We were lucky to catch up with Marisa Elise Carrillo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marisa Elise, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I had my daughter in 2011 and always loved to plan and execute her birthday party themes and decor. I always loved to be creative and work with my hands to make something special and memorable for her and our guests. My favorite part of it all was the reactions of others. I grew up in a really creative hard working family and get all of my creativity from my mom’s side of the family. My mom is an amazing artist and creator as well so I would say it’s definitely in my blood. Fast forward to 2017, I was going through a tough time in my life and while talking to a friend, she said “Why don’t you start aside hustle where you plan and decorate parties for people and offer it as a service where you can make some extra money?” , I was’nt completely sold on the idea to be honest. I even thought, “What if I stop liking it? What if I end up hating it and never want to do it again?” But, I did it anyway. She encouraged me to create an Instagram account for my business to market myself and my skills and maybe by word of mouth start to get booked. She even helped me think of a business name. While it was all very exciting, I had no plan or way of knowing what would happen and if this would work. I’m happy to say, 6 years later I am fully self employed with a growing team. I was able to really make this into everything I want it to be and I’m still not done – best part is, I STILL LOVE IT and I’m way more passionate about it today than 6 years ago. I love what I do. It started off slow and steady while I was still working full time. I would take clients on the side for small scale events and worked on my events after work and on weekends. The more friends and family booked me for events, the more I would meet new potential clients. My clientele eventually expanded and so did my exposure. Soon I was being booked for Weddings and Coorporate events and it was so exciting! Then in 2020 when the pandemic hit, I was faced with being laid off and no idea what to do. Luckily, I had my business to fall back on. I through myself completely into it and decided this is what I was going to do full time. I remember having a talk with my parents about a few things I wanted to invest in and if they would help me build a few props and backdrops – so we spent the next couple of months doing just that. The pressure of everything was exactly what I needed to take the leap of faith and become fully invested in myself. I had nothing to lose at that point – was my mindset. And from then on, I continued to bet on myself. No matter what, I found a way. If I didn’t know how to do something, I researched, took a class, watched a youtube video, asked around or just used my planning and creative skills to do it. I am completely self taught and that’s one of the things I love the most about what I do. I have been able to break so many barriers for my daughter and generations after me to show them, it’s possible.

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?

My name is Marisa and I am a 29-year-old Latina from Chicago’s South Side. I am proud to be the sole owner of Ris Events, as well as a wife and mother.

Ris Events is a full-service event planning and decorating agency committed to bringing your vision to life while creating an unforgettable experience for you and your guests. As a family-owned business based in Chicago, we take pride in designing events of all sizes and experiences that exceed our clients’ expectations while achieving their goals. We love working with you to ensure that your dream event becomes a reality.
Our services include conceptualizing and designing events, planning and coordinating, and decorating small and large-scale events in the Chicagoland and surrounding areas. We also offer a range of additional services such as Day of Coordinator, Wedding Planner, Balloon Installations, Custom Builds and Rentals of Event Props and Decor.
Our team understands that every event is unique, and that’s why we work closely with you to ensure that every detail is taken care of. We are passionate about what we do, and we strive to make your event a reflection of your personality and style. So, whether you’re planning a corporate event, wedding, or birthday party, let us help you turn your vision into a reality.

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

As an entrepreneur who was entirely self-taught, I reached a point where my progress seemed to have reached a plateau. I realized that I needed guidance from someone knowledgeable in the field to achieve my goals. My business had become all-consuming, and I found myself struggling to come up with innovative strategies for marketing and growth. Consequently, I decided to seek the assistance of a one-on-one coach to help me with my business and social media marketing. This decision proved to be a significant game-changer for me.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

In the beginning, I didn’t have a social media marketing plan like most businesses and brands. My only strategy was to post photos of my work and maybe, if I remembered, to share some BTS footage of what I was working on in the moment. 5 years flew by, and my social media marketing really took a back seat to my business. I was more focused on running my business that I didn’t care much about my branding or social media until this year. I noticed I wasn’t booking much of my ideal client or attracting the audience I thought was necessary for my business growth. The algorithm really worked in my favor for what happened next. I came across a Coach on Instagram that was relatable and in my industry. No cheesy gimmicks and no get rich quick schemes. She was authentic and to the point – my cup of tea. After reaching out to book a 1:1 call with her, I was excited for what the future would look like. 5 months later and she is still my Mentor, Coach and now good friend. Since then, my audience has grown, I’m booking more of my ideal client, I have a real strategy for my social media AND growth of my business. She assists me with ideas, encouragement and facilitates so much confidence in me. Sometimes you really don’t know what you need until you find someone that checks all the boxes you didn’t know you had. My advice for those that are just starting their journey with social media or that have been in the game for a while looking for a fresh take – INVEST IN YOURSELF and your business, get a mentor or coach to help point you in the right direction towards your goals to achieve them and also create and achieve more! Do your research, really learn about your brand identity, what you want it to be and what you don’t. Hire a professional to design your logo and don’t skimp out of the full brand package, it’s a MUST. Lastly, just stay true to yourself and your business – say no and don’t be afraid to be different.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ris-events.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ris.events
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riseventschicago
• Other: Booking Form: https://riseventsllc.hbportal.co/public/64d5d25f8d9ec510ae36d9c4

Image Credits
Josey Photography & The Creative Heritage