Many wedding and event pros made pivots during Covid. Some out of necessity and some through opportunity. Rod Baker pivoted to DFW Neon after an unexpected response to a sign he had on his DJ façade. That has turned into a whole separate business that’s thriving. Listen to this episode and hear how you can learn to see the opportunities around you. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me a...
Jun 13, 2022•19 min
Do your customers ask you for things that you can’t or won’t do? When you can’t give them what they ask for, how do you say No without antagonizing them? Should you always just say Yes? Or, is there another way to handle the situations when you can’t say Yes, but still want to please the customers? Listen to this new 13-minute episode for perspective on whether more leads is better, or worse. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topi...
Jun 08, 2022•13 min
There’s a difference between Top-Down Selling and Up-selling. Do you know the difference? How and when should you be upselling to bring unexpected results to your couples and customers. How can you go about offering new and better experiences to your customers, event after they’ve formerly said, No? Listen to this new 11-minute episode for ideas on how and when you can upsell, without being pushy. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a...
Jun 01, 2022•11 min
Many of the businesses I come across are looking to grow, whether they’ve been in business months or years. Every so often I come across someone who’s in a different stage. My friend and client, Adam Tiegs grew his business and then decided it was time to scale back. I’m sure many of you can relate to feeling that it’s time to scale back. Listen to this episode and see whether scaling down is in your future. Adam Tiegs is a Professional DJ and Audio/Video/Lighting Swiss Army Knife. He runs two s...
May 30, 2022•29 min
Very rarely do I come across businesses who don’t get enough leads. Most wedding and event pros I work with or speak with complain about getting too many inquiries. Which one are you? Do you really want more inquiries, or do you want better ones? Do you have enough time to follow up the way you know you should (or the way I recommend in my books)? Or, do you know that you could follow up better… if you only had more time? If you got fewer leads would you follow up more? Listen to this new 14-min...
May 25, 2022•13 min
Do you clear your mind before you have a call, meeting or send an email or text? Or, do you bring the baggage of your prior conversations with you to the next one? Learning to be more present and staying open to the unexpected can lead to unexpectedly wonderful outcomes. Listen to this new 7-minute episode for some ideas on how to hit your own reset button. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directl...
May 18, 2022•6 min
Sometimes you come up with a good idea and sometimes it comes to you. It’s been said that necessity is the mother of invention. Well, Holly and her chef husband came up with an idea to fulfill both a need and a lifestyle. Listen to this episode for some inspiration for your next idea! Holly Powers-Verbeck, founded and continues to operate HeyChef! , Lake Tahoe’s premiere culinary staffing company since 1997. In 2018 she formed MakeYourBusinessCook! to help chefs launch private chef businesses an...
May 16, 2022•46 min
Imposter syndrome is defined by Google as “doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud.” This listener suggestion came from Meg Ramos and I’m so glad she suggested it. I’ve had my moments of self-doubt, wondering why I’m the one that has been given some of the opportunities or how I got to be the expert, without going to school specifically for this. It’s a trait common to successful people, maybe even you. Listen to this new 7-minute episode for some clarity on imposter syndrome and how yo...
May 11, 2022•8 min
Does inaction have a cost? The easiest thing for most people is to do nothing different. Keep going the direction you’re already going, don’t rock the boat. Is that the best course of action, or are you missing out on more by taking no action? I’ve spoken about opportunity cost before and this ties in with that discussion. Listen to this new 7-minute episode for some perspective on what you may be missing out on by not acting or by passing up on an opportunity. If you have any questions about an...
May 04, 2022•8 min
Getting published in a wedding magazine or on a blog or online site can help give your business credibility and the reach of audiences that might not otherwise know about you. Listen to this new episode with Brittny Drye, founder and editor-in-chief of Love Inc., and hear how to get your business on the radar of the editors of publications and websites. Brittny Drye is the founder and editor-in-chief of Love Inc., the leading equality-minded wedding blog and print publication. Her inclusive effo...
May 02, 2022•34 min
This is a listener suggestion from Matt Campbell, who has been a guest here on the podcast. What is burnout, and when is it time to pack it in and move on to something else? I discuss my thoughts on this (and I’m not a psychologist and don’t play one on podcasts) to hopefully give you a different perspective on how to view your situation. Listen to this new 8-minute episode for a different look at a serious topic. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a...
Apr 27, 2022•9 min
I’m often approached by people who’ve come up with a new technology or business idea, the spark of which was them seeing the need for themselves and/or their business. Sometimes there isn’t a solution for their problem. Other times there is, but it just isn’t the right solution. So, when is it time to build something versus customizing something that already exists, or just learning to work with what’s already out there. Listen to this new 6-minute episode for some thoughts on when it’s time to ...
Apr 20, 2022•6 min
If you’ve been paying attention to marketing for your business, you’ve probably heard about “marketing funnels.” What are they? How do you use them? Do you need to use them? If you’re confused about what they are or how you can use them for your business, listen to this new episode where Aleya Harris breaks them down for you. Aleya Harris, CPCE is an award-winning marketer and former chef and catering company owner. She is the Owner of Flourish Marketing, an agency that provides marketing educat...
Apr 18, 2022•45 min
Very often I’m consulting with wedding and event pros, and I’ll hear complaints about them getting inquiries from less than their ideal couples/clients. It always begs the question whether it’s their marketing and advertising attracting the wrong customers, their pricing and packages aren’t correct for their target market, or whether they’re just settling for the wrong customers. Listen to this new 8-minute episode for some thoughts on whether you’re choosing the right customers. If you have any...
Apr 13, 2022•9 min
I was listening to Brian B on his The Travel DJ Blend podcast where he was talking about commission versus salary for salespeople. It got me thinking about all of my clients who ask me about the right way to set up a compensation plan for their sales teams (whether they’re a team of 1 or more). While there’s no one way that’s right for everyone, there are some things to consider when setting up your compensation plan. Listen to this new 8-minute episode for some ideas on different compensation o...
Apr 06, 2022•9 min
Continuing my series on “Scaling”, for this episode I talk with my friend Mike Walter on his journey from DJ working for another company to growing his own company that does over 1,000 events per year! How big is right for your company? Listen to this episode for another angle on how to grow a business. Mike Walter is the proud owner of Elite Entertainment, a Multi-System DJ Company in New Jersey that has been selected by TheKnot.com and WeddingWire.com as a top Entertainment company in the coun...
Apr 04, 2022•34 min
I got to thinking about all of the people who tell me that they provide better results than their competitors. How do they know? It’s not like we get to see the results, side by side. So, in this shorter than my usual short musings I give my perspective on this topic. Listen to this new 4-minute episode for some food for thought on whether you are actually providing better results, or if they’re just different. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a su...
Mar 30, 2022•5 min
A few years ago I did a presentation “How to be the experienced wedding pro, without sounding old.” I had a lot of feedback from wedding pros, young and old, about what it means to be too old to do what you’re doing now. There are 50+ year old DJs rocking it every weekend, and others in their 30’s who think their clock is ticking loudly as they approach 40. What’s the difference? Listen to this new 8-minute episode to see how loudly you clock is ticking and when it’s time for you to pack it in… ...
Mar 23, 2022•9 min
Search Engine Optimization is on the minds of many wedding and event pros. Matt Campbell became knowledgeable about it for his business, MyWeddingSongs.com and he and I are had a follow up conversation to our one about his niche. In this new episode we talk about SEO and how you can learn to improve it for your website. Matthew (Matt) Campbell is the owner of My Wedding Songs. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mobile Beat Magazine, and DJ Times. Matt hosts the Wedding Songs Podcast and is the au...
Mar 21, 2022•29 min
I was going through my email list and the websites of many of my contacts and I came across some things that I’ve been saying NOT to do for years. Yet, thousands of my contacts are still using the wrong email address, or doing things (or not doing things) on their websites that could be hurting their inquiries, conversion and of course, sales and profits. Listen to this new 12-minute episode to see the things they should stop doing, in case you’re doing them too! If you have any questions about ...
Mar 16, 2022•13 min
If you ever find yourself too busy doing your work to find the time to work on improving your skills, learning new things and expanding your perspectives, you’re not alone. That said, there are many, many of your peers who are making learning a priority. I know, I see them at the same conferences every year. I hear about the books they’re reading. I see their posts about new products and services and how their customers are enjoying those new results. I work with wedding and event pros, just lik...
Mar 09, 2022•9 min
Some people pivot because their current business is no longer viable, and others, like my guest for this episode, Nora Sheils, saw a need for her business, looked for a solution, it didn’t exist, so she and her partner built it! What do you do when you see a need in your business and can’t find a solution? Listen to this episode for inspiration, some ideas and even a special offer from Nora for my listeners! Nora Sheils is the co-founder of Rock Paper Coin , the first software platform to bring ...
Mar 07, 2022•33 min
Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t ask me about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and if I can help them with it. Other than making referrals, and having guests on, like Matt Campbell and Brian Lawrence, I don’t pay much attention to SEO. Why? Because I’m not trying to get more business through searches, other than searches specifically for me, that is. Should you be paying attention to SEO for your site? Yes. How much time, attention and money should you be spending? That’s a different ques...
Mar 02, 2022•11 min
Some things in your business are easy to measure and others are more difficult. Many wedding and event pros that I work with do very little tracking in their business. A few do a lot. For me, and for my clients, businesses like yours, I want you to focus on things that you can change, not just things you can measure, just because you can measure them. Listen to this new 7-minute episode for a little perspective on what you should and maybe shouldn’t be trying to measure. If you have any question...
Feb 23, 2022•7 min
Continuing my series on “Scaling” I was so happy to chat with Jeff Miller on how he came to scale his catering business from one to 16 venues. I’ve had the privilege of working with Jeff and his team and he’s carved out a great niche in and around the Philadelphia area. Listen to this episode for another angle on how to scale your business. Jeffrey Miller is the chef-owner of Jeffrey Miller Catering, one of Philadelphia’s largest and most successful high-end catering companies. Jeff started the ...
Feb 21, 2022•18 min
There are things in our lives and business that we really need to have. Those are the basics and staples of our lives. Then there are the things that we want to have, but do we really need them, or are they just nice-to-haves? I think we should all treat ourselves and families to nice-to-haves. And for your business, understand the difference between an investment and an expense. Listen to this new 7-minute episode to get some perspective on want it versus need it, expense versus investment. If ...
Feb 16, 2022•7 min
If you do a search online, there’s no shortage of books, articles, posts and stories about work-life balance. Is there such a thing? Can anyone else really tell you what’s the right balance for your work and life outside work. I recorded this after hearing yet another pundit opine about this. So, now it’s my turn ☺ Listen to this new 7-minute episode for my take on this topic. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, plea...
Feb 09, 2022•7 min
In keeping with my series on “Scaling” I’m so happy to have had this chat with Joe Bunn on how he came to expand from one location to six through licensing. Is licensing right for your business? Listen to this episode and find out. Joe Bunn started his DJ career at the age of 14 in Eastern North Carolina. In the late 90s, he started Bunn DJ Company. The company grew from a couple of DJs to 15 of the area’s best mobile DJs. Over the past few years, Bunn DJ Company has expanded to Charleston, SC, ...
Feb 07, 2022•27 min
As a customer, it’s easy to see where companies make it hard for us to do business with them. Can you see where you’re making it difficult for your customers? Do you know how you may be chasing away good prospects because of extra steps or friction? See how your customer experience may be hurting you, rather than helping. Listen to this new 11-minute episode and find out where the friction is in your processes. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a su...
Feb 02, 2022•11 min
As I work with businesses like yours, growing your businesses is a frequent topic. When growing your business, is the focus on top-line sales, or bottom-line profits? Too many wedding and event pros pay too much attention to sales, and not profits. Listen to this new 7-minute episode and get a clearer view of where you should be focusing. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@Wed...
Jan 26, 2022•9 min
