Meet Ebony Neal | Event planner, event coordinator, & balloon artist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Ebony Neal and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ebony, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I never intended to. Honestly never looked at myself as an artist. My penmanship was dreadful and drawing and coloring wasn’t my strongest trait. I always had a vision of what I thought was beautiful. When getting the opportunity to have creative freedom at events I would throw it all came together. My friends and family suggested I should do it professionally. Now here I am.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’d like to say vibrant colors and shimmer is my go to when it comes to my set ups. My favorite season is summer and I always think of fun in the sun. The vibrant colors brings me so much joy and so does shimmer. Shimmer and any sparkling embellishments finalize the look and take it to another level. I’m still fairly new in this field and the journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve invested a lot of time and money. I’ve learned along the way to charge my worth. In this industry the labor and material invested is overlooked. People tend to think it’s just balloons or you’re just standing there overseeing an event. There are so many behind the scene task and duties. I take pride in my work and treat each event as if it were the biggest celebration in the world. As if it were my own. I love to coordinate events. I coordinated my first wedding earlier this year and enjoyed every detail of it. It was magical and I was happy to help the couple’s big day go smoothly.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My go to is a mama and papas called Tracey’s Belizean restaurant. It has authentic Belizean food. It’s fresh and so flavorful. I love to grab a drink and hang out at Melody’s Bar and Grill. Most weekends I like to dine at restaurant and indulge in eggs benedict. I enjoy taking my daughters to see a new horror film. We also have passes to Knotts Berry Farm. They love the roller coaster rides and I love to see them have a good time.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
E&E Experience takes pride in maintaining good relationships. When starting off I met someone who was talented in her own right and put together events to network. Meeting amazing entrepreneurs in person and building relationships has helped me tremendously. My balloon instructors Marlene, Victoria, Josephine, and Maggie were the force that guided me. I also joined a group called Friends in Business and met even more wonderful artist. They’re always willing to help give advice and assist in anyway possible. Most importantly my family and friends. They share my work and get me referrals. On social media the biggest support one can give is a simple like or comment. It’s absolutely free.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ee_experienceballoons?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Yelp: https://yelp.to/QAk08ZnfAx
Other: https://www.instagram.com/ee_experienceevents?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Carissa Woo Kalynne Schoelen Dennis Tannen
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