Founder Interview With Ryan Criswell, Cute Story Events
Photo Credit: Ryan Criswell
Ryan Criswell, the creative force behind Cute Story Events, invites us into their world of event planning. Starting their career at the front desk of a Hilton hotel, Ryan honed their organizational skills that would later help them navigate planning large events. Their career pivoted during South by Southwest, where Ryan's involvement in coordinating over 450 volunteers amplified their desire to plan large events. This experience was further enriched during the pandemic when Ryan collaborated with a production agency to pioneer virtual and hybrid events nationwide.
Driven by a desire to offer tailored experiences, Ryan founded Cute Story Events as a testament to their dedication to inclusivity and community. Their journey is not just about planning events but also about embracing their identity as a queer and non-binary professional in a field where authenticity and creativity thrive.
Join us as Ryan shares insights into their entrepreneurial path, the challenges they've overcome, and their vision for the future of event planning.
Can you walk us through your professional journey and how you got to where you are today?
When I was younger, I had all sorts of aspirations, like becoming a rock star, an actor, or even a detective for the CIA. I actually did some acting as a kid. I appeared on Rescue 911 and even in a funeral home commercial. However, I eventually lost interest in acting. So my dad suggested that I look into event planning because of my organizational skills.
One of my first jobs was working at the front desk at a Hilton hotel. I loved being able to meet new people every single day. I tried out different departments, working as a room service server, concierge, sales admin, and eventually event manager. I realized I loved seeing everything come together from paper plans to real-life events, which seemed like a natural fit for my detail-oriented mind. Meanwhile, I was also volunteering for South by Southwest and learning the ropes of festival planning. This led to managing the largest crew of over 450 volunteers in more than 10 venues across two weeks. Then, during the pandemic, I worked with a production agency to plan and produce virtual and hybrid events all over the United States.
While looking for full-time event planning work, I interviewed with an awesome event company and was very excited about the opportunity. After the fourth interview, they decided to hire another person. While I was bummed, it inspired me to start my own company. I felt I was no longer in a place where I needed to convince a company to hire me. That same week, I created my website and began looking for clients. I’m honestly astonished at how quickly my business has grown, not because I haven't put in the work, but because I didn’t know there were so many people who needed an event planner. Now I'm honored to partner with inclusive, queer business owners.
What do you love about event planning?
My favorite part of event planning is definitely the planning itself. While I know that no event ever goes exactly according to plan, I find fulfillment in the process of preparation and organization. For me, having all the tiny details meticulously arranged gives me confidence that the event will unfold as smoothly as possible, even amid the inevitable surprises that come with live events.
I thrive on the process of creating detailed agendas and timelines—all meticulously color-coded and planned out. I also enjoy the dynamic nature of events where things can shift at a moment's notice—a speaker might cancel, a session might run long, or there might be a sudden change in schedule. I love making sure every detail is covered, from linking presentations to spreadsheets to coordinating with vendors and speakers. It's like orchestrating a symphony, where every part needs to work together seamlessly.
Photo Credit: Ryan Criswell
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your journey as an event planner, and how did you overcome it?
I think education and resources are the biggest challenges. When you're starting a business on your own for the first time, you have no idea what you're doing or what you're missing or the best answer for problems. The best thing I did was connect with my local small business community through organizations that provided business training, joining the Chamber of Commerce, and attending meetups I found on social media.
The support in the community is strong and collaborative, which makes everything a little less scary and it helps you celebrate your wins more.
If you could give one piece of advice to future LGBTQ+ event planners, what would it be?
Don't be afraid to show your true self! Embrace and share your unique view with your community. In the beginning, I hesitated to explicitly mention my identity as a queer and non-binary event planner. I thought maybe clients would pick up on it through my pronouns and bio. However, I quickly realized the power of embracing my identity openly.
Two clients approached me specifically because they saw that I was part of the queer community and actively wanted to support queer-owned businesses. Even though their events weren't specifically queer, they valued working with someone who understood and respected their values. This experience showed me that there are clients actively seeking to support businesses like mine, where inclusivity and understanding are foundational.
So it was a pivotal moment for me when I decided to boldly state my identity as a queer event planner in my bio and communications. This simple action not only lifted a weight off my shoulders but also connected me with clients who share my values and respected my identity without needing an explanation.
Photo Credit: Ryan Criswell
How does being openly queer inspire or impact your business?
I love the freedom it gives me to work with/support inclusive allies and queer clients. I also think being queer makes me more fun and creative because our community is so inspiring, but I'm biased, of course!
Like I mentioned before, I've been pleasantly surprised to find that there are clients and collaborators actively seeking to support the LGBTQ+ community. For instance, I recently connected with someone planning a doula conference who is also non-binary. They specifically reached out because they wanted to work with someone who understands our community and its unique needs.
It's been incredibly affirming to know that there are people out there who not only acknowledge but actively seek out queer professionals like myself for their projects.
What brands or services by LGBTQ+ founders are your go-to's and why?
Jake of Functions and Gatherings inspired me to be myself in my brand and welcomed me into the event planning community with open arms. Amelia from The Great Surprisal is a huge inspiration for me, she plans amazing out-of-the-box experiences while supporting small business owners.
Who is your favorite LGBTQ+ celebrity?
I love Jinkx Monsoon. She can sing, perform, act, do comedy, and always stands up for what's right. I get to see her perform in Chicago soon and I’m so excited!
Can you share one fun fact about yourself?
I acted when I was younger and I was in two episodes of Rescue 911 as a kid! One episode, "Car Surfing Girl," is about a girl who thought it was cool to ride on the hood of a car, so she tried it while her older sister was driving in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, she hit a bump, slid under the car, and got her knee stuck. They didn't have to amputate, but it was quite an intense scene. We had a mannequin of her with a fake burned knee in the prop room, which was pretty surreal.
