Podcast appearances and mentions of Sylvia Weinstock

Andy is very excited to welcome Marcy Blum, an internationally sought after event planner and entertaining expert who has 30 years experience. She has been named one of the best in the world by Vogue, Martha Stuart Weddings, Harper's Bazaar and the New York Times magazine. Marcy has appeared on many television shows and, with event planner Sarah Haywood, has developed EPIC, the Event Planners International Collaborative that offers an intensive and advanced wedding and event planning education. In this episode, Andy and Marcy discuss how she got started in the industry, when she started her own business and how scary it was to strike out on her own. She tells us about wanting her event designs to be different from everyone else and looking for clients who wanted the same thing. She also gives us insight into what the business looked like when she got started in the 80's and how it has evolved today. Listen in as Marcy talks to us about some of the weddings she remembers, the way she structures the rates she charges for her services, her advice for people starting out in the industry today and about EPIC, the program she started with her friend Sarah Haywood. Marcy is a pioneer in the event industry and you won't want to miss all of the knowledge she has to share about the industry.   This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today's couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads - all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.   Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.   Show Highlights: [01:25] Welcome to the show, Marcy! [03:08] Was there anything when she was growing up that was related to being in events? [03:44] She went to the CIA to be a chef but after graduating and working in restaurants decided that it wasn't what she wanted to do, it was too repetitive, not creative enough for her. [04:26] She was planning parties at restaurants and some of the customers started asking her if she could plan events for them. [05:08] Was she scared when she started out on her own? [07:08] She said if she knew then what she knows now, about how difficult it is, she would never have started her business. Good thing she wasn't aware of it at the time! [07:49] Is there a relationship between acting and event planning? [08:51] Back in 1986, how did people view her as a party planner? Did she try to do things differently than other party planners? [12:43] Did she have visions of how she wanted her events to be different? [15:04] She felt that everything was so canned and stiff back then, she wanted clients who wanted something different. [16:52] How did she balance the art with business decisions? Were they emotional decisions? [17:45] Marcy changed her business perspective by thinking more about the numbers instead of just the design. [18:38] She now spends more of her time on events that are profitable and points out we can't stay around this long unless we seriously consider the financial end. [19:37] Her advice for someone just starting in the business is to get knowledgeable about what you are trying to do. [20:33] You can't be successful without templates, but you have to be able to customize them for each client. [21:04] She is all about the experiential approach to event planning, sell the sizzle not the steak. [23:06] Does she pay attention to the news on a daily basis? Does a possible recession scare her? [23:50] People, for the most part now, are more interested in what they are bringing to their friends and family than their own experience. [26:50] Is the demographic of the guests at a wedding important when planning the event? [27:46] Music should have a beginning, middle and end.  Hear Marcy's favorite way of presenting music for ceremonies.  [32:13] Marcy says guests really appreciate place cards at events; it can give guests a different experience and they can meet people they wouldn't normally have talked to. [33:04] Hear her take on the best timeline for weddings. [33:51] Marcy talks about planning 3 or more day events before a wedding, starting with the rehearsal and lasting until after the wedding. [36:00] Marcy would love to take a lighting design course – the visual nature of it can take events to another level. [36:46] How involved is she in the lighting design of her events? [39:20] Is there a dream project she hasn't yet been able to do? [42:02] Learn about Marcy's pricing policy.  [43:29] EPIC is hands-on education for someone wanting to take a deep dive into event planning.  It is very intensive and lasts 3 to 4 days. [45:44] Within the next five years, Marcy would like to write a novel based around the event business. [46:30] What is her morning routine? [46:45] What is her work schedule like?   [47:40] How does Marcy define success at this point in her life?   LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social:  The Wedding Biz The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Zola! Marcy Blum www.marcyblum.com Marcy on Instagram Marcy on Facebook March on Twitter Marcy on Pinterest Mentioned during the interview: Harriet Rose Katz of Gourmet Advisory Denis Reggie Lynn Easton's Episodes on the Wedding Biz – Part 1  and  Part 2 Bryan Rafanelli's Episode on the Wedding Biz Colin Cowie's Episodes on the Wedding Biz – Part 1  and  Part 2 David Stark's Episodes on the Wedding Biz – Part 1  and  Part 2 Preston Bailey's Episodes on the Wedding Biz – Part 1 and  Part 2 Sylvia Weinstock's Episode on the Wedding Biz Ray Thompson's Episode on the Wedding Biz Bentley Meeker Joe Baum George Soros Todd Fiscus Liz Banfield Sarah Haywood

Cream Cheese Crisis in NYC?  Recipe Stealing?  Movies we're looking forward to.  Dan explains the Baseball Lockdown and how to value a sports team.  E-Bikes gathering steam.  Life imitating art in politics.  Sylvia Weinstock and her beautiful wedding cakes. Credits: Talent:  Tamsen Granger and Dan Abuhoff Engineer:  Ellie Suttmeier Art:  Zeke Abuhoff

REVISIT: It's hard to overstate how glad I am to share my conversation with Sylvia Weinstock with you. I am thrilled that you'll get to spend some time with her, as I've been lucky enough to. If you're in the wedding business or familiar with it, Sylvia needs no introduction. Sylvia Weinstock reinvented the tradition of the wedding cake, and for 37 years she and her team set a standard for wedding creations—quality, workmanship, pride—that few have matched, and few will match. In this episode, I talk with Sylvia about her amazing life and career in the wedding business, her philosophy on both, and about this amazing time in Sylvia's life as she closes one chapter and opens a new one. Links About Sylvia Weinstock Cakes My Dinner With Andre Babette's Feast On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino  

Internationally celebrated cake designer Sylvia Weinstock makes cakes that astonish the palate, dazzle the eye, and reward the spirit. She started baking at home while her husband and three daughters skied down Hunter Mountain. André Soltner, the renowned chef of Lutèce, recommended Sylvia as an apprentice to pastry chef George Kellner, who operated a guesthouse on the mountain. It wasn't long before her client list included Oprah Winfrey, Robert De Niro, Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren, Michael Douglas, and Jennifer Lopez, as well as Kennedys, Rockefellers, and Clintons. Her cakes, with their signature handmade, sugar paste flowers, have been crafted for weddings and parties as far away as London, Paris, Milan, and Dubai. In 1993, Sylvia's daughter Janet Isa left her job to run the business part of her mother's enterprise. Their unique personal and professional relationship reflects their pleasure in their work—and for each other.If you'd like to explore more mother/daughter stories, or if you'd like to tell your own, visit our website: www.EatDarlingEat.net or email: info@EatDarlingEat.net.

This woman grew up a poor family and went on to become a school teacher. She married a man who became an attorney and her life seemed set. But at age 45 she met a retired French pastry chef who taught her the fine art of baking. She learned from him on the weekends and practiced what she learned during the weekdays.  She began selling her cakes in local restaurants and found she made more money doing this than teaching.  And then her big break came. She got asked to make the wedding cake for a well-known wealthy family and a 40-year journey of baking master pieces began. She found herself engulfed in a world of dignitaries, wealth and fame. Her cakes became known as the most beautiful, the most delicious and the most expensive.  From Paris to Dubai to the US, the legacy of and the desire for a Sylvia Cake continues. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sylvia Weinstock.

My guest for Ep. 95 of The Wedding Wisdom Podcast is the extraordinary Chef Jill Freiberg, the owner of Jillicious Foods & Events. Our fascinating conversation from her home in Park Slope, provides an extraordinarily vivid portrait of what it’s like to be both Head Chef and owner of one of New York’s most sought-after “Off-Premise” catering companies. With a true artist’s sensibility, she talks about finishing the construction of her “post-COVID” dream kitchen with the same charm that she speaks of offering her beloved “Spiced, Smoked, Roasted Popcorn,” “S’mores Kit” and “Grazing Boxes” to purchase online. I truly hope you enjoy this unique look into a fascinating life as much as I did. Thanks for everything Jill! -Please stay safe, Doug

Meet Bryan Rafanelli, legendary internationally respected event planner, author, raconteur, an all-around amazing guy. Passionate about politics, and spectacular events, he brings incredible energy to the podcast, discussing everything from “glass tents” to a four-day destination wedding in Istanbul to State Dinners and Christmases at the White House. During over conversation, Bryan shares his deep admiration for both the Clintons and Obamas, and especially for their remarkable ability to raise children under incredible scrutiny.  And, among so many other topics, he speaks about how he always asks his clients “what’s your favorite party scene in a movie?” We both agreed with his answer, which led to a delightful story about planning his own 50th birthday to look like a scene in “The Great Gatsby.” I hope you enjoy our extremely noteworthy 76th episode as much as I did.  Thanks, Bryan! As always, stay safe, stay strong, wear masks, socially distance….and we’ll all get through this together. Best, Doug

Zameer Kassam is known for Infusing storytelling with personal history when designing jewelry. Listen as Andy and Zameer discuss the rings he designed for Hasan Minhaj, Ashley Judd, and Lupita Nyong’o. Zameer also talks about his background working in his immigrant family's jewelry business, why talking to people about their love stories was his favorite part, the passion that led him to design jewelry plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Zameer is the Founder and CEO of Zameer Kassam Fine Jewelry. Zameer continues to be a member of the Rock 100, the 100 fastest growing startups founded by alums of the Harvard Business School. And, in 2015, De Beers group entered a strategic partnership with Zameer Kassam offering exclusive access to their most rare and precious diamonds.  Zameer is a storyteller, but instead of words, he uses jewelry to tell stories. Listening to the couple's love stories and designing a ring that encompasses their lives gives him joy. Working with De Beers and using diamonds from the Botswana diamond mines gives him a way to do what he loves but still benefit the country they came from and that is something he feels very passionate about. "I just brought back thoughtfulness and meaningfulness to something that should be thoughtful and meaningful." As Zameer speaks about opening a design company, he hated that the jewelry industry was going into the generic mass consumption direction. He believes that when someone buys a ring for the person they love, it should be unique and not the same ring hundreds of others have been given from the same jewelry store. Zameer shares his process of finding the sweet spot in diamonds where beauty and value are optimized, the thrill of working with celebrities to bring attention to their causes, and how the pandemic is affecting his business and the changes they made to keep production going. Zameer's story and approach to business is very moving. You don't want to miss the extraordinary conversation. The Business of Being Creative is another great show on The Wedding Biz Network with host Sean Low. Sean has taken the creative business advice he shared with accomplished notables such as Preston Bailey, Vicente Wolf, Nate Berkus, Sylvia Weinstock, and many more. He is offering it to you on his new show, so tune in every Tuesday on The Wedding Biz Network.   SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.    Show Highlights: [02:47] Welcome to the show, Zameer! [03:30] Zameer speaks about a ring he designed for Hasan Minhaj. [05:36] He shares his life, growing up around his family's jewelry business. [08:27] Zameer discusses his first job at a consulting company. [09:13] Listen, as Zameer speaks about his parents being refugees and how that shaped his life. [12:18] Zameer speaks about telling people's stories because everyone has a story. [14:21] Was there a moment where you decided you wanted to follow your passion? [16:28] Zameer talks about his internship with the De Beers group. [17:17] He discusses spending his second year, the second semester in Botswana, in the diamond mines. [19:09] Zameer speaks about opening his own fine jewelry company. [21:36] He tells a story about a friend asking him to design a ring for the love of his life. [24:50] "I just brought back thoughtfulness and meaningfulness to something that should be thoughtful and meaningful." [26:28] Listen as Zameer shares his process from the first meeting to the finished product. [28:01] What are some major tradeoffs in the attributes of a diamond? [30:48] Zameer shares another story of a couple that moved him. [33:14] Zameer speaks about the high profile design he did for Ashley Judd that celebrated women directors in film. [36:53] Zameer shares his perspective on the Botswana diamond industry. [38:54] Are you working on a wedding show that will air on Netflix? [40:27] Zameer speaks about how the pandemic is affecting his business. [41:03] He describes all the changes they made to focus on getting the rings done. [44:35] Zameer shares how everything has slowed down and people are focusing on the important things. [45:32] Thank you so much for being on the show!   RESOURCES   Find Zameer Zameer Kassam @ZameerKassam Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook The New York Times People Magazine Vogue CNBC   Follow The Wedding Biz on Social:  The Wedding Biz The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz   Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.    Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!  

Thanks for finding The Business of Being Creative! I’m Sean Low, and I’ve been lending practical business advice to those in the business of being creative since the early 2000s, including accomplished notables such as Preston Bailey, Vicente Wolf, Nate Berkus, Sawyer Berson, Style Me Pretty, Marcy Blum, Michelle Rago, and Sylvia Weinstock--to name a few.   The key to my own success has been my ability to help artists build their businesses in a way that most honors the art that is behind them. I’ll give you straight up, no holds barred advice on handling what happens from deal to done. The journey with your client begins when they first connect with you, whether digitally or in real life. And from that moment until the project is finished, you have the power to manifest an experience and journey with them that’s transformative for all. Everyone should be creative. Whatever your art is, it should invigorate you and bring you joy. And if it happens to be your business, it should bring you the money you need to KEEP being creative. Hopefully, I will challenge you each week to do just that. So, let’s not just think outside the box… Let’s erase it! Links & Resources: Link to Sound File for Visually Impaired: Click Here Host: Sean Low of The Business of Being Creative Link: Join Sean's Collective of Business Creatives Follow Sean on social media: Instagram: @SeanLow1 | Facebook: Facebook.com/Sean.Low.35 | LinkedIn | Twitter: @SeanLow Have an opinion on Sean's tips and advice? Talk Back!! Email Shawn. -- Podcast Network: The Wedding Biz Network Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of The Wedding Biz, LLC. 2020.

Today is about how it's never too late to follow your dreams. Do not forget to SUBSCRIBE, SHARE the podcast with a friend, leave a 5 STAR RATING with a positive comment, check out savedsiblings.com for more content and follow us on Instagram @savedsiblings!

Andy recently attended the Bridelux Conference in New York City. He was asked to select a panel of professionals to discuss the importance of personal connection in the wedding and events industry. His panel consisted of Sylvia Weinstock, Ceci Johnson, and Christian Oth; three amazing innovators in their fields of culinary arts, invitation design, and photography. Listen in as they chat about client relationships, establishing trust, and how to break the ice in the first interview. Sylvia, at 90 years young, is one of the great industry entrepreneurs and is best known for creating edible art. Ceci is the Founder and Creative Director of Ceci New York and has been called an invitation design icon. Christian is the Founder and Creative Director of Christian Oth Studio. He is a world-renowned editorial photographer and has pioneered a distinctly evocative and authentically emotional editorial style. All three of these amazing professionals have been interviewed on The Wedding Biz. Andy highly respects each of them and was excited to include them on his panel. Listen closely as they discuss “audacious transparency,” knowing when a prospective client isn't the right fit for your business, and how hard an event planner’s job is. They talk about being open and honest with new clients, conflicts at weddings that don’t necessarily involve the bride and groom, and having a quality wedding on a budget. With Andy Kushner at the helm, you have a group of individuals who have done it all and made it look easy. When you are lucky enough to be in a room with this kind of talent, you need to pay attention because what they have to say will resonate with anyone in any industry. You don't want to miss this once in a lifetime episode!  Show Highlights: [03:21] Listen as Andy describes The Wedding Biz podcast to the audience.  [05:12] Andy introduces the panel members, Sylvia Weinstock, Ceci Johnson, and Christian Oth. [08:10] He explains how he came up with the topic for their discussion. [09:14] Andy describes what Christina Matteucci meant when she coined the phrase “audacious transparency.” [10:35] Sylvia gives her thoughts on being open and honest with clients. [12:27] Ceci agrees and discusses how you open up with someone when you don't know them. [14:36] Christian says that the client is also the subject, so it's essential that he has a personal connection with them. [16:38] They each speak about what they do to break the ice on the first interview. [21:44] If you share with the client, treat them like a friend and make them comfortable, they respond better. [24:26] Have you ever met with a prospective client that you knew wasn't the right fit for you? No matter what you do they are not happy? [27:25] Sylvia states that when you are in the service industry, you have to know that you can't make everyone happy. [29:00] They all chat about how planners have to be a particular type of person because it's a tough job. [32:01] Happy 90th birthday Sylvia!! [33:36] Christian describes a time when there was a conflict with family members of the bride and groom and how it affected the wedding. [34:48] Sylvia asks Christian about someone having limited funds and if they can still  have a great photographer. [35:34] Ceci chats about her ready-to-order line that has a lower price point so that you can still get excellent quality. [36:20] Sylvia, what are you planning to do now that you've retired? [38:31] Thank you, everyone, for coming, and thank you, Sylvia, Christian, and Ceci. LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social:  The Wedding Biz The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Bridelux  www.bridelux.com Panel Members: Sylvia Weinstock Sylvia Weinstock on The Wedding Biz Ceci Johnson Ceci Johnson on The Wedding Biz Christian Oth Christian Oth on The Wedding Biz Mentioned: Christina Matteucci on The Wedding Biz

“I believe cake is food,” says Sylvia and her cakes live up to her claim, as she uses the best butter, freshest fruit and her own butter cream. “Absolutely everything is fresh” – Sylvia Weinstock Episode 53 features an extraordinary interview with the Grande Dame of the wedding industry, the fabulously upbeat, endlessly creative Sylvia Weinstock. Sit back and allow yourself to be treated to a delectable journey that follows her from her college days with her beloved Ben and her almost seventy year marriage and her start as a schoolteacher on Long Island who became the brilliant cake guru who found the ability and creativity to replicate a true-to-life Fabergé egg into gold and silver-leaf edible works of art. Read moreEp. 53: Sylvia Weinstock

Andy is very excited to welcome Marcy Blum, an internationally sought after event planner and entertaining expert who has 30 years experience. She has been named one of the best in the world by Vogue, Martha Stuart Weddings, Harper's Bazaar and the New York Times magazine. Marcy has appeared on many television shows and, with event planner Sarah Haywood, has developed EPIC, the Event Planners International Collaborative that offers an intensive and advanced wedding and event planning education. In this episode, Andy and Marcy discuss how she got started in the industry, when she started her own business and how scary it was to strike out on her own. She tells us about wanting her event designs to be different from everyone else and looking for clients who wanted the same thing. She also gives us insight into what the business looked like when she got started in the 80’s and how it has evolved today. Listen in as Marcy talks to us about some of the weddings she remembers, the way she structures the rates she charges for her services, her advice for people starting out in the industry today and about EPIC, the program she started with her friend Sarah Haywood. Marcy is a pioneer in the event industry and you won’t want to miss all of the knowledge she has to share about the industry. Show Highlights: [03:02] Welcome to the show Marcy! [04:30] Was there anything when she was growing up that was related to being in events? [05:20] She went to the CIA to be a chef but after graduating and working in restaurants decided that it wasn’t what she wanted to do, it was too repetitive, not creative enough for her. [06:20] She was planning parties at restaurants and some of the customers started asking her if she could plan events for them. [06:45] Was she scared when she started out on her own? [08:47] She said if she knew then what she knows now, about how difficult it is, she would never have started her business. Good thing she wasn’t aware of it at the time! [09:26] Is there a relationship between acting and event planning? [10:29] Back in 1986 how did people view her as a party planner? Did she try to do things differently than other party planners? [14:18] Did she have visions of how she wanted her events to be different? [16:35] She felt that everything was so canned and stiff back then, she wanted clients who wanted something different. [18:23] How did she balance the art with business decisions? Were they emotional decisions? [19:20] Marcy changed her business perspective by thinking more about the numbers instead of just the design. [20:18] She now spends more of her time on events that are profitable and points out we can’t stay around this long unless we seriously consider the financial end. [21:13] Her advice for someone just starting in the business is to get knowledgeable about what you are trying to do. [22:13] You can’t be successful without templates but you have to be able to customize them for each client. [22:48] She is all about the experiential approach to event planning, sell the sizzle not the steak. [24:45] Do you pay attention to the news on a daily basis? Does a possible recession scare you? [25:33] People, for the most part now, are more interested in what they are bringing to their friends and family than their own experience. [28:42] Is the demographic of the guests at a wedding important when planning the event? [29:35] Music should have a beginning, middle and end.  Hear Marcy’s favorite way of presenting music for ceremonies.  [33:58] Marcy said guests really appreciate place cards at events, it can give guests a different experience and they can meet people they wouldn’t normally have talked to. [34:57] Here her take on the best timeline for weddings. [35:53] Marcy talks about planning 3 or more day events before a wedding, starting with the rehearsal and lasting until after the wedding. [37:58] Marcy would love to take a lighting design course - the visual nature of it can take events to another level. [38:35] How involved is she in the lighting design of her events? [41:08] Is there a dream project she hasn’t yet been able to do? [43:53] Learn about Marcy’s pricing policy.  [45:37] EPIC is hands-on education for someone wanting to take a deep dive into event planning.  It is very intensive and lasts 3 to 4 days. [47:28] Within the next five years, Marcy would like to write a novel based around the event business. [48:21] What is her morning routine? [48:35] What is her work schedule like?   [49:25] How does Marcy define success at this point in her life? LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social:  The Wedding Biz The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues! Marcy Blum www.marcyblum.com Marcy on Instagram Marcy on Facebook March on Twitter Marcy on Pinterest   Mentioned during the interview: Harriet Rose Katz of Gourmet Advisory Denis Reggie Lynn Easton’s Episodes on the Wedding Biz - Part 1  and  Part 2 Bryan Rafanelli’s Episode on the Wedding Biz Colin Cowie’s Episodes on the Wedding Biz - Part 1  and  Part 2 David Stark’s Episodes on the Wedding Biz - Part 1  and  Part 2 Preston Bailey’s Episodes on the Wedding Biz - Part 1 and  Part 2 Sylvia Weinstock’s Episode on the Wedding Biz Ray Thompson’s Episode on the Wedding Biz Bentley Meeker Joe Baum George Soros Todd Fiscus Liz Banfield Sarah Haywood

Today it's all about Andy! For quite a while now, people have been asking him to air an interview about himself. Andy has been interviewed on many different podcasts, so today he decided to publish the most recent of these, with Mary Swaffield, of the Wedpreneur Podcast. Andy and Mary will be talking about what Andy has learned from all the amazing icons whom he has interviewed on The Wedding Biz Podcast. Mary asks Andy about the common threads in the more than seventy-five interviews he's done with some of the biggest names in the wedding and events’ industry. Andy addresses topics like cyclical struggles, dealing with anxiety and fear, and also his changing perspective about the way he views the business aspect of this highly creative industry. Show Highlights: Andy talks about his role in the wedding industry. Andy explains what inspired him to start a podcast. Some of the incredible event-icons Andy has worked with through his music & entertainment business, Kushner Entertainment. Sylvia Weinstock, cake-designer, was the first icon Andy interviewed on The Wedding Biz podcast. Mary is a huge fan. She really gets a sense of storytelling from Andy's podcast. The way that Andy manages to craft a story, with emotional impact,  around the guests who he interviews. Addressing the way Colin Cowie designs with the five senses, from an interview in 2017. These icons are risk takers and create a completely unique experience for each and every client. Connecting with the clients on a really deep level is necessary to avoid a cookie-cutter experience. Preston Bailey has been on Andy's show twice and is really a humble person. Some of the common threads running through Andy's interviews. Becoming aware that all businesses are cyclical. The struggle of creatives balancing their art with the business aspect. Building and dealing with your business is a creative act. It's important to be aware that business is also hard for the dedicated event-icons. Robert Fountain always feels anxiety and he spoke to Andy about how he uses it as a motivator. What Andy does when he catches himself with negative thoughts. It's really all about your perception. The way that Mary was been taught to use her fear. Learning to turn obstacles into ways to grow. How Andy turns problems into blessings. Andy talks about the biggest change that he's seen in the wedding industry. The incredible energy of a live band. Finding ways to stay grounded and connected. NOTE: This interview of Andy took place in November of 2018 and some information mentioned about The Next Level episodes has changed. It is now released on Wednesdays with varying guest co-hosts, all of whom are previous guests of The Wedding Biz.     Links and Resources: Recommended books: The Inner Game of Tennis, by W. Timothy Gallwey                                  The Obstacle is the Way, by Ryan Holiday The Wedding Biz website: www.theweddingbiz.com The Wedding Biz on social media: Facebook Instagram Andy's entertainment site: www.kushnerentertainment.com Mary's website: www.thewedpreneur.com The following guest interviews, from The Wedding Biz, are referred to: Colin Cowie Preston Bailey: Part 1  Part 2 Bryan Rafanelli Sylvia Weinstock Robert Fountain Alison Hotchkiss Rinderknecht Jes Gordon

Join Andy and guest co-host, Sean Low as they dig deeper into Sylvia Weinstock's interview. Both Andy and Sean know Sylvia very well and they are still just blown away by her story. Andy and Sean discuss: Sylvia was 50 years old when she started her current career. It's important to recognize the pressure brides are under to have a fairytale wedding. The cakes Sylvia makes are considered to be art and every wedding vendor contributes their own art to the wedding. How Sylvia wasn't taken seriously when she started. Sylvia's retirement plans. If you haven't listened to Sylvia's full interview, you can listen here. On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino This Episode is Sponsored by: OFD Consulting Contact OFD Consulting   OFD Consulting is an awarding-winning publicity agency that focuses on the wedding industry. Client portfolios range from top-tier planners and venues to well regarded national brands and industry thought leaders. Owner, Meghan Ely is regarded as the leading PR Expert in the industry education space. She is a WeddingWire education expert and has spoken most recently at TSE, Engage Summits, Catersource, Wedding MBA, NACE Experience and WeddingWire World among others.    

REVISIT: It’s hard to overstate how glad I am to share my conversation with Sylvia Weinstock with you. I am thrilled that you’ll get to spend some time with her, as I’ve been lucky enough to. If you’re in the wedding business or familiar with it, Sylvia needs no introduction. Sylvia Weinstock reinvented the tradition of the wedding cake, and for 37 years she and her team set a standard for wedding creations—quality, workmanship, pride—that few have matched, and few will match. In this episode, I talk with Sylvia about her amazing life and career in the wedding business, her philosophy on both, and about this amazing time in Sylvia’s life as she closes one chapter and opens a new one. Links About Sylvia Weinstock Cakes My Dinner With Andre Babette’s Feast On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino This Episode is Sponsored by: OFD Consulting Contact OFD Consulting   OFD Consulting is an awarding-winning publicity agency that focuses on the wedding industry. Client portfolios range from top-tier planners and venues to well regarded national brands and industry thought leaders. Owner, Meghan Ely is regarded as the leading PR Expert in the industry education space. She is a WeddingWire education expert and has spoken most recently at TSE, Engage Summits, Catersource, Wedding MBA, NACE Experience and WeddingWire World among others.  

This episode of THE NEXT LEVEL is all about brides! Well, actually Julie Sabatino is all about brides and as the creator of The Stylish Bride, she performs a valuable service for brides. Julie's entire business model is based on providing a much-needed service for brides during a stressful time. Learn how she's made herself an invaluable part of any wedding! In this episode, Andy and Melissa discuss: The types of services Julie provides, not just to brides, but also to grooms and anyone else that is a part of the wedding. Julie's secret for scaling her business to multiple cities, even though she offers a highly personalized service. It's all about the experience, and Julie does what it takes to give her brides a fantastic experience. How to let your clients tell you what they need from you. Previous episodes mentioned: Mindy Weiss   Sylvia Weinstock    

When innate creativity and business collide, the world benefits from the amazing products and services those businesses provide. Creative businesses aren’t easily defined and many times, don’t fit neatly into established business niches. This episode will provide clarity and direction for any creative business owner. Today, Andy Kushner, the host of The Wedding Biz podcast, sits down for an insightful conversation about the business side of running a creative business with Sean Low, the Founder and President of The Business of Being Creative, LLC. The most obviously amazing thing about Sean is that he can see the big picture and connect the dots for any business and lead them to success - it’s part of a special magic he seems to have.    Sean Low is an entrepreneur at heart. He has a law degree and even did a stint at a Wall Street investment bank, but he didn’t let any of that stop him from seeing the potential to start a creative business. Sean knows the ups and downs of being a small business owner, as he risked and lost almost everything at the altar of his small business. Eventually, Sean really dialed in his own business acumen and went to work for Preston Bailey Designs. Sean put his skills to work and completely changed the business structure of Preston Bailey Designs, and in doing so, he breathed new life into the business and set it up for considerably higher degrees of success. Since then, Sean has worked with a host of other high profile creative business owners like Vicente Wolf, Style Me Pretty, Marcy Blum, Michelle Rago, Christian Oth and Sylvia Weinstock to name a few.     Show Highlights:   Learn why Sean and Preston Bailey worked through some key differences in philosophical ideas concerning some early business decisions. Creative business is not about the money; learn what really drives a creative entrepreneur. Hear his philosophy on pricing your products and services. The emotional side of business can unravel a business; Sean shares why his job sometimes has more aspects of a therapeutic nature than you would imagine.  Sean makes sense of business structures and processes for maximum impact to the bottom line. Knowing your own business identity helps you communicate what you do, so that your tribe can find you.    Resources:   Sean’s Website - www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com and  www.thebbccollective.com. Sean’s Email - sean@thebusinessofbeingcreative.com Sean on Twitter - @seanlow Sean on Facebook   The BBC Collective on Facebook

It’s hard to overstate how glad I am to share my conversation with Sylvia Weinstock with you. I am thrilled that you'll get to spend some time with her, as I've been lucky enough to. If you’re in the wedding business or familiar with it, Sylvia needs no introduction. Sylvia Weinstock reinvented the tradition of the wedding cake, and for 37 years she and her team set a standard for wedding creations—quality, workmanship, pride—that few have matched, and few will match. In this episode I talk with Sylvia about her amazing life and career in the wedding business, her philosophy on both, and about this amazing time in Sylvia’s life as she closes one chapter and opens a new one. Links About Sylvia Weinstock Cakes

(An audio prologue to Andy's conversation with Sylvia Weinstock.)

This episode kicks ass because I talk to Andy Kushner, a well-known Entertainment Designer who truly gives an experience like no other. I liked him right away the very first time we connected and once you listen in you'll understand why. Seriously, he makes me want to plan a wedding again, which if you know me says a LOT. His passion for making entertainment truly POP is contagious and his experience is mind-blowing. Her understands that each couple, family, event, is unique. He gets it, guys. He GETS it. Brides and Grooms, listen up! He's got a lot to share! Links Mentioned www.TheWeddingBiz.com www.andykushner.com For Andy's interview with the industry's "Queen of Cakes," Sylvia Weinstock, click here Instagram: @weddingbizshow Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeddingBizShow Email Andy: andy@theweddingbiz.com Did you like this episode? Do you have a topic you want me to discuss on a future show? Tell me in the comments, or email me at: amacaluso29@gmail.com. I love hearing from you!

Sylvia Weinstock reinvented the tradition of the wedding cake. In this episode I talk with Sylvia about her amazing life and career in the wedding business, her philosophy on both, and about this amazing time in Sylvia’s life as she closes one chapter and opens a new one.

Darcy Miller, Editorial Director Martha Stewart Weddings, hosts the best events in town with a cast of bridal all-stars including cake master Sylvia Weinstock and caterer Peter Callahan. What’s a party without some bubbly by Chandon? Darcy tells Holli Ehrlich, Wedding Podcast Network, about Isaac Mizrahi’s wedding collection, handbags and jewelry only available on the […]

Darcy Miller, Editorial Director Martha Stewart Weddings, hosts the best events in town with a cast of bridal all-stars including cake master Sylvia Weinstock and caterer Peter Callahan. What’s a party without some bubbly by Chandon? Darcy tells Holli Ehrlich, Wedding Podcast Network, about Isaac Mizrahi’s wedding collection, handbags and jewelry only available on the […]

Make your wedding stand out by holding it in a unique venue. We get a look at the charmingly unique wedding of Baltimore Ravens tight end Dan Wilcox. Find out how to tell your own love story at your wedding through videography. And meet celebrity cake guru Sylvia Weinstock. Our host Colin Cowie gives you a tip to make your wedding amazing. Plus, Destination Romance gives us etiquette tips for a destination wedding. And learn about a new service that makes changing your name after the wedding a breeze.

Meet the Masters welcomes wedding cake designer Sylvia Weinstock. She has been called the wedding cake diva and the Leonardo DaVinci of wedding cakes. Sylvia Weinstock is probably one of the most well known wedding personalities in the business. I h...

Meet the Masters welcomes wedding cake designer Sylvia Weinstock. She has been called the wedding cake diva and the Leonardo DaVinci of wedding cakes. Sylvia Weinstock is probably one of the most well known wedding personalities in the business. I h...