What Nobody Tells You About Starting a Venue

Why So Many Venue Owners Feel Alone

Running a venue can look glamorous from the outside, but behind every booked event are sleepless nights, financial pressure, difficult decisions, and the constant challenge of balancing business and personal life. From putting everything on the line financially to missing important family moments, venue ownership often comes with sacrifices that few people see. In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, hosts Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith open up about the emotional realities of building and growing a venue business. They share personal stories about the isolation of entrepreneurship, the pressure of making payroll and mortgage payments, and the struggle of balancing motherhood, family, and work. Together, they discuss the importance of building a supportive team, setting healthy boundaries, and embracing community over competition. Through Venue Nest, they aim to create a supportive community where venue owners can connect, learn, and feel less alone in the challenges of building and growing a venue business. Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

The Hidden Side of Running a Venue

In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, hosts Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith dive into the realities of venue ownership and the unexpected challenges that come with it. They share candid stories from behind the scenes, including handling a severe allergic reaction, managing an out-of-control intoxicated guest, navigating difficult client situations, and learning from mistakes along the way. Ashley and Kelsey discuss how setbacks, bad reviews, and stressful moments are inevitable, but how venue owners respond can shape both the client experience and their brand. Through Venue Nest, they aim to create a supportive community where venue owners can connect, learn, and feel less alone in the challenges of building and growing a venue business. Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

What Nobody Tells You About Starting a Venue

In the first episode of the Venue Nest podcast, hosts Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith share the story behind their journey into the venue industry. Ashley shares how starting a small catering business with her husband eventually led to becoming a venue owner and building their first event venue. Kelsey first entered the story as a client and later joined the team as venue director at just 19 years old, helping bring an unfinished vision to life. After taking different paths professionally, they eventually reunited and are now growing multiple venues together. The Venue Nest Podcast is where real venue owners come to feel less alone, get clear on what’s actually working, and learn how to run a profitable, organized, and experience-driven venue without the overwhelm. Through Venue Nest, they aim to create a supportive community where venue owners can connect, learn, and feel less alone in the challenges of building and growing a venue business. 00:00 Introduction to the Venue Nest Podcast 02:55 The First Catering Gig 05:47 The Idea for a Venue is Born 08:15 Kelsey Becomes Venue Director 12:02 Selling a Vision, Not a Building 17:56 The Birth of Venue Nest Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572069806041&ref=PROFILE_EDIT_xav_ig_profile_page_web# YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest Website https://www.venuenest.com/