Results for common mistakes Tag

Business Conference

Common Mistakes: Assuming You’ll Get New Clients by Particiapting in an Industry Conference

(Image via Event Solutions) Last Monday, I spoke at a very exciting business conference in Las Vegas for Event Solutions and I was blown away by the energy and talent that was part of this event. However, I want to caution you against sites that promote these events with the promise that vendors will get [...]

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goldfish, bowl, my top 10 worst mistakes

Common Mistakes: My 10 All Time Worst Mistakes

I have often been asked what my worst mistakes are. Being in the industry for over 30 years, I could write a book called Preston’s Screw Ups. However, in the hope that you do not make the same mistakes, here are my 10 all time worst mistakes going from bad to worse. 10. I think [...]

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Common Mistakes: Value for Money

Common Mistakes: Thinking Most Clients Prefer Talent and Quality Over Value

(Image via James Cridland) I am in awe at the amount of talent that has developed in the event industry in the past few years. There are lots of original and inventive designers, photographers, bands, planners, not to mention the catering industry with its amazing food and presentation. I made the mistake a few years [...]

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Common Mistakes, Paying Commission

Common Mistakes: Paying commission to get a job and thinking you can still make a profit

(Image via via Camera Eye Photography) I have gotten a lot of bad feedback from the industry for being so strongly against the issue of paying commissions without our client’s knowledge. I just wanted to explain once more how less than 10 years ago, I almost went out of business. Mostly because of this horrible [...]

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Too Low Budget

Common Mistakes: Accepting a Budget that is Too Low but Trying to Make it Work

(Image via Ann Gav) As I’ve said before, I have done this more than once and lost tons of time, energy and cash. With that said, as with every rule there are a few exceptions: 1. If you are just starting out and want experience and exposure. This is acceptable as long as you can [...]

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Colorful Balloons, sky, blue, free

Common Mistakes: Proposals (Learning to Let Go)

As with balloons, sometimes we just have to let go.(Image via via Joseph Pete Pickle) When we send a proposal out and offer 100 calls and emails to follow up and STILL don’t get a response, we just have to learn to let go and say, “This is not happening.” I once sent out a [...]

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Protocol-for-a-New-Client-Phone-Call

Common Mistakes: Not Setting a Clear Protocol for How to Handle First Contact from Potential Clients

(Image via Ken Banks) Every single inquiry is different. That does not mean you should not have a clear protocol for how to handle that initial call or email. Here are some suggestions from me to you: 1. Make sure there is always someone (especially you) answering your phone at least 10 hours a day. [...]

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Hiding-Our-Light

Common Mistakes: Hiding Our Light

(Image via Vincent Lock) Mr. Nelson Mandela made a great remark by saying, “We do no one any favors by hiding our lights and pretending to be smaller than we are.” Let’s all acknowledge that creativity is very much a part of our god given nature. And, following up on Mr. Mandela’s wonderful quote, I’d [...]

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City life, traffic,traffic lights, motorcycles, pedestrians, crossroads, buildings, skyline

Common Mistakes: Thinking You Have the Job Because a Potential Client Likes You

Sometimes we get mixed signals. (Image via Joop) Clients can be very fickle. Based on my own experience, this can happen: A new client comes in, we have a great meeting, they love my work, at times we even have a great connection, but to my surprise they end up hiring someone else. Over the [...]

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holidays, celebration, drinks, martinis,martini glasses, table setting, cosmopolitan, cherry, black and white background, photo, cityview

Common Mistakes: Getting Too Drunk for the Holidays

Far be it for me to preach about the issue of drunkenness, being a recovering alcoholic. However, I am going to. Based on my experience of the good old days over 20 years ago when I used to drink, New Year’s Eve was the day (aside from all those other days) where it was perfectly [...]

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Tips, money, cash roll, elastic band, hundred dollar bills

Common Mistakes: Business Finances

(Image via Andrew Magill) In wrapping up my 10 tips series, today’s 10 tips are all about how to make money. Please note that these tips are just based on my humble opinion and past experience: 1. Number one on the list: In order to run a successful business, you need to make at least [...]

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Common-Mistakes_Positive-Attitude-Without-Action

Common Mistakes: Having A Positive Attitude With Little Action

(Image via Mark Robinson) No amount of prayers or positive thinking can make anything happen without action. I often forget this very simple truth. We live in a society where information and everything happens so fast that I usually end up wanting what I want NOW. I even make the mistake of putting this unreasonable [...]

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Crossing-the-Line1

Common Mistakes: Crossing the Line With Clients

(Image via Clearly Ambiguous) I was at an event recently where a couple of the planners were dancing up a storm like it was their own party. It’s hard not to fall in like with most of our clients, especially when we spend the better part of a year with them, and in most cases [...]

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nature, man walking, mistakes, give up, path, green

Common Mistakes: Giving Up Too Soon

As I said before, I have been guilty (too many times) of having a dream and giving up way too soon. For example, the dream of opening up Preston Bailey stores in many cities. (Image via DieselDemon) These are the main reasons why I gave up: I kept comparing my beginner’s efforts with others that [...]

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money, coins, artist, charge, enough, pennies,quarters

Common Mistakes: Being an Artist and Not Charging Enough

Don’t charge pennies. (Change image via R-Z) Today’s post should really be called: Making Money as an Art Form. On Monday, I wrote about overcoming the biggest blunder of my business to date: owing a million and a half dollars in debt, that with great difficulty I paid back in 5 years. Today I’d like [...]

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S

Common Mistakes: Spending Way Too Much Time on an Estimate

(Ticking time image via Kaylan02) Say that a new client comes to you and you had a great meeting. She might also be seeing other vendors but you like your new client and she asks you to prepare an estimate of your cost before she can make a decision. This is a scary request. At [...]

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budget, clients, pig, savings, money, coins

Common Mistakes: 4 Tips for Talking Budget with Your Clients

(Piggy bank image via Alan Cleaver) We are in the entertaining industry, and even though our wonderful job is to create lifetime memories for our clients, establishing a cost for these memories, is always a budget dance. This is what I have learned about clients and budgets: When they have a budget in mind… Good [...]

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contracts, mistakes, television

Common Mistakes: Contracts Part 3

This isn’t my lawyer, but I wish it was. (Funny lawyer image via Mike McCaffrey) In wrapping up the subject on contracts, I’d like to start by reminding you that contracts are legal documents. Everyone should have a good transactional attorney. I know if you are just starting out that this can be an additional [...]

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Common-Mistakes_Contracts-Part-2

Common Mistakes: Contracts Part 2

(Handshake image via Gregg O’Connell)/ This week I’d like to start by pointing out something that is probably obvious, but good to keep in mind as you’re creating your contracts. Every contract is generally made between two parties, and both parties need to agree on ALL terms. So, even though we can arm ourselves with [...]

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Common-Mistakes_LousyContracts

Common Mistakes: Lousy Contracts

(Signing contract image via Dplanet) I remember the days, years back, when my contract was nothing more than my word. I survived perfectly well for years with this method. For me it was very simple: just give your clients a little more than what they expected and everyone was happy. This worked relatively well until [...]

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