EPISODE SUMMARY:

Welcome back to Minding My Creative Business, the go-to podcast for creative entrepreneurs ready to level up their strategy, structure, and self-development. In this episode, hosts Ron “iRonic” Lee Jr. and ShySpeaks shine a spotlight on a side of creative business that doesn’t get nearly enough love: event curation—with a twist of culinary arts.

We’re joined by Eric Grayson, Dallas native, event promoter-turned-creative-director, and co-owner of The Five Bistro, a thriving hub known not just for its delicious Southern comfort cuisine, but for curating unique, immersive experiences every night of the week. Eric shares the secrets behind transforming a local bistro into a creative powerhouse, where great food meets great vibes and every night tells a different story.

From building a diverse, loyal audience and leveraging data for strategic marketing, to the financial realities and team dynamics of successful event curation, you’ll hear real-world insights on profit-sharing, scaling niche events, and creating revenue streams beyond ticket sales. Eric drops actionable gems for anyone in the restaurant, arts, or event world—plus, he reveals how creative collaboration and evolving with technology (hello, AI and POV marketing!) are changing the game for entrepreneurs.

Whether you’re a fellow creative, aspiring event curator, or just trying to mind your own creative business, this episode is packed with strategies, inspiration, and a few laughs you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive in!

Timestamped overview:

00:00 Creative Southern Dining Experience

05:10 High-Energy DJ Orchestrates Entertainment

08:07 Empowering Future Leaders

10:58 "Creating a Captivating Vibe"

12:48 Creative Strategies for Customer Spending

17:05 After-Hours Spin Minimum Pricing

21:58 Revamping Business Through Influential Promotion

23:04 Director of Marketing and Management

26:20 Grassroots Festival Promotion in Dallas

31:43 Embrace AI for Marketing Innovation

33:29 "Niche Storytelling with Posh"

37:39 Successful Business Partnerships & Ownership

39:36 Profit Through Creative Collaboration

43:27 Dynamic Ticket Pricing Strategy

47:57 Creative Marketing and Event Experience

51:46 "Embrace Profit Sharing Mentality"

54:45 "Join the Creative Scoring Community"

55:49 "Speak Up and Repeat"

Takeaways:

• Eric Grayson elucidates the significance of food as a mere entry point into an immersive experiential atmosphere, emphasizing culinary excellence as merely the bait for a deeper engagement with patrons.
• The essence of event curation lies in the ability to craft distinct experiences each night, thereby fostering a diverse clientele that returns regularly for varied programming.
• Leveraging data and analytics is pivotal in understanding audience demographics, which can then be utilized for targeted marketing strategies and enhancing customer engagement.
• Creative collaboration amongst team members is essential; however, it is crucial to establish boundaries to prevent depletion of personal resources while nurturing professional relationships.
• Profit-sharing arrangements with collaborators can mitigate upfront costs, allowing for a more sustainable approach to event management and execution.
• Adapting to technological advancements, such as utilizing AI and social media for marketing, is essential for staying competitive in the ever-evolving landscape of event promotion.

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Closing Remarks: Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Minding

My Creative Business Podcast! We hope you found valuable insights and

strategies to apply to your own creative journey. If you enjoyed this

episode, please rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Stay tuned

for more enriching discussions and expert advice in our upcoming

episodes. Keep creating and stay inspired!

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ABOUT US We’re Ron & ShySpeaks, two music industry creators marching

to the tune of entrepreneurship. Our goal is to help our creative peers

keep in step by taking them behind the brands of some of wildly

successful creative entrepreneurs. Our interview-styled podcast gives

access to the strategy and structure that turn creative arts into viable

6, 7, and even 8 figure business!