Today I am joined by Wedding DJ, turned 'Eventpreneur' Toby Burns. CEO of the 'Silent Disco Company' Toby now has a team of employees and an international customer base. In today's episode he shares his journey and talks about how he believes customer service and innovation have transformed his own business and life. Find out more about The Silent Disco Company Watch Toby over on Youtube Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/ Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page: www.beccapountney.com www.instagram.com/beccapountney Time Stamps: The journey from wedding DJ to entrepreneur (00:00:00) Toby discusses his transition from a children's entertainer to a niche wedding DJ in the Jewish and Arab wedding market, leading to his eventual founding of the Silent Disco Company. Spotting an opportunity and scaling the business (00:00:57) Toby shares his entrepreneurial journey, from recognizing an opportunity in the event space to scaling it into a successful business, including the decision to start the Silent Disco Company. Innovation and customer feedback in business development (00:16:33) Toby emphasizes the importance of innovation and customer feedback in evolving and growing the business, highlighting the role of customer feedback and continuous improvement in business success. DJ'ing and Dry Hire (00:19:13) Toby talks about still enjoying DJ'ing nd the business model, including dry hire and in-house DJs. Innovation and Product Development (00:19:54) Toby discusses the importance of simplicity and innovation in product creation, citing the example of a karaoke product. Challenges Faced during COVID-19 (00:22:00) Toby reflects on the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the events industry, and the mental strain it caused. Staffing Challenges and Recruitment (00:25:52) Toby talks about the challenges of managing a team, recruitment processes, and the importance of retaining the right employees. Hiring Process and Employee Categorization (00:27:36) Toby explains the detailed hiring process for senior management and the categorization of employees based on performance. Mental Strain of Business Ownership (00:33:47) Toby reflects on the mental strain of being a business owner and the importance of seeking advice from fellow entrepreneurs. Conclusion and Call to Innovate (00:36:11) Becca concludes the interview, emphasizing the need for innovation and action in business. Mentioned in this episode: Join the FREE 'Get Visible and Book More Weddings' audio bootcamp now Feeling stuck? This free training is designed to help you revaluate your wedding business and move forwards towards more bookings. Sign up for free here: https://go.beccapountney.com/bootcamp Audio bootcamp