What to do when your business partners want to party all the time with the clients?

Let’s talk about it…

Euphoria Enterprise is an event planning company owned by Bella Cooper, Charity Jones, and Benjamin Black. The owners are all in their late thirties and single without kids. They met fifteen years ago in community college. The college instructor, Mr. Brown, divided the class into groups to work on business projects. Bella, Charity, and Benjamin were grouped together. Each individual group in class was asked to create a business from start to finish. They were allowed to make up any business of their choice. The purpose of the project was to determine how well they processed the material and lecture given to them throughout the semester in Mr. Brown’s business management class. The business project was their final test for the class. Bella, Charity, and Benjamin received an “A+” on the project. Because they work together well, the three vowed to come together after finishing school to turn their business project into a reality. Euphoria Enterprise was established ten years ago. Their business is very lucrative.

Bella is the more level headed no nonsense person of the three. Bella feels her partners should be more business minded first before partying with the clients. Bella understands socializing with clients is good for the business; however, she feels there should be a separation between the two. She does not feel discussing the aftermath of a party during a business meeting is appropriate, especially when it is not business related. Although seventy percent of Euphoria’s clients are celebrities, Bella feels all clients should be treated equal. Her partners do not agree with her. For instance, Charity and Benjamin allow the celebrity clients to drink hard alcohol while doing drugs during the meeting. Bella feels once the contract is signed it is okay to celebrate with a glass of champagne; however, drugs should never be allowed in the office. It just is not good business sense. Perfect example; One celebrity client walks into the office smoking marijuana with his assistance carrying a fifth of Hennessy. The receptionist escorts the client to the conference room after informing Bella, Charity, and Benjamin of the client’s arrival. Bella walks into the conference room with her laptop. She greets the clients before sitting. Charity and Benjamin come into the conference room carrying glasses for the Hennessy this client is known for bringing to each of their meetings. This client gives many parties for family and friends as well as use the company to setup sceneries for their music videos. This client is interested in having a 40th birthday party for his homeboy slash bodyguard. According to the bodyguard who is present in the meeting, he would like for it to be a black tire dinner event from 7pm to 11pm for his family to attend. After 11pm he would like for the scenery to change to a Thug Life back yard party with a domino table, a spade table, an area for shooting dice, and a DJ with a dance floor. Bella knew this would be a huge bill because they would need to rent a large secluded mansion with a large backyard. They would need a chef to prepared an elegant dinner as well as finger foods for the backyard party. Bella noted the insurance coverage for the event would have to be large enough to cover the possibilities of damages. Her focus was on the backyard after party. Bella took notes of the details provided by the client for the event. She promises to have a written contract outlining the cost of the event within three days. As Bella stood to excuse herself from the meeting, Charity and Benjamin begin to discuss with the client the party they attended at the client home over the weekend. Bella shakes the client hand as she thanks him for his business. The client holds Bella hand; massage it gently while stating that he expects to see her at the afterparty. Bella smile as she pulls her hand from the client grip before exiting the conference room. Bella immediately starts to work on the client event. She assigns different task to their employees to find vendors, secluded mansion locations, and supplies. She asks them to include a breakdown of the cost for their findings. Charity and Benjamin spend an additional hour with the client drinking and laughing about the party they attended at the client’s home over the weekend. Three days later, Bella setup a zoom meeting with her partners and the client. She gave a short PowerPoint presentation outlining the details of the event with its cost. The client was pleased with the location and look of the mansion as well as all the details planned. Bella emailed a copy of the contract to the client for his signature. She asks that the client email back the signed signature page of the contract. She informed the client; work will begin upon receipt of the wire deposit. She also informed the client that the balance had to be paid in full before the date of the event. Later that day, Bella overhears Charity and Benjamin discussing what they were going to wear to backyard party.

Bella was present at the mansion to oversee the setup. Once her plans were properly executed, she left her two assistants to work with the chef and to make sure the transition from black tie to Thug Life backyard party went well. After six hours, the two assistants were replaced with two more assistants who was responsible for locking up the mansion once the back yard party was over at 4am. Someone was scheduled to let the cleaning crew in at 6am so that the keys could be submitted back to the property management company, on the same day, before 4pm. All went well. There were only minor damages to a flower bed, some glass ware, and dishes. The insurance cover the cost of the damages. Charity and Benjamin both did not show up at work the following Monday after the event. Bella was concern. She left several messages on their phones without any reply. Bella continued to work as she waited for her partners to show up at work. Their client referred a female friend, who was at the Black tie / Thug Life party. She walked into the office without an appointment; she was interested in having a black-tie party for her parent’s 50^th wedding anniversary. She loved the elegant details of the black tie and wanted the exact same for her parents. Bella introduced herself to the newly potential client as she escorted her to the conference room.  “Hello Bella, my name is Felisha; everyone calls me Peaches. You can call me Peaches.”  “Thanks Peaches, it is a pleasure to meet you. Would you like a bottle of water before we sit down to discuss what bought you in this morning?” “No thank you; but if you have some wine or champagne, I will take a glass.” “Sure, states Bella; would you like red or white wine?” “Red would be good, replied, Peaches.” After pouring wine into a glass, Bella and Peaches begin to discuss the details of the event she would like for her parents. As Bella was making notations of the discussion, Peaches asked is Charity and Benjamin okay after what happen at the backyard party. Bella froze in thought before being able to speak. Why do you ask are they okay? What happen at the back yard party that caused you to inquiry about their well-being? “Well, Charity and Baby Boy were hugged up all night. Benjamin kept following them around the backyard asking Charity if she was alright. Baby Boy got mad tire of Benjamin getting in him and Charity business. So, he told him that he was going to check him if he did not go somewhere and sit down. Benjamin tried to explain to Baby Boy that they own the company that put the event together and they do not get down the way they do. Baby Boy shouted at Benjamin saying, dude you are here partying hard like the rest of us. So now that your girl wants to be by my side, you want to act like you are better than me. You do not have enough money to be better than me home boy. At this point, Benjamin tells Baby Boy; you got us twisted, we are here as overseer of the property only. We are not here to indulge in any other activities. It is obvious you gave her something that is against our policy when socializing with our clients. Yeah right, replied Baby Boy, you could have fooled the hell out of me. I heard how you two get down in your office with the clients. Benjamin tried to reach for Charity who was looking like a Zombie when Baby Boy clocked him, laying him out. Suddenly Charity comes out of Zombie land. She runs out the backyard down the street screaming. Twenty minutes after she ran out, the police show up with the ambulance. At that point the party was over.” “What time did the police show up asked Bella.” “It was around 3:45am; As June Bug was leaving, he says; well, we got our money’s worth although the party ended 15 minutes early.” Bella thanks Peaches for the details of what happen. She informed Peaches her assistant will setup a zoom meeting to go over the contract. Bella escorted Peaches out the office. Later that day, Charity, and Benjamin walks into the office wearing sunglasses. Bella asked them both to come into her office. She demands to see their faces. Benjamin was covering a black eye and Charity was covering red eyes. Obviously states Bella, it had to be one hell of a party for you two to waltz in here three days later looking like you party all weekend. I do not want to hear any explanation; I need you two to listen only. Whatever you two need to do to get over being Star Struck or Celebrity Struck – DO IT! Because I refuse to work with partners who only wants to party with the clients. Please keep in mind we are not equal partners. I have no problem buying out your share to protect this company’s reputation. It took too long to build what we have here. Celebrities come to us because they like our work and trust us. Please do not tarnish the trust they placed in us by acting like possess groupies. You must understand that celebrities are people like you and I, who happen to be publicly known for their work. Complimenting their talent and paying to see their performance should be enough. Stop putting them on a pedestal because if they were not publicly admired for their talent, they would be looked upon as any other person. So, get over it NOW!