We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dayzia Swan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dayzia, thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

When I was starting the business I actually didn’t have a name for a couple of weeks. I didn’t want to take that process lightly. I knew how important it was for me to truly pick a name that would be great years down the road. A name that I could grow into. A name that people would remember. And so I began brainstorming and everything that I would come up with was taken or too specific and I needed a name that would allow my business to expand later down the road. So I began to really think about that, the future that is. What I wanted my business to potentially be in 5, 10, 15, 20 years and that’s when it hit me. I began to think about the way in which I love to transform a space and truly make people feel as though everything that they had dreamed their event would be, could be possible. That I would take their thoughts, hopes, and dreams and make it a reality ultimately transporting them to the land of their wildest dreams.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always been a person who loves art and creative spaces. The one who was always called upon to do events for family and friends because I just had that creative touch. I’ve always been the type of person to “figure it out” rather than wait to be taught something. If it had an art or creative element to it, I would be all over it. So a couple of years ago my sister was having a baby shower that I was planning and she really wanted to have a balloon garland. At the time, balloon garlands were really beginning to be a staple for any event. Gone were the days that you had an event without them. And so of course I reached out to a few places and the rates were far more than we anticipated and so me being who I am, I told her I would do them myself. Having known nothing about the industry, I went to google and YouTube to find all the information I could on how to create a balloon garland. I bought all the materials and completed my first ever garland for her and from then on I began doing events and balloons professionally and the rest is history. Today I stand as an Event Planner who provides planning for any celebratory event from start to finish. We take the load off of our clients so that they can just show up on their big day. Whether it be a baby shower, birthday party, or anniversary we’ve got you covered. If you’d like full service planning or just a balloon installation, we will be of service.

I’m most proud of how far we’ve come. When I started, I wasn’t sure of myself. Like many people I had imposter syndrome and felt like “why would anyone pick me”. In the world of social media, its so easy to be intimidated by the professionals who have been in the industry longer. Who’s work is sought after in droves and their following is out of this world. But when it was all said and done, those people/companies didn’t get to where they are by quitting. Each one had to start, fall down, get back up and try again. And so that’s what I do, each day, work on my craft to be better, do market research, stay up on trends, and commit to pushing forward. Today, I’m grateful. Grateful to God, my family and friends who continue to motivate me, and for every client that has ever booked, referred my business, or just believed in me. It has made Dreamland what it is today. As the creative director I want my clients to know that we are honored to have your business and will treat your event like our own. We want you and your guest to experience a great event that they’ll never forget. We work with the leading event vendors in the industry to bring your dreams to life and we will only continue to thrive with your trust in our company.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

I had a potential client reach out to me only weeks after the birth of my son. She was calling to book with me because she had heard I was the one to call. Of course I was flattered and grateful to my other client/friend who had referred me but as we began discussing the details of her event I began to question my abilities, physically and mentally. The things she needed wasn’t the issue, it was a matter of how big this event would be that made me second guess myself. However, I put my “big girl pants” on and told her we could do it.

Every step of the way I tried to be as professional, calm and collected as could be but on the inside I knew this was a huge undertaking for a small business. I began working, doing everything that was asked and more but as we got close the pressure only mounted more. Not only was I planning the largest event I’d ever had, I was planning it for high profile clients and knew every detail needed to be perfect.

I rounded up my team and got to work. Several months later, it was showtime and the heat was on. We prepped, setup, stayed for the event, and tore down and at the end our client was so thankful and grateful that they took a chance on us. They knew it was a risk, trusting a small business with not just a special event but their money as well. They were happy to know that in spite of the events I’ve done in the past or in spite of my following, I understood the assignment and since then we have built a great bond and have continued to be their go-to for all events big & small.

That event taught me so much and truly opened the door for Dreamland to be seen as not just the company that does balloons but so much more.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I believe as a non-creative, people simply just don’t know what all goes into event planning or making a balloon garland therefore they don’t understand the pricing. Social media and celebrities have created this idea that gone are the days of having a basic event. You have to go “all out” and have a luxury event however, with that comes a hefty price tag.

I like to compare what I do and the structure of pricing as an event planner/balloon artist to a mechanic or a doctor. The same way that a mechanic or doctor takes the time to diagnose an issue and then fix the problem so that you are on your way is the same way I consult with my clients, find out exactly what they need and then work with them to give them the look of their dreams. But just like auto shops and hospitals, the business or hospital must charge you for the expertise, knowledge, time and labor provided as well as the medicine or parts. Many people don’t understand that on the creative front, they tend to look at it like a product instead of a service.

We spend time, money, and resources to execute the vision that they have and so that is why we charge not just for the product itself but the efforts that go into making the product in order to make a profit.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dreamlandevents.com
• Instagram: dreamlandeventsla

Image Credits
www.dreamlandevents.com