Meet Samantha Heskey | Event Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samantha Heskey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My work life balance has significantly changed over the last 3 years. On average i work About 50-60 hours a week, sometimes working for days on end with no days off in between. 3 years ago I didn’t work so many hours in a week, as my business has grown the number of hours in which I’ve had to put into my Business has significantly grown over the years. There are times where I’m completely booked out for events for 12/ 14 consistent weeks without any breaks. So to balance myself out After working so many consistent weekends in a row i will Make sure to take time off for about 4 weeks and take a vacation during that time. Taking a break allows me to refocus and recharge myself so i dont Burn myself out while managing my own business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Samantha Michelle Special Events, Is a design company that serves the Tallahassee area and surrounding cities. We specialize in intimate dinner parties, baby Showers, Balloon designs, rentals and more. What sets us apart from other design companies is our ability to bring to life the clients vision for their event. What I am most proud of is the level of success in which I have been able to reach in such a short period of time. The road to success is never easy, I have had countless nights were I’m on go for 24 hours and don’t get any rest, I have had vendors pull out of an event at the last minute and then I have to step in and figure out how to manage damage control, I’ve had times where I’ve wanted to give up however, during each one of those obstacles I’ve been able to take a step back, clear my head, and refocus myself to get the job done. Also having my mom who serves as my business consultant being a listening ear has been extremely helpful.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned along the way has been to stay committed. Oftentimes as humans we naturally want to give up when you don’t see what we deem as success right away. However. staying committed to the task and project at hand and really putting work into your craft will open doors for you in ways you never imagined. Not only will opportunities present themselves, but as time goes on you build valuable and meaningful relationships with people in which you probably would have never crossed paths with if you gave up and did not stay committed.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Tallahassee is a small city in comparison to where I am originally from, so finding things to do can be a bit tricky. However, I’ve been here long enough to see the city evolve over the last 12 years. So if my friends were in town for a week some of the must to go places would be Top Flite for starters! They serve some of THE BEST drinks that a local club can offer and please do not get me started on their Wings! a box to go is a must when leaving at 2am !!!! Another few local hot spots in the area are new to the city and have been in business for about a year or so Charlie Park is a very modern roof top bar that offers small bites and really does have a nice ambiance. Eve on Adams is another local rooftop bar that offers great food, music, and drinks. Lastly, you cant have a trip in Tallahassee without some great brunch spots some of those places includes but is not limited to The Edison, Table 23, and FGF

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My story would not be complete without those who have supported me along the way. One of my BIGGEST supporters, not only supports Samantha Michelle Special Events, but she serves as my Financial Advisor, Mentor, Team Member, Business Consultant, etc I mean the list of titles that she holds is really unmatched, and this person that I hold so dear to my heart is my Mother, Grace Heskey. She has been with me since Samantha Michelle Special Events was just an idea. In part, she is the reason why Samantha Michelle Special Events exist as when we were growing up she had me and my siblings working with her in her own catering company called A Taste of Grace, so one could say i grew up in the Event Industry. Ms. Heskey, has been with me on every step of this journey and her faith and commitment to me as a business owner has never wavered. Along with Ms. Heskey, there are others who have supported Samantha Michelle Special Events throughout our 5 year tenure in the Event planning business, from family members, to friends and our unconditional support and love that we get from our clients who keep me booked and busy. I’ve said it before and will say it again my clients are the reason I have reached heights in which I never imagined and I can only dream of whats to come.

Website: SamanthaMichelleEvents.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthamichellespecialevents/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaMichelleSpecialEvents/