Inspiring Conversations with Aleu of Aloha Princess Parties

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aleu.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story started in 2009 as a fresh transplant to Los Angeles. I was eager to start my journey as an actor and performer and was looking at opportunities in theater and entertainment. I came across an ad to portray princess characters for kids’ parties and that ignited a spark for children’s storytelling and performance. The original company I worked for ended up shutting down, but I wanted to continue making that magic, so I started my own princess party company in 2011, which ended up being very successful due to the demand for underrepresented characters of varying cultural backgrounds. Fast forward to today and my company Aloha Princess Parties is still going strong. We have been lucky enough to perform our shows for a variety of diverse clients across Southern California, including some celebrities!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a business owner is very rewarding, but also very difficult. As the sole owner and manager, everything falls onto my shoulders, including hiring, training, inventory and dealing with any problems that may arise. Being a “freelance” artist is a very “feast or famine” endeavor that you cannot always predict. Some years, we have a steady string of clients and events, and some years we have a “dry season” where there are not as many events as we would like. As a freelancer and business owner, you have to be ready for the pendulum to swing either way and pivot accordingly.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Aloha Princess Parties?
Aloha Princess Parties offers character entertainment for children all across Southern California (we also now have branches on Oahu, Hawaii and in the San Francisco Bay Area!) We specialize in unique and diverse character performances that vary from princesses to superheroes to real swimming mermaids. Our performances usually include an interactive story time, live singing, games, magic shows, facepainting and balloon twisting. We are known for providing a diverse array of characters from varying backgrounds and even creating new or obscure characters based on client requests. We are very proud of our ability to make magic in a variety of ways with a diverse cast and a collection of beloved characters.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
It is very important to have a business plan when you are just starting out. A lot of people love the idea of starting their own company, but go in with no idea of how to execute their idea. I first started out by thinking of ways I could combine my love of acting, writing and performing, while also staying afloat financially. I then had many brainstorming sessions where I sat down and made notes of what it would take to achieve each goal, what supplies I would need, and how much things would cost. Collaborating with others is also a great way to get a business off the ground. Find people who have similar goals and interests as you, and find ways that you can help each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alohaprincessparties.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/alohaprincessparties
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlohaPrincessParties
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/aloha-princess-parties-los-angeles-2