The Partner Perspective series is an opportunity to hear from LASEC Business Connect member companies and the high-powered local, diverse entrepreneurs behind them. Today’s focus is Paula Bond, Founder of First Option Entertainment.
LASEC: Tell us about your company and what you do.
Paula Bond: First Option Entertainment is a video & live event production company. Unlike event planners, we are the staging, lighting, sound, show direction, scriptwriting, graphic designers, and then filming for the event [and] company. Yep, we put on your convention, conference, activation, fundraisers, and more. I’m the Executive Producer, which means I assist the client in developing their basic ideas into a full project and see it through to completion.
How has being part of the LASEC Business Connect program benefitted your business?
It has been like having our eyes opened. We’ve enjoyed the exposure. Business Connect and LASEC have brought us face-to-face with the types of businesses we previously couldn’t seem to connect with. And this is just the beginning.
Have you been awarded a contract as part of the Business Connect program? If so, what was the project?
You’d think that because of my enthusiasm I’d say yes, we’ve been awarded a contract. We’ve not won one yet and that’s why we are excited … we KNOW it will happen. With everything we are learning, watching the success of our peers, and getting up every day to improve and work hard for our current roster of clients … we know we are close to winning, big time!
Is there a lesson or key takeaway from a Business Connect training that sticks out to you?
There are only a handful of female-owned production companies throughout America, and we are one. I learned something recently about a young woman I’ve never met who is working in Hollywood (on a show everyone has heard of). I happened to meet her father at a networking event, and he said, “Oh you’re Paula Bond! My daughter followed you and was inspired by the production work you’re doing in a primarily white male-dominated industry.” The lesson from Business Connect is that even after almost 20 years in the industry, I can still learn, teach and grow others by example.
To learn more about First Option Entertainment, visit www.firstoptionentertainment.com and follow along at @firstoptionent.