Event Planners and Designers

Andy is happy to welcome Michelle Rago back for a second episode of The Wedding Biz. Michelle is a destination planner, producer, and designer based out of New York City who works all over the world. She has a book called “Signature Weddings – Creating A Day Uniquely Your Own,” and she does many different types of events and has even produced an event at the Vatican in Rome.

Michelle and Andy discuss an event she produced, in Rome, at the Vatican and a dinner for 400 that she did outside of the Vatican on the same day. She speaks about the challenges of planning events in foreign markets and how they are the same but different than planning them in the U.S. Michelle says having extreme patience is the only way she can do what she does all over the world.

Michelle speaks about some of her favorite events of the last few years, how she builds the teams she needs both internationally and locally, and the challenges she faces with the countries that have a more laid back sense of time than what she is used to. She tells us about times when she has had to overcome obstacles in foreign countries while trying to get what was needed for an event and how much the industry has changed since she first started.

Have you ever let fear stop you from doing something you wanted to do?  Listen in as Michelle talks about how fear is around all the time and the key is not letting it discourage you from pursuing what you want to do and rather using it to our advantage. She also gives us insight into how she sells herself and her experience to her clients. Connection and authenticity are still the most important qualities you can have.

Andy’s amazing guests always share things you won’t hear anywhere else, and this episode is no exception. Listening to Michelle will make your day and show you how to manage your fear of the unexpected. Don’t miss this episode!

In this episode of The Wedding Biz, Andy is speaking with Robert Sherman. Robert is the owner of Washington Talent, the iconic entertainment company out of the Washington, DC area. He and his partner purchased the company over twenty years ago and have transformed it, taking it to a whole other level. Robert is passionate about what he does and is in it to bring joy not only to his clients but also to his industry partners.

Robert graduated from college with an accounting degree but later decided he wanted to go to law school, during that time he also played drums with his band Onyx. The group was doing well so they hired Washington Talent to book gigs for them. He later worked with them as their in-house counsel. At a time when DJs were all the rage, their band was creating moments for clients and interacting with both kids and adults at events. Robert began building new bands in the ’90s and, over the years, became good friends with the owners.  When they decided to sell, he bought the company and now they are more prominent than they have ever been.

Making people happy, one event at a time is their motto, and Robert wholeheartedly believes it. He says that’s what it’s all about, it’s all about the why. You have to make everyone happy to be successful in the event industry, internally and externally. Understanding event planners and knowing that your job is just one small part of their large production is why he has the reputation of being so easy to work with.

Listen in as Robert and Andy also talk about forming partnerships and how it took them over a year to commit to becoming partners with Andy’s iconic music and entertainment company, Kushner Entertainment. Trust and synergy are essential when you are thinking about taking on a business partner, and the influx of new ideas can get you re-energized. You must reinvent or die in the event industry, and that is what they have both done. 

You won’t want to miss this exciting conversation about bands, partnership, and happiness. When you listen to Robert talk, you can feel how much he loves what he does and how dedicated he is to his music. Custom-designing music for every event is paramount for him and his company, and he gives us a little insight into how he makes it all come together. 

Andy welcomes Rachel Birthistle to The Wedding Biz. Rachel is the Owner and CEO of The Lake Como Wedding Planner based in Como, Italy. In addition to her own events, she has worked with people like Lisa Vorce on Chrissy Tegan and John Legends wedding and many others. She says she is predominately a wedding planner in a destination rather than a destination wedding planner.

Rachel’s father was in the fashion industry, and from a young age, she worked in his factory doing tasks like snipping thread and packing items. She found the place fascinating and knew that being in the fashion industry was where she wanted to be. She started making her own clothes in school even though her friends thought her fashion style was a little out there!

Rachel discusses going to design college, finding a job with a large retailer in London, traveling all over the world, and her decision to stay home. She speaks about going back to college for sports therapy and starting a clinic in her home. Her life took twists and turns but eventually led her to a position with a wedding planner and, ultimately, her decision to start her own extremely successful business.

Rachel strives to make each client’s wedding an event starting when they get off the plane for their first meeting with her. With an itinerary of possible venues in hand, she begins to analyze the client’s style, how they interact with each other, and begins the design process in her head. Creating a sequence of contrasting events for her clients is what she loves most.

What is your dream? If it’s to start your own business, what are you waiting for? You will never know if you can do it until you take a leap of faith and try. Rachel is someone who did just that; she found areas that were lacking in the wedding planning industry in Lake Como, Italy, and set out to change it. This is a learning experience for anyone with a dream, so sit back and listen to this very insightful episode.

In this episode of the Wedding Biz, Andy brings back David Monn for part 2 of their conversation. David’s clients include social leaders from around the world. He is known for events like The Met’s Costume Institute Gala, and the 100th Anniversary of the Plaza Hotel, to name a few. He is also a contributing editor to Departures Magazine and has been featured in numerous luxury and lifestyle publications. 

Listen as David breaks down how he planned the Met’s Gala, how he used the senses, time of year, and locations to make the event one of a kind. He discusses how having discipline and order at a function allows it to flow, and why the band or DJ should know how to read the energy of the group.

David’s wisdom knows no bounds. You can’t help but learn from listening to him talk about corporate events being about messaging the brand and learning his perspective on how to most effectively work with fundraisers. 

He talks about the three main things he feels are given us in life and how thankful he is for them. The event industry is not something you get into because you need a job, you do it because you can’t see yourself doing anything else. 

This is a fantastic conversation, with stellar stories and invaluable information. We have been waiting for this episode since July, when Part 1 was released, so get ready to be blown away yet again.

The Wedding Biz welcomes Michael Cerbelli, a paragon in the events industry for over 42 years. He is the creator of The Hot List, a list of the best ideas in the industry, and was inducted into the Event Industry Hall of Fame by Bizbash in 2019. He has worked with several high profile clients and in some fantastic venues all over the world. 

Michael started at the tender young age of 13 as a DJ for parties in his neighborhood. He purchased turntables from Radio Shack and a crate full of records and proceeded to market himself as a DJ. He did this for several years until he met his first business partner and they built the biggest Mitzvah DC/MC/Dancers company in the nation. Listen as he shares his progression from DJ and MC into event management and creation. 

Michael prides himself on the level of preparation he and his team put into every event. No matter the size or cost of the event, his goal is to create lasting memories for his clients, and he credits his team for the success of his company. Finding and keeping the right talent has been the key to his longevity in the industry.

This was a fantastic conversation full of excellent business advice and industry gems. Michaels reason for creating The Hot List alone speaks to his willingness to create a more collaborative environment in the events industry. This is definitely an episode you won’t want to miss!