Wedding Industry Insider

What can wedding planners learn from DJs? Mary Nisi got into her groove as a wedding DJ decades ago, and now she has business lessons that any pro can take to the dance floor. If you’ve ever wanted to get into the mind of a (great) wedding DJ, you’ll want to listen to this week’s Wedding Industry Insider. We’re talking about fun stuff like song choices along with the nitty-gritty details that make a wedding business so successful. Plus, Mary gives the lowdown on burnout and the rare reasons she steps into the DJ booth these days.   Toast & Jam, Hot Flash Dance Parties, and Retiring from the Day-to-Day Mary Nisi is the founder and president of Toast & Jam DJs. She’s also the DJ behind Hot Flash Dance, a “punctual party for rowdy women.” In addition to her roles as a DJ and entrepreneur, she also produces the “All Up in My Lady Business” podcast, which makes this the perfect crossover for wedding planners who love a good dance party. You’ll come for the tunes and stay for the business advice, because Mary’s got some “un-fun and un-sexy” lessons you can apply to your wedding planning career right now. Don’t Skimp on Your Core Values It’s been a long time since we talked about core values on Wedding Industry Insider. But now that we’ve talked with Mary Nisi, we can’t believe we’ve skipped over this incredibly important aspect of entrepreneurship. Join Mary as she talks about the non-negotiables that make decision making easy. She’ll share the process you can follow for creating your core values plus some examples to jump-start your brainstorming session. Staying in Your Zone of Genius Mary Nisi knows there are no shortcuts in business, but that doesn’t mean you have to grind through every task. Once you find out what you need, and why you need it, you can hire the right people to get your business to the next level. This could be associate hires, legal advice, or contract work. And it could be the key to getting out of the “start-up” phase of your business. And her biggest lesson of who-not-how: your friends are not the who. Mary’s got some good reasons why you shouldn’t hire your friends for the jobs that matter. Why Mary Stepped Out of the DJ Booth… And Found Her Way Back Here’s something we wedding planners can relate to, especially those of us who have been in the industry for several years. Eventually, Mary got tired of the long nights and realized she didn’t want to work in-person at weddings anymore. So tune in, because Mary shared some of her hiring woes and how she set up her business to run without her constant, hands-on care. And hear about how Mary’s latest project put her back behind the turntable (and a chance for Chicago-based women entrepreneurs to join in on Mary’s dance parties). The Music That Keeps Mary Going Mary is an open book of business advice, as though she’s eager for other women entrepreneurs to find success without burnout. She’s also a lot of fun to talk to. Mary’s delivering on fun wedding stories, including a cocktail hour inspired by Home Depot shopping trips, the terrible songs that inspired her to DJ weddings, and the vibes she hopes her team brings to every event. And… Mary Nisi’s #1 Advice for Wedding Planners Our conversation with Mary comes full circle, as she shares her honest take on core values, and why we definitely needed to bring this topic to the Wedding Industry table sooner. More from Mary Nisi To hear our full interview with Mary, you can press the play button above. And be sure to subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! We want to say a special thank you to Mary for sharing these insights with our Timeline Genius community. Mary faced the music and found success through a recession, Covid, another recession, and her own personal trials. We hope this interview inspires you to dance to your own beat and find your groove as a wedding planner. Show Notes: You can learn all about Mary Nisi’s DJ and business consultation services on her website here. Learn all about Toast & Jam DJs here. Here’s where you can get all the info on Hot Flash Dance. Listen to Mary’s Podcast: All Up in My Lady Business. Questions? Get in touch with Mary or Eddie Want to get into the groove of wedding planning? Create your first timeline for free at TimelineGenius.com The post WII 203 – Don’t Hire Your Friends: DJ Mary Nisi’s Rules for Wedding Planners appeared first on Timeline Genius Blog.

If you’re looking for the dos and don’ts of running a wedding planning business, our interview with Fallon Carter is a great place to start. We’re revisiting this fan-favorite episode to soak up all the kindhearted wisdom and actionable advice Fallon has to offer, so tune in and see how you’re inspired to reshape your business. Fallon is the founder and creative director of Fallon Carter Events. She’s also an endearing podcast host and wedding expert who has persevered through challenges as an entrepreneur. During her fantastic interview with Eddie, Fallon shares reflections on weak contracts, chaotic hiring, and imposter syndrome. And best of all: she’s sharing how she solved some of the biggest problems she faced as a wedding planner. Here’s what you can look forward to in this episode: How Fallon prevents chargebacks after a hard-learned lesson. Fallon’s favorite systems and technology that supports her business and her team. The contractor you should hire first for your wedding planning business. Percentage vs. flat-fee pricing: which one does Fallon recommend? And… Fallon’s #1 advice for wedding pros! To hear our full interview with Fallon Carter, you can press the play button above. And be sure to subscribe to our podcast in iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen! We want to say a special thank you to Fallon for sharing these insights with our Timeline Genius community. Please take this information, act on it, and carry on the journey toward fulfilling your dreams!   Show Notes: Learn more about Fallon Carter Events here. Listen to Fallon’s newest podcast The We Do Collective Questions? Get in touch with Fallon or Eddie Get the systems that will support your growth – See what Timeline Genius can do for you!   The post WII 181 – Fallon Carter Solves Your Wedding Planner Problems [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Timeline Genius Blog.

"As the venue, we really are the stadium that different teams come into every weekend to play.” Kate Dear tells us how she can spot a great wedding planner, and what separates horrendous teams from the awesome ones.