We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Maxwell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My journey began with a realization—a persistent problem in event planning that remained unsolved for over a decade. It was the complexity and uncertainty surrounding event planning that inspired me to simplify this process and make it accessible to all. Chaos Coordinated was born as a solution, and its name reflects the very essence of the work we do—managing the chaos of events to ensure clients can truly enjoy their special day. My path wasn’t without challenges. I had the opportunity to join a local event coordination company and become an official coordinator. While I had dabbled in event planning for years, I had never fully embraced it as my own venture. Overcoming imposter syndrome, especially as the first entrepreneur in my family, was a significant hurdle.
Networking events and industry showcases became my learning grounds. During this time, I observed a recurring pattern—a disconnect between those seeking event services and the vendors offering them. While vendors knew their ideal clients, potential clients often struggled to find the right vendors for their needs.
This disconnect became the catalyst for Chaos Coordinated’s innovative app. The app leverages AI to guide clients through a series of questions, helping them define their event’s vision and requirements. It then matches them with local vendors based on budget and design preferences, presenting clients with a comprehensive event plan.
But the journey doesn’t end there. Planners on Call, a collaboration with Chaos Coordinated, offers clients the convenience of having an on-demand planner without a long-term commitment. Clients can opt for white-glove assistance while retaining control of their event planning or enlist a last-minute coordinator as needed.
Looking ahead, I envision a physical location that serves as a hub for creativity and learning. It’s a place where aspiring event professionals can gain hands-on experience, potentially launching their own careers under the Chaos Coordinated umbrella.
In essence, Chaos Coordinated seeks to simplify the complexity of event planning while building a community of event enthusiasts and professionals. Our journey is one of innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence in the events industry. Which is why Chaos Coordinated reflects our mission of creative collaboration over competition.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Amanda Maxwell, the visionary behind Chaos Coordinated and Planners on Call, is a dynamic entrepreneur committed to simplifying event planning and fostering creativity in the industry. With a foundation built on community and the mission of ‘creative collaboration over competition,’ Amanda seeks to modernize traditional approaches while nurturing lasting relationships in the world of events.
Chaos Coordinated and Planners on Call were born out of a simple yet powerful idea: to revolutionize the event planning industry. Over a decade of experience in the field had shown me the inherent chaos in planning events, whether it’s a wedding, a corporate gathering, or a special celebration. I wanted to simplify this process, making it accessible to all, regardless of budget or prior knowledge.
Chaos Coordinated started as a play on words for the work I do. It acknowledges the chaos of event planning but also underscores our role in managing that chaos to ensure our clients enjoy their special days to the fullest. My journey began with opportunities to learn from industry experts. While learning along the way, I was also taking notes. Notes about everything, does and Donts the how tos and the how not tos, but it felt disconnected somehow, various people saying similar things but somehow not the same. So, down the rabbit hole I went. I realized that as I was learning and note taking I was also seeing a pattern. I decided to dissect that pattern to find out just how to improve it, even if just a little.
The journey led me to create the Chaos Coordinated app concept, an innovation that harnesses AI to guide clients through event planning, providing them with personalized recommendations and connecting them to local vendors. This app aims to transform event planning, making it more efficient and tailored to individual preferences.
Planners on Call, in collaboration with Chaos Coordinated, offers a subscription-based model where clients can have an event planner on demand. It’s white-glove service without the long-term commitment. This initiative ensures clients always have expert guidance, whether they choose to handle their event planning themselves or opt for last-minute coordination assistance.
In the future, I envision a physical location where creatives can come together to learn, collaborate, and grow. Almost acting as if a finishing school for event professionals, artist and creatives. While offering opportunities for them to step into their own businesses or remain part of the Chaos Coordinated family.
As I look ahead, my mission remains unwavering: creative collaboration over competition; to simplify the chaos of event planning, making it accessible, enjoyable, and collaborative for all. I aim to foster a supportive community and drive innovation in the industry. With Chaos Coordinated and Planners on Call, the future of event planning is brighter than ever.
Any advice for managing a team?
While my team is comprised of diverse professionals, fostering positive relationships and maintaining high morale during each event remains a priority. As the primary point of contact for weddings, I take on a leadership role with utmost seriousness. Drawing from experiences with varying leadership styles, I strike a balance between dedication and a sense of humor. I handle unexpected situations with composure, ensuring the seamless flow of events. I prioritize communication and regularly check in with vendors, acting as a liaison between them and the couples, ensuring everything aligns with their plans. It’s important to note that I don’t micromanage; instead, I trust vendors to execute their roles effectively. Collaboration is at the core of my approach, and I firmly believe that working together as a unified team is the key to a successful event. In essence, my philosophy centers on collaboration over competition, always.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
That not everyone is looking out for your best interest even if it seems like it. Because I stand on a collaborative approach I know I’m not always taken serious within the process of creating new concepts and working with different groups. At my soul I’m an artist, my creativity loves being in this industry, you are always one concept away from changing how one specific trend was done for 10 years or more. I love tracking the trends and blending ideas that wouldn’t usually make sense. For example I wanted to create a sustainable mod disco aesthetic for a shoot recently where I used disco balls, roller blades and for sustainable use of legos in leu of full florals. I love weddings, I love when clients want to play with ideas that push creativity. What I love more, is coming up with new ways to play that push the concept of what is elegant, beautiful but also trending or sustainable. Creating new ways to decorate or evolving the concepts of reception and call it an after party, create vip lounges vs just tables and chairs. Expanding on what we already do but push it, suppose a girl can dream. I want to see the joy when a clients vision is fulfilled and that *glimmer* in their eyes with THAT smile. You KNOW, in that moment you made their day, Their vision possible! That’s success, so maybe my concepts are silly or unusual, I myself can be silly and unusual but I embrace that about myself. Like I said I’m an artist in my soul. It has to come out somewhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.chaoscoordinate.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/chaos_coordinated_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Collab.chaoscoordinated/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chaos-coordinated-5b647a297
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chaos-coordinated-raleigh
Image Credits
CHARA DENSMORE Photography https://charadensmorephotography.com/about JODIE BRIM https://jodiebrim.com/ (headshot only)