Results for common mistakes Tag

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WHY DISCOUNTS ARE BAD FOR THE WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS

(Image via April Agency) A very common mistake among artists is to undercut our value. I understand the instinct, and I think it’s largely driven by fear. We’re afraid clients will balk at high prices. But if you don’t charge what you are worth, you are disrespecting yourself and your work. Our clients should also [...]

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Preston Bailey on Saving Money in the wedding and event planning biz

MY GUIDELINES TO HELP YOU AVOID THE CASH POOR TRAP

(Image via Tony Crider) Are you living hand to mouth? Because you’re not alone; this is not a strong economy, and many people are struggling. And though I’m very fortunate to no longer be in that situation, I lived just that way for more years than I care to remember. Here are my suggestions to [...]

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Lady Gaga Poker Face

HOW TO AVOID RUNNING A CASH POOR BUSINESS

 (Image via dreamglowpumpkincat210) As I promised on Monday, here are a few ways to avoid running a cash poor business. Although, truly, it can be boiled down quite simply: Try never to spend money on a job that is not yet yours. Even after you’ve been hired, try never to install the job until [...]

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preston bailey wedding and event planning business finances

WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING: TOP 3 FINANCIAL MISTAKES

(Image via alancleaver_2000) Last week we discussed at length the importance of getting clients to pay us prior to the day of their wedding or other event. But there’s a lot more to be said about business finances, and I’d like to continue our conversation this week. Let’s start by tackling the months or even [...]

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Preston Bailey Payment Plan for Brides and Clients

MY PAYMENT PLAN FOR BRIDES AND OTHER CLIENTS

(Image via Jim Legans, Jr) This morning I promised that I would outline the payment plan I ask all of my clients to follow. So, here it is! I’ve been ask many times how I handle payment. This is tricky because, obviously, you need to get paid, but your client also needs to feel comfortable. [...]

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listening to clients in the wedding and event planning industry

LEARNING THE BUSINESS OF MONEY THE HARD WAY

(Image via ky_olsen) Yesterday, I promised to explain how I handled those three difficult payment situations. So, here’s what I did: In the first situation, everything came to a head the day before the event. My client was simply unable to come up with the money he owed me. I was angry. I was also [...]

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paying wedding and event vendors on time

WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS: GETTING PAID IN FULL BEFORE THE EVENT

(Image via gfpeck) There is absolutely no question in my mind that wedding and event planning vendors should always be paid in full at least two weeks (you need time to make sure the check clears!) before the wedding or event. And you can just forget about getting that check on the day of the [...]

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how to get clients and get paid in the wedding and event planning industry

HOW TO GET NEW CLIENTS AND GET PAID

(Image via pshegubj) I’ve always been more than a bit uncomfortable asking my clients for money. In the past, this has led to a great deal of financial burden. Once, I worked with a client for over three months before she paid me even a dollar. Eventually, I learned how to set up very specific [...]

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10 ways to avoid pissing off angry brides

TEN EASY WAYS TO AVOID PISSING OFF BRIDES AND OTHER CLIENTS

(Image via Lucia..) I never ever forget that without my brides and other clients, I simply would not have a business. Even if you have the very best talent and service, it’s meaningless without clients. So happy clients are my very top priority. But, in order to have happy clients, I have to know not [...]

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wedding stuff

DEAR PRESTON: WHAT’S THE POINT OF SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON A WEDDING?

(Image via TheDarkThing) Dear Preston, I’m a wedding planner in California, and I love your blog. This is such a great idea! A few months ago, a prospective client, a father whose daughter is getting married, said something to me. But, I didn’t have a proper response. He said, “For the price of this wedding, [...]

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creating happy brides and happy weddings

PREVENT UNHAPPY BRIDES AND CLIENTS

(Image via Brent Gambrell) What’s the easiest way to keep brides and other clients happy? Give them great service, talent, and care. Sounds pretty simple, right? Unfortunately, it’s not. The biggest issue is how you relate to each other. Let’s face it. Most brides and clients choose their wedding and event vendors because they like [...]

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Wedding Industry Etiquette Making Money

THE ONE MISTAKE YOU DON’T WANT TO MAKE

(Image via John C Abell) Most of the wedding designers, wedding planners, wedding photographers, and other wedding vendors I meet and work with are very talented. And talent, well, that’s the hard part. So it has always struck me that vendors who have the hard part down (the skills!) are sometimes so bad at the [...]

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vendors stealing ideas copy cats

COPY CATS: WHAT TO DO WHEN OTHER VENDORS STEAL YOUR IDEAS

No doubt almost all of you have your own websites to help promote your businesses. When clients are looking to hire a caterer, photographer, planner, designer, florist etc… for a big party or wedding where do they start their search? The internet, of course.  In today’s market, if you don’t have your own site, it’s [...]

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bride and wedding designer

COMMON MISTAKES: DEALING WITH CONTROLLING BRIDES

(Image via h.koppdelaney) I’ve never had a client who came in and said “Preston, you’re the wedding designer. Do whatever you want for my wedding.” Sometimes, clients aren’t positive what they want, but, in these cases, I know the right questions to ask, and pretty quickly I have a good sense of what they envision [...]

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make_misteaks

COMMON MISTAKES: LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES — YOUR TURN

(Image via advertisingelyse ) So far this week I’ve talked a lot about how planners, designers and vendors should work together. Today I’d like to turn the tables and give you the opportunity to voice your own thoughts on these delicate working relationships. Keep in mind that I believe strongly in being honest about our mistakes. [...]

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wedding plans, common mistakes

Common Mistakes: Hiring a Planner Only for the Day of Your Event

(Image via Salicia) I know I’m going to ruffle a few feathers with this one. There are several reasons clients may opt to only hire a day-of planner, but usually it’s because that’s what their budgets allow. In my humble experience, and please feel free to disagree with me, there are pros as well as [...]

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Big Mistakes

COMMON MISTAKES: MY TOP 3 WORST MISTAKES EVER

(Image via jurvetson) A few weeks ago I shared a list of my ten worst mistakes ever, but I held off on naming the top three. I hesitated to share my very worst mistakes, because they’re so personal in nature. But, a promise is a promise, so here we go: My 3rd Worst Mistake Ever [...]

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10 Tips to Make Money

Common Mistakes: The Round Up

I realized today that I’ve been writing this blog (on and off at first, but more consistently within the past year) since 2007. Wow, that’s a long time. In general, I’m so caught up with the day to day comments and looking forward to what I’ll be writing tomorrow or next week, that I don’t [...]

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FAQs:Request for Questions

FAQs: Request for Questions

(Image via planetofsuccess) Hi dear friends. In today’s FAQ, I want to hear YOUR questions. You’ve sent several of your questions to me before, and hopefully I’ve answered most of them. Today, I want to hear about the newest batch of issues on your mind. It can be related to anything–a new client, a design problem, [...]

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Not believing you can do it

Common Mistakes: Not Believing You Can Do It

Let me start today’s post by asking you this: How many times have you had a great idea? And how many times have you taken your great idea and actually executed it? I think what usually happens is that immediately after we get our great idea, we tell ourselves, “But I could never do that. [...]

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