We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.
Ashley , appreciate you joining us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?
As event planners, most of us in the industry have a saying “ one of these days I’m going to write a book”. There are so many crazy and bizarre things that happen in our profession as we plan peoples most important days with them (and their families).
There is one particular wedding I planned last year that I could write an entire book on alone but think I still need some healing from it (haha) before I’m ready to share. So my second craziest story will have to do….
It was the night before my clients big day and as we prepared for their ceremony rehearsal and dinner the father of the bride did not look so great. I kept checking on him throughout the night and he assured me he was ok. The next morning as we prepared for his daughters wedding I ask again how he is feeling and if there is anything I can do for him. Once again, he assures me he is fine. As the day moves along we start lining up the bridal party for the wedding ceremony including the bride and her father (whom at this point is sweating bullets and looking rather pale). I ask the bride and her father if they would like to take a few more minutes before we continue the processional. The father of the bride insists he is well but would just like to use the restroom quickly before the band starts to play. The father of the bride runs to the bathroom, comes back, hands me a wadded up tissue and whispers to me “ I just passed a kidney stone can you please hold on to this until after the ceremony so I can show my doctor who is here”
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Our company is The Event Collective, Events & Interiors by Ashley Brown. We collectively create custom celebrations and spaces. If you are in need of elevating any event or space we should be your first call. What sets us apart from other planners/designers is that we dont take every client that calls us because we dont believe we are the best fit for everyone. We believe that planning and designing special events and spaces should be an incredibly fun experience and we want all involved to feel that. If you are not having fun with the experience, were not having fun and WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF FUN PEOPLE !!!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson that I had to unlearn in business is that quantity is success. In my first year I thought the more events I booked, the more clients I had, the more money I was making I was “successful”. I was wrong. As a sole proprietor taking on over 45 events in a years time with a 1 year old at home and a pandemic in full swing I was constantly stressed out by the pressure to succeed that I finally realized I was experiencing the opposite of success. So I pivoted my business,,,, and now I only take on clients the feed my soul and make this enjoyable. My bank account does not define success for me, my life at home (with my family ) does.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Building organic relationships with vendors and clients. GENUINE word of mouth is the best advertising you can receive AND ITS FREE !
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.theeventcollectivefl.com
- Instagram: @theeventcollectivefl
- Facebook: @theeventcollectivefl
Image Credits
Rosina Dibello Photography B Millner Productions