We were lucky to catch up with Ashleigh Rainey recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashleigh, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client?
My best advice is always listen to the expert! I tell my clients they decided to work with me for a reason. I make an effort to get to know you, your travel party, and vacation style, so I can make custom recommendations I know you’ll love. I’m not only an expert in your destination and its offerings, but I try to become an expert in YOU! Joining those Facebook groups dedicated to “tips and tricks” will get overwhelming very quickly! Getting one dining reservation will not make or trip, and what was amazing for your friend may not be amazing for you.
Ashleigh, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I grew up in Southern California, and Disneyland was a huge part of my childhood. As a theatre kid it quickly became a dream of mine to work in entertainment at the resort. I couldn’t wait to grow up and create the magic I loved so much. My dream came true when I was cast as a finale dancer in Disney’s Electrical Parade when it opened at California Adventure. I worked there for many years in various shows and parades, and then I moved on to Disney Cruise Line in the opening cast of the Disney Dream. I actually met my husband on that contract! Singing and dancing all over the world was wonderful, but not conducive to raising a family, so I hung up my costumes to pursue other dreams.
I tried a lot of other jobs from fitness to sales, but I truly missed making magic. Enter Glass Slipper Concierge. I had so much Disney and travel knowledge from my years as a cast member, and GSC taught me the rest. I knew I could truly help people navigate the ever-changing landscape of travel, specifically Disney where I know every destination so intimately. I’m so grateful I found a home here in this incredible industry. It takes so much research and planning to curate Disney vacations, and I do it all for my clients. From finding the perfect vacation package or cruise to meet their needs, to booking shore excursions at midnight, dining reservations at 6am, genie+ tutorials, to creating custom itineraries with touring plans I’ve tested myself for each port and park!
I take pride in the details. It’s important to me to become an expert in a destination so I can plan a seamless trip for all of my clients! My recommendations come from personal experience. I take care of the planning, so my clients can focus on the fun!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I feel like my entire life has been a pivot… and I maybe even an added ball change or two! Going into musical theatre for a living I could write a book on all of the “survival” jobs I had over the years between contracts. I’ve been everything from a rollerskating waitress, to a retail worker, a promotional model, to a fitness instructor, I’ve even been a dancing banana in Times Square.
I was working an online sales job when I began marinating on the idea of becoming a travel advisor . The company I was working with had just been bought out, and I knew I wasn’t meant to go in the direction the company was headed. I needed a change, and I was ready to make magic again! I’m so grateful I found Glass Slipper concierge, the opportunities I’ve been given in the last year have been so incredible.
This is not a career you learn overnight. Despite my extensive knowledge of the Disney parks and ships, I was new to the travel industry, and I had a lot to learn. I had an incredible mentor that taught me everything I know. The way she balances her life and and clients is remarkable, and I’m still constantly in awe. I’m always trying to learn and grow, and and this career has a new problem-solving challenge every day.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I’ve always really loved social media and how it brings so many people together. It wasn’t until I started this job that I fell more in love with TikTok. The growth there is remarkable to me, and I still can’t believe how much reach you can have! I love that you can grow and find your people faster than on other platforms.
I started with consistency, posting most every day, and I wanted my content to be informative and fun. I wanted to show off my expertise, and really help people who were searching for answers about their Disney travel related questions. I love the short form video format. As a mom, I don’t have time to watch a 20 minute video about a shore excursion. I try to get as much detail as I can into a 3 minute video, show off a destination, and share my favorite things.
If you’re looking to grow your platform, it starts with showing up as often as you are able to feed that algorithm, finding you niche, and highlighting your expertise! It’s not always about pretty images, trending sounds, or the latest dance trend (although participating in trends can boost visibility), it’s about creating content that’s helpful and really shows you off! There may be thousands of people who do what you do, but there’s only one YOU. Show off your skillset, let your audience see you in real life, and create content you’re proud of!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.glassslipperconcierge.com/about-us/specialist/ashleigh-rainey
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleigh_poppins/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleighpoppinstravels?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleigh_poppins?_t=8eFCOm8HqUY&_r=1