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

Darnesha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Next Step Event Planning is a Black Owned full event service company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. I pride myself on my highly customized and unique events. Whether planning your next Wedding, Corporate Event, or Birthday Party I’m here to make sure that each and every event I’m involved with is inspiring, extraordinary, and unforgettable. The name of my business is Next Step Event Planning. When naming my business I wanted it to start with a “N” as my nickname is Nesha, but I also wanted it to have a meaning behind it. So when you heard the business name you know exactly what the business is about. The business name “Next Step” came about as in if you book with me, my business will provide the next steps needed to ensure a successful and memorable event. Our mission is to provide extraordinary events, as a lot of our work is customized and very detailed so no events are ever the same.

Darnesha, 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?

Starting out there was no business plan, there wasn’t even a thought of taking my craft and turning it into a business. I was doing events for fun, it was rewarding to see how something so simple, a talent I was born with can brighten up others, and make them smiles. It has always been the smiles for me. I was working in a nursing facility for years, doing aide work all my colleagues was telling me I was letting my talent go to waste. So I decided to switch departments to see if my talents could be put to use. While working in the Life Enrichment Department (as know as activities) we would put together these beautiful events, the residents, staff and family members would be blown away by a simple setup. As the years past I noticed my talent began to out grow the department, and the nursing facility environment but I wasn’t ready to make take that step. I started to think to myself like, I can start doing this on my own and turn my craft into something profitable and rewarding. This is when the business idea came about. I decided to take that next step and start the business. I continued to work full time as a life enrichment coordinator and STNA while running a full event service company, being a full time parent and wife right. All around the time Covid hit and shut down the world. But I didn’t let that stop me, it actually gave me a challenge and motivated me to push even harder. My business is my brand and I wanted my business to stand out! When my clients book with me I want them to know from the start, that they are in good hands. That they can leave the stress and planning to me and enjoy their event. When booking with me it’s all about the experience.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I turned my craft/ talent into a full time business. In the beginning it was just a hobby, something I enjoyed doing until I did my research and noticed event planning is a very profitable business. I realized I could take my craft and unique skills and turn it into a service. A service that comes natural to me but others are willing to pay for. So I did just that.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Business is business and you have to stand on that. You have to know how to separate your personal life from your business life. This is one thing that can really break your business and it was the hardest thing I had to learn. I had to let my friends and family know that the price is the price. It’s nothing personal. In the business world you can’t let your emotions get the best of you, especially being a woman. People will try to take advantage of you. I also had to learn my worth, as I’m still learning that today. I’m not the same event planner I was 3 years ago when I started the business. As business owners sometimes we don’t take the time to look back at our growth. I started doing this to make sure I never loose sight of my mission and the reason why I started. This also allows me to keep going.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Nextstepeventplanning
• Facebook: Next Step Event Planning