After much planning and careful consideration...I am finally putting together a business plan that works for me. Some of the things I am going to start doing are as follows.
1) Financial Management
**Purchased most everything I need for the next few years, now time to put funds away for when I need to upgrade/replace/etc. I am also starting the "official" entertainment account, in which I pay myself and I can put $XXXX amount away to cover such expenses. Once I have established that "magic" number, then I can increase my wage and appropriately find a solution to what I have been seeking for my first start up years. And every time I need to "drastically" dig into the funds...then I will lower my wage for a short period of time, or until I have re-established that "magic" number that I am comfortable with.
2) Paper Management
**No longer are the days of papers just randomly making an appearance here and there in this household. For every paper, there is a place for it to be. No longer are the days of me frantically trying to find receipts, bills, etc. I have finally organized, the monster I have created...a paper work mess.
3) Motivation needs to be upheld
**When I first started in this biz, you all realize the million ideas I had...and I don't regret trying new things. But as the last few months have came and gone, I realize my "drive" has been lacking...and well, I notice the # of bookings have dropped as well. It could be because I raised my price...but I highly doubt that at this point in time.
4) Marketing
**No more "insane" marketing. I am going to stick with what works and what drives my biggest results. No longer will I chase those bookings that take too much effort and time out of my schedule. My time is just as important as anyone elses, and I no longer want to work harder than I have to get results and bookings.
5) Holding to my new prices
**My clients shouldn't tell me why I should be priced lower than what I am, I should be educating my clients on why there is "Real Value" of what I offer for the price I do. No longer are the days of trying to compare market prices. I have proven results under my belt, no need to keep trying to prove myself.
6) Employee/Employer Relationship
**Continue to build the business, and this is the time to take back control of my business. If my employees are not offering positive constructive advice for the business...it is ok to cut ties. I have an employee that sometimes bitches he only makes 25% of a contracted booking....he made $250 for about 12 hours of easy work, and he still had a complaint. I will not tolerate that. I've worked hard and made many sacrifices to get where I am today, and I will not let an employee try to make me feel bad about the wages. The thing is...he wants this to be a full time job for him too. Sorry bud..ain't going to happen anytime soon.
7) Network more
**It's ok to do a few freebies here and there (Good charity)...but I need to pick them wisely.
8) Brand Identity
**Now that I have a branded logo...time to use it! Get more flyers available...business cards...all the things needed to increase the awareness of the business.
9) Establish Karaoke more into mainstream.
**Instead of just an add-on...try to target some M-T. Any work is better than "NO" work.
10) Dont be driven
**Time to take the bull by the horns. I know what it takes to run a successful business, now do it. Don't let people hee and haw and tell me how to run this business.
And where did I learn this all from.....everyone who has ever suggested even a grain of salt into my business.
Have I made mistakes...oh yea baby...but they all helped come to this conclusion on what I need to do now to grow my business.
I have played the "nice guy" to my clients, and that carried me only so far....but after being burnt just a few times...more than I want to remember...I realized..and this has been told to me "OVER AND OVER" again......business is business. If you want a successful business, than treat it like a business.
Game on Baby....GAME ON!
1) Financial Management
**Purchased most everything I need for the next few years, now time to put funds away for when I need to upgrade/replace/etc. I am also starting the "official" entertainment account, in which I pay myself and I can put $XXXX amount away to cover such expenses. Once I have established that "magic" number, then I can increase my wage and appropriately find a solution to what I have been seeking for my first start up years. And every time I need to "drastically" dig into the funds...then I will lower my wage for a short period of time, or until I have re-established that "magic" number that I am comfortable with.
2) Paper Management
**No longer are the days of papers just randomly making an appearance here and there in this household. For every paper, there is a place for it to be. No longer are the days of me frantically trying to find receipts, bills, etc. I have finally organized, the monster I have created...a paper work mess.
3) Motivation needs to be upheld
**When I first started in this biz, you all realize the million ideas I had...and I don't regret trying new things. But as the last few months have came and gone, I realize my "drive" has been lacking...and well, I notice the # of bookings have dropped as well. It could be because I raised my price...but I highly doubt that at this point in time.
4) Marketing
**No more "insane" marketing. I am going to stick with what works and what drives my biggest results. No longer will I chase those bookings that take too much effort and time out of my schedule. My time is just as important as anyone elses, and I no longer want to work harder than I have to get results and bookings.
5) Holding to my new prices
**My clients shouldn't tell me why I should be priced lower than what I am, I should be educating my clients on why there is "Real Value" of what I offer for the price I do. No longer are the days of trying to compare market prices. I have proven results under my belt, no need to keep trying to prove myself.
6) Employee/Employer Relationship
**Continue to build the business, and this is the time to take back control of my business. If my employees are not offering positive constructive advice for the business...it is ok to cut ties. I have an employee that sometimes bitches he only makes 25% of a contracted booking....he made $250 for about 12 hours of easy work, and he still had a complaint. I will not tolerate that. I've worked hard and made many sacrifices to get where I am today, and I will not let an employee try to make me feel bad about the wages. The thing is...he wants this to be a full time job for him too. Sorry bud..ain't going to happen anytime soon.
7) Network more
**It's ok to do a few freebies here and there (Good charity)...but I need to pick them wisely.
8) Brand Identity
**Now that I have a branded logo...time to use it! Get more flyers available...business cards...all the things needed to increase the awareness of the business.
9) Establish Karaoke more into mainstream.
**Instead of just an add-on...try to target some M-T. Any work is better than "NO" work.
10) Dont be driven
**Time to take the bull by the horns. I know what it takes to run a successful business, now do it. Don't let people hee and haw and tell me how to run this business.
And where did I learn this all from.....everyone who has ever suggested even a grain of salt into my business.
Have I made mistakes...oh yea baby...but they all helped come to this conclusion on what I need to do now to grow my business.
I have played the "nice guy" to my clients, and that carried me only so far....but after being burnt just a few times...more than I want to remember...I realized..and this has been told to me "OVER AND OVER" again......business is business. If you want a successful business, than treat it like a business.
Game on Baby....GAME ON!
