Inspiring Conversations with CHARITY of IDM Promotions

Today we’d like to introduce you to CHARITY.

CHARITY, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I founded this company over 26 years ago, our focus was solely on event and wedding planning. Over the years, our services expanded to include bartending, promotional talent for conventions, festivals, and sporting events, and later—beginning in 2014—staffing for weddings, birthdays, private, and corporate events. Through dedication and hard work, we have proudly served clients across the South, Southeast and East Coast, growing far beyond what I initially envisioned.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Initially, INDNGRL Entertainment LLC thrived on a business model heavily reliant on word-of-mouth marketing and referrals, a common and effective strategy before the advent of digital marketing platforms. This organic growth was fueled by consistently delivering exceptional service, which naturally led to a strong reputation and a steady stream of new clients through client recommendations. This early success demonstrates the power of quality service in building a foundational client base, even without the extensive reach of modern marketing tools.

However, as the company transitioned from a sole proprietorship to an operation with a growing staff, new complexities emerged. One of the primary struggles in the event staffing industry is the inherently high turnover rate. This can be attributed to several factors, including the often temporary or project-based nature of work, varying demand, and the demographic of the workforce, which frequently includes students or individuals seeking flexible employment. For INDNGRL Entertainment LLC, finding the right approach to training and maintaining staff in such an environment presented a significant hurdle. The challenge wasn’t just in recruiting new talent, but in developing effective training programs that quickly onboard staff to company standards and culture, and then implementing strategies to retain them. This often involves balancing competitive compensation, flexible scheduling, a positive work environment, and opportunities for skill development to foster loyalty and reduce attrition
Also, The event industry, in general, experienced significant disruption and recovery periods in recent years. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread cancellations and postponements of events, leading to a dramatic decrease in demand for event staffing services.We faced challenges in maintaining staff, securing new contracts, and adapting to evolving health and safety protocols during this period. But we were able to maintain because we had great clients that loved us and our services.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
INDNGRL ENTERTAINMENT LLC, the parent company of IDM Promotions, is strategically realigning its service offerings to prioritize sustainable growth and the well-being of its team. Effective immediately, we are shifting our primary focus from private sector services towards event planning and management with an emphasis on the public sector and promotional marketing staffing needs. While we will continue to provide staffing for large-scale private events with 150 or more guests, our core efforts will now be directed towards expanding our expertise in promotional marketing and public event management. This strategic realignment allows us to optimize our resources and enhance our impact in key growth areas, leveraging our demonstrated capabilities in complex event execution.
This strategic pivot is underpinned by our proven expertise in managing large-scale activations, including SXSW in Austin, Texas (2018, 2019, 2021), Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix (2022), Atlanta Food and Wine Festival (2024 & 2025), Heritage Fire festival (multiple markets 2024, 2025), and numerous successful weddings and event planning efforts. Our leadership teams consistently handle all logistics for event staff, allowing clients to focus on their core objectives.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
My view on risk-taking is that it’s an inevitable and often necessary component of growth and innovation in business. While the potential for failure is always present, I believe that calculated risks, especially when fueled by passion and strategic foresight, can lead to significant success.
The current step my business is taking—removing our main services and moving into the public sector—is undoubtedly a major risk. I recognize that this transition “can fail miserably,” as it involves navigating a new market with different demands and operational structures. This represents a significant market risk, as we’re venturing into an area where our established private sector expertise might not directly translate, and securing public contracts can be a complex process. However, my deep passion for event planning and management, coupled with my dedication to creating a viable market for our company in the public sector, is what I believe will aid in our success. This passion acts as a powerful internal motivator and a driving force to overcome potential obstacles.
I have certainly taken major risks in the past. A prime example was in 2014, when I moved from a single operation to hiring on staff. This was a substantial operational risk and a market expansion risk for my company. At the time, I didn’t know if we would have the consistent clientele to keep our new staff busy, which could have led to significant financial strain or the need to downsize. The uncertainty surrounding client acquisition and the overhead of new employees was a considerable gamble. However, here we are, 11 years later, thriving in the event staffing market. This success demonstrates that the risk was well-managed and ultimately paid off, proving that strategic expansion, even with inherent uncertainties, can lead to long-term prosperity.
Ultimately, my experience has taught me that risk is not just about potential failure, but also about potential opportunity. The success of hiring staff in 2014 reinforced my belief that with careful planning, strong execution, and a passionate commitment, even significant risks can be transformed into stepping stones for greater achievement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.idmpromotions.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/idmpromotions