Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Catherine Rawlings. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Catherine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

It all started about 10 years ago. I was living in Los Angeles, studying at the USC School of Dramatic Arts and pursuing an acting career. While in school, I needed a part time job and that’s when I began doing princess parties. After my first party, I was hooked! Getting to perform and do what I love while making dreams come true for children made me happier than anything else and I knew it was just the beginning of a magical journey.

When my husband and I moved to Houston, I was sad to leave it all behind. My husband casually said one night, “Just start your own business.” As soon as he said it, something sparked inside of me and I knew that I would! A quote from The Little Mermaid says it perfectly, “I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but I know something’s starting right now. Watch and you’ll see, someday I’ll be part of your world!” I had no idea where my journey would take me but I couldn’t wait to begin! It wasn’t until 3 years (and 2 kids) later that my business would really come to fruition. It has truly been a fairytale dream come true!

Catherine, 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?

Hi! I’m Catherine and I’m the owner & main performer at Fairest of All Parties, where we make dreams come to life! We are a high quality children’s entertainment company providing princesses, super heroes, mermaids, and more for events throughout the Greater Houston area. Some of the services we provide include Meet & Greets, Storytimes, Singing & Dancing, Tea Parties, Swimming Mermaid Parties, Princess Makeovers, Face Painting, Games, Crafts & more! If you’re looking for a magical experience, look no further!

I began working in the children’s entertainment industry in Los Angeles, California in 2012. After graduating with a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Southern California, I got my first job as a party princess and I was hooked! I fell in love with the business and learned so much from the companies I worked for. When I moved to Houston in 2016, I decided to start my own business. I never imagined it would become what it is today. I now have a cast of 15 performers who are all highly talented, beautiful, and wonderful with children! We all love what we do and would love to bring the magic to your next event! From our high quality costumes & wigs, a seamless booking process and the attention to detail we put into every event we do, a magical experience is guaranteed! We would love to make some magical memories with you!!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I had the misfortune of starting a party business a year before the world shut down in 2020. Just when things were beginning to take off, COVID-19 hit and we had to cancel all upcoming parties & events. The future seemed so uncertain and it would have been pretty easy to just call it quits. Instead, I rolled with the times and we went virtual! I began advertising Virtual Zoom parties & Personalized Birthday videos and they were a hit! Although they didn’t bring in as much money as in-person parties, it was a way to stay relevant and get my name out there. As things slowly started to open back up, we began doing Drive By parties & socially distanced outdoor visits. They were very popular and word started to spread. Once things returned to normal, we were busier than we’d ever been!

In a way, the pandemic actually helped my business to grow and become even more successful because it forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and try new things I may never have thought of. With our virtual parties, we were able to reach people all over the U.S. and even some other countries! My social media following grew enormously so when we were able to resume in-person parties, we were overwhelmed with the amount of requests! I can’t imagine if I had given up instead of pulling through that had year and doing the best I could under the circumstances.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’ve worked hard to establish a name for myself in the party industry and build a company known for high quality characters and a commitment to customer satisfaction. I take a personalized approach when working with each client to ensure a magical experience they’ll never forget! We actually get most of our clients through referrals and word of mouth. We have hundreds of 5 star reviews on Google & Facebook and have never had a bad review! This is something I’ve worked very hard to achieve. More than a few times, I have had to cover for sick performers (once with less than an hour’s notice!) and I am always on call to make sure every event goes off without a hitch. I am very hands-on in all aspects of my business. I do all of the client communication, performer casting & training sessions, event scheduling, social media branding, creative planning, new character development, and I am also one of the main performers! This isn’t something I’ll be able to continue forever, especially if I want my company to grow, but it has been a large contributing factor in the success of my business. What you see is what you get when booking with us!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fairestofallparties.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/fairestofallparties/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/fairestofallpartiestx
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/fairestofallparties
• Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/fairest-of-all-parties-houston
• Other: https://gigsalad.com/fairest_of_all_parties_houston

Image Credits
Deven Donohue Rae Tay Photography