The Power of Hosting an Event
When I was in my mid-twenties I met a neighbor who had recently opened a Barre studio in the basement of her home. One evening she hosted an event to pamper local ladies with make-up demos at a shop. The make-up lady picked me out of the crowd to be her demo girl. I had never wore much makeup throughout my adult life. She did my lips, blush and eye makeup and even put fake eyelashes on me (something I had never done before). I remember coming home finally feeling the confidence a woman my age should have. Stepping out of my comfort zone and going to this event boosted my confidence because I:
met new supportive ladies
was told I looked beautiful by other women (something I wasn’t used to hearing)
bought a new piece of clothing that cost more than I would usually spend and was a little different from the ordinary “mom” clothes I would normally wear… (Hello confidence… where had you been)
learned how to actually do my makeup for a fancy evening out
I remember leaving the event that night thinking, “WOW, I want to do for other women what she did for me”. She was exactly what I needed in my life at that moment to lead me down a path of new self discovery!
Going to these events and Barre classes got me further and further out of my comfort zone and inspired me to take the leap and get trained as a Piyo instructor (Piyo is a type of fitness class offered by Beachbody). This neighbor with the studio encouraged me to start teaching Piyo classes to her community of ladies. This lovely lady also encouraged me to grow my own community. I started a “Kids Eat Clean” Facebook group and a Mom’s Stroller Club.I invested in more training including my group fitness instructing, barre training and health coaching program. She also encouraged me to be more visible, take more photos, share what I was doing and get more comfortable in front of the camera. My confidence continued to grow. It felt great to belong to a group of women who were all dreaming big and working to achieve their dreams.
When I decided to start the Finding My Happy Community, I was inspired about these experiences from years ago. I had also attended some events hosted by my friend and business coach, Lyndsie. She started the YYC Fempreneurs Community in 2019 by starting a marketing school and holding events to celebrate and connect women in business. Her events are always a blast and I’ve been a part of her community since very close to the beginning. I’m so thankful for all the women who have come into my life to inspire me and remind me of how much I want to be a shining light for women, to encourage them and help boost their confidence by offering events to help get them out of their comfort zone.
When I hosted my first event in 2023 I invited some close friends over to tell them about my community. It was scary to take the leap and step into what I felt called to do. I was still a little unclear about where I wanted things to go, but if I have learned anything over the last couple of years, it’s just to START! You’ll figure out the rest along the way. Holding my first event felt awesome! I gained reassurance as to what I was doing was needed and it felt great to share my big ideas with those that I hold closest to my heart. I have held a few events since, some with three ladies, some with ten. Every event reassured me that I was heading in the right direction and connected me with more of the women I’m meant to serve.
Events don’t have to be big and expensive. My first event was at my home, the next one was outside at a park, and the next one was at a local pizza shop/pub.
My last event was the one I felt I held the most clarity on. I focused on offering an education piece that aligned with wellness. I hired a clinical herbalist to come in and talk about finding calm through the chaos of the holiday season. Her name is Kristy and she is also my own holistic coach. Her business is called Almandine Wellness.
I also featured my friend Miranda who recently launched her art business called Awen Art and Design.
Some people may have looked at this event and thought, a herbalist and art? What the heck? But I went for it. I knew the two would align as the art was a very relaxing technique. I can’t express how much I love supporting women who I have hired or worked with throughout the years to gain better knowledge about myself. I also love supporting women who have a brand new business idea that sparks them! I want to support everyone and I also believe no two businesses are the same. Everyone brings their own individuality to everything they offer.
I chose a venue that rents out by the hour for my last event. The day of the event I made a huge spread because I love to create my own menu and feed people. I had some giveaways so the women that attended could feel treated, since we sometimes put ourselves on the backburner. We had some time for reflection and a chance to get to know one another. Then Kristy led with her knowledge of all things herbs. Then I made sure there was time to enjoy snacks, visiting and creating art with the help of Miranda.
I left that event feeling inspired by the ladies that attended because many had truly stepped out of their comfort zones. Some came mainly to meet new people and some came with a friend and spent most of their time catching up with their friend. One thing was true for everyone: they took the time out of their busy lives for themselves. This is the whole reason I am hosting these events, to provide knowledge, community and a space for self discovery!
Looking around the room at my event, I was overjoyed because the ladies there truly needed the knowledge and community of that evening. That was my goal, to serve women that truly needed the event I was offering. There were a few new faces which was super exciting. They all gave me some great feedback which really encouraged me to move forward with my next event happening in January. I hope these ladies continue to come back to future events and be a part of the community!
If you’re interested in hosting your own event but you’re not sure how to get the word out, here are some steps I did, that will help you get off and running:
Advertise on your social media platforms (make an image that explains the event and also talk about it on camera)
Send out an invitation to your email subscribers (I use mailchimp.com)
Use eventbrite.com to allow people to purchase tickets.
Post your event on your website and direct people there to get their tickets so that while they’re on your website they can check out what else you have to offer!
Post flyers for your event on local bulletin boards where your target audience may find you - coffee shops, grocery stores, post office, etc
Post your event in local facebook groups and engage in those groups by mentioning your event in the comments below others’ posts
Host an Instagram Live video to introduce your co hosts for the event (if you are having any) and have them promote you by sharing the recording on their Instagram profile
If this sounds like a lot of work, I’d love to coach you through the process. I’ve always hired a coach to get me through to the next step. We sometimes need someone to listen to our ideas and help us put one foot in front of the other, so please reach out if you feel this is something you need. I’d love to help you get started and stay the course - click here to contact me.
I want to thank all the ladies that attended, from the bottom of my heart, for supporting my first events and for helping me spread the word about future ones! 2023 has been a huge year for me thanks to all of your support and encouragement!
Starting a community and putting yourself out there is scary. What if no one is interested in what you’re doing? What if no one cares or comes to your events? Those thoughts pop into my head less and less the more I take action to bring my vision to life. You can do this too and there can never be too many communities of like-minded women!
Think back to the events you attended in 2023, the new skills you learned, the new people you met, and how these experiences enriched your life. Do you agree that we become more and more confident each year we’re alive? Take a few minutes to write why you feel more confident today than you did a year ago.
In 2024 I want to help you feel more confident and experience more joy. If you have an idea for an event, or you’d like to recommend a speaker or workshop host, please contact me. I’m excited to create more opportunities for women to learn, connect and feel more empowered with your help! And if you want to hold your own events to get your community going, I’m here to help!
