Results for Frequently Asked Questions Tag

marketing, event business, listen, bird, marble wall, black and white, spray paint

FAQs: What’s the best way to market and promote myself?

(Image via Striatic) This is in the top three questions I often get asked. As we look back at 2010 and look forward to 2011 here are my top 10 tips for marketing and promoting yourselves (not in any particular order): 1. This is very important: if you survived 2010 without a website, it should [...]

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Downsize, money, coins, quarters, pennies

FAQs: When is it time to downsize?

(Image via Serge Melki) This is a difficult subject that, to be honest, leads to a part of me that loves to wallow in denial. I find the original question very difficult to answer. The question I think we should ask ourselves is: What reason am I using for “downsizing”? I know of many companies [...]

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Have-you-ever-been-fired-from-a-job

FAQs: Have you ever been fired from a job?

(Office image via Madgerly) Yes, unfortunately more than once. The good news is that as my company grew and we gained better experience, it happened less and less. One of the issues of taking on new design challenges is just this: at times, no matter what you do, you are not going to make your [...]

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Tupperware, Bento Box, decoration, pattern, asian, traditional, dividers, black interior, gold, brown, burgandy

FAQs: Is it tacky if I ask my Thanksgiving guests to bring their own tupperware?

I think sending leftovers with your guests at the end of the night is a wonderful gesture. Not only does it ensure that you don’t have too much food that will eventually spoil, it’s also a way to keep the memory of the dinner alive for the next day. I’ve been told that one of [...]

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job, money, millions, step down, step up, olive green, white, types, fonts

FAQs: When did you get your first million dollar job?

(Step Up, Step Down image via Cygnus921) Last week I wrote about being in debt for over a million dollars 15 years ago. Getting a few of these high-end jobs was the only possible way I could have been able to pay back that money and stay in business. It’s very uncomfortable for me to [...]

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faith, sky, spring, tree, clouds, flowers, colors

FAQs: How did you manage to pay off a million and a half dollars in debt and start running a profitable business?

By having 100% blind faith, period. But as we all know, faith without action is nothing. Before I go further in answering this question, I’d like to point out that you’d have to be living under a rock or another planet not to be affected by the world’s bad economy. To make matters even worse, [...]

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transformation, after, event, chandeliers, centerpieces, table settings, pink,lighting, dance floor,flowers, balconies, ballroom hall

FAQs: Transformations

Someone recently asked me, “You always talk about transforming a space, but how did you get started in transformations?” I think of transformations as magic. For one day, you get to create a space that is going to live on only in your clients (and their guests) memory for a lifetime. I started doing event [...]

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tea lights, question mark, dark, yellow

FAQs: Can anyone be a designer?

(Photo via Andreanna Moya) There is this mystery among the elite designers of the world where they think they are in a group all their own. When in actuality, given the right circumstances, I think anyone can be a designer. I never dreamt that I could be a designer. The reason I started designing was [...]

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Preston and Martha

FAQs: Do you think advertising at bridal shows is a waste of time or a good marketing strategy?

I have been a speaker at many bridal shows. Some of them are extremely well-organized and others are not so great. Any bridal show or form of promotion is going to be as good as what you put into it. The Good (and Bad) News –Good: It can be a great place to show your [...]

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cash register, money, profit, numbers, thirteen, deposit, profit, money management

FAQS: If a wedding is canceled do you return the client’s non-refundable deposit?

(Cash register image via Public Resource.org) I have had many cases, especially with weddings, where for one reason or another someone chooses to break the engagement. This is always a very upsetting time for both families. And one of the saddest things is that, most of the time, they already put down non-refundable deposits for [...]

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Food display,maccarons, disco ball, book launch, celebrations, centerpieces, food styling, silver, purple, pink, lighting, Preston Bailey event

FAQs: If you had to splurge on something special for your event, what would it be?

Last week, I blogged about skimping. This week, let’s talk about the complete opposite. What is the one thing you’d splurge on for your event? When I gave my last big event this past January, for my Celebrations book launch, I had this same dilemma. Here’s what I thought one should splurge on (from most [...]

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name, clients, relationships, taking advantage, proper ettiquette

FAQs: Is it appropriate to use your client’s name and event images to promote yourself?

(No name image via Natalie Maynor) This is a good question. It’s important to be very careful about how we use our client’s name to promote our work. Make sure you don’t sound like you are just name dropping. Believe me, I catch myself when I am nervous and trying to impress a new client [...]

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Preston Blogging, website, communication, interaction, followers

Frequently Asked Questions: Do you write your own blog posts?

This is a familiar sight for most folks who walk into my office. Yes, I do. Even with my poor grammar (forgive me folks, English is my second language), I write my blog posts. Of all the different aspects of my business, I really do prefer blogging. I have several reasons: Let’s face it. Change [...]

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spring, wedding ceremony, centerpieces, decor, pink, purple

Frequently Asked Questions: Can I only use fall flowers or colors in my autumn wedding?

Here’s an example of a spring wedding done in winter colors. No, you do not need to use only fall flowers or colors. In fact, I love the element of surprise. For example, using a winter look in the summer or spring look in the winter. I find this to be totally unexpected and it [...]

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clocks, time, fast-pace, change, difference, life choices

FAQs: If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

(Image via) My first inclination is to say, “Absolutely nothing,” because I am convinced we all learn lessons when we need to and not a moment before. However, I do have a list of business choices I would have made differently. The list is a mile long, but here are a few: I would have [...]

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Frequently Asked Questions: How do you get clients to view you as credible if you still have another job?

These days, most people start in the event business by wearing two hats. They most likely take gradual steps out of their old boring job into the new and exciting world of the event industry. There is always that “cross-over” period of adjustment. If you’re a newcomer I strongly suggest that if you have never [...]

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house, work, office, comfortable, solitude, environment

Frequently Asked Questions: What are the pros and cons of working from home?

I first started many years ago working from my apartment.  At that time I absolutely loved it. During the day, I created a very open and simple space to meet clients. At night, I was careful to separate my work from my living areas.  Today, many folks have the luxury of working from home, either [...]

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commission, money, faqs

Frequently Asked Questions: Who has to pay when there are commissions involved with vendors?

The clients have to pay. Yes, one way or another, clients are the victims of these scams. Recently I had a meeting with a wonderful colleague from the Los Angeles area, and I was shocked to hear that the concept of commission is a rather common practice. I am not suggesting it is not also [...]

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peony-291x300

Frequently Asked Questions: Can a beginner charge high-end prices?

(Photo via) Of course you can…as long as you can get it. Pricing is always a very tricky dance. However, so is the product you offer from the very beginning of your business. As you probably know by now, I started as a florist. When I first began, I made an instinctive choice to work [...]

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Frequently Asked Questions: What do you do when business is slow?

It’s hard not to go to a place of despair when your business slows down. We are in an industry that’s mostly considered a luxury, so it’s likely that in these difficult economical times we are going to feel the pinch first. The key is to start thinking, in a very practical way, how you [...]

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