our why, but make it a blog
Our website is going through a little makeover, and I came across a deactivated webpage titled OUR WHY. If I remember correctly, I used this instead of an ABOUT ME section 🤷🏾♀️ I just did. And though it has been deactivated for some time, I still didn't want to delete it. Not because I thought I might need it later, but because it was a really accurate and vulnerable statement or why or how there even is a Reynolds & Third, and a real-time testament on what is actually taking me so long to move out the way from my own self.
Anyhow. It seemed like good sharing, and I told myself I could just use this 'waste' as content for the blog and save myself some work. One man's trash.
It's cool to see how some things have come to fruition, and in others, I'm still sitting at the edge with my feet in the water, watching everyone else fuck things up for everyone else, or worse, just their shot. Hopefully, it will help someone.
the story.
I love events. It doesn't matter what occasion, weddings, birthday parties, reunions, or dinners are. I love all events, and I have always wanted to plan them. Meaningful, unique, and creative events, but I have always been afraid to plan, create, or host my own.
"You don't have enough experience."
"People won't pay for that service."
"That isn't a real job."
People had much to say, and I did the most damage, convincing myself I shouldn't do it. However, I didn't allow those words from people or myself to get in the way. Not totally. I didn't sell or market myself as an event planner, so I didn't get an opportunity to plan events for others. My fear convinced me I couldn't do it. So I created my events through my nonprofit, Show Me Riders Horse Club of Kansas City, and when I wasn't starting and planning my personal or club things, I lent my services to others, like local nonprofits JuneteenthKC, for their Cultural Heritage Parade.
since 2013 | Horses for the Holidays
since 2016 | Ponies & Pumpkins Festival
since 2020 | Yoga on the Vine Kansas City
Starting my career as a catering director helped, too. My work placed me right in the middle of the corporate event world. It showed me so much and affirmed that businesses spent good money on planning, catering, and other event logistical arrangements. As catering director, I was solely responsible for all catering operations and planning for some of Kansas City's largest corporations, such as Black & Veatch and Cerner. Additionally, corporate catering allowed me to add skills to my portfolio through various events; dinners, receptions, happy hours, town halls, and so many more. Corporate catering afforded me the best of both worlds in many ways, and I am forever grateful.
BC. But. Covid.
In March 2020, it all ended after over ten years of growing and learning in my profession. The pandemic shattered the event industry as we knew it and caused everyone and everything to shift. I had always dreamt of 'firing my boss,' but covid handled that for me, and I was kinda elated. No longer having a job forced me to search for answers and figure out what would happen next, for me and not for the company I was representing.
And so we're here. Reynolds & Third is my opportunity to represent myself, and we are so much more than an event planning company. It best is a creative collective, an organization focused on diverse services. At our core, we do events, coordinate, design and decorate, manage, and soon, space.
As someone who needed more persuasion, convincing, and encouragement, I recognize the opportunity Reynolds & Third could have in aiding others in establishing their businesses because sometimes it does take a village.
We are here to move you forward. Confidently forward.
-Natasha