The Wedding Biz - Behind The Scenes Of The Wedding Business

"A lot of musicians and bands make the performance about themselves; we make our performances about our clients and their audiences." Listen in as Andy and his guest, Jordan Kahn, with Jordan Kahn Music, discuss how important it is to know your audience and play what will resonate with everyone that attends plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.   Jordan and his business partner Chris have ten bands with the premier one being the Jordan Kahn Orchestra. They perform events worldwide and Jordan, as the face of the company, is known for his promotional and sales savvy. He has also performed for many of the most significant event industry showcases around.   Listen, as Jordan shares when he realized music was his path in life and what he learned at Berklee College of Music that still helps him today. He speaks about managing multiple bands once he graduated and how much he loves singing, seeing the audience's reaction, and getting people on the dance floor. Jordan also shares why he brought on a behin

In this stand-alone episode of TNL, Andy and his guest, Sean Low, discuss how the pandemic is affecting the event industry and much more. Sean is the owner of The Business of Being Creative, which focuses on providing practical advice to those in the business of being creative. His client list includes the who's who of the wedding industry and design community. Sean was on The Wedding Biz in February of 2018, so check out that episode if you haven't already. Listen as Sean speaks about the constraints the pandemic is putting on everyone, the issues people in the event industry are struggling with, and how to do a hard reset during this time of forced separation. Sean also shares about a business exercise he does that allows people to redefine their businesses. Sean believes that at the end of the day, your voice matters. No one needs what you offer; they want it. Your job is to make them need it. It's not a question of if you are going to use your voice, the question is when are you going to use it. Sean sha

“What would you do if you lost everyone and everything in your life and then got it all back again?” Listen in as Andy and his guest, Bryan Rafanelli, discuss this and how Bryan is handling the effects of the pandemic both personally and professionally, and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Bryan is the go-to planner for some of the nation’s most exclusive and high-profile events. He has been named an innovator and Event Producer of the Year by BizBash, was one of Out Magazines One Hundred Most Compelling People, a Top 25 Trendsetter of the Year by Modern Bride, and more. Bryan was on The Wedding Biz in September of 2018. It was a fantastic episode so if you haven’t listened to it, you should. Bryan shares how the pandemic has impacted the events he had scheduled this spring and summer and how they are getting everyone rescheduled. He speaks about talking to his clients and how he reassures them. Bryan also talks about how he communicates with his team and keeps them motivated. Listen, as Bryan d

“If you don’t have lighting, you can’t see the beauty you’ve created.” Listen as Andy and Darren discuss Norma Cohen, her elaborate designs, her attention to lighting and how it affects her vision and more. Darren Olarsch founded On The Move Entertainment in 1993, an event production company that specializes in entertainment, and appeared as a guest on The Wedding Biz on July 15th, 2019. Norma started her company, Norma Cohen Productions, nearly thirty years ago. She is a powerhouse and has planned numerous events at New York’s most iconic spaces and Europe’s most luxurious destinations. Norma believes that you have to get rid of the negative energy in your life and the company to thrive. Listen as Darren shares how involved Norma is with her events, from lighting to wardrobe and everything in between. She even makes sure the lights and music are choreographed and work together. He says that he has seen Norma stand by the Lighting Director and verbally make changes to match what she wants to see.  Andy and Da

“Growing is my daily goal, and I live every day to be better.” Listen in as Andy and his guest, Norma Cohen, discuss why she strives to grow daily, how getting rid of negative energy has helped her, some wild challenges she has been through since the last time she was on the show and what she does for fun on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Norma started her company Norma Cohen Productions nearly thirty years ago. She has planned numerous events at New York’s most iconic spaces and Europe’s most luxurious destinations. Norma has never needed to promote herself and has never even had a business card. Her success has always been through word of mouth.  Listen in as Norma shares how she handles stress when producing elaborate events and how she handles challenges. Norma shares a story about building an event on a beach during hurricane season and how she overcame the challenges. She also describes what having three weddings in the same neighborhood at the same time looks like and how she made it all work. Norma

Listen as Andy and Lewis discuss Sofia Crokos and her love of fashion and beauty. Lewis Miller is the founder of Lewis Miller Design, a floral design company based in New York City. Lewis’s clients include the world's leading industry professionals in fashion design, photography, art direction, and architecture.  Sofia is a planner/designer based in New York City. She has also partnered with The Heritage Collection behind four exclusive private properties in Europe. She shows us her vulnerable side while explaining who she really is. Andy and Lewis discuss who has mentored them over the years, their insight into what Sofia said about attracting who you are and what you put out and disconnecting from their businesses for a time so they can reconnect with more passion for what they do. Andy shares a story about being alone on Maui and what he found out about himself. With all of us being instructed to shelter at home, are you taking this time to rethink your life? Lewis believes that right now is a great time t

“I love fashion, and I appreciate everything beautiful because I love to surround myself in beauty” Listen in as Andy and his guest, Sofia Crokos, discuss personally connecting with clients, her love of fashion, and creating beautiful events. Sofia is a planner/designer based out of New York City. She has also partnered with The Heritage Collection behind four exclusive private properties in Europe. Sofia discusses her journey from fashion to planning, where she got her love of everything beautiful and the mentor that gave her the knowledge she needed to plan events. Sofia speaks about being a mentor herself and the joy it brings her. She tells us she lives by connection, and without a link to her clients, she wouldn’t be able to plan their weddings. Listen as Sofia shares her process for opening the lines of communication with her clients, and why she studies the dynamics of the couple when planning a wedding. Sofia shares a story about the wedding she did for Robert Downy and the catastrophe she had to over

This is a bonus episode featuring my conversation with David Stark, a renowned NYC-based event producer and designer whose team creates events  worldwide for weddings, entertainment, fashion, publishing, arts, media, and for consumer product industries.  We discuss his personal response to dealing with the pandemic as well as how he's handling it with his business. David talks about what he's learned from the experience as well as how he's dealt with reducing the number of employees and how he keeps his current team motivated.  David also gives advice to those of us who don't have the level of experience he has in dealing with an economic challenge. I believe we'll all get a lot out of this special appearance with David Stark.  Links Resources:Instagram: @weddingbizshow Facebook David Stark Design and Production Website Instagram: @david_stark_design Facebook   Twitter David’s Part 1 Interview Part 2 Interview Sponsors: Kushner Entertainment Website

Seeing locations through color and shapes is a unique way to design events. Listen as Andy and Sean Low discuss this and much more on this episode of The Next Level. Sean's company, The Business of Being Creative, focuses on providing practical advice to those in the business of being creative. His client list includes the who's who of the wedding industry and design community.  Together, they own Robbins Otoya, a design and event planning firm that designs and produces destination weddings and events all over the world. They each individually own companies also,  Matthew founded a company called Matthew Robbins Design based in New York City, and Luis has a catering company called Evento & Cocina based in Cartagena.  Listen as Sean and Andy discuss the unique way Matthew and Luis approach finding a destination with their clients for their event, and how they always use local talent instead of bringing a team from New York to keep it authentic. Additionally, they speak about the fascinating way Matthew and

“It’s not about producing a New York wedding in Provence; it’s about producing a Provence wedding in Provence with New York standards.” Listen as Andy, and his guests Matthew Robbins and Luis Otoya discuss their process and dig deep into the creative aspect. They also have an exciting conversation about their use of color and a discussion about their pricing philosophy.  Matthew has a company called Matthew Robbins Design based in New York City, while Luis has a catering company called Evento & Cocina based in Cartagena. Together, they own Robbins Otoya Destinations, a design and event planning firm that designs and produces destination weddings and events all over the world. Luis shares meeting Matthew for the first time at a convention, their long-distance relationship, and whether there was any sense of competition between them with their individual companies. Listen as they reveal why they started a business together, what it’s like to work together and be a couple, and how they push each other creati

This is a bonus episode to help us all through this difficult time. The interview can benefit everyone though Katie Krimitsos is the creator and host of the Women's Meditation Network, "the home for guided meditations that are created for the very special journey that we women walk throughout this life. While we are all different and unique, there is an underlying connection and shared experience between us that is so beautiful, complex and deep." websites: http://womensmeditationnetwork.com http://coronavirusmeditations.com Subscribe to the Podcast: Subscribe HERE!  

We are all having our own reaction to the current crisis. David shares his way of getting through the myriad of challenges facing not only himself, but all of us.  David Beahm, world-class wedding designer and planner, known for his inventive work and trademark lavish flower creations, has designed countless weddings for society, high profile and discerning clients, including the wedding of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, as well as a host of celebrity and Fortune 500 corporate events.

Today's episode is a special one about dealing with the impact of the Coronavirus though it's timeless in that it can apply to any major challenge or crisis. Brett had a very successful career as a videographer in the lux wedding market, for ten years,  until the recession of 2008 forced him to pivot. Now a filmmaker and keynote speaker, Brett Culp films is based out of Tampa FL.  He is also an author and produces short films such as “How to stay positive when the world feels negative.” We urge you to share this with your friends, family, and colleagues in the hope that it gives you inspiration and a sense of peace as we all deal with one of the greatest challenges of the past century. Resources: Brett Culp Website Facebook and Instagram: brettculpfilms Twitter: brettculp Overview of Brett’s work/career – https://vimeo.com/289128900 Clip from one of Brett’s keynotes – https://vimeo.com/278802855 Trailer for Brett’s new film, Look to the Sky: https://vimeo.com/risinghero/supermanisreal Connect with The Wed

Do you know how digital photos typically look different from pictures taken using film? Listen as Andy and Lynn discuss Jose's new preset that allows him to use digital but still get the film look plus much more. Lynn Easton of Easton Events is a wonderful planner and designer based out of Charleston and Charlottesville who works worldwide.  Jose Villa is a film photographer known for shooting wedding photos for celebrities and high profile clients. Jose was named one of the top Wedding Photographers in the world by Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Harper's Bazaar. Jose has also been recognized as one of the most influential photographers of the decade by PDN. Listen as Lynn shares what she admires about Jose and his work, and his ability to shoot Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra's wedding with only a week and a half’s notice. Andy and Lynn discuss Jose's ability to shoot photos with a lot of emotion and how amazing and organized his team is. They also chat about Jose's use of social media and how he answers

Andy and Jose hopped on the line, Friday March 13th, to discuss the impact of the Coronavirus on the event industry and their businesses as a prelude to the regular interview.  Listen as Andy and Jose discuss many topics, including the celebrity weddings he photographed in 2019. There is so much to learn from Jose, regardless of whether or not you are a photographer. If you are not familiar with his work, Jose Villa is primarily a film photographer, named one of the top Wedding Photographers in the world by Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Harper’s Bazaar. Jose has also been recognized as one of the most influential photographers of the decade by PDN. Listen as Jose shares how the level of the weddings he does has changed and what he feels when shooting celebrity weddings. In 2019, Jose did the photography for Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra’s and Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin’s weddings, two of the most high profile weddings he last last year. Jose also speaks about the cameras and lenses he uses and th

Christie Osborne is FEMA-certified in Social Media Crisis Communication and I was fortunate to get some time with her while attending Catersource/The Special Event conference in Las Vegas. She talks about what to consider when communicating policies regarding response to a crisis, including the Coronavirus.  She also tells us about the most frequently asked questions she's getting while at the conference. This includes, when events get cancelled, how to communicate online regarding the issue of how we decide to handle deposits. Christie also discusses how to respond when clients ask if they should get tested when they've attended a venue or event where it's later discovered that one or more people were infected. She also talks about how to respond when people have yet to attend an event that has not been cancelled and are asking if it's safe. This includes how to handle the recovery period once we are past the crisis.  Christie Osborne's website and email: www.mountainsidemedia.comchristie@mountainsidemedia

If you want your weddings to have theatrical productions, listen as Andy and Andre discuss Sonal Shah and her ability to plan and produce events and the challenges she faces when planning celebrity weddings, interracial weddings, and more, all over the world. Andre Maier is a fantastic photographer based in both New York City and Los Angeles, who works worldwide, and appeared on The Wedding Biz.   Sonal is a premier South Asian event planner based in New York City, working all over the world. Sonal is known for planning the most elaborate over-the-top weddings. She also works with both Hollywood and Bollywood stars, and has a book out called “The Complete Guide to Planning the Perfect South Asian Wedding.”   Andy and Andre share Sonal’s ability to mediate between bridal couples and parents, why she decided to plan South Asian weddings, and the need to trust the creative partners with whom she builds her teams. Additionally, Andre says that Sonal brings purpose and passion together, which is why she is so succ

"I don't design; I plan events and manage the timelines." Listen in as Andy and his guest Sonal Shah discuss how she began her career, and why she chose to niche down to South Asian weddings. They also talk about her position with Marriott and how it helped her become the planner she is today and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Sonal is a premier South Asian event planner based in New York City, working all over the world. Sonal is known for planning the most elaborate over-the-top weddings. If her medium-sized wedding has four to five hundred guests, can you imagine what her large weddings are like? She works with both Hollywood and Bollywood stars, and has a book out called “The Complete Guide to Planning the Perfect South Asian Wedding.” Sonal shares the process she has for putting together a team, how she handles the different personalities of each family, and how she keeps the focus on the bride when opinions make things difficult. Sonal speaks about the need to trust the creative partners

When does it make sense to change the dynamics of a company? Listen, as Andy and Robert Sherman discuss how changing the leadership of Evoke Design led Jeannette Tavares and Jodi Moraru to greater personal and business success. Robert is the President of Washington Talent and Andy’s business partner with Kushner Entertainment. Andy interviewed him on The Wedding Biz in November of last year as they announced their partnership.    Evoke Design is based in Washington, D.C, and serving clients worldwide. Jeannette is the Chief Creative Director, and Jodi is a producer; however, it wasn’t always like that. Jodi founded the company, hired Jeannette, who eventually became a producer, and later Jeannette bought out the company. Although their roles have reversed, they are now individually more successful as well as the company as a whole.   Listen as Robert and Andy discuss the similarities between their partnership with Kushner Entertainment and the connection Jeannette and Jodi have with Evoke Design. Jodi and And

Have you ever looked at an event from a thirty thousand foot view, so you could see the big picture? Listen as Andy and his guests Jodi Moraru and Jeannette Tavaras discuss this and how event planning has evolved in the last thirty years. Both of these amazing women are individuals who work with Evoke, an Event Planning and Design company that was initially founded by Jodi but was bought by Jeannette years later. Listen as they discuss what that was all about in this episode of The Wedding Biz.  Jeannette is the President, and Jodi is the Founder and Senior Event Planner based out of Washington, D.C. Although their roles have reversed, they are now individually more successful as well as the company as a whole. Jodi and Jeannette share where they each got their passion for planning events as children, how they met, and why Jodi chose to teach Jeannette the business. Starting as Jodi’s assistant, Jeannette worked her way up to an event planner in a short time, which proved to Jodi that she had the right person