Today we’d like to introduce you to Micaela Stevenson.
Hi Micaela, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always been a huge fan of celebrations and parties, but I believe it started when I was a child. In fact, I always joke that my mother created this monster because I always had the coolest parties growing up. I was having slumber parties at hotels and condos in Galveston before that was even a thing! LOL. I still have childhood friends who talk about those parties.
In 2018, I started a small event company called Surprise Me Too, which specialized in surprise birthday celebrations, surprise proposals, baby/gender reveals, etc. It was difficult to get it off the ground mainly because the concept was sort of foreign. Everyone thought I just threw surprise parties and that wasn’t the case. I eventually decided the full ‘party planning’ wasn’t my thing so decided to direct my efforts to helping family and friends plan their events. I eventually discovered the “full service event planning” thing wasn’t my jam, so I focused on being a vendor rather than a planner.
Fast forward to 2021, I was asked to assist with a Class Reunion. One of the coordinators reached out to me and told me they rented a red carpet and asked me to interview the guests as they arrived so that all videos could be compiled as a keepsake video for the class. I prepared questions to ask guests as they arrived and had so much fun! The guests had a ball and it sort of broke the ice and set the tone for the event before they even entered the reunion. I greeted people on the red carpet and interviewing them gave that total “WOW” factor I always liked having at my own events. That night, a few people asked me for business cards, thinking I was from a company, and that’s when I knew I had to do this. I was hooked! I purchased my own items (stanchions, red carpet, etc.), marketed the business and expanded from there.
I wanted to add something to events that would set the tone–an ice breaker–a party before the party, if you will. We specifically have our team of talents show up to the event and greet your guests before they even enter the event. We show up, roll out the red carpet, literally, interview your guests, have paparazzi snap photos under bright lights, and even give you a nice glass of bubbly. We also have an escort service that escorts the guest(s) of honor in the event during their grand entrance. If that doesn’t scream “celebrity”, nothing will! The beauty of our service is we have our fun greeting guests, pack up and go home while the guests go on to the REAL party.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has been a bumpy road thus far. Lots of lessons learned in a short time. First, I decided to launch a business during a pandemic. I was nervous about the initial investments but I also noticed people were still having events and life was starting to get back to normal, so I figured “Why not just try?”
Secondly, it has been a challenge actually letting people know what we do. We initially received a ton of inquiries to rent our carpet and stanchions. We do not want to be known as another event rental company. We not only rent the items, but create the experience for guests before they enter the event. We interview and make you and your guests feel like you are entering the Grammy Awards, not any old birthday party, charity event or anniversary party. We present a built in opportunity for memories that you can cherish for yours to come.
Lastly, finding quality talent is a challenge. Depending on the package, our company provides actors to achieve the ultimate Red Carpet Experience for the client. Because I have a background in theater, I have a pretty good idea of what I am looking for. Some talent I have found either isn’t a good fit for that specific event, or are resistant to working events due to Covid. We reach out to local theaters and colleges for our casting calls to find quality talent, but there is still lots of hesitancy, which I understand.
Outside of those things, I think learning who your ideal client is very important as well as pricing accordingly. It is difficult to price a service when you have nothing to compare it to.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently, I work for a software company, RealPage Inc. Prior to that, I spent 10+ years in the Property Management industry and also briefly worked as a Marketing Director in the Senior Living industry.
Although those past jobs aren’t remotely related to the event industry, I was always responsible for marketing, initiating and planning events and absolutely loved it. I am a huge people person who loves having fun and celebrating and it has always reflected in my work events.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I wouldn’t necessarily call it luck, but I will say we have been extremely blessed thus far. We booked our first 3 clients within 7 days of announcing my business. A few of my sorority sisters (Shout out to Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.) trusted us to add our services to their events and even a few past colleagues from my professional career have given us an opportunity. We have had the pleasure of working at movie premiers, milestone birthday parties, charitable events (with celebrities in attendance) and It has been onward and upward from there.
This initially started as a little fun idea of interviewing people on the red carpet at birthday parties. As time went on, potential clients call and ask for this service and that service. So now they challenge us. It is like “Well we didn’t think of this service but, that is a good idea! Let’s try it at your event”. If it works, we keep it and add it to a package. If not, rethink about how it could work better. It has been a very blessed journey for sure! When Bell Tower reached out to invite us as a vendor, I was really surprised. It has been a fun ride and we are so thankful.
We are loving all the love we are receiving. Keep it going. We can’t wait to see you on the red carpet!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@redcarpeteventions.com
- Website: www.redcarpeteventions.com
- Instagram: redcarpeteventions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redcarpeteventions
