Good Neighbor Podcast: Frisco

EP #57: Creating Seamless Corporate Events: Monica Mason's Journey with A Meeting Space and Resilience Through Challenges

• Sophia Yvette

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What makes Monica Mason with A Meeting Space a good neighbor?

How do you transform a passion for entertainment into a thriving event planning business? On this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast, we sit down with Monica Mason, the dynamic force behind A Meeting Space. Monica takes us through her unique journey from working in journalism and radio to orchestrating large-scale corporate events. She sheds light on the often-overlooked intricacies and hard work of event planning, dispelling the myth that it’s all about glitz and glamor. Through Monica's story, you'll gain insights into the meticulous planning and dedication required to create seamless and memorable corporate experiences.

Beyond her professional life, Monica opens up about her personal side, sharing heartwarming anecdotes about her family and their favorite activities, like swimming and visits to Dave and Buster's. We also explore the significant hurdles she faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where her business had to pivot towards virtual events and manage client contract cancellations. Monica’s resilience, combined with the unwavering support of her long-term clients, enabled A Meeting Space to emerge stronger and more adaptable in a post-pandemic world. Tune in to hear how Monica’s dedication and innovative approach continue to make her business a standout success.

To learn more about A Meeting Space go to:
www.ameetingspace.com

A Meeting Space
310-316-4644

Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of an event planning firm? Surprisingly, or maybe closer than you think, Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to your neighbor, Monica Mason. With a meeting space, Monica, how are you doing today?

Speaker 3:

I'm fabulous getting through that week here.

Speaker 2:

Yes, 100%. Well, we're excited to learn all about you and your business. Tell us a bit about A Meeting Space.

Speaker 3:

So A Meeting Space is an event planning firm. We offer full service white glove service for big corporate events and we help you from beginning to end. So everything from finding your venue to creating a budget, to executing events, we do it all for big and small meetings for our corporate clients.

Speaker 2:

And how did you get into this business?

Speaker 3:

And how did you get into this business? Oddly enough, I was in the entertainment business and there was, I kind of fell into it. I was a journalism major and I was working in radio and in entertainment, in of these larger events and they said, hey, you're great at this, you know, and oh, you know how to do contracts and you know how to do these things. And all of my skill sets started kind of falling together. So about 20 years ago, when my oldest son was a couple of years old, he I actually decided that I wanted to be in business for myself and show them something different. So I took all my skills, put them together and started a meeting space and have been doing it ever since.

Speaker 2:

And what are the myths or misconceptions in your industry?

Speaker 3:

Everyone thinks all I do is party and party more. They think it's a big party to plan events and that's a lot of fun. Party more, uh, they think it's a big party to plan events and that's a lot of fun. And I I think that a lot of people don't see the amount of detail and work and and sweat and tears that goes into these events. You know, the parties are typically a very small part of what we do, um, and it's just really something that you know it. Everyone thinks that that my life is a huge movie, you know, and it's. It's really not. It's it's a lot of hard work, but it's very, very fulfilling.

Speaker 2:

And outside of work. When you're not planning events, what do you do for fun?

Speaker 3:

You know I'm a I'm a big family person and so, honestly, I spend a lot of time with my kids and we play and we swim and we do all the kiddie events. You know you'll find me at Dave and Buster's on the weekend, to be honest, you know, rolling around outside in the back with the dog and the kiddo, but you know for the most part that that's kind of my happy space because I, according to everybody else, I party for a living. So you know I have to unwind with my family on the weekends.

Speaker 2:

That's awesome. Well, let's go ahead and change gears for a second. We've talked about a lot of the positives, but, as we know, we all have a story to get to where we are. So what is one hardship or life challenge? You rose above and can now say because of it, you're better and stronger.

Speaker 3:

Well, I mean, I think everyone sort of rose above this. But you know, for a good couple years our business had to completely shut down because of COVID and it was. It was rough, nobody was gathering, so we had to pivot, we had to help clients get out of contracts, we had to try and learn how to do virtual meetings for large amounts of people, virtual trade shows. So it was a big pivot and really just keeping the business alive for those years when people could not come together. But I will say that I learned a lot and that we have become better as a business because we learned how to incorporate some of this technology into some of these events and even now that I would say events are back, bigger and stronger even than before, it has helped us to reach more people.

Speaker 2:

And what was the biggest thing that helped get you through that challenging time?

Speaker 3:

I would say, honestly, the loyalty of our long-term clients. They, you know, pivoted with us and we were able to help them you know, get out of contracts, let's just say and, honestly, one of our biggest clients. They kept us going by allowing us to keep our annual fee during the time of the shutdown and just be there for them and help them get through it as well and figure out new ways to meet. So that was huge for us because without the loyalty of our clients, we would not have made it through, just being honest.

Speaker 2:

Amen. Well, Monica, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about a meeting space space, a meeting space, 100% will treat your events like they were ours.

Speaker 3:

So all the heart and soul that we would put into our own, all the ways that we would want somebody to treat our budget or our money, that is the same way we treat our clients, because we 100% believe that every single one of our clients deserves our absolute best. So we take their needs, wants and desires for their events and we make them a reality in a way that is personal, so they're not going to feel like they're just a number. They're not going to feel like they're unheard. Every single time that we handle their events we're going to put our heart and soul into it with them. We'll be part of their team and make sure that they are happy at the end of the day.

Speaker 2:

And how can our listeners learn more about A Meeting Space?

Speaker 3:

Well, obviously you can go on the web it's a meeting spacecom or you can reach out to us. I will give you my email address. You guys can reach out directly to me. It's Monica at a meeting spacecom, super easy, and we are 100% here for you. Anything you need, big or small, we will help you to make your event a huge success you need, big or small, we will help you to make your event a huge success.

Speaker 2:

Well, Monica, I really appreciate you being on the show.

Speaker 1:

We wish you and your business the best moving forward. Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPFriscocom. That's GNPFriscocom. Or call 469-221-9345.