Building a wedding business empire with the 'eventpreneur' Toby Burns
Toby Burns · July 4, 2024
Interview with Toby Burns
Podcast: Wedding Pros who are ready to grow - with Becca Pountney
July 4, 2024 · 37 min
Today I am joined by Wedding DJ, turned 'Eventpreneur' Toby Burns. CEO of the 'Silent Disco Company' Toby now has a team of employees and an international customer base. In today's episode he shares his journey and talks about how he believes customer service and innovation…
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About Toby Burns
Founder & CEO of The Silent Disco Company Group
350,000+ Headsets hired each year4,000+ Events delivered each year1,000+ Five-star reviewsAge 15 Began as a children's entertainer
Introducing Toby Burns, a seasoned entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of The Silent Disco Company Group, renowned for innovative silent disco, cinema, and karaoke hire services across the UK and Europe. With an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences, Toby's passion lies in crafting engaging events that cater to diverse audiences and occasions, leveraging cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment.
Toby's journey into the events realm commenced at the age of 15 as a children's entertainer, leading on to his work as a DJ with the pleasure of performing at events for prestigious clients like Google and Virgin. Then, 11 years ago, his love of the entertainment industry pushed him to establish The Silent Disco Company. Today, his company orchestrates over 4,000 events annually, partnering with esteemed organizations such as Glastonbury Festival, Google, and BBC, to name a few.
As a podcast guest, Toby brings forth a wealth of experience and insights, offering invaluable perspectives on entrepreneurial journeys, innovation in business, and the power of embracing opportunities for growth. His narrative, peppered with anecdotes of overcoming challenges and seizing pivotal moments, resonates with audiences seeking inspiration and practical wisdom in their pursuit of success. Join Toby as he shares his story, inspiring listeners to dream big, embrace change, and carve their own paths.
About this episode
Today I am joined by Wedding DJ, turned 'Eventpreneur'Toby Burns. CEO of the 'Silent Disco Company' Toby now has a team of employees and an international customer base. In today's episode he shares his journey and talks about how he believes customer service and innovation have transformed his own business and life.
Find out more about The Silent Disco Company
Watch Toby over on Youtube
Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/
Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:
www.beccapountney.com
www.instagram.com/beccapountney
Time Stamps:
The journey from wedding DJ to entrepreneur (00:00:00)
Toby discusses his transition from a children's entertainer to a niche wedding DJ in the Jewish and Arab wedding market, leading to his eventual founding of the Silent Disco Company.
Spotting an opportunity and scaling the business (00:00:57)
Toby shares his entrepreneurial journey, from recognizing an opportunity in the event space to scaling it into a successful business, including the decision to start the Silent Disco Company.
Innovation and customer feedback in business development (00:16:33)
Toby emphasizes the importance of innovation and customer feedback in evolving and growing the business, highlighting the role of customer feedback and continuous improvement in business success.
DJ'ing and Dry Hire (00:19:13)
Toby talks about still enjoying DJ'ing nd the business model, including dry hire and in-house DJs.
Innovation and Product Development (00:19:54)
Toby discusses the importance of simplicity and innovation in product creation, citing the example of a karaoke product.
Challenges Faced during COVID-19 (00:22:00)
Toby reflects on the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the events industry, and the mental strain it caused.
Staffing Challenges and Recruitment (00:25:52)
Toby talks about the challenges of managing a team, recruitment processes, and the importance of retaining the right employees.
Hiring Process and Employee Categorization (00:27:36)
Toby explains the detailed hiring process for senior management and the categorization of employees based on performance.
Mental Strain of Business Ownership (00:33:47)
Toby reflects on the mental strain of being a business owner and the importance of seeking advice from fellow entrepreneurs.
Conclusion and Call to Innovate (00:36:11)
Becca concludes the interview, emphasizing the need for innovation and action in business.
Mentioned in this episode:
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Guest: Toby Burns
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12+ podcast & stage appearances. Remote or in studio, broadcast-grade audio.