I bet most of the people that you know, if they're lucky, have a "job".
Which usually means that they've "played it safe" (is it safe, really?) and lack first-hand knowledge of living their dream of following their ultimate career calling.
I've asked quite a few people what they'd do if they could do anything that they wanted in life for a living, and when I did, 98% of them shot back that they'd do something entirely different.
Some even admitted how much they hated their jobs, and that they'd leave if it wasn't for the money.
That's pretty sad.
Okay. I know I'm not the only one; a die hard party maven. You might be a "party freak", too. And maybe, because of the tanked economy, you can't figure out how to muster up the courage to start your own catering or event planning business - but deep down inside you're chomping at the bit to do it.
If parties are what you love - you should do it. Start your own business.
"In order to act, you must be somewhat insane. A reasonably sensible man is satisfied with just thinking." - Georges Clemenceau
Before I took the supposed big leap, when I told my Dad about my plans (who was self-employed until the day he retired) he said, "If you don't do it you'll never know... And, if it doesn't work out, don't sweat it. The beautiful thing is, you will have learned something."
Well heck, I love to learn. So I jumped in. I didn't worry about being enough of anything for anyone else and you shouldn't either. That's stupid.
Fortunately, I learned how to cater food and produce parties from some of the top 25 big caterers in the business. And because I studied them and paid close, close attention - after going out on my own - I've had a track record of all wins and no losses. See, for me it was a no brainer - do what you love so much that if you were able to, you'd do it for free. In other words, go make what you love to do happen.
Maybe what will happen to you is what happened to me. I started catering parties, here and there (basically when I had the time and felt like it), before I formally started my business. If you're going to do that too, I suggest that you research things thoroughly while you're working and working things out. You might be surprised about what you'll find out. For instance, for asset protection purposes, my company is set up in a different state than the one that it is operated in. Check into everything. Then go do your dream.
The first time I produced a big, six-figure dollar party, I cried tears of gratitude and joy for being given the opportunity to produce the party of my dreams.
If you feel a lot like I do and parties are what you're wild about, when you finally "get there", don't be prone to second guess yourself. Over thinking the opportunity of a lifetime is not what the writer of your life script - in your case, you - should worry about. Sobbing gratitude, maybe - yes. Driving yourself nuts with worry, no. Do your best work, enjoy every moment of your opportunity and bask in every one of it's moments.
You recall what things were like prior to getting your opportunity of a lifetime, don't you? You didn't have a clue as to how anyone would feel about you doing parties, your design style or you - period. But you had a feeling or you knew for a fact that you could do it. And you knew that when people saw your work, they thought that you did a good job. So, follow your dream and go get in the game.
Look, just about all of the novice "closet" caterers and event planners out there think that their work is above average. And when given the chance to work, if they're worth their party-weight in salt, they use a common sense strategy (and you better have one). Having that, along with the tenacity of a bulldog, and their career will happen.
You may not be your local party business "It Girl", but you can live your dream and work.
I support you. I'm telling you to not give up. I'm cheering you on, telling you that you're going to make it - that you can do it. Don't let any snarky nay saying haters get you down. Remember, you can always come to Cater-Hater to get your batteries recharged if you have to. I know what it's like.
Because people might not realize how lucky they are that you're there to help them. They may not have heard of you and therefore don't realize that you're reliable and capable to get the job done. They might not know that what you have to offer is exactly what they need. But don't push things. If you want to do something... you know you can. It's doable. That's not to say that you won't have to figure out how to do it. I'm a living witness, if you really want to, you can.
There's plenty of room for you in the party industry.
Maybe the moment you planned or catered your first party you knew this was what you wanted to do. If you felt that way, you have to do it. You're smart. If you're the only one in your family and circle of friends interested in working in the party business, you know it's okay to leave their possible fear and "accept your lot in life" upbringing behind.
"Inaction breeds fear. Action breeds courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." - Carnegie
Having spent some time in the party business, I feel I have a sense of how things work when it comes to making things happen. Maybe you, like me before I actually started, felt that it went something like this: A new caterer or wedding planner starts a business, their critics and the public don't know if they can do it, and a few people that believe take note. The reality is that the party business, like all industries and businesses, as a way of speaking - take bets on whether or not you'll make it. And to some extent, when the business world bets, all bets are off.
Here's what I mean. When you begin (or if you already started; you began) catering and producing parties, people wonder if they should consider you for the job. Anyone familiar with the quality of your work and your good work ethic could tell them that they wouldn't find anyone better. Yet, unfortunately, if you're unknown and not perceived as the hot, new "flavor of the day" - you will not persuade them to ante up the money to hire you.
Because none of us have any control over how things sometimes change overnight, before I finish writing this sentence you could become an "overnight sensation" - whereby you find yourself in high demand. And if you are blessed like that and that has happened, now that you're a few parties busier and had to hire more people to help you meet all of your work requests, the very same people who shunned the idea of hiring you have changed their minds and now want you to work for them.
Too bad for them for not catching on to your talent sooner. They could have hired you (then) for a price known as, way less money, a few weeks earlier. And then, you, wanting to prove yourself so badly and wanting to work, might have even thought about substantially discounting part of their bill. Of course, they might all decide that they hate your work, but the message will take a while to get through to those that like you, who have decided to invest in your stock by hiring you.
See what I mean?
When you are amazingly talented and hard working, your success, when you get it, should come as no surprise to anyone who knows you or has seen your work.
If you've perfected your craft, what could be the difference between your work before you're a known caterer or a known event planner and now? The answer: Your focus to get them to hire you. If you've gone through all of that, by now - you're probably not a wide-eyed party ingenue anymore. You're the consummate professional.
You're highly committed and on a mission. It's a relief to know that you believe that you're capable.
Your successful "audition" - when they saw first-hand what you could do - that proceeded their true acceptance of you and your work, will eventually push you right into a new world called the World of Far More Work.
Aspiring food caterers and event planners: you're going to make it.
When you're happiest when you're working and you just want to work, and want more than you've already got, don't worry about it if that seems imbalanced. Keep going forward. Because until you feel it's time to address the imbalance and as you continue aspiring to greatness above mediocrity, keep getting ready for your life to change beyond all recognition.
Aspiring champions of catering and party planning, blaze your trail.
If you want to know how to become a caterer or how to become an party planner, and have questions like, "How much do party planners get paid?" - remember, we're in a down turned economy. So be prepared to work hard and acquire a thick skin.
You probably have a lot to say.
That's why guest comments and guest posts are welcome at this site. I hope you'll consider contributing a 250 to 600 word post sometime during the months ahead or at least stick around this growing passionate-about-parties community.
For free start-up tips and resources for corporate event planners and party planning businesses use the Google search widget. To review our caterers directory listings link refer to the Resource section at the top left-hand side of our home page.
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