May 8, 2017

Meet Rick Mangram of Special Occasion Events in South Loop

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Mangram.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well it all started in 2006 as me being a Latin dance teacher and having the ability to teach a lot of people, so I started teaching for Weddings and Corporate Parties and Private events. I started to Emcee events and help around with coordination of the programs. As I continued to do so my Mother, Father, and Friends started to recognize my talent and said to me “How about if you start your own company in the Event Planning Industry?” I had to think about it and understand how to gather the resources I needed to have my own company.

So I started watching shows on TV of how event planning worked and seeing celebrities getting married in a fancy Mansion and really going out on the limb to make sure that their event is memorable forever. So it hit me with an idea in my mind. What if I could be the one stop shop for my clients where they don’t have to go anywhere except my company to do so? Needless to say I have not came up with a name yet, so I pondered and pondered and then it hit me again “Every event is Special and we want to be the main resource for every Occasion” So that is how I came up with the name Special Occasion Events.

Being an Emcee is a big part of an event and it comes with talent to be able to be organized and people friendly and to help them understand that everything is under control. When I am out with my resources, Wedding Planner, Photographer, Videographers, DJ Services and Decorators. I make sure that we stick with the timeline and to make sure that my client will be happy! So now the clients know how we operate to make sure that everything is taken care and we will make sure that provide the highest quality of work needed for their event. We have been successful thus far as of today.

Has it been a smooth road?
No…not at all, there are always road blocks in this industry and it’s called Budget and quality of work. Personalities with customers can be good and bad, we always are there to make sure listen first then react later. Some clients really want you but they would like to negotiate you down to get the best quality of work, some clients I had to let go because of that.

Some Clients are not educated enough to understand the industry and they have so many questions it hard to answer all of them to try and make them feel at ease.

Staff Members that is also a struggle to find the right staff members with great qualities that will portray your image as a positive company.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Special Occasion Event specializes in Event Planning from Wedding Planning, Master of Ceremonies, DJ Services, Photography, Videography, Decorators.

Right now we are known in two big areas, DJ Services/ MC and Wedding Planning.

I am very proud of my company because we get nothing but great feedback from our clients and some of our clients are friends with us till this day. We work well with each other and I recognize my employees as well.

What sets us apart from other companies is that we are a One Stop Shop, where you don’t have to look around, you come to us and we will give you everything you need with great quality!

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Chicago is the best place to start and to get recognized, there are so many famous people in Chicago and well know people here that if you get referred by the right person, your business can grow substantially in an amount of years. It’s how you market yourself and be professional.

I love to mentor, so I would say for people starting off, work hard to build your image and have people to support your cause, be diverse also in your language, for example I speak English and Spanish and you will be able to hit both markets. Be a people person and a social bug, because the more friendly you are the better your passion for your business will show. Customers feed off of that.

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