Today Dannie and Caitlyn are talking with Megan Lentz of Vida Events.

We believe in accessible content and that anyone who wants to learn from this content should be able to. In order to support this, we’ve had every episode of Season 4 transcribed. The transcriptions are available at the bottom of every episode blog post.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

• Working in a partnership for your side-hustles and its unique advantages. 

• Tips to help excel in a business partnership.

• Remembering to focus on making the client feel at ease while still having the structures in place to accomplish the goal. 

• The power of having a mentor and all the lessons that they can teach. 

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FOLLOW YOUR HOSTS: D Website | D Instagram // C Website | C Instagram

Episode Transcript  

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:00:21] Hello and welcome back to the side hustle gal podcast. Today we have Megan Lentz. We stalked each other and connected in the summit Facebook group, which if you're not in that group, super great place to find connections and just get business resources. And so we're so excited to have you here and I'm going to toss it over to you and to explain what you do, why you identify as a side hustler, and all those things.

Megan Lentz: [00:00:47] Yay. Hi guys. We're super excited to be here. Um, my business partner actually could not be with us today cause she is at her full time. Job hashtag side hustle. Um, so we are Megan and Maria. We own Vida events together. Um, me started out in the wedding world. Doing catering and floral work years ago, and then got into wedding planning, um, about three years ago.

So we have been in all the kind of nooks and crannies of the wedding world and sound during each, and it's just kind of taken off. So, yeah, we're super excited to be here. 

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:01:19] I love it. So talk to me about your journey. How did this business get started? Um, how does side hustling come into play, especially in an events business, which has. So many moving pieces. What is that like? 

Megan Lentz: [00:01:34] Yeah, so Maria is a full time teacher's assistant, so Vida is a side hustle for her in that way. And then I actually do, um, equine nutrition for a company. So yeah, our jobs are kind of very different, but the side hustle is kind of taken off and allowed us to be creative.

Um. We originally got into catering and we're doing a lot of event design and really just found that like we were doing most of the work is caterers for the company we were working for at the time. And both had the idea to like we were individually starting on businesses. And then when we realized that we were both going to start something, I was like, well, why don't we just do it together and cover twice as much territory?

So that's what we did. And it's been working ever since. And we love it. 

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:02:21] I love that. So for both of you, this is your second stream of income or work or whatever. The way that manifests is a little bit different for both of you. What I'm curious about is how you make a business partnership work when both of you are side hustlers.

So Katelyn and I are lucky enough that Caitlyn's full time and I work at a job where. I can do things like this right now. Um, but when you are two side hustlers running a second business together, things get crazy. How do you manage all of that? 

Megan Lentz: [00:02:54] Yeah, so I think our job hours are different. So I do have a job where I can do this for 40 minutes here during the middle of the day, and then go back to work.

Um, my company has been really good about. Letting me venture off into my dream job, um, and accepting of it. So it's been really nice to be able to do these kinds of things during the day. Um, I do most of my work, like in the evenings, afternoons, um, she has some mornings off, so we're kind of like tag teaming throughout the day with things. Um, and it's always nice cause there's lunch breaks, so we're like catching up on emails, um, as we're like scrubbing down, you know, our six outlet. So. 

Caitlyn Allen: [00:03:33] That's awesome. So I guess as somebody who is, you know, still side hustling, how do you structure your day and what are the ways that you stay organized in your business?

Megan Lentz: [00:03:45] So, first off, I guess there's no structure to my day. Like every day is completely different, and I almost prefer it that way because it's changing and I'm not bored. Um, I, my 2020 goal for this year was like, to be. More structured with my staff so that I wasn't, you know, doing 10 different things in the hour with like two different jobs.

Um, but as a side hustler, you guys know that it's really hard to do that. So I think we really, we have tons of Excel spreadsheets that both of us have access to, which literally saves our lives every day. Um, and we share a joint email, which has helped a ton, so that way if she's out, like I can come in and answer and saying like, vice versa.

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:04:26] I love that approach because I think it makes things a little bit easier to manage. I feel you in the no two days are the same thing. I view like if my boyfriend ever tried to like outline what I do every single day, he'd be so lost because he's like, what are you even doing. Well, 

Megan Lentz: [00:04:45] my husband is always like, he goes, what are you working on?

He's like, are you working on Vida stuff?. And I was like, no, I'm working on like nutrition stuff. Like I'm building a nutrition plan. And then 20 minutes later I'm back on like Vida stuff. So like it just, it's, you know, it's a chaotic balance that I like to call life. So, yeah. 

Caitlyn Allen: [00:05:04] So I guess I want to hear a little bit more about. Um, how you guys work together. I know that you said that, um, you guys share an inbox, different things like that, but most people we've talked to have been solopreneur or people who, you know, just work for themselves and not a duo. So how do you guys manage working together? Like, I can't imagine working with somebody else all the time.

Megan Lentz: [00:05:30] This is the first question. Literally anywhere. If we go to mixers, if we go just out to dinner with friends or like, how do you use, do this and balance each other's different personalities. Um, I think one good thing about Maria and myself is that we're not type a people. Um, we do have opinions and, you know, we have different design ideas, which I think really helps.

Excel or business together, especially in the wedding world. Um, but we are very good about, you know, if one person feels stronger about a situation, we go with what they're thinking, if I don't feel too strongly about it, um, and vice versa. So it really is a good balance. I mean, we all have. We are really good about not arguing with each other.

Um, we're good about listening to what the other person has to say before. We're like, well, I'm not really sure that that's the best idea. And then we kind of sit on that and kind of, you know. I always trying to think of what she is thinking like longterm. And she is a lot more organized than I am. I'm a little more like, go, go, go, let's do all the things.

And she's like, okay, Megan, let's pull back a little bit. Like not kill ourselves where we're trying to like build this. So, um, it's a really good balance and I really enjoy working with her. So we've, it doesn't come without, you know, challenges, but it's worth it to have somebody to pick up the Slack when you're not around.

Caitlyn Allen: [00:06:48] So you said that neither one of you are type a. um, I find that super interesting because I am also in a partnership with, um, somebody and we do, we organize art happenings or like street art, um, graffiti weekends a nd she is like the like artists out there who is doing her own thing, not really organized.

And then there's me who's like. Super type a, like we have to have a schedule, we have to like know all of the things in advance. Like you have to know everything, but we balance each other out. Do you feel like one of you guys stays like on track? Um, and like rains the other one in more often? 

Megan Lentz: [00:07:30] So it's funny, like our personalities are so different, but Maria definitely reigns me in, but I definitely have more of the organization of things like the constant to do list of things we need to do. Um, but yeah, we're, I'm an extroverted introvert, so my personality can be, I guess, different ways at different times, just depending on the situations, which is nice. And I think Marina is the same way, where when we're in social settings, we're very outgoing, very chatty.

Um, but when we're like down in the office trying to get things done, you know, we are very organized. Um, . Our biggest compliment that we get from our brides is that this planning process was so laid back. Um, that's one of our favorite compliments and the favorite things we see in our reviews. Um, just having, you know, we want our brides and our, a couple of, like all of our couples and our, their family members to feel relaxed.

So us coming off was type in, like have to have all the things done really just never goes over well.

Caitlyn Allen: [00:08:29] Do you feel like side hustling. An event business, especially when you have to meet with a client has ever really interfered. Mmm. Or do you think that it works better for you because it balances. Regular work with something that's different and more creative? 

Megan Lentz: [00:08:47] Yeah, I think it's the balance really. Um, again, my schedule is nice because I can build around it at different times. Um, and most of our, you know, couples meet, want to meet in the afternoon or evenings because they're also working full time jobs. So we don't run into. A lot of having to do things during the day. Um, and a lot of our vendor friends also are like side hustlers, so they're too having to meet on like Saturdays or late in the evening, or going to the couple of towns to meet. So it's worked out really well. 

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:09:16] So I'm curious as well, because the event planning business requires a certain level of. Like Polish and beauty and like there's an expectation that things are always pretty. Um, it sounds like you both have a really good opportunity to share about how and why and where and when things get messy or complicated. Have you shared about that and how has that impacted your business as compared to like the industry. 

Megan Lentz: [00:09:45] So are you talking about like certain events or, 

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:09:50] Oh, like social media. 

Megan Lentz: [00:09:52] Oh like social media, so we actually split up our social media times, um, Maria Monday through Thursday, and I do the weekends so that we're not constantly having to be on there and comment and like, and share and do all the things.

Um. So it really is beneficial having a business partner to pick up the other half and giving yourself a little bit of a break, especially like trying to think of vacation in the off season. Um, and, you know, not getting behind on things. Um, but it, it really, you know, we always, there are sticky situations in every business.

Um, but we, I think we really handle them. With grace and staying calm about things really helps because when you get overwhelmed, which happens like on the daily, anyone who is a female entrepreneur knows how this shit rolls. Um, you are constantly overwhelmed about all the things on your to do list. So I think, I know Maria definitely brings me back down to earth. It's like, all right, so we just need to get these couple of things done today and then we'll move on to the next thing. So. 

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:10:55] Well, I'm curious, I you. You definitely seem like you both have it all together, which is amazing. And I'm jealous, um, because I don't do a good job of giving off that vibe. Um, but that doesn't come without mistakes.

What are some mistakes that you've made in business. Um, that maybe you, maybe you don't even rip at them because you learned from them, but what are some mistakes in business that you've made and how have they impacted your business? 

Megan Lentz: [00:11:26] I think, I know our biggest mistake our first year was over committing, and we definitely don't have. All of our stuff together. Um, as entrepreneurs, we like to make it look like we do, but everyone knows that there's chaos going on in the background, but that's what we want our clients to see is that, you know, we have our shit together. We're just rolling through. But yeah, I think our biggest, I don't regret any of it.

Um, we had an amazing first year, but I think we over committed with weddings that we were doing, and it got. We were at the point where we were overwhelmed and burnout and in your first year or second year of business like you did is something you want to avoid completely. Um, so I know that I have been, one thing that I've just personally gone into is mentoring with another planner.

Um, who's a season planner, and she has really guided me into the direction of, you know, how you do your commitments, how much time you put towards it each week. Um, things like that. 

Caitlyn Allen: [00:12:26] How do you feel like, um, since you've started your business, how do you feel that you've changed, or what have you learned about yourself in this entrepreneurial journey?

Megan Lentz: [00:12:36] Um, I think we both learned that we're like some badass bitches doing this thing. I mean like, dang, we get super pumped just to see how far we've come in like three years. And it. It's amazing the, you know, I guess initial growth of just like myself of being so nervous to come into an industry where I had experienced but not, I was not a 10 years seasoned, you know, wedding planner.

Um, you know, we make a lot of mistakes. We like to come around and track so clients don't see those mistakes, but, you know, we grow from each of those. And I, you know, in our third, going into our third year, like. It's been awesome. Um, I know Marie and myself have really just sent me, take more time to sit back and look at how far we've come.

This, even just in January for 2020, I'm just like, liberally, we're really, three years ago, like we had no idea what we were doing. Um, we loved weddings. We had done, you know, your friend's weddings and like the under the table kind of helping people. So, you know, for a few hundred bucks kind of weddings.

But now that we're into it, and. We're starting to get, you know, higher end clientele. It's really exciting for us.

Caitlyn Allen: [00:13:46] Yeah. I feel like something that we forget to do is like reflect on what happened last year, what happened the year before, like how have we changed and how have we, like how are we continuing to grow? I think we totally forget to do that. Um. And I think that goes into goal setting. So do you guys, do you guys end up sitting down and goal setting for each year or what is, what does that look like for you guys?

Megan Lentz: [00:14:14] Yeah. We, um, we did this year, we actually went to a, um, gosh, what do they call it? Inspiration board parties where you like cut out magazine pictures and you put things that you want to improve on for that year. Things that you want to get more into that year. And I know that we both had, um, just being more present.

In our, um, personal lives. Um, because you know, when you have a business, as you both know, like your work takes, you know, I'm sure all of our husbands and boyfriends and girlfriends, I'll understand that, like, you know, second to our business babies. So, um, it's always nice to, I know we both like decided that we needed to be more present in our personal lives versus, you know, we can still do everything we want to business wise, but make more of a structured schedule for that.

Caitlyn Allen: [00:15:02] And do you guys both have significant others then? And like, because you guys are all always together together frequently? Do they hang out too? 

Megan Lentz: [00:15:12] Um, so we, it's almost fortunate and unfortunate. So both of our husbands are gone quite a bit at the time, so their jobs, um, so Julie just Marie and I hanging out, getting all the things done. Um, but when they're home, it's definitely like an O'Connor's like, okay. We need to like put the laptop down and we need to move on and we need to like, just hang out and relax. And they, he's very good about bringing me, you know, back into like reality. So, and I think Jared doesn't seem for Maria. 

Caitlyn Allen: [00:15:41] Awesome.

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:15:42] Caitlyn. Um, so speaking of relationships, uh, something that I have as a goal this year is better understanding what that balance looks like and being more intentional about being more intentional about setting that time. So with you guys being event folks, and like me working a lot of weekends when most traditional jobs are off.

How are you building in that time? I know you said both of your partners are traveling a lot, but they have to be home at some point. 

Megan Lentz: [00:16:18] Yes. I know that we, I can't speak from Maria, but I know that. Like her husband's schedule is going to change for this year, so I know he'll be off in the afternoons, which would be nice that they can spend that time versus just trying to cram everything in some personal time and on the weekends.

Now I'm with my husband, I, well now, like the last few weeks I've been looking ahead. To schedule. This is awful. Scheduled time with, so then it's like blocked out and like, I, my phone's on doing that. Mr urban, you know, we have time to hang out on the farm with the dogs and stuff like that. So. 

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:16:52] No. You have to make time for that stuff. I mean, I work first shift, plus a side hustle, plus a college degree. My boyfriend works second shift plus some overtime. So in theory, we should never see each other. But like this morning we woke up an hour early to have some time together before I went. So like,

yeah. Yeah. Um, so we do have to wrap things up. I can talk to you for literally forever, but before, before we start to wrap things up, what is a piece of advice that you would give to a newer business owner who's trying to dive into the world of events?

Megan Lentz: [00:17:39] I would probably say it's not as overwhelming as it looks starting off. Take your time. um starting a business is overnight doesn't happen, but take your time to get your website, build up, get a good content, build up. Um, do style shoots. That is a big thing. I wish. Um, newer businesses would start doing, instead of just taking on events, um, do some smaller weddings and do some style shoots, get to know vendors, um, shadow people, get a mentor in the wedding world.

And there's so many things to educate yourself online now. Um, things that like were not there back in the day when we first started. So it really, the internet platform for education is amazing. Um, and there's so many ways to learn. 

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:18:27] Oh, I love it. 

Caitlyn Allen: [00:18:31] Awesome. All right, so where can we find you guys on the interwebs?

Megan Lentz: [00:18:36] You guys can find us at our website at www.vidaevents.net and then our Instagram handle is at  vida underscore events.

Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:18:45] Amazing. Well, thank you so much for hanging out with us today. We had a great time and this was a really great episode.