Today we’d like to introduce you to Lacy McGee.
Hi Lacy , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began accompanying my mother to children’s parties when I was 12. An entrepreneur since her 20s, I loved seeing her in her beautiful princess dresses and watching her make skillful balloon sculptures. She would let me practice face painting hands and later faces, as. I learned how to mix the colors right and steady my hand. I impatiently waited until I was old enough to get my braces removed and was finally able to start doing princess parties, too. She taught me how to face paint, make balloons, and entertain dozens of children under 10, and by the time I moved out of state to Macon, GA for college, I felt ready to begin my own business, too. She showed me how to advertise, and I painstakingly called every single inquiry I received, selling my business to potential customers, haggling prices, and working tirelessly until my weekends booked up. 3 years later when I moved to Atlanta to attend physical therapy school, it was my party business that helped me to afford the lifesaving insulin I needed to treat my type 1 Diabetes and get me through school. I juggled classes all week, parties all weekend, and sometimes parties on weekday nights, growing my business to over 150 5-star reviews. I assumed that graduating with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy would be the end of my party career, but I found that I still enjoy it so much even with a full-time “day job” that I continue to service customers all over the Atlanta area as Atlanta’s only “Dr. Princess”!
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?
I look back on old photos of my work and I cringe sometimes! I wish I had known what I do now about makeup, styling wigs and costumes back then, but I am grateful for clients who have supported me throughout my journey and helped me perfect my craft along the way. It’s certainly been a fun journey – there’s been plenty of hiccups, from flat tires on the way to events, learning from losing to competitors, seemingly endless weekends and perhaps even learning to not take on too many gigs for my own personal work-life balance. For everything I’ve learned, I take incredible pride in my work, and it’s been the 15 years of experience and continuing practice that has allowed me to offer the level of work to clients that I do now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a professional children’s entertainer! I offer character impersonations and specialize in doing princess parties. I also offer professional face painting and balloon artistry to help people plan their perfect event or make their little one’s dreams come true. I’m proud of my all 5-star reviews online, I’m proud of the level of quality I offer in my costuming and my art, and I’m also proud of juggling my business with any full-time day job of managing 5 physical therapy practices across the Atlanta area with Legacy Healthcare, a not-for-profit therapy company that services older adults in states throughout the country.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Find a mentor! You might see other competitors as your rivals, but my advice would be to plug into your community and befriend as many “competitors” as you can. The level of professionalism, camaraderie, and kindness we’ve fostered from the community of entertainers here in Atlanta has been so priceless. Aside from that, it sounds cheesy but I’d say always do the right thing. Show up when you say you will. Be reliable. Be kind, uplifting and put a smile on your face. Be accommodating and understanding, but of course know your worth and what you have to offer, too!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crownedcelebrations.com
- Instagram: Crownedcelebrations
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/22777009764/
- Other: https://www.thebash.com/face-painting/lacymason
Image Credits
Atlanta Party People
