Who/ what inspired you to go into event planning?
I am an accidental event industry vendor. In one of my past professional lives, I owned an interiors company that sold and shipped furniture to clients all over the country.
We began getting requests to rent our pieces for events, but I worried about someone spilling red wine or a cocktail meatball on a sofa we were trying to sell. After researching the market, I realized that, aside from the decor companies, there weren’t many other companies offering interior inspired rentals. Bowery & Bash was born in 2014.
Tell us one thing we might not learn about you right away?
I am obsessed with storytelling and hearing people’s stories. I am a writer and former investigative journalist and was a producer for NBC News in yet another past life.
What do you love the most about what you do?
I’m obsessed with the creative process and find myself especially drawn to other creative types. I love to see how our clients implement their vision with our products.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in New Orleans, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about my love of gilt and graffiti, the rustic and the refined. And parties. I love parties.
What's your event gone wrong horror story?
I’ve learned the hard way not to sell new pieces unless they’ve actually arrived at the warehouse:) We once had an entire team waiting for a truck to pull up to our dock with a container of furniture, some destined for a local film set. Thankfully, it made it in time but I was sweating it.
What made you interested in participating in ILEA?
I LOVE fellow event professionals. We work hard, have grand visions and are really fun once the work is done. I want to continue to form strong connections in our industry.
Connect with Katie:
Instagram: @boweryandbash
LinkedIn: Katie Ernst