We recently connected with Bonny Bailey-Finck and have shared our conversation below.
Bonny, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has Covid resulted in any major changes to your business model?
When the Pandemic started to emerge Bryan and I had just started to work together. Being a husband wife combo in our industry is not unusual, but our skill sets were definitely different. He being Sales & Accounting Driven, and myself with the experience in the industry. Well… It turned out great for about the first 7months. Then, March 2020…
That was when the world shutdown, and we looked at each other going “what the hell do we do now.”
Okay, putting my 14yrs in the industry to work, we started to diversify. We started building websites for other Vendors doing side hustles. We did SEO, Drive Thru Weddings (a Vegas Styled Event, brought here to Orlando). We did our own play on “outdoor activities with our entertainment” that was no longer getting booked for events. We also, did custom artwork for clients so they could give as presents that were WAY more personalized than we had ever done, and of course Camel Zooms for “Hump Day”.
It was an opportunity to learn, and grow in our community. Learn a bit more about the people we were working with; and seeing where their passions lie, and what side hustles they have passion about to survive.
This just made our Wedding/Entertainment Communities come back DIFFERENT for sure, but Stronger in their own way.
I think what we have experienced most is that people will do more work, with passion. Gone are the days of just doing a job because it pays the bills. There has to be some sort of drive! I think we all sort of realized our mortality during the pandemic and want to make sure the time we spend, is not wasted, even if we have to make a living!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
We enjoy making sure our Client’s Events are all About THEM!
Our Discipline is Event Planning/Coordination & Entertainment
We also have so much passion about Animal Advocation, Education & Rescue! We work with several sanctuary and rescue organizations that focus on animal safety, education and rehabilitation.
We enjoy bringing those animals that people most often do not get to meet (i.e. Goats, Llamas, Burros, Sloths, Camels, Lemurs, Gators etc) to Events where they get to know one another and understand each other’s lives a bit more. We do the same for, what in Orlando Convention Business, has always been the normal —- Getting the New and Most Creative Ideas front and center, but we bring THOSE to Wedding! In the right settings of course, and for a much more focused audience.
We love being creative, and bringing a client’s off the wall vision to life! Even if they did not think it was imaginable.
We also just love people, and making sure that even the simplest ceremony represents what they wish to say to one another ;) We love our clients for trusting us with their stories!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
When I opened the business in 2017, I enjoyed proving anyone who said, “something could not be pretty & relevant wrong.” Well, I still pride myself that I do not completely conform to the fold, but I also had to learn that always wanting to go against the grain is not always what is right for yourself, your vendors or your future clients.
At one point with photoshoots I was trying to challenge myself to so many different dynamics, sets, designs etc. I lost focus of the client and what they were looking for….
All because I wanted to challenge what we could do and create. And although I was happy with the outcomes, and learned a tremendous amount. I have found those shoots/video were the least used in my standard marketing.
And why, because they were “too different”.
After reflecting, staying true to the business I fell in love with, the guile I aspire to bring, why would I divert and not give it enough cred on its own, when it IS ENOUGH!
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Sure, I met him in College around 2000, and we became the best of friends. He helped me with school, fraternity life, philanthropy, and just learning Florida life since I was from GA.
We lost communication because he was 2yrs older than I, until around 2010 when we reconnected over me needing someone to help me build a bookcase.
Well, the rest was history. He would not only be my business partner, but also my partner in life!
We have a human son, and 5 amazing fur babies!
I started the business in 2017 when I knew I wanted to spend more time with my family. Our son was headed into Middle School, and I didn’t want to miss it!
2019, We attempted to grow the company by bringing him on board.
We complement each other, as I am the dreamer with the big ideas (and connections) and Bryan balances that out with pragmatism.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.psiloveuprod.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.s.iloveyouprod/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PSILoveYouProductions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonny-bailey-5672951/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m1f7aNeQZhM
- Other: Our Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/517231561 & Our Blog: https://www.psiloveuprod.com/blog
Image Credits
Couple Photo w/ Me – Erika Grace Photo Harry Potter – Mad Oddities Weddings & Events –> We provided the Owl Baby Shower – Belinda Perkins Photography Cricket’s Photo & Video – Jack Sparrow Look A Like Anna So Photography – Orlando Drive Up Weddings Paradise Cove Venue The Highland Manor Venue Maitland Art & History Museum