’t always the best financial decision. Sure, it might save money upfront, but it could lead to losses in other ways—lost time, lower profits, or even the frustration of realizing you need to redo the work later.

I’m still working to unlearn the habits of trying to handle everything on my own. Delegating tasks and hiring professionals is an ongoing adjustment, but I’ve come to see that it’s not about being frugal for the sake of saving money. It’s about being wise in how you spend it.

Investing in expertise and outsourcing where needed isn’t just an expense—it’s an investment in the growth and sustainability of my business. That realization has helped me make more thoughtful decisions as I move forward.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After my coaching session with Nata Salvatori, I knew it was time to take the next big step for my business. I hired Casey Mrsny of Leaf & Line Design to help me rebrand. She redesigned my logo and oversaw updates to my website, and the results were transformative.

We didn’t throw out everything—I loved my business’s color palette, so we kept that—but Casey streamlined the overall look of my branding, making it professional, crisp, and clean.

Honestly, I’d been hesitant to hire someone for branding. I didn’t fully grasp the value of professional branding until working with Casey. But when I compared my old logo with the new one, the difference was night and day. It became clear why a potential client would be more drawn to my new branding.

The impact was immediate and undeniable. Within a month, my social media followers started to grow, word-of-mouth referrals improved, and I even began getting recognized at events and vendor markets.

Taking such a big leap can be intimidating, especially when it pushes you out of your comfort zone. But when things feel stagnant, sometimes a drastic pivot is exactly what you need. For me, investing in professional branding wasn’t just a change—it was a game-changer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eventswithatwist.net
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/eventswithatwistjax
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eventswithatwistjax/

Image Credits

Tina Minshall Photography
Hornick Photography