A creative's guide to doing business with heart. When you run a creative service business, you face a unique set of challenges. Typically you're passionate about what you do, but you probably struggle with problems common to many creative professionals: How do I balance my talent and ideas with the demands of the client? How do I make a living with my art? What can I do to keep clients from going with my dirt-cheap competitor? Preston Bailey, one of the country's top event designers and a leading figure in his industry, answers these and many more in Dear Preston. In an engaging advice-column format, he offers his guidance on the questions he is asked most frequently. Preston skyrocketed to success by running his business from the heart--specifically, relying on his empathy, generosity, and trust--and here he shares that philosophy with other creative service professionals, showing how they can use it to delight customers, maintain profits, and stay true to themselves as artists. Peppered with stories from Preston's fabulous, celebrity-sprinkled career, Dear Preston is infused with warmth, enthusiasm, and rich experience. Whether you're deep into your career or still just dabbling, you'll be enriched and inspired by this heart-driven approach to selling your talent and ideas.

One of America's leading party planners and floral designers explains how to use floral arrangements to create the perfect ambience for any major party or event, presenting stunning full-color photographs of ten different parties that reflect a variety of tastes, styles, and occasions.

With an inspirational collection of photographs and ingenious ideas, the noted floral designer shares his expertise and advice on how to create an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind wedding, taking readers through the entire process of planning wedding ceremonies and receptions, while offering tips on planning a theme and designing the details of a dream event.

One of America's leading party planners and flroal designers explains how to create the perfect ambience for any major party or event, taking readers step by step through the planning process, from picking a theme and designing the right setting, and the individual details, including flowers, lighting, and table settings, that can make each event special. 20,000 first printing. (view table of contents)