In this episode of the Party Princess Podcast, Lelah Clifford sits down with Michaela Vivona, owner of A Dream Is A Wish Parties LLC in New York, for a fun, honest, and sometimes spicy conversation about the character entertainment industry.

Whether you’re a performer, business owner, cosplayer, parent, or someone who loves the magic behind the scenes, this episode gives a real look into the world of character entertainment from two experienced company owners.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation!

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After a difficult couple of weeks filled with bad news, sickness, burnout, and trying to balance life behind the scenes, I wanted to sit down and have a real conversation about what people don’t see behind running a character entertainment company.

In this episode, I’m talking about:
 ✨ burnout in creative industries
 ✨ the pressure of always being “on”
 ✨ balancing personal struggles while running a business
 ✨ showing up imperfectly instead of disappearing completely
 ✨ protecting your peace and creativity
 ✨ why I still continue creating magic after decades 

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is simply keep showing up.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or burnt out lately… this episode is for you. 💛

They might look similar—but they are very different.

In this episode of the Party Princess Podcast, we’re having an honest (and respectful) conversation about the key differences between cosplay and professional character work—and why those differences matter in the event and entertainment industry.

From creative freedom to professional standards, we’re breaking down what separates these two worlds and how each one serves a different purpose.

We’re also talking directly to cosplayers who are interested in stepping into the professional princess industry—what to expect, what to learn, and how to successfully make that transition.

In this episode, we cover:

 ✨ The difference between interpretation vs representation
 🎭 What it actually means to stay in character
 👑 The responsibility of performing for children
 💼 Why professionalism and consistency matter
 💡 Tips for cosplayers wanting to go professional

Whether you’re a performer, business owner, or just curious about what goes on behind the scenes, this episode will give you a whole new perspective.

🎧 Tune in and let’s talk about it.

In this episode of The Party Princess Podcast, I’m breaking down exactly how I run training inside my company—from my once-a-year mandatory training day to optional workshops throughout the year.

We’re talking structure, expectations, and how to create a consistent, professional team across the board.

I cover:

• How I structure my annual training (princess, hero, and mascot breakdowns)
• Why I separate trainings by character type
• Using team leads to teach specific skill sets
• Creating slideshow presentations for organized, effective training
• What to actually teach your performers (character work, party flow, professionalism, and more)
• How I handle mandatory training with independent contractors
• Why I don’t pay for training—and what I do instead
• Incentives that actually motivate performers to show up and grow
• Optional workshops (like hair bar and face painting) that increase bookings and skill

I also share the reality of what happens when performers skip training—and why setting clear standards is essential if you want to protect your brand and client experience.

Whether you’re just starting your company or looking to level up your team, this episode will give you a clear, real-world look at what works.

🎧 Perfect to listen to while getting ready for your parties or on the way to your next event!

In this episode of the Party Princess Podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the character entertainment industry and having a real, honest conversation about what happens behind the scenes—from both the business owner perspective and the performer experience.

If you’ve ever heard, “It’s just an hour…”—this episode is for you.

We’re diving into:

 ✨ The true cost and time behind every booking

 🎭 What performers actually experience at events

 💼 The realities of running a character entertainment business

 ⚖️ Where disconnect and misunderstandings happen

💖 How we can build a more supportive, professional industry

Whether you’re a performer, business owner, or someone who books character entertainment for events, this episode will give you a whole new perspective on the magic you see at parties.

🎧 Listen now and step behind the curtain.

In this episode, we’re diving into the legal and structural side of running your business—because creating magic is one thing, but protecting it is another.

We’re covering:

✨ Contracts (for BOTH clients and performers)

✨ Non-competes & protecting your brand

✨ Why having everything in writing matters

✨ Setting clear expectations and policies

✨ What to do when performers push back

✨ And how to stand firm—even when it makes you the “bad guy”

If you’ve ever had someone say:

👉 “That’s not enforceable”

👉 “That’s not fair”

👉 “You can’t tell me what to do”

…this episode is for you.

Because here’s the truth:

👑 This is YOUR company

👑 You set the standards

👑 And you are allowed to enforce them

I’m also sharing personal experiences, lessons learned the hard way, and why documentation has become one of the most important tools in my business.

At the end of the day…

If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen.

In this episode of the Party Princess Podcast, we’re having a real and honest conversation about what comparison actually does—not just to your confidence, but to your creativity, your mindset, and your ability to lead your business well.

It’s so easy to look around and feel like:

💭 “They’re booking more than me”

💭 “They’re growing faster”

💭 “Am I doing enough?”

But here’s the truth:

Just because someone else is shining… doesn’t mean your light is dimming.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

✨ Personal stories from behind the scenes of running a character business

✨ The moments comparison hit the hardest (yes… even over something as small as pancakes 😅)

✨ How to shift your mindset from comparison to confidence

✨ And why your business being different is actually your biggest strength

Because at the end of the day…

we may be in the same industry…

👑 but our magic is not the same 👑

If you’ve ever felt behind, overlooked, or not “enough” in this space—this episode is for you.

🎧 Tune in, and don’t forget to share this with another party princess who needs the reminder.

In this episode, I’m getting completely honest about what burnout actually looks like as a business owner in the character entertainment industry—the late nights, the pressure of being a one-woman show, and the emotional weight of constantly showing up for others while running on empty.

I’m sharing personal experiences from my own journey—moments where I’ve poured my time, energy, creativity, and even my own money into creating magical experiences… only to be met with criticism, unrealistic expectations, or feeling like what we do isn’t taken seriously.

If you’ve ever felt:

✨ Overwhelmed trying to do everything yourself

✨ Drained but still showing up with a smile

✨ Unappreciated or misunderstood in your business

This episode is for you.

I also share what has helped me move through burnout, including:

💛 Finding a community of other business owners who truly understand

💛 Learning how to delegate and not carry everything alone

💛 Exploring other creative outlets to stay inspired

Because burnout doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means something needs to shift.

You are not alone in this.

🎧 Listen in while you’re:

Getting ready for your parties

Driving to your events

Or taking a moment to reset and recharge

💬 Let’s Connect:

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you!

Send me a message or share this episode with another business owner who needs it 💛

But the truth in business?

Winners quit all the time.

They quit systems that don’t work.

They quit habits that create stress.

They quit expectations that no longer serve their business.

In this episode of The Party Princess Podcast, I’m sharing some of the things I stopped doing in my company that actually made it stronger — from removing free extras to setting boundaries with clients.

If you’re an entertainer, performer, creative, or business owner in the events industry, this episode might just give you permission to let go of something that’s been weighing you down.

Because sometimes the smartest thing you can do…

is quit.

In creative industries like character entertainment, teams often become more than coworkers — they become family. We celebrate together, get ready together, travel together, and build something meaningful side by side.

But what happens when leadership requires boundaries?

In this episode, I’m sharing one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned as a business owner: sometimes enforcing structure, accountability, or professionalism can cost you a relationship you truly cared about.

I talk about:

• The challenge of leading with both warmth and structure

• Why boundaries can feel like rejection to others

• The emotional cost of leadership when friendships shift

• Lessons I’ve learned about building healthier team dynamics

• Encouragement for other business owners who have experienced the same thing

If you are a business owner, team leader, creative entrepreneur, or anyone navigating leadership while trying to lead with heart — this conversation is for you.

You are not alone in this journey.

🎉 At the end of the episode I also announce the winner of our podcast giveaway!

Make sure to follow the podcast so you never miss future episodes.

In this powerful start-of-the-year conversation, I’m breaking down what it really means to take back your company — your leadership, your systems, your pricing, your standards, and your confidence.

We’re talking about:

✨ Building smarter booking systems (including how I use HoneyBook automations)

✨ Raising standards without creating drama

✨ Pricing your entertainment business with confidence

✨ Protecting your brand and intellectual property

✨ Training performers for professionalism and longevity

✨ Creating growth circles instead of gossip culture

I also share a personal reflection on realizing I had slowly started shrinking in my own business — and the mindset shift that changed everything.

If you run a princess company, character entertainment business, party company, or work as a professional performer, this episode will challenge and equip you to lead better this year.

This is the year you stop shrinking.

This is the year you operate strategically.

This is the year you take back your company

If you’ve ever minimized what you do by saying “I just do princess parties,” this episode is your shift.

This podcast is for performers and company owners who are ready to treat their magic like a real business — with structure, confidence, leadership, and professionalism.

Because this industry is playful.

But your business shouldn’t be casual.

Welcome to the business behind the magic.