Party Confidential: Recent Episodes
Sharon Fisher and Daniel Espeut
Sharon and Daniel interview Matt Zarin, co-owner of Riasing The Bar. So listen in on this next episode to learn more about the legal aspects of serving alcohol at your event.
Join us as we speak to Scott Maucere, a Member at the law firm Barham & Maucere LLC about contracts!
Sharon and Daniel discuss what is considered professional and appropriate attire for event professionals.
Sharon and Daniel speak with William Baber, Director of Hospitality at Wild Heaven Beer (West End).
Recording from Studio 135, Sharon and Daniel discuss how spaces that aren't necessarily meant for hosting social events can still be repurposed and reimagined for weddings and the like.
Sharon and Daniel talk about how both clients and event professionals fall into the trap of comparing the events industry to other industries.
Sharon and Daniel have an update interview with Ronnie Davis, Managing Director of Great Performances, as he gives us an update on how a bigger event business has pivoted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sharon and Daniel discuss the difference between retainers and deposits and how they affect different event-based businesses and their clients.
Sharon and Daniel speak with J. Wilbur Smith, Creative Director of Eventscapes Atlanta.
Sharon and Daniel speak with Sharon Moskowitz, Founder of srmARTconnect, about her passion for events and the art community.
New Year, New Season! Our co-hosts, Sharon Fisher and Daniel Espeut, made it through the difficult year that was 2020 to begin another season of Party Confidential.
Sharon and Daniel wrap up 2020 in this final episode of our first season of Party Confidential.
Sharon and Daniel interview Matthew Thomas, Managing Partner of EastCoast Entertainment (ECE).
Sharon and Daniel interview Kathryn and Rex Jones with OurPerfectDance.com. Any engaged couple can join this online dance program to learn different ballroom dance styles in order to elevate their first dance for their wedding.
Sharon and Daniel literally "talk shop" with Riaan Garforth-Venter of Riaans Designs about his Atlanta-based workshop.
Sharon and Daniel have an update interview with Patti and Brad Covert of Scenesations Photography on how they have pivoted their business to maneuver through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sharon and Daniel have an update interview with our very first guest on the podcast. Brian Ettelman, Director of Catering and Conference Services at the InterContinental® Buckhead Atlanta, gives us an update on how he has pivoted to maneuver through the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the added challenge of living during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharon and Daniel revisit the topic of balancing personal/family life and running a small business in the event industry.
Sharon and Daniel interview Amy Nichols, owner of Let's Celebrate, an Atlanta-based decor company.
Sharon and Daniel interview Denise Rindsberg, the creator of Let's Celebrate, an Atlanta-based decor company.
Sharon and Daniel tell stories about clients who focus on what they think makes a good event versus clients who cater more to their guests having a great time at their event.
To test out the new microphone Sharon got for her birthday, Daniel talks to her about the quirkiness behind her actual birthdate.
With special guest Amy Ackerman of JDV Occasions, Sharon and Daniel discuss the importance of hiring event professionals to perform the various tasks in event production.
Sharon and Daniel interview Amy Ackerman of JDV Occasions about how she, an event planner, planned her very own wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continuing from the previous episode, Sharon and Daniel talk more about event video production with Ella Szczupak of Blue Orchid Productions.
Sharon and Daniel talk with Robin Vogt of Blue Orchid Productions about event video production.
To celebrate our 40th episode, Sharon and Daniel reminisce on the past 39 episodes and how the podcast has evolved since it began.
Sharon and Daniel have an update interview with Dennis Dean of Dennis Dean Catering. He gives us an update on how he has pivoted his business due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sharon and Daniel have an update interview with one of our first guests on the podcast. Joel Miller of Button It Up gives us an update on how he has pivoted his business to maneuver through the COVID-19 pandemic.
With so many events going "virtual" during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharon decides to interview Daniel about how his company has pivoted to focus on providing live streaming for social events.
Sharon and Daniel interviewed Tracy Britan at the APC Bar & Bat Mitzvah Expo in February of 2020. Being a past client of Daniel's company, Tracy talks about her experience utilizing Espeute Productions for entertainment and photography services at her daughter's bat mitzvah.
Annie Duncan
Event Designer, Bold Catering & Design
Cathy Schwartz
Co-founder and President, Atlanta Fever Entertainment
Billy Burch
Owner, Fizzy Atlanta
Janis Greenfield
Marketing and Sales, EventScapes
Tobias Leventhal
Associate, Topgolf Alpharetta
Berlin Onumonu
Owner, Shutterbooth Atlanta
Sharon and Daniel interviewed Shelly Danz, Chief Party Officer of Atlanta Party Connection, at the APC Bar and Bat Mitzvah Expo in February of 2020 and interviewed Shelly again in August to see how she has pivoted due to COVID-19.
Sharon and Daniel interview Amy Saltzman and Kate Stone, Co-owners of Alchemy Event Studio.
Sharon and Daniel discuss the new work environment of the events industry with Daniel entertaining at his first event since the COVID-19 pandemic caused numerous cancellations and postponements.
As a continuation of our last episode, Sharon and Daniel revisit the topic of event branding and discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has caused our industry to get creative.
Sharon and Daniel discuss the importance and idea behind giving your event a cohesive look to make it more memorable. This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people hosting social gatherings to postpone or cancel their events. Sharon and Daniel talk about an existing concept involving people interacting "virtually" over the internet, rather than meeting in a physical location.
CNBC.com reported on May 8, 2020 that "Nearly half the leisure and hospitality jobs were lost in April", which amounts to 7.7 million jobs. On June 26, 2020, Sharon and Daniel recorded this episode to update everyone on the effects COVID-19 has had on their businesses and this studio session will be the first time they've recorded together in the same room since St. Patrick's Day (2020).
Sharon and Daniel interview Sandra Bank, Owner of Added Touch Catering and A Kosher Touch Catering.
Sharon and Daniel interview Dennis Dean. The owner of Dennis Dean Catering talks about food trends, like the farm-to-table movement, and the story behind his company's branding color choice.
Sharon and Daniel interview Steven Eisenstein, President of Classic Tents and Events, to talk about how he has pivoted his business to help with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Fairmont is a trendy westside venue managed by Novare Events. On a visit to this modern, industrial event space, Sharon and Daniel sat down to interview Hope Nudelman, Account Executive of The Fairmont.
With our co-hosts in two very different stages of their lives, Sharon and Daniel discuss the challenges of keeping stability between personal/family life and running a small business in the event industry.
Sharon and Daniel interview Chris Macksey, Owner and Principal Designer of Topher Mack Floral & Events.
Sharon had a client that hired Daniel's company for her social event to provide event entertainment, video production and photography. Find out the results and what Sharon thought about the experience in this episode.
Is COVID-19 worse than the 1930s Great Depression, the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Great Recession of 2008 combined? Find out why Ronnie Davis thinks so in this episode as Sharon and Daniel interview him about his career as a third-generation caterer and an award-winning event producer in New York City.
This is the second part of Sharon and Daniel's interview with Rhythm of Rhythm Entertainment.
This is the first part of a 2-part interview where Sharon and Daniel have a chat with Rhythm of Rhythm Entertainment.
Sharon and Daniel interview the Banquet Sales Manager of Maggiano's Little Italy in Buckhead, Stacey LeBlanc.
Many forms of media have tried to expose what has become known as the wedding tax. This is the idea that vendors in the event industry charge more for a wedding than for any other identical event simply because it is called a wedding. Sharon and Daniel look at two different pieces of media on both sides of the "wedding tax" discussion and give their opinions.
Video Referenced in this Episode:
Adam Ruins Everything - Why Weddings Are A Total Rip-Off
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5BeLinyfpg
Article Referenced in this Episode:
Is There A Wedding Tax?
https://selectivesound.com/wedding-tax
Sharon and Daniel get together on St. Patrick's Day in an impromptu podcast recording session to talk about how their businesses have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can we visit you at an event? This question comes up frequently in our business, even in our current world of social media and abundance of information on the internet. Sharon and Daniel discuss whether it is appropriate for potential clients to visit their current and upcoming events.
Sharon and Daniel are back at the InterContinental® Buckhead Atlanta. They are speaking again with their Director of Catering and Conference Services, Brian Ettelman, and their Social Catering Event Manager, Lisa Wetherald. The discussion topic... "What are some of the pitfalls you have experienced in your years in the hospitality industry?"
InterContinental® Buckhead Atlanta Interviews:
Brian Ettelman - Director of Catering and Conference Services
Lisa Wetherald - Social Catering Event Manager
Sherman Hamilton - Director of Banquets
Location, Location, Location. It's not just a real estate mantra. Every event needs a location to happen, whether it's a birthday party at your home or a corporate meeting at a hotel. Sharon and Daniel discuss how venues can influence the look and feel of an event.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an annualized employee turnover rate of 73.8% in the hotel and motel industry. With the constant change of people that work in the hospitality industry, it is very important for any planner to maintain great relationships with their fellow service vendors, wherever they may end up. Sharon and Daniel discuss the importance of the planner-vendor relationship.
The hospitality industry includes event planning, travel, tourism, lodging, food and beverage service and many other fields within the service industry. According to SelectUSA, The U.S. travel and tourism industry generated over $1.6 trillion in economic output in 2017, supporting 7.8 million U.S. jobs. Sharon and Daniel talk about the hospitality industry from their perspectives in their respective fields.
In both good and bad ways, social media allows people to express their opinions about professionals in the event industry. Sharon and Daniel reveal some instances when their clients weren't fully satisfied.
Daniel finds out how Sharon helped change the face of event entertainment in Atlanta. With entertainment being one of the most important aspects of any event, Sharon talks about her tips in selecting the right entertainment.
Sharon discusses with Daniel how she started in the party planning business and her philosophy on the role of the party planner. Sharon also reveals the business she was in before she started planning events. Can you guess what it might have been?
New Year, New Decade, New Podcast! Our co-hosts, Sharon Fisher and Daniel Espeut, give our listeners a little insight into their experiences in the event industry and how they came together to create Party Confidential.