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Ep. 145 - Networking tips for shypeople - Deanna Nash
80 Plays5 months ago
Happy Woo Wednesdays!
I've gotten to know Deanna Nash because we are on the WIPA board together. She is just a sweetheart.
Today we talk about how we came out of our shells and started networking.
We have some awkward stories about our earlier years that we can laugh about now.
Deanna Nash Events is a full-service wedding planning and design firm specializing in timeless celebrations around the world. We are driven by the desire to build a genuine connection with our couples, which inspires the creative process. Together with our couples, we create intentional, meaningful, and memorable weddings and events.
Connect with Deanna
https://www.instagram.com/deannanashevents
https://www.deannanashevents.com/
Sponsor: 17hats - use code heckyes to get 50% off the entire year
https://www.instagram.com/kickstartaccounting/
Connect with Carissa
https://instagram.com/carissawoo
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Transcript
Introduction and Lead Generation Guide
00:00:00
Speaker
Happy Woo Wednesdays! If you need more leads, more sales, and a brand and website makeover, go to myig.com at Carissa Woo and DM me the word DEMO. I'll send you over a video on how to get 10-15 quality leads a month. So today I have Dina Nash in the Heck Yes House. We are both on the WIPA board and just got back from Palm Springs. We are still recovering. She co-planned the event and it was insane. Go check out shots on at WIPA SoCal and check out those drone shots of the whole dinner party. It was truly magical.
Podcast Introduction: Get a Heck Yes
00:00:35
Speaker
So today we talk about how to network. Me and Dina were both super shy, super awkward, and we both will show you how we came out of our shell. Enjoy.
00:00:49
Speaker
Welcome to Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. I'm your host, Carissa, and I've been a Los Angeles wedding photographer for over a decade. I've traveled the world, built my team, and seen it all. I now coach wedding photographers hit 10K a month and build a thriving business. In this podcast, we are going to deep dive into how top wedding creatives get that heck yes from their dream clients. We are not holding back on the struggles of the business and how to push through the noise. Some healthy hustle, mindset shifts, up-leveling your money story, time-hacks because I'm a mom of two, a little bit of woo-woo, and most importantly, self-love and confidence are just a few of the many things we will talk about. I want to give you a genuine thank you for following along my journey. I hope to inspire you every Woo Wednesday so that you say heck yes to listening to this podcast. See you guys soon!
Dina Nash's Background and Career Transition
00:01:40
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to Get a Heck Yes, Happy Woo Wednesdays. I'm here with my friend Dina Nash. She's from Dina Nash Events. She is a a L.A. wedding planner, a style observer, and a dog lover. And me and Dina just got back from Palm Springs for the WIPA slash NACE event where she co-hosted our cold plan, the actual dinner at the colon colony palms hotel. And it was spectacular, but welcome Dina. Thank you. I'm so happy to be here. Thank you for having me. And thanks for coming to Palm Springs and, and sweating it out with us.
00:02:15
Speaker
Yes. And we're just talking about like you are a podcaster. I'm going to be on your podcast soon. It's coming out. um But you're you said you're nervous because you normally are the host, not the interview. I usually get to ask the questions. I don't have to answer the question. So the pressure is on to make sense. Well, I'm going to drill you. Okay. I'm ready. It's like both like with a 50 question. Yeah, exactly. Oh my gosh, that's so fun. Okay, so how are you feeling like coming back from this wild event? co planning at this amazing dinner with like, I don't know, I feel like there was
00:02:59
Speaker
Just under 200 people at the event? It feels like it because it was such an intimate space. But I think we have like 80, 85 people there.
Networking and WIPA Involvement
00:03:07
Speaker
I know, right? But it felt we were on such an intimate space that um it felt like really full. And it was full. It was a great event. um Palm Springs is wonderful. It's my new favorite place, I think, after last week. um Normally, I'm not a ah lover of heat, but I really enjoyed being out there. I enjoyed Palm Springs itself. I enjoyed being surrounded by all of our colleagues and our WIPA colleagues, our NACE colleagues. i I just thought it was a great couple of days.
00:03:39
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, you're when you're part of WIPA, like you're treated like royalty. They're so good to us. The hotel was amazing to us. We stayed at a couple of local Airbnb properties yeah and the hosts were amazing to us there as well. So I am ready to go back anytime. Yes. Oh my God. I think I burnt my feet um at the at the pool. ah yeah like seriously i was like oh crap theyre like my ski the fall up I know I stepped out of my shoes onto the surface around the pool thinking I'm gonna get in the pool but agree same thing I was like oh yeah too warm to stand on the surface during the heat of the day at night it's like I spent most of the evenings in the pool and
00:04:29
Speaker
which is so nice there during this time of year to i like literally stay the pole so I wish I could hang out more but I just was like yeah yeah I thought that would be me that is usually me but I was like not a party animal because I was just laying in the pool, but it was fun. Oh, that's awesome. Okay, so tell everyone like who you are, like a little bit about your background, and where you're from, and just you growing growing up as a kid. Okay. Well, I grew up in Texas in a small town called Glen Rose, Texas.
00:05:04
Speaker
population, at the time it was population 1,500. It's a little bit larger. It's a really small town. It's a little bit larger now, like 2,500. But it was a great way to grow up in a really tiny town where you know everyone and everyone knows you.
Starting a Wedding Planning Business
00:05:20
Speaker
um I went to college, I went one year to Texas Tech University, um didn't love it out there, and also I was far from home. So then I moved back closer to home and finished a degree in finance at um
00:05:35
Speaker
charleslton state university which is a part of Texas A and&M system. So once I finished college, I moved to Houston for a year. And then I came to California about a year later and sort of on a whim, didn't really think that I would stay, but now like 30 years later, I'm still here. So I think this is home now. um Yeah. fine That's amazing. I know you're a finance major. Yes. I never really worked in the field other than I worked at a school doing um oh financial aid for a year, but that's not really what I studied. I studied more like investing and that sort of thing.
00:06:18
Speaker
um But yeah, I came out here and then I got into the insurance field. And again, sort of accidentally, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. Actually, that's not true. I knew I wanted to plan weddings, but I didn't really know if that was a job at the time. I just was really obsessed with weddings always. So I spent six or seven years as an insurance broker. and then ah took another That was out in like the Inland Empire. I lived in Redlands at the time. and Then I took a job in l LA because I wanted to live in l LA in like the mid-90s. I overheard a conversation about a job in LA.
00:07:03
Speaker
And it was at UCLA. And so I ultimately ended up working at UCLA for 13 years and doing events. And while I was there, I um started this business as a wedding planner, as a side business.
Overcoming Networking Challenges as an Introvert
00:07:21
Speaker
And I did both for a number of years. And then ultimately when I left UCLA, I just went full time with my wedding business. And here I am. Wow. So what what year did you start your wedding planning business? 2004 was my first wedding. Like January of 2004 was the first wedding I planned. So I so i was planning in 2003. So 21 years ago.
00:07:46
Speaker
Wow, you look so young. so Oh, thank you. But when if you're doing the math, you're like, whoa, whoa.
00:07:55
Speaker
oh yeah okay so Let's take it back a little bit before we jump into your business. But okay what were you like like growing up and as a kid? And what were your hobbies? I was really shy as a kid. um I'm still I think on the shy side now, but I can come out of my shell um when I'm around people that I know um or around my friends, but I was a really quiet kid. I love to read and I was very like unto myself. I had friends and I would go and and hang out with my friends, but I've always been sort of an
00:08:34
Speaker
ah happiest probably with myself and and hanging out with myself, reading, doing, I don't know. I don't remember what hobbies I had as a kid. I was a busy kid. Once I got into like junior high and high school, I played all the sports that I could play. wow I was a cheerleader. I was in band. Growing up in Texas, I did those the things that we did, especially in a small town. You could do everything. um So i my high school class was 53 people. So you can do all the things.
00:09:09
Speaker
So I did. I played basketball. I played volleyball. Um, I ran track for a little while, but it wasn't my love. So I sort of like did it for one year. And then I was like, that's enough of that. Um, I was totally a cheerleader. yeah I loved it too. I was the first year I tried out for like seventh grade. I didn't get it. And I was so heartbroken, but then I got it like eighth grade and then all through high school, I was a cheerleader. Oh, that's awesome. maybe that yeah Maybe the title of this podcast will be ah networking as a shy person. Yes, because it is, even though
00:09:50
Speaker
I don't think people realize I'm shy, um but it is a lot for me to push myself out of my shell. like If it left to my own devices, even at a networking event, I'm happy like sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else network, but yeah that's not the way to network, so I force myself out of that. i know I think it was like a side conversation like Hassan and Ashley, they were talking about this person, I have no idea who she was, but they're like, Oh, yeah, like she seems so like outgoing, but she's so quiet, like, and I was like, Oh, that's like me. And that sounds like Oh, yeah, that is like you. I think it was Joey. Nevermind. They're like, um I could be super like, loud, blah, blah, blah. But then when it's like, a lot of people are more like listening and like,
00:10:36
Speaker
it's hard for me to be super loud because I like get so tired so easily. So that's how I kind of pace myself through Palm Springs. Yes, same. i I would say by the end of the day, every day in Palm Springs, like I was exhausted from the constant interaction. Yeah. And that's just how I am. And it took me a long time to just like accept that I'm a quiet person who
00:11:03
Speaker
loves to be around people, but like once I came home from Palm Springs, I was like, don't call me, don't don't talk to me. Pretend I'm dead for a few days before you talk to me. Seriously. yeah Yeah, I have to recharge. so Yeah, that was romantic a lot of networking. It was a lot. It was a lot. And I have a really bad habit when I'm networking of of, of course, hanging out with the people that I know. And that also is not the way to know her. So I have to force myself to have like conversation with people I don't know.
00:11:41
Speaker
It's hard like I was trying to take content of like all the pretty things and also talk to people and also like think of posting.
00:11:54
Speaker
yeah yeah By Wednesday morning when we were at breakfast, someone was with the camera. I'm
Building Trust Through Networking
00:12:00
Speaker
like, I can't I don't want my picture taken one more time. and It's not a matter of Like being in front of the camera, which is not my favorite thing anyway, but I'll do it. But I just felt like overload of cameras and talking and just like I'd sort of hit my wall of, of being social, but we still had all day to go. Oh my God. Yeah. That was a lot. Tell me about like starting your business and I don't know, like your your vision from the beginning and what type of weddings like you took on and just like how you got through that first year. Cause I know first year is the toughest.
00:12:34
Speaker
The first year was really tough in that, even though by that time I had been planning um events at UCLA for four or five years by that point. And so I knew what I was doing in terms of planning an event. A wedding has a lot of different formalities than the type of events I planned at the university. But, and also it's all the emotion that's attached to it as well. It's it's a different animal. I knew the basics, but you know, you're learning.
00:13:08
Speaker
the things that are important on a wedding day and learning how to be the pro, but also be strict with your your couples, but also let them have a good time. And and yeah there's a lot of balancing that goes into planning weddings. and so I actually, probably before 2003, there was a colleague that didn't work at UCLA, but he did a lot of events at UCLA and he and I became friendly and he knew that I wanted to plan weddings. so he heard of a few opportunities with wedding planners who were already established. And so if they said to him they needed help with the wedding, he would refer them to me. So I got to help a couple of other wedding planners with weddings, with a couple of mitzvahs. um I did a destination wedding up in Lake Tahoe. So I got to see a few different sort of
00:14:08
Speaker
ah how wedding plan how different wedding planners worked. And then one of them said to me, we were sitting at like dinner at at one of her events and she was like, I don't know why you don't have your own business. And I was like, well, well stay tuned. yeah Because you know that was my goal. I didn't go into it just to help other people, which you know I'm always happy to do. But I went into it with the intent of learning from them and starting my own business. So then I just started telling people, I plan weddings, I plan weddings. And my first client was someone I worked with at UCLA.
00:14:50
Speaker
And then she referred me to a couple of other people. And then, you know, this is 20 years ago. I put an ad on The Knot and I would, every Monday I posted an ad on Craigslist saying, you know, this is what I do. And this was back in the Craigslist days. yeah um And then one bride that hired me on The Knot posted my information on, this was also back in the days of, Gosh, what was it called? They were boards. They were like message boards. She posted my info on a message board and I booked five weddings in one day and I've never looked back since. So yeah. So I went from doing like two weddings a year to 20 weddings a year from year one to year two. And so I had a big fast ramp up, but still I was working full time at UCLA. So, um,
00:15:45
Speaker
I was doing both and it was kind of crazy, but you know I was young-ish. I was single. i was you know not but I didn't have anything to do but work, so I just decided that's what I wanted to do and I went for it. Yeah. Well, what is the message for? Was it on Craigslist? Pardon this short interruption, but guess what? I have a new program. It's for all wedding professionals. It's called The Triple Threat. We redo your brand messaging, the homepage of your website. Part two is we do all your marketing. we
00:16:21
Speaker
create a beautiful brochure so you could start getting on Prefer venue vendor list and we do all your sales. So we actually make you a sales presentation leading your client to the heck yes, so you get paid. I have a free 20 minute demo training. It's only 20 minutes. Go to my Instagram at Carissa Woo. and DM me the word DEMO. I will send it right over. It's how to get 10 to 15 quality leads in your inbox per month. Enjoy, guys. Krista Wu is a LA-based wedding photographer who's actually turning business coach. She helped me grow and change, and I'm so proud to call you coach.
00:17:07
Speaker
tell us how you're feeling like I want to just know a little bit more about your thoughts. Yeah, beautiful and you're you're awesome. It's beautiful. I'm speechless. I just like the fact that it feels like myself like I can I feel myself when I see this. Oh, man. Well, you got me pumped and excited for this. Carissa, thank you. No, it was not. They had a message board like 20 years ago where brides could ask each other questions. And My bride, someone had asked, you know do you know of a coordinator? And this also was back in the day when people did what's called day of coordination or what it was called day of coordination. And that's mostly what I did when I still worked full time. um I quickly transitioned to doing full planning too, but I would try to balance it because I worked full time.
00:18:01
Speaker
i did I did mostly coordination for my clients back then. Today I know i flipped it around today. I still do to some coordination, but mostly full planning. Yeah, I got my first wedding from Craigslist as well. So me and you. being a guy Yeah, I literally every Monday morning, I had like a rhythm and a routine. Every Monday morning I put an ad on Craigslist that said, you know, I'm a wedding planner, blah, blah, blah. Here's how to reach me. And I booked quite a few weddings that way. Isn't that so like, I don't know, refreshing to think about like how easy life was back in the day.
00:18:40
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I think back to, yeah, I think back to this was also before social media. So really that there weren't a lot of avenues to get yourself out there outside of traditional advertising. And so, you know, as a newbie who wasn't making money at wedding planning, you know, whatever I was making was going right back in. So I had an ad on the not and my Craigslist and, um, I started attending the wedding MBA yearly and that's about what I did. Yeah. How would you describe your, your style for like the type of weddings you plan?
00:19:23
Speaker
I would call them classic traditional weddings with sort of a modern twist. Most of the venues that I end up working at are fairly traditional, although I really love going into spaces that are non-traditional wedding spaces. I love going into a space that is not even necessarily meant to be an event space and creating from the ground up a wedding that,
Networking Tips for Introverts
00:19:49
Speaker
you know, and ah and in a place that's never seen a wedding before. So, but we're most of my, I love it. I love all the pops of color. Thank you. Oh my gosh. We've sort of graduated in the whole wedding industry, not just my weddings, but we've graduated away from, you know, the pink blush and gold that was super popular five or six years ago. And we've gone complete other end of the spectrum where everyone is incorporating pops of color, which I think is so fun.
00:20:20
Speaker
yeah i know right yeah i remember the pinking gold that's like ah not I still love a white wedding. I love an all white wedding and I, you know, ah occasionally I get a pink wedding, but I would say I either get all white or colorful. Yeah. Oh my God. Okay. So one more question before hot topic, but, um, how do you get your best heck? Heck yes. Your best heck yes. Yeah. Heck yes. Technique. My best heck yes. Technique is probably.
00:20:54
Speaker
that I'm fairly type A, but not, you wouldn't probably know that meeting me. I'm very calm. I think that's what most couples say to me is I give them a sense of calm. Like in our first consultation, many times they've spoken to other people. Many times I'm the first person they're speaking to either way. I feel like they understand immediately that I'm a really calm person and they need a calm person on their wedding day. and And that's not to say that energy isn't welcome. I am a really energetic person as well. But what most couples say to me even afterwards is like, you were so calm. You handled everything without feeling like you were panicked about anything. And I think that that for me is a selling point for my couples and and inspires them to give a heck yes, I hope.
00:21:51
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, we talked about this on your podcast, but you are a good communicator and you sound like pleasant and nice. So that, um you know, even if you're saying something like pretty, like strict, and you know, you have to do this, it doesn't sound like you're, you're barking at them, you know? but to make i have Yeah, yeah, you know, I think part of being a wedding planner is saying no, occasionally. And I don't do that as coming from a point of ego. If I'm going to say no to something, it's because I know it's not going to work or I know it's going to be judgmental in some way to their wedding. And I'm going to guide them away to something that is a yes, but sometimes a no is necessary. And so
00:22:34
Speaker
I'm, I'm cognizant that that's not a word that people like to hear. But if I'm going to say no, I'm usually going to say, but let's do it this way. I was called, I was called a tyrant, but at a wedding before if I had died, I was like, did he talk all your tyrant? I'm like, Oh my God, you have to be like, directive, but not too too directive. And you know, like the whole like Barbie thing, you have to be nice, but not too nice. say yeah I think I told him to take off his hat or something. But I was like, I have to be very like, Oh, ah do you mind? blah blah blah you know ah and i I think that that people don't necessarily understand that
00:23:17
Speaker
if we're barking orders, it's for a good reason. Yeah, like yeah I just did a wedding a family wedding actually it is my niece's wedding. And um I was helping their photographer because she was working alone. So I was helping put the groupings together for the family photos. And there were, it was a fairly large set of family on both sides. And I was like, okay, so and so, so and so, so and so. So, you know, I'm calling out names and later my cousin's like, you're really bossy. And I was like, well, I had to be in that moment. Cause that's not my normal, and I mean, I, yes, I am pretty bossy, but I'm bossy in a Yeah. Otherwise you're not going to get those photos and
00:24:02
Speaker
I know that it's super important to capture all the photos you need on a wedding day. Exactly. Do you know what is your hot topic and why is it so near and dear to your heart? So my hot topic today is networking and it's near and dear to my heart because as not a super extroverted person, it is hard, but it is the best way, in my opinion, to grow your business, to meet people in the industry. And I just feel very passionate, passionately about networking. But had you asked me that seven or eight years ago, I would have been like, I'm never going to a networking event. I feel the same way.
00:24:54
Speaker
hated it I hated networking when I first started doing it because again, really shy, really quiet and I went to a networking event in Pasadena um at a venue and I didn't know anyone. And I was sort of just like standing around. They were running a little bit behind in the setup. So like the event had started, but they weren't finished. So I'd sort of made a couple of rounds and I really didn't know what to do. You know, just kind of like waiting for them to finish the next thing. And so there was this other woman standing alone.
00:25:30
Speaker
And I thought, well, I'm going to go say hello to her. And I said, you look like you're in the same boat I am. And she was like, what do you mean? I go, I don't know anyone here. And you know, I said, I said, I just don't know anyone here. And she goes, no, I'm waiting for my friends. Like, she was so rude to me. And I was like, Is that the time I have to go?" I literally laughed. I'm like, okay, this is not for me. Oh my God. Dude, that's crazy. That's mean. It was so mean. It was such a mean girl thing. and I think that that is why I was so hesitant to get into networking because I had had a couple of it kind of mean girl experiences.
00:26:12
Speaker
and you know i'm not like super thin skinned in terms of taking that from people. But I just thought like, why would I put myself through that? I could sit at home and watch TV and he just sit with my dogs and be just as happy. so A few years later, I ah just made a pact with myself that I was going to learn to network. And I sort of started out saying I'd go to one networking event a month. I don't know if I really did that, but it kind of simultaneously, one of my DJ friends
00:26:47
Speaker
asked me to co-direct a networking group with them. And I was like, oh, no. And he was like, you're going to do it. You're going to do it. And so we did, um, we just concluded our seventh or eighth year with that group. So yeah, it was really fun. I was nervous, but once I realized like, Oh, everyone else is probably as nervous as me. Um, I kind of got over it and learn to put myself out there and learn to have conversations with people that I didn't know. And it's grown from there.
00:27:26
Speaker
tell me a little bit more about it. What was it called? How many times did you meet? How many people attended? That was the association of bridal consultants. They, I'm not sure they call themselves that anymore. and We have concluded our chapter has wrapped up, but I They may call themselves that now, but they have a little bit different model of operation than they did when we started. But we did quarterly events. um Our first one was at Sherwood Country Club. I'm going to shout them out because they were amazing to host us when we had nothing behind us to prove that we knew what we were doing. um We probably had 50 or 60 people for dinner at our first event.
00:28:08
Speaker
yeah that's great You know, everyone was so positive and so excited about having the opportunity to get together that that bolstered my confidence in going forward with it. Yeah, you got the Narcan bug, right? Yes, yes. So then I became part of another group in l LA. So that was the Ventura, Westlake Village Ventura chapter for ABC. I became a part of another group in l LA, the Rising Tide Society. And then ultimately, I was one of the co-leaders of that group. And then a couple of years ago, I got on the WIPA board. Yes. WIPA board. Yes. Shout out to them. Yeah, me and Dina are on the WIPA board, Wedding Industry Professional Association. I am the marketing communications person, does all the social. And then what what is your role, Dina?
00:29:06
Speaker
It's Director of Programs, so it's all of the event planning. Wow, that's a big one. I guess I wanted to talk about, like tell me maybe specifically, like what were the benefits um of starting to get yourself out there and at work? Did you get on more like preferred ven do venue vendor lists? Did you get more bookings? Did you just feel like your your business elevated? I'm excited to share with you all about our first Get A Heck Yes sponsor, Seventeen Hats. I've been using the CRM company for over a decade and I've been referring them to all my frienders for all this time. I always know when I'm going to get paid and most importantly, I get paid. So here is a question. What is holding you back? What's keeping you from finding success as a small business person?
00:30:00
Speaker
It's not passion. The fact that you're listening to my podcast shows that you're eager to learn and get better. Know what holds you back is all the chaos of business, paperwork, mailed invoices, and no system to handle at all. That's where Seventeen Hats comes in. Seventeen Hats is a better way to manage your small business. It's an all in one platform that streamlines everything from lead capture to client communication. to click on your done automated invoices. 17 Hats paves a way for success you deserve by giving you back hours in your day. Find what success looks like for you with 17 Hats. Get started for free at 17hats.com and use my code HECKYES and it's going to give you guys 50% off your first annual membership. How amazing is that?
00:30:53
Speaker
So now that you're all organized in 17 hats, I have one more quick commercial, but this is really going to change your life. And it's with Kickstart Accounting. Go to episode 131. Check out the podcast all about how to change your finances. So yeah, ever since the podcast I signed up for a kickstart accounting and wow so much peace of mind in my finances So if you are a wedding pro looking to streamline your financial processes and gain clarity on your business financial health I have the perfect solution for you
00:31:28
Speaker
Kickstart Accounting Inc. offers specialized bookkeeping services designed by entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs. Their services are tailored to woman-owned businesses, focusing on providing clear, accurate financial records, allowing you to focus on what you do best, growing your business. I invite you to book a discovery call with Kickstart Accounting. The link is in the show notes. Mention heck yes. And yeah, they are going to get your finances in order so you can continue to scale and succeed.
Future Goals and Social Media Strategies
00:32:03
Speaker
Back to the show. I think all three.
00:32:07
Speaker
um I definitely, as part of of being on these boards in leadership positions in these groups, and you don't have to be in a leadership position, let me just say that. I just happen to like to be bossy, so that's what I do. so um But for me, yes, meeting a lot of venues, because i like yesterday, I was on a venue tour for our next WIPA event. um meeting the the people who are are selling the venues has been really instrumental in getting me on some lists for sure. um I think in terms of
00:32:47
Speaker
the biggest growth that I've seen is not necessarily in bookings. That comes in time. But I feel like one of the most beneficial parts of being in part of a networking group or going to networking events is really about the people that you meet. Yeah. Yeah. yeah Like I don't go to a networking event with a stack of cards. In fact, I rarely carry business cards with me. I don't either. I'm going more. to meet people and to make a connection with people. And for me, I think that is sort of the foundation of networking. Going with your hand outstretched and saying like, what business can you send me? I think can be a little bit of a turn off for people. Of course. But if you're going with the intent of making a genuine connection and meeting someone in the industry,
00:33:44
Speaker
And then maybe you have lunch later or whatever you, you start to run into each other at multiple events. And these people become known entities to you and you become to them. And there's a real sense of trust. And then that is when, you know, like I refer people that I meet at networking events, even if I haven't worked with them, if I see them over and over again, I get a sense of who they are. I know they have a real business that's a real professional business. And for me, that's when I'm happy to say, oh, I don't know someone who does that, or I haven't worked with someone who does that, but I know someone who does. Let me introduce you to them. To me, that is this the purpose of networking. It's kind of like the energy of everything.
00:34:39
Speaker
like I don't know just meeting these people like he said going to lunch and seeing them again and then when you're at these events, like you just want to like help the people around you and vice versa. So you explained that very well. I feel the same way. Yeah. Just like for last week's event, someone had RSVP to attend and I didn't know her. And during the course of the the lead up to the event, I was sending emails out to our guests, just sharing additional information so that they came to the Palm Springs knowing exactly what was going to happen.
00:35:14
Speaker
And she just replied, you know, thank you for the information. And she said, Do you happen to need a DJ for any of the events? And I was like, actually, I think we do for ah the welcome party. And so I introduced her to Carol via email. And that was who DJ the so party. right Yes, she was amazing. yeah she was awesome I just think that putting yourself out there in that sort of sense. We already had a connection because we were both part of WIPO. We were going to the same event. And those things happen sort of organically. Of course, if every person had asked, do I have something for them to do, you know, that wouldn't have been possible. But occasionally it just it works out that way. But making these connections via these networking organizations, I think just is such a rich part of
00:36:10
Speaker
building a business because at the end of the day, the chances that we're going to work with our clients again is slim. Usually they're doing one wedding and then they're done. But I consistently work with the same wedding pros over and over and going to networking events allows to cast a wide net of meeting new pros every time I go. and adding them to my roster as we get to know each other and and get to feel that we're a good fit for each other. Yeah. and like when When I like saw her over at the party like you know playing in 108 degree weather, but she kept going, I was like, I see you girl. Yeah, absolutely. hard so um These environments really create that energy to like start connecting. so I totally agree.
00:37:07
Speaker
Absolutely. The connection to me is networking. It's, it's like I said, not about asking for a job though. Occasionally, you know, that worked out for her and that was like just kind of kismet that that worked out. But for the most part, I'm going to networking to meet people and to either build on the connection we already have or to make a new connection. Yeah, I have a question. I was just having a conversation with my second shooter Dippin, but he's so outgoing and everyone loves him. But he said he struggles with actually talking to strangers, like the first initial conversation of what you actually say or going up to someone new. Do you have any advice for that? Like, do you like store them? Do you like ease it? Do you say, nice to meet you? What do you do? Like, what's like a good opener?
00:37:58
Speaker
Oh, that I struggle with that too. For sure. I struggle with that if I don't know someone, you know, I'm not 100% comfortable always just like elbowing into a conversation. But I think that just saying hello and asking what you do or even saying like, oh, how'd you become a part of WIPA or how'd you get like some, it just takes one sentence to start the conversation and it might not be an hour long conversation and that's okay. You're not necessarily there to spend the entire party with one person, but
00:38:39
Speaker
just I've met so many people through these organizations where we had a quick conversation. Oh, who are you? What do you do? Where are you located? Just like benign sort of conversations. That springboards into something else next time you see them. Or yeah if they said something funny or something that was really like stuck in my head, the next time I see them, I'm like, oh wait, did you tell me you have five dogs? like yeah It can be anything. yeah we just um Me and you were at the David Derman event, South Coast Plaza, and I thought our conversation was really easy here, just asking me about my girls and my kids. I was like, Yeah, exactly. It just takes, like for your your second shooter, it just takes
00:39:32
Speaker
kind of getting past that fear of ah saying something. Like the girl that I told you was like was rude to me. Okay, yes, that was not fun, but that's so rare. That is so rare that people treat you like that anymore. yeah Most people who are going to networking events are actually there and open to those conversations. And people like me and you who do this really regularly we understand that if someone sort of like sidles up to us and tries to start a conversation, like, let's put our arm around them and let them know it's okay to to do this. This is why we're here. And you don't have to be scared about putting yourself out there. Oh, I love that. I feel like you're so warm and nice and friendly. I guess maybe being like a couple more tips of
00:40:27
Speaker
If you're struggling right now, a wedding pro, and getting leads, and you want to start with networking but you don't know where to start, what would you tell them like to take action today? I would say just find just find an organization that seems like it aligns with you. There are some organizations that have really small, sit around a table, round table type, you know, conversations, grab a cup of coffee and sit with us and chat for an hour. If that feels like more your entree point, do that. If more of a big event where you can be a little bit more anonymous and sort of roam around and over list, you know, like, what's that called? Not over listen, over here conversations, then do that. But start with something that feels a little bit comfortable to you, even though I think networking when you're first starting out for me was super uncomfortable.
00:41:26
Speaker
But I went to a small event where it was probably a dozen people and I just sat and listened. And then the next time maybe I said something and then the next time I think that you don't have to go in and do anything out of your comfort zone the first couple of times. Just be there. Start having conversations, collect business cards from people or their Instagram handles and say hello. I can't tell you after an event how many people reach out via DM and just say, hi, it was nice to see you. And that is the beginning of ah of a relationship, something as as simple as that. So don't feel like you have to be go out there and be like on stage. yeah
00:42:14
Speaker
you can ease your way into networking. And it's, to me, it's an investment and it's a long, long game, not a short game. One networking event is probably not going to net you anything. It is a practice that you have to build on from month to month, year to year. And ultimately you'll become really comfortable. And now I'm to a point where I love networking events because I know I'm going to see a bunch of people that I know and have fun. Same, same, same. And I feel like just like releasing the outcome of like getting something or receiving something, because it's just it's not going to happen like that. i I've taken many people to networking things. They're like, oh, I don't know if that was worth it. I'm like, just have fun. You're here. like don't Don't be like negative like that. So anything could happen. I have um i would just go to like random networking events at Mesh space in Redondo.
00:43:10
Speaker
my friend owns it. And then I would just like meet people just to chat. And then that's how I got on the cover of the magazine for the word on the beach over here. So it was just random. And I kind of thought I was like, Hey, something cool happened. Oh, that's amazing. yeah So connected with them. And they're like, Oh, Chris is cool. Like, Um, and then all of a sudden I want a magazine. I love that. That's a great networking story, right? yeah Like you you're right. Like releasing the outcome and just going and being yourself and having fun. And whether your fun is like outward, like people know you're having fun or whether it's just an inward thing, just put yourself out there and do it again and again.
Closing Remarks and Event Information
00:44:03
Speaker
Honestly, I love that. What would you say like your woo factor is? What is your Dina Nash factor? What makes you stand out in these networking events? Photographers, I am so thrilled to announce my new sponsors Aftershoot, an AI editing company. They do AI editing, unlimited cropping and straightening. I am seriously blown away by the precision and five hours a week I get back in my life. My life is so much better and I literally don't have any more anxiety. It's so crazy. I remember being at barbecues with my laptop because I had to get out a shoot and and that was so stressful, so not fun. And the best part about After Shoot compared to their competition is that it's a monthly minimal cost, not cost per image because I am a true overshooter. I could shoot like, I don't know, 3000 photos in an engagement shoot, which is not good.
00:45:01
Speaker
But anyways, using my code in the show notes to get a 30-day trial and 20% off, you're going to get in the software and just go crazy with it. And AfterShoot edits 2.0 just released and they have a lot of new features that you are going to love. AfterShoot, I can't thank you enough for giving me back my time to focus on this podcast. Oh yeah, back to the podcast. I think that I'll tell you what people say to me because I don't, I don't, people say that they feel that I'm very warm and welcoming. And I hope that that is a vibe that I'm putting out because I wouldn't want anyone to ever feel like I felt it at one networking event I described. I, and maybe that, maybe that was beneficial to be, to have that one bad experience because I never want anyone to feel like that.
00:45:50
Speaker
I want anyone to feel like they can walk up to me and say, even if they say, I'm so uncomfortable. Okay. Tell me that I will, you know, bring you around and introduce you to people. And for me, I am really happy bringing someone to someone saying, Oh, I think you guys should know each other. Or even if that, I don't think that it's a and necessarily a fit. just introducing them to each other so that they can determine if it's a fit for something going forward. That's a good, ah you're definitely a connector for sure. I've seen that. Thank you. and oh Well, this has been a great conversation. Rapid fire questions. These are like more fun and more short. But what is, you came out from this like creating that working event in Palm Springs.
00:46:43
Speaker
what's like the first thing you do to decompress and just wind down? Lay on the floor and let my doggies like crawl all over. Give me kisses. That's very that's my welcome home. Oh, okay. Coachee question. If you had a magic wand, where would you see your business in three to six months? Ooh, so i I sort of have two businesses. I have the wedding planning business and then the podcasting business. And I have another podcast that I'm working on um that is called The Isle Experts. So that is um sort of my baby right now that i'm I'm really working on. In terms of the wedding business, I'm really looking to kind of
00:47:30
Speaker
reach out to new venues that I haven't worked with before and even take like destination weddings on. I've done a few destination weddings and I really love going to other countries or even just other States or other parts of this state and, and planning weddings in spaces that are new to me. So I'm really focusing on that. Oh, I love it. I love it. I love it. What is your biggest social media hack? Oh, okay, here's my hack. This is probably not a hack really, but it's what I do. If I post a real or a static photo on my feed,
00:48:12
Speaker
I let it sit there for 24 hours and then I repost it to my stories and that boosts engagement pretty significantly. I feel like people, yeah, I feel like people look at stories more than they actually look at the static feed or even reels. Yeah. So why do you wait 24 hours or do you do a double? I do at least one day because I feel like the engagement is is boosted more. I don't know why. I'm just like sort of tested a little bit. That is hot, yeah. Yeah. Okay, so I guess Tommy wanted, since you're program's director for WIPA Board, what's coming up for WIPA? WIPA programs or WIPA events?
00:48:55
Speaker
We have, I was just at our, the venue for our next event, which is August 13th of 2024 coming up in a month and a half, I guess now since we're July 1st today. um We are going to do something that is ah Wellness themed. I'll tell you this. I don't know if we're going to go with this title, but I, I suggest that we do like welcome to Zen Los Angeles. And so we're going to do something in this garden setting at the Garland Hotel in Studio City. It is beautiful. It will be very relaxing, very fun, ah very Zen and very wellness based.
00:49:36
Speaker
Let me know if you need a photographer. I will. yeah Amazing. Well, thank you so much, Gina, for coming on this podcast. You are such a pleasure and such a delight. You have a beautiful smile. Thank you so much. It was so fun chatting with you. And you made it so easy for me not to be the questioner. I enjoyed that.
00:50:01
Speaker
Thanks for joining me this week on Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. Make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about the show. Take a screenshot and post to IG. Tag me! Also, don't forget to download my free guide on how to become a lead generating machine. See you next time, wedding pros!