Day In The Life As A Business Owner | The Venue RX

In this vlog, Jonathan Aymin travels to San Antonio, Texas, to conduct a full venue audit for a wedding venue hosting about 50 weddings per year, with the goal of doubling that number. Jonathan breaks down exactly what a venue audit is, who it’s for, and how it helps owners identify blind spots in their business operations and marketing.With experience from hosting over 6,000 weddings nationwide and managing a team of nearly 100 event professionals, Jonathan and the Common Sense Events team bring real-world expertise from venues across the country. He dives into what separates thriving venues from struggling ones, uncovering the difference between people problems and process problems, and how systemizing your business can safeguard long-term sustainability.He covers the full audit process: from initial contact and setup to actionable findings that reveal where revenue is being left on the table. Jonathan analyzes marketing gaps, lead handling systems, and advertising strategies, from Google and Meta ads to organic social media content, showing how the right marketing and automation tools can transform booking results.

On this week’s episode of The Venue RX Podcast host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Justin Lund, founder of Propel Your, a company that helps small business owners streamline operations, handle compliance, and implement the systems needed to grow sustainably. Propel takes on the administrative and back-office load, things like bookkeeping, payroll, HR, and financial organization, so founders can focus on vision, leadership, and scaling with clarity.In this episode, Jonathan and Justin dive into how operational structure and personal growth go hand in hand. Justin works with business owners helping them overcome operational pain points and move beyond founder dependency. He shares how his own journey, from a creative, sales-driven entrepreneur to a disciplined systems thinker was forged through personal adversity and recovery.Justin opens up about his battle with addiction, the lessons learned through rehab, and how psychology and intentional structure became his path to rebuilding both life and business. He discusses parallels between addiction and avoidance in entrepreneurship, how distractions, overworking, and lack of clarity can hold leaders back just as powerfully as any substance.He also unpacks the dangers of founder dependency, the importance of financial oversight, and the transformative mindset shifts that allow entrepreneurs to scale beyond themselves. Through stories of both hardship and triumph, Justin reveals how simple, consistent systems can replace chaos with clarity and empower long-term growth.About Our Guest: Justin Lund is a systems-driven entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Propel Your, a company dedicated to helping small business owners scale beyond founder-dependence by building resilient operations and administrative foundations. With a focus on companies generating $500K to $1.5M in annual revenue, Justin partners with founders to resolve operational pain points, standardize processes, and instill sustainable structure so that businesses aren’t reliant on any single person.His journey to operations expert was far from linear. Early in his career, Justin gravitated toward sales, creativity, and the more exciting facets of entrepreneurship, often neglecting the “boring” but vital functions accounting, payroll, compliance that he believed could be outsourced. But life intervened. After battling addiction and navigating legal and personal consequences, he underwent a deep period of self-reflection, rehabilitation, and growth. He credits that season not only with personal healing but with the formation of rigorous mental models, frameworks, and systems that now inform every facet of his work.Find Him Here: Instagram: www.instagram.com/itsjustinlund/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@itsJustinLundLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/justin-lund-propel/Facebook: www.facebook.com/justin.lund.propelWebsite: www.propelyour.comEmail: [email protected]

In this week’s episode of The Venue RX Podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Caleb Ralston, a creative strategist and media expert known for helping brands find their voice and build deeper connections with their audience. Together, they dive into what it truly takes to build a brand, craft meaningful content, and use media intentionally to stand out in a crowded marketplace.Caleb shares his journey from a childhood passion for creating videos to becoming a professional storyteller who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in marketing. He unpacks the importance of leaning into your natural strengths, hiring to fill your weaknesses instead of trying to fix them, and adapting to the evolving role of AI in today’s creative landscape.He also breaks down his signature “Two Column Approach” for standing out in competitive industries, clarifies the difference between branding, marketing, and advertising, and shares his philosophy on building teams that solve real bottlenecks rather than simply filling roles. Caleb offers insight into identifying top talent, fostering curiosity, and understanding what truly separates impactful content creators from artists who create only for themselves.Finally, Caleb discusses why the most successful brands focus on audience intent, creating content that educates, inspires, and converts while maintaining artistic integrity. He highlights the power of evergreen, belief-driven messaging to build lasting trust and explains why these principles matter across every industry, from media to venues and beyond.About Our Guest: Caleb Ralston is a creative strategist, brand architect, and media expert who helps entrepreneurs build personal brands that convert. Blending storytelling with strategic execution, he focuses on brand positioning, content strategy, and media team development to ensure the stories you tell are seen, trusted, and acted upon.With experience working alongside top creators and companies, Caleb’s approach is hands-on and results-driven, centered on clarity, authenticity, and meaningful execution. He is also a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, where he shares insights on how powerful branding and media can drive lasting growth.Find Him Here: Website: https://calebralston.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calebralstonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CalebRalstonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebralston

In this episode of The Venue Rx Podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Krista Chapman, founder of Path & Compass, to unpack why true conversion in marketing comes down to storytelling, resonance, and building meaningful systems. Krista shares her journey from planner and venue director to burned-out creative, and how that experience inspired her to create a purpose-driven agency during the early days of content marketing.The conversation explores her marketing philosophy, “If you care, it will be okay,” and why staying human-first is essential in an industry increasingly shaped by AI and automation. Jonathan and Krista also discuss the balance between metrics and meaning, the dangers of relying on data alone, and how authentic storytelling drives real connection and conversion.Krista also offers insights on the evolving SEO landscape, the underutilized power of email marketing, and how to blend automation with authenticity in ways that elevate client care rather than replace it. She also shares strategies for solo operators and new venue owners on avoiding overwhelm, establishing strong marketing foundations, and attracting the right clients with clarity and purpose.About Our Guest: Krista Chapman is a business strategist and coach dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build intentional, sustainable businesses. With a background in marketing and sales and years of experience coaching organizations across every stage of growth, Krista brings a direct yet compassionate approach that resonates deeply with business owners.She is also the founder and lead strategist of Path & Compass, a female-led holistic digital marketing agency that partners with event and wedding companies to build timeless brands, scale in their local markets, and navigate evolving digital technologies through its proven Five-Path Framework. Always testing and refining strategies herself, Krista ensures her clients benefit from guidance grounded in both real-world experience and forward-thinking innovation.Find Her Here: Email: [email protected]: https://www.pathandcompass.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PathandCompass/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathandcompass/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathandcompass

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/9vwfYuUrgRk

In this week's episode of The Venue RX Podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Rick Harris, CEO of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), to unlock the secrets to winning more business with stronger proposals. Together they break down the fundamentals of the RFP process and why it matters for venues and vendors. Rick breaks down the common mistakes to avoid, and shares what makes a proposal truly stand out. Rick also offers practical tips for writing proposals that focus on client needs rather than just your business, he also explains how listening and networking can uncover hidden opportunities, and highlights how design, AI, and human creativity can work together to craft proposals that close more deals.About Our Guest: Rick Harris is CEO of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) and a 30+ year nonprofit veteran. He specializes in helping nonprofits grow through membership, education, networking, marketing, and community building. Known as a go-to-market expert, Rick has guided dozens of organizations to achieve sustainable growth and impact.Before entering nonprofit leadership, Rick spent 13 years as a radio DJ, where he honed his ability to anticipate market trends, connect with audiences, and compete with respect.Rick emphasizes human relationships and strategic partnerships to drive growth, while using operational frameworks to align vision, staff performance, and revenue goals. His member-first approach ensures organizations remain responsive to the needs of their communities.At APMP, he has grown membership from 3,000 to over 14,000 by leveraging networking, education, certification, and micro-credentials. He also co-designed one of the association industry’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, creating an environment where all members are valued and respected.Find Him Here: Website: http://www.apmp.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-harris-9310392/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APMP.org

In this episode of The Venue RX, host Jonathan Aymin explores the concept of “venue DNA,” discussing how a venue’s unique identity, shaped by owner intent, financial goals, and its amenities serves as the bedrock for effective marketing and sales. He discusses strategies for aligning sales and marketing efforts, the value of training sales teams to articulate a venue’s value with confidence, and the increasing relevance of virtual tours in capturing clients’ interest. Don't forget to check out WEVA—the Wedding and Event Venue Association, which stands as the first and only national professional association exclusively for venue owners, operators, and managers. WEVA offers access to educational webinars, masterclasses, vetted resources, networking opportunities, technology insights, exclusive discounts, and a community that champions collaboration, professional growth, and mutual support.

🎙 Season 8 of The Venue RX Podcast is a Wrap! 🎉Season 8 brought some of our best conversations yet—filled with powerful takeaways, industry insights, and real talk for venue owners and event professionals. Whether you’re new here or a longtime listener, this season had something for everyone.🔥 Here Are the Top 10 Moments from Season 8(You need to hear these again—or for the first time!)📺 Watch or listen to all the episodes here:👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-XAPFZdrsag0aueIpcC9MB68Y4OvGcI1Thank you for tuning in, sharing, and growing with us. See you in Season 9!

In this week's episode of The Venue Rx podcast, host Jonathan Aymin welcomes sales strategist and expert Maria Bayer for an insightful conversation on mastering the art of sales in the wedding and events industry. Maria shares her signature approach, Irresistible Selling, which reframes sales as a skill rooted in empathy and client understanding. Drawing from her journey from finance to high-level sales, Maria emphasizes the importance of setting clear expectations, qualifying leads early, and responding promptly to inquiries. She offers actionable advice for venue owners, including how to define and communicate their unique value, build pricing confidence, and streamline their sales process to consistently attract ideal clients.About Our Guest: Maria Bayer is a renowned sales and mindset strategist who helps wedding and event professionals attract high-paying clients and scale their businesses with authenticity and confidence. With over $25 million in personal sales to companies like Target and Best Buy, Maria brings real-world expertise to her clients. She is the creator of Irresistible Selling, a powerful coaching program that blends digital training, group coaching, and mindset work to help creative entrepreneurs book premium clients—without using pushy sales tactics. Her proven strategies have helped clients increase their sales by 2–10x in just one year.In addition to her coaching, Maria is a sought-after speaker who has shared her expertise at top industry events such as WIPA, ILEA, and The Wedding Pro CEO Summit. She leads a thriving community of creative entrepreneurs through her Learn Collaborate Flourish Facebook group, offering support, inspiration, and practical advice. Maria holds a Finance degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and lives in the Chicago area with her husband, Tim, and their dog, Gia. Find Her Here: Email: [email protected]: https://www.mariabayer.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MariaBayerFan/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MariaBayer1Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mebayer/

In this week's episode of The Venue Rx podcast, our host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Kelly Chandler, a leading UK-based venue consultant, for a fascinating conversation on the rapidly evolving wedding venue industry. Drawing from her extensive experience, Kelly shares a unique international perspective on how venues are adapting on both sides of the Atlantic.She unpacks the key differences and surprising similarities between the UK and US markets, diving into emerging trends, industry challenges, and proven strategies for success. From the growing popularity of rural venues in the UK to the rising influence of social media on guest expectations, Kelly offers timely insights into what today’s couples are really looking for.She emphasizes the critical importance of investing in your team, navigating market saturation, and embracing innovation, including the increasing role of AI in planning. She also highlights the post-COVID shift toward curated, multi-day wedding experiences, and how venues can evolve to meet this new demand.About Our Guest: Kelly Chandler is a renowned UK-based venue consultant and former luxury wedding planner with over two decades of experience in the events industry. As the founder of Kelly Chandler Consulting, she specializes in helping venues thrive by aligning their offerings with the expectations of today’s discerning clients. Kelly brings a unique fusion of creative flair and business acumen, having worked hands-on with heritage estates, boutique venues, and forward-thinking event spaces to elevate their commercial success.Before launching her consultancy, Kelly led a top-tier wedding planning business, producing high-end events for clients from around the world. She now draws on that wealth of insight to coach venue teams on experience design, sales strategy, and operational excellence. A regular speaker, writer, and mentor in the wedding and hospitality space, Kelly is passionate about nurturing values-driven businesses that want to grow with integrity, style, and sustainability.Find Her Here: Website: www.kelly-chandler.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-chandler-47175910/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly__chandlerWebsite: https://www.kellychandlerconsulting.co.uk/Helpful Links: 1.  Make More Profit From Hosting Weddings - download this gifted masterclass 2. Business Insights Report - 95 pages of straight-talking wedding venue growth advice3. 90-minute Private Power-Up Consulting or Business Coaching session