Magic Maker Monday: Meet The Owners
Welcome to Magic Maker Monday. This feature was created to spotlight each team member’s unique talents, tools, and industry perspectives in their natural habitat.
This week’s post features Bash Creative Founder and CEO Annalee Hagood Earl and Owner and Director of Event Operations, Danielle Leeke. Read about their road to Bash and check out their video interviews, below!
ANNALEE
Q: Where do you call home? Where would your dream work from home location be?
A: I relocated from San Francisco to the small seaside town of Sausalito, CA 3 years ago and it IS my dream WFH location. With lots of natural light, sweeping views of the water and the sweet scent of blooming jasmine in the Spring this place inspires me often. There truly is no place like home...unless it's an Italian Piazza on a Fall afternoon during Aperitivo...it can't be beat!
Q: Tell us about your entrepreneurial journey. How did you build the Bash Creative brand to what it is today?
A: I love answering this question because most people think I founded Bash Creative based on seeing an open opportunity within the industry. However, the story is that Bash Creative was actually just an escape plan from my current corporate gig that was working me into the ground! My father, who was an entrepreneur, encouraged me to set up a business for tax purposes. However, I quickly learned once committing to Bash Creative full-time that there was a real interest in savvy no BS event planners. From there I followed my gut, never wavered in the honest and transparent approach, took on work I had never done before and finally brought on the best business partner a girl could ask for, Danielle! It wasn't until we joined forces that the Bash you know today was born. Before I was the "brand." When we came together we had to merge everything about our companies and from that Bash Creative Inc, or as we affectionately call her "Babs", was born. Danielle and I recognized we needed professional assistance in creating a Brand and we turned to some amazing partners to help us lay the foundation. Since then we have been able to build on that foundational truth as we scale and it has proven to be just the guiding light we needed. Now that I have had the taste of entrepreneurship, I can never go back. The way I think has been completely transformed and I get so much pleasure out of seeing this business grow!
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you face with co-owning a business? How do you overcome them?
A: I am likely not going to deliver the answer you think I am going to. Honestly, my partnership with Danielle is one of the most rewarding relationships I have in my life. We were truly meant for each other. Our love for self-development, our drive to put others before ourselves, our standard for quality over everything, and our passion for connection is all aligned. She inspires me all of the time and I want this business to be successful for her! But if I were to pick apart how we get over any hurdles in way, it is that we over communicate. We try our best to see the other's perspective. We know when and how to concede, Danielle better than I. Most importantly we will NEVER throw the other under the bus. We have so much trust in each other that we are able to let each of us shine in what we do. Additionally, Danielle and I approach this partnership as a marriage. We seek counseling to assist in communication and understanding. We outwardly support the other even if we don't agree internally. We acknowledge neither of us is perfect. And above all else, we are friends first and work wives second.
Q: What is your favorite practice/tool/ app to stay organized?
A: I live and die by my Google calendar. It's not a fancy tool but the most efficient for me. In addition, I use Google Keep to track notes, links, ideas, to-dos, etc. I am a huge fan of just about everything Google. Their collaborative suite is unmatched in my opinion.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A: "Always plan for success as much, if not more, than failure." - Linda Hagood, my mother
As a "planner" your instinct is to always prepare for the worst. You do this by having multiple backup plans that address just every option for failure. However, we don't often put just as much energy into the best case scenarios. I didn't take this advice to heart at first. After 1.5 years into owning the business it took off and I found myself drowning. I had to reach out for quick help from my family to just find me help. I was too busy to even look for help! After that first rush of success I have always planned ahead and watched the upswing with in more detail than the upswing!
Q: What is your favorite way to unwind at the end of the day?
A: The truth is, there is nothing better than some mindless reality TV.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in the future for events?
A: I am just looking forward to the future! This industry is so agile, resourceful, creative, & resilient it is hard to pinpoint one thing. I am looking forward to the continued evolution of events. Especially as we come out of these more challenging times. I am certain it will blow my mind!
Check out the interview below:
DANIELLE
Q: Where do you call home? Where would your dream work from home location be?
A: I have called San Francisco, CA home for over 12 years now (WOW, time flies)! We live on a quiet, residential feeling street close to the city's only natural lake, Mountain Lake Park. My dream WFH location would be somewhere warm with a big backyard for our dog Olive to romp around.
Q: Tell us about your entrepreneurial journey. How did you build the Bash Creative brand to what it is today?
A: The Bash brand that we know today is a culmination of Annalee and my experiences in different parts of the hospitality and events industries. When we decided to merge our two existing event planning companies and partners, we knew through working together in various ways that our skill sets were incredibly complementary and we would be able to serve our clients better, more holistically. Annalee has always had the vision, and ability to create amazing relationships, while I have the design eye and logistics background to execute quality projects for our clients. With that as a foundation, and our recognition that we do not know it all, we have enlisted amazing partners to help guide us to a company with integrity we can both be proud of.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you face with co-owning a business? How do you overcome them?
A: We are both strong willed, type-A people and tackle things with two different mind-sets which is a benefit as well as a challenge at times. While we share the business, we still manage pieces of it separate from each other, which I think is a big key to our relationship being successful so we have our own autonomy. It is much like a marriage, you are two seperate people coming together for a common goal. You have to have trust and learn how each other tick, how to communicate effectively, know boundaries and flexibility, but ultimately have a shared foundation if you want it to work. Lucky for us we have a decade long friendship, but also truly want the other to be successful, happy, and prosperous so as we look at overcoming struggles this is always part of the equation.
Q: What is your favorite practice/tool/ app to stay organized?
A: I would be lost without my calendar and all the collaborative google tools! My other go-to when the to-do list gets long is going old fashioned and writing out lists and crossing them off to feel that sense of accomplishment.
Q: What keeps your hustle going every day? What motivates you?
A: My hustle is driven by being there for our clients and our team, I want them to know they can turn to me anytime and I will make it happen, whatever it is. I am additionally motivated by wanting my employees to have a good manager and leader.
Q: What is your favorite way to unwind at the end of the day?
A: Having a delicious meal (that I don't have to cook), or spending time taking Olive to the park.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in the future for events?
A: I am looking forward to having our industry back to work in all the creative ways we choose to come back to live or hybrid events. I think this will diversify the type of events we are doing to reach further and come up with out-of-the-box ideas (which we are already seeing some of). On a personal level, I am looking forward to feeling the sense of accomplishment that comes from doing a live event and being part of a client / vendor / partner team!
Check out the interview below:
Looking to connect?
Bash Creative is an event planning company that specializes in incredible gatherings that go beyond just great design. We’re known for teasing out smart goals for your event and serve up a stylish execution that will keep your guests buzzing. Located in San Francisco, but often found in New York, Austin, Chicago, Seattle, and beyond.