event planning in Philadelphia
Ashley Albrecht is Founder and President of Albrecht Events in Lansdale, PA.
Jesse Dameron: When the Founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, was asked how he became so successful, he credited his ability to build a team. How do you spot top tier talent in event planning? Are there any indicators that give you an “Aha!” moment that someone will likely be good at event planning
Ashley Albrecht: Talent in event planning for me is being trustworthy and transparent. We can only work with what we know and create solutions based on what we know. I look for someone who is honest, hardworking, and willing to share ideas for the betterment of the event and the team throughout the process.
Jesse Dameron: If you were starting out again, what would you do differently to grow your business faster?
Ashley Albrecht: I would not change what I did at the beginning of my business. Going through the process organically helped me to grow and succeed with more and bigger challenges as I was ready for them. The hustle and hard work that I put into building my business from scratch allowed me to grow and learn and be understanding of the challenges that my team faces in their daily work.
Jesse Dameron: If someone donated $10,000 with the stipulation that it must be invested into “Albrecht Events” within one year, where would you allocate the funds to facilitate growth? Can you break down the reason(s) why you would allocate the funds in those areas?
Ashley Albrecht: I would put this money towards a marketing company to assist with rebranding and getting the word out about virtual and smaller, safe events through social media and email. I have seen the success of using professional marketing/social media partners through our clients’ marketing partners but have not had the funds to grow my company in this way.
Jesse Dameron: It’s often stated that being a good listener, being honest, and staying in front of past clients are all part of building relationships. Do you have any creative or outside-of-the-box ideas (not often found elsewhere) for building relationships?
Ashley Albrecht: I try to be authentic and thoughtful with my clients and matching them in their authenticity and their interests. There is no cookie-cutter solution. I try to think about my clients and their unique personality and interests and think about what I can offer to them that is helpful to them.
Jesse Dameron: What are some unique ideas that can make an event more interesting?
Ashley Albrecht: In the new Covid reality, I like anything that can make a virtual experience feel more engaging and tangible. We have been recommending www.hestiaharlow.com so that guests can have specialized thematic décor delivered right to their door.
Jesse Dameron: What do you think it is about an entrepreneur that makes them cut out for success in the long-run?
Ashley Albrecht: Grit, Resilience, Determination, Creativity, and Authenticity
Jesse Dameron: What is something an event planner could do that would impress you?
Ashley Albrecht: Really anything that I haven’t thought of or may not have think of. A different kind of seating arrangement, a different use or positioning of a screen. Anytime I see someone do anything a different way than has been done, I am impressed. I am also always impressed by bringing very large groups of people together live or virtually. Our sweet spot has been gatherings of guests in the hundreds. Gatherings of groups in the thousands and tens of thousands is a logistical masterpiece. +
Jesse Dameron: Correct me if I’m wrong, but it appears to me (from navigating albrechtevents.com) that your company truly has a consistently high demand for high-level corporate events. What sets your company apart from others?
Ashley Albrecht: This is correct. I think what sets our company apart is creativity and thoughtfulness. Our team truly cares about all aspects of an event and we are very thorough in thinking through the options we present to clients as well as the logistics of the event.
Jesse Dameron: Do you have any recruiting or hiring tips you are willing to share? (If you would rather skip this question to avoid divulging a trade secret, I’ll understand and omit it.)
Ashley Albrecht: This sounds a bit woo woo, but the right people have shown up for me when I have needed them.
Jesse Dameron: As an open-ended question, what advice would you give to an event planner who wants to be successful, get promoted (if they work for someone else), or increase profit (if they are an entrepreneur)?
Ashley Albrecht: Network and meet as many people as possible. Learn as much as you can in all aspects of planning, especially technology at this point in time so that you are well rounded and can help with various aspects of an event. Take online courses.
Ashley’s company is Albrecht Events. It is based near Philadelphia, PA (in Lansdale, PA). For more information, visit the website of Albrecht Events at www.albrechtevents.com or call their team of event professionals at 215-699-3784. For more information about Jesse Dameron’s entertainment for corporate events and social events, view the entertainment in action by watching the demo video below.
To inquire about the entertainment shown in the highlight video above, visit www.mentalistjesse.com or call 267-261-9930 for a free consultation.