Tag Archives: work

Top Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Events Place

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Top Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Events Place

Ever wondered why malls, concert grounds, office buildings, hotels, resorts, events places, and even schools invest so much effort and money into beautifying their gardens and parking lots? The landscape and terrain of an events place are more than just a backdrop for photos and videos. They have a logistical purpose, too.

If you’re managing an event place and you want to attract more clients, you might need to look into the current amenities you’re offering. If you haven’t yet invested in commercial landscaping services in North Oklahoma City, it’s about time you rethink that decision. A well-landscaped garden area and parking lot, along with the affordability of your place and other amenities and features, is an important consideration for many potential clients.

Parking lot, gardens, pathways, driveway, etc:

Most of the time, an event place is filled to capacity with people. Whether it’s a wedding, a corporate event, a birthday, or a product launch, events places house as many guests as they are capable of. With this, comes the responsibility of providing ample parking spaces for the guests and the clients. This also includes regular maintenance to the parking area like seal coating and line striping, so that people can clearly see where a proper parking space is available. It would be wise to find a professional to manage the upkeep of this for you. In order to find a professional near you, simply enter a search for “Paving contractor in Royse City, TX” or your local area. And, while many event places leave enough area for a parking space, not many of them invest money and energy into landscaping their parking lots and driveway.

The landscape of an events place’s parking lot, pathway, and driveway, however, is more than just aesthetics. It’s more than just a backdrop for a nice wedding photo. Hilly and uneven terrain will make it hard for guests to reach the main hall of the event place (especially if it’s a formal event and the women are wearing sky-high heels!). A landscape artist will see that these issues are dealt with. They will also make sure that during rainy days, the gardens won’t collapse and the pathways are well covered to protect the clients and their guests.

Indeed, the right landscaping can turn your event space into a sought after destination for weddings and retreats. When you work with a commercial landscaping company, you will be able to coordinate a plan for all four seasons so your event space will always look photo op ready. The team you choose will be able to bring your vision to life with plants, flowers, and greenery appropriate for the season. A beautifully maintained property is a sure fire way to get people talking!

Marketing:

You could have the most beautiful event space in the world but no one will know about it if you don’t market it properly. A great place to start is by advertising your business at expo fairs specific to the events you host like weddings or corporate get togethers. You can set up your booth with a custom tent wall, giveaway products, flyers, and banners so it will catch everyone’s eye. After the fair, you can add the banners and flags you used to the exterior of your event center to capture the attention of even more traffic.

Another excellent way to put your business out there is by inviting the clientele you’re hoping to attract to an event. For example, those in the wedding industry would be impressed by a wine and cheese tasting to preview the space and be inspired for pre wedding cocktail hours. To get started, simply enter a search for “wine tasting bath” (or your local area) to find specialty restaurants or wineries to accommodate. An event like this is casual, fun, and a perfect ice breaker.

Full and topnotch amenities:

Does your event place have a waiting area for the guests’ drivers and aids? Is it wheelchair accessible? Do you have facilities that cater to the need of individuals with physical challenges? These are important features of an event place and many potential clients may start to look to your competitors’ direction just because you didn’t put enough ramps (for wheelchairs and strollers) in your building or garden. Sometimes, the reason why clients won’t rent your place is as simple as not having a few important amenities and features.

Affordability and price competitiveness:

There are a lot of competitions in this industry. Restaurants are opening their doors for events. Hotels have grand ballrooms where a large event can be held. There are exhibit halls to host seminars and conferences. Even parking lots are turned into concert grounds when the situation calls for it. What separates your event place from all of the others? One thing that potential clients will look into is the affordability and competitiveness of your pricing scheme. If you can offer the same facilities and amenities for a lower price than your competitors, then clients are more likely to choose your event place.

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Having a well-maintained landscape is good for your business, especially during the summer time! Keep these things in mind so that you can create a great environment for your employees and customers.

Chardon Polka Band

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Chardon Polka Band

Hiii everyone! This past Thursday, my client and I were truly living our best lives because we got to see the Chardon Polka Band perform at one of our local libraries. I try to take this client out to concerts and anything music related whenever I can because that’s his favorite and he plays the piano so beautifully. We have seen the CPB play twice before and they are so much fun that we had to see them again.

Now, I know what you’re thinking “a polka concert sounds like a nightmare”. And, initially, I thought so too. But, they are the most endearing, talented group of people that I’ve ever met and it’s impossible to not love them. They are so kind to everyone in their audience from little kids, the elderly, and people with special needs and that type of selfless attitude makes me a fan of them no matter what style of music they play.

I had no idea that the Chardon Polka Band was kind of a big deal in Ohio until now, but these guys go around all over the country playing polka everywhere from funerals, and christenings, to elementary schools, and senior centers. And, of course, any beer related festival that you can think of! I never thought I’d find myself as a polka fan until seeing these whacky guys perform and it’s so nice to consider them as my friends now, too!

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos.

Both my client and myself purchased a CPB T-shirt that we wear with pride and we are so excited to see our friends with an unexpected cult following perform again soon!

Who are the local celebrities in your neck of the woods? What are your thoughts on polka music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Docplayer

Lil Red’s Art Gallery

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Lil Red’s Art Gallery

Hellooo everyone! One of the last things that I need to do in my apartment is adorn one of my blank walls in my living room with pictures. During a shopping trip to Goodwill last month, I purchased at least ten framed quirky paintings for forty bucks total. All that’s left to do is find a picture hanging kit and have my dad over to help with the process as he promised when I moved in.

I love secondhand shopping and I wanted to show all of you my finds because it’s like a treasure hunt every time you step foot into a Goodwill or thrift shop. But, first, I wanted to share with you two wall arts that are not from a thrift store but are still really pretty and sentimental all the same. Check it out:

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I love both of these pictures so much because they remind me of my clients. The small “home” block was a gift from one of my families after I told them the good news about my apartment. I was so touched by the sweet gesture when I opened the gift bag during my shift the following week. It is simple and pretty and the rustic wooden feel will be just right in my living room with its hardwood flooring and the dark wood paneling on my loft space up above.

The vibrant “welcome” sign was a Party City purchase when I was with another one of my girlies. She loves going to that store and when we saw that picture, we both thought that it would be perfect in my new place. I normally don’t care for pictures with wording on them but I liked how simple both of these were and how they made a statement without saying much of anything. Now, let’s see if I can get them hung up some time this year!

Where do you like to shop for wall art for your home? What is your style when it comes to home decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Welcome To My Crib: Home Office Edition

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Welcome To My Crib: Home Office Edition

Hi, MTV, and welcome to my crib! For the most part, my apartment is pretty much completely furnished and decorated minus my home office. So, I was hoping that my darlings with an eye for decor could help me out with figuring out what to do with this space.

For now, it has been so nice doing my paperwork for my big girl job and writing at my own desk instead of the dining room table at home! But, it will definitely feel better once the room has a deliberate design as opposed to a spare one with a desk in it. Lol, you’ll see. Check it out:

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Two great things about my office is the gigantic storage closet as well as the door that leads to my back balcony. I honestly don’t even have enough stuff to fill all of the storage options in my apartment and here I was before worrying that I wouldn’t have enough space! Anywho, as you can see, the office is a work in progress. I plan on taking some time off in May to completely finish my apartment so I’m hoping I’ll get some inspiration to get this space looking as good as the rest of chez moi. Help your girl out!

What would you do with this room to make it more home office ready? How is your office decorated at your place? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mad Lib Hilarity

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Mad Lib Hilarity

Hiii everyone! A few days ago at work, I was filling mad libs out with my client, her sister, and her seven year old niece and it was honestly the funniest thing of my life. And, because one of the pages that we filled out was blog related, I had to share it with all of you. Enjoy!

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Lololol, I really just can’t. Us girls were laughing our little behinds off but the one that we especially lost it on was “Aunt B shaped earrings”. That is what my client’s nieces affectionately call her so when the kiddo suggested that as the noun we were dying! On another note, mad libs are a great way to teach children new words, grammar, and parts of sentences so if you’re looking for a fun way for your kids to learn something new, then give it a try.

Thanks for stopping by, Sarah.com fans! 😉

What is something funny that happened to you today? How do you make teaching something new more fun? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Making Working With Remote Employees A Breeze

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Making Working With Remote Employees A Breeze

Thanks to technology and developments in online communication, it’s likely you’ll be working with remote employees in your organization. Cloud computing, be it hybrid, multi-cloud management, public or private, in addition to video conferencing, and better networks mean that businesses can choose from a wider range of talent for their teams, resulting in more employees working from remote locations. Remote working also provides flexibility to your staff, allowing them to work at home and in other locations – something which can provide a better work/life balance.

While having remote workers can be great for your business, it can come with some pitfalls, too. To help make working with remote employees a breeze for your business, take a look at the following tips:

Set your expectations:

It can be difficult for remote workers to find their feet. Without the structure of the office environment, the onus is on them to manage workloads, timekeeping and so on, so it’s useful for employees to know what’s expected from them. Having core hours that you expect everyone to be available is beneficial to your business, while putting reporting systems in place will help you monitor progress. Create clear guidelines that will help them and you navigate remote working much easier.

Give them the tools they need:

For all employees to do a good job, they need to use the right tools. Providing remote workers with the right equipment and technology will ensure that they are able to work effectively and be a part of the wider system. Cloud management systems are a cost-effective tool for business that will help everyone access what they need and facilitate collaborative working with ease.

You can read how a system like Templafy brings value to businesses at https://www.templafy.com/blog/techradar-pro-names-templafy-among-the-best-document-management-systems/. The standardization of forms and templates can help employees stay on brand and ensures that they’re using the right systems for their work.

Create an inclusive work environment:

It can be difficult for remote workers to feel like a part of the team. There are ways to help remote employees feel included that include encouraging bonding between colleagues and recognizing the contributions of your remote workers. Communication is another important aspect, so providing regular communication can help employees feel connected, even when they’re in another location.

Working from home can be difficult for employees for many reasons. Where possible, make it easy for your remote employees to travel in when needed. Give them a travel budget and arrange meetings that will allow them to enjoy face to face contact with the rest of the team. Remember to include some social activities as part of these visits to strengthen those team bonds.

Making a success of remote working depends on several factors, but it’s important to put the time and investment into developing clear guidelines and processes to help everything fit into place. Remember to check in with your remote employees regularly to ensure that they’re happy and that things are working well and review things if it’s not quite right. Your remote workers are an asset to your business, so help them feel like a valued, recognized part of your team.

 Featured Image By: Unsplash

April 2019 Funky Time Jams

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April 2019 Funky Time Jams

Hiiii everyone! When I am making my schedule for work, I prefer to work two or three really long days so that I can have a few laid back ones during the work week. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my schedule and am going to keep it that way. But, the eleven plus hour days can get exhausting. So, when I am driving from client to client, I use my time in the car with my music to refresh myself. And, that is what this month’s Funky Time Jams are all about – the songs that help me keep going during a long day:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos.

When I’m driving and I’m kind of tired, my soundtrack is all about music that I can sing along to. I turn the volume up and I put my air on and I just sing at the top of my lungs and it always manages to get me bright eyed and bushy tailed for the next person that I’m working with. That’s why all of the songs above are more fun ones than my normal all emo everything. Of course, if I’m having a bad day, then it is absolutely all emo everything, though lol.

All of the songs above are ones that I know by heart and they instantly make me dance and I end up feeling so rejuvenated afterwards. But, it’s definitely not hard to feel that way after playing a little Pharrell or Duran Duran! Eighties music is another must to help perk me up and my car dance parties are honestly what keeps me sane sometimes during my super busy weeks. The power of music!

What do you like to play to help get you through a long day? What kind of music do you listen to to get you in a fun mood? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feel Useful With These Career Choices

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Feel Useful With These Career Choices

If you ask workers across the world what they want from their job, there are a few things that crop up pretty routinely. One that you hear a lot is that people generally want to feel that what they are doing is useful. People want their work to matter, to make a difference to something, and when this is not fulfilled it can quickly lead to some unhappy people stuck in satisfying jobs. If you know this feeling, and you are looking for some kind of a change, you are clearly not alone. But it’s hard to know where to begin, and the prospect of changing jobs can be remarkably stressful even at the best of times. Primary amongst your concerns is probably the question of what job you are actually going to go for. How about one of the following?

Doctor:

While this is not the kind of work that you can slip into from another field, it is worth mentioning here as it is known as being one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. Doctors come in all forms, of course, and there is a world of difference between a surgeon and a GP. But, whatever area you get into, you can be sure that being a doctor enables you to feel like you are doing something very useful. If you are in a position to start doing the relevant training and education, and you want to make sure you spend your life helping others, then this is one of the best options you are going to have open to you.

Nurse:

Nurses might be paid considerably less than doctors, but their job satisfaction rates are frequently very high, and for that reason it is a job worth considering if you want to feel that you are doing something worthwhile with your time. That being said, they are paid fairly well, but you will also be expected to work some long hours – and it is known as being one of the most stressful jobs that are out there. If you feel that you have the resolve for it and the patience to see it through, then it’s well worth thinking about as a potential career choice for someone who really cares about others.

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Therapist:

A therapist or counselor can get into their position with much less training than you might assume. You don’t need any medical expertise and you don’t need to have an undergraduate degree to do it. Instead, all you need is the time to partake in a short course – sometimes even as short as one year, although the better ones are longer than this, up to three years or so. More than any training, you need a particular skill set: the ability to listen, empathize, appreciate possible solutions for individual problems, and to exercise a great deal of both patience and reserve. Being a therapist is hard work, and you will have to be skilled at not taking on board the problems of others – otherwise you might not survive such a job emotionally.

Being a therapist offers the ability to have sessions online, making it highly convenient for your schedule. Since the pandemic, online therapy has really taken off and could be a great route to go for your practice. You can also expand your career even more when you learn how to rank on google for online therapy.

Teacher:

Another powerful way to help people lead more fulfilling lives is to become a teacher. The best teachers are those who are able not just to teach their students, but to encourage them to live in a way which is wise, compassionate, and eager to learn more every day. You will need to undertake some training and it is best if you also have a degree in something relevant but, most of all, you will need the passion to teach children in a way which might bring about a better world. Whether you are thinking about getting into something subject-specific which you have a talent for or just some cross-curricular teaching, this is going to be a great job for feeling useful.

An exciting part about being a teacher is that there is always more to learn for you and your students. There are countless resources available like The Teaching Couple to assist in finding innovative ideas for your classroom. You will surely be the favorite teacher at the school!

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Who was your favorite teacher?

Charity Worker:

People are often a little unsure about working for charities. Clearly, the charity system is far from perfect, and that is a shame because there are plenty of organizations doing some great work out there, regardless. If you want to get into charity work, the most important concern will be to make sure that you thoroughly research the companies you are considering working for. You don’t want to put all of your kind efforts into a business which is not actually doing much, or – worse – which is entirely corrupt. That being said, most charities do some good work, and if you want to take on a job which doesn’t require much in the way of qualifications, then you should make sure that you are considering this.

Architect:

Being an architect is truly fascinating. Not only do you get to design buildings however you like, but you will usually be able to travel the world in the process, and that is certainly a nice thing to have as a perk for your job. Of course, to be an architect requires a lot of education and training, and you should be prepared for that if you want to follow this particular line of work. But, as such, there is no reason you should not be able to make it work, and you will also find that it is quite rewarding as a kind of work to get into.

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Climate Scientist:

There has never been a better or more pressing time to get into the science of climate change. The world is burning up as we speak, and globally we are far behind on our goals of reducing the temperature of the planet. It might not sound drastic for the planet to heat up by one or two degrees over a hundred years, but it is. If you would like to do something about this, then becoming a climate scientist could be the way to go. You will get to research the effects and causes, and you might even be the person who comes up with a strong solution.

Politician:

Most of us have mixed feelings about politicians, but the truth is that you can easily get into politics in a positive and engaging way. In fact, most politicians are genuinely just trying to make the world a better place when they start out, although there is a great deal of corruption and so on which ends up taking place. But if you want to make a difference to the world from the top-down, then you might want to think about getting into politics. It can be a noble and true profession, and at its best you will find it enormously satisfying and rewarding, as you go about changing things for the better.

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There are so many different worlds you can get into if you are hoping to lead a life which is truly useful in some way or another. Any of the jobs mentioned above would be a great way to make yourself feel valued and to feel as though you are doing something rewarding and worthwhile.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Train To Be An Audio Engineer

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Train To Be An Audio Engineer

There are many jobs that people don’t immediately think of when they consider their options in the music industry. While being a musician or a vocal artist can be a high-profile career, there are many other very important jobs that are essential in creating great audio products. One key position is that of an audio engineer. If you are thinking that this may be the path for you, here are the steps you can take to get started.

Find a Qualified Program:

The first step to become an audio engineer is to find a way to learn about the career. There are plenty of programs out there to assist you in learning the skills it takes to work in a professional recording studio. Programs vary from the traditional classroom setting to online courses that allow you to learn at your own pace. No matter which option you choose, you will be learning not only techniques, but also getting the hands-on practice you need to work with all of the equipment.

Invest in Your Equipment:

Having the right equipment to work with is essential to getting a great sound and learning how to achieve specific sounds that your clients may want. It doesn’t matter if you plan to open your own studio or simply want to have something on hand to work with at home, you will need to take your time and invest in equipment that will last. Although this is an upfront investment, it will pay off once you are fully trained to use it.

Learn from the Experts:

Getting experts to teach you the ins and outs of this career is just as important as learning all of the technical basics. It is a good idea to find a career mentor so that you can learn more about the industry overall and how different techniques can be used to get an exciting new sound.

With all things, practice makes perfect and soon you will be creating sounds of your own!

Social Media Tips & Tricks

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Social Media Tips & Tricks

Hii everyone! Last week, I enjoyed spending some time at my old high school talking about lifewithlilred and social media with the students in the Theater Arts Career Academy (TACA). The TACA program was something that I attended back in the day and I still keep in touch with the wonderful teacher who was in charge of the program.

A few weeks ago, he posted a link to my blog on the TACA Facebook page, and I was so flattered! So, I offered to come in for a visit and teach the students about some social media dos and dont’s, especially since all of them are applying for colleges and part time jobs. I was also able to share information on initially setting up social media pages, including how to get sms online verification without using your main details to further protect your identity. We had a great discussion and some of the students even took notes, which I thought was so cute!

You can read some of the key points that we talked about below but, bear in mind, that I came up with these according to their age group. However, a lot of these tips apply to many, especially if they work in the world of freelance, like writing or theater! Let’s get to it:

No Partying, Please:

Ohhhhh my goodness. This one should go without saying, but I’ll repeat it again. If you are underage (And, frankly, even of age!), no one wants to see pictures of you getting wasted. No one wants to see pictures of the ten bag of weed you just bought. And, no one wants to hear your drunk Facebook babbles… Although, those can be pretty funny.

Employers and colleges, alike, are not keen on any of the above behaviors, because it all has the potential to reflect poorly on your work. And, if you think that employers and colleges aren’t checking your social media pages, then you are living under a rock. Maintaining a squeaky clean image is important for future successes and it all starts with your social media pages.

Stay Clear Of Controversy:

We are living in a politically charged world right now and so many people have the mindset that if your opinion is different, then you are an automatic enemy. Who’s to say that your future bosses and deans are going to be any different? This is not saying to not have an opinion but, if you are posting really radical points of view, you might be shooting yourself in the foot, so to speak.

I’ve heard from many friends who work with talent agencies that political and religiously driven posts are a no no if you are working for them. And, all posting that type of info does is create arguments on your page, laden with profanity and off color remarks. Do you really want that featured on your profile if people who could benefit your future are looking at it? Not so much.

If you absolutely must share your opinion, talk about it over coffee with your friends. Put it in an argumentative essay. Or, maybe join a debate club. But, social media is not the best place for it.

Spread Positive Gossip:

Spreading good news about yourself is far different from bragging, as long as you approach it properly. If you are proud of your volunteer project, invite your friends to join. If you nailed an audition for a play, let the people know! Sharing the good stuff that is happening to you is far better than being a Debbie Downer on your page.

And, I get it, the world is not sunshine, rainbows, and puppies. But, searching for the positive in a not so great situation shows that you have a great attitude, which is an asset to any business or college campus. An example that I gave for turning a negative post around, was when I was driving to school and I spilled my coffee on literally everything but my white shirt. I was pissed about my coffee but, how lucky was I that a crisp white shirt didn’t suffer an unfortunate stain?! It’s all about perspective, baby!

Pick The Right Profile Pic:

I think that it is so important to have a profile picture that is easily recognizable as you. And, by this, I mean that the picture should be the version of you that people are most likely to see if they run into you on the street. So, if you got glammed up for prom, that’s probably not your best choice. And, if you took a selfie while you were sick in bed, that isn’t a good option, either. Choose a picture that you would like future employers or professors seeing. And, always make sure that the picture is just of you. Nobody wants to guess who you are in a group photo!

I was happy with how receptive the students who I talked with were about these ideas. And, all of them agreed on these tips making sense, being helpful, and something that they could implement on their social media pages. I felt really proud of that and I am happy that I had the opportunity to spread some knowledge at my old school. 😀

What are some of your social media tips and tricks? What is your preferred social media platform? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah