From Phoenix to Profit: Balancing Business & Adventure

Two-for-One Special: Business & Sightseeing in Phoenix

I extended my trip to Phoenix to squeeze in some sightseeing and officially check Arizona off my list. But even with the extra time, business had other plans.

Work Never Sleeps (Even on Vacation)

I planned for a slow morning, but by 4 AM, the East Coast had a three-hour head start on me. I was buried in calls and quotes from my hotel room, making it tough to break away. Finally, the 11 AM checkout forced me to get out and explore.

Botanical Gardens & Business Calls

I made my way to the botanical gardens, still taking calls here and there. I don’t mind work on the go, but the trickiest ones are the requests for items I don’t immediately have. My mind starts racing—where to source it, is it worth it, does it align with the business direction? Hard to stay present when strategy keeps creeping in.

West Coast Perks

By the time I sat down for a late lunch, the calls had slowed. One upside of being on the West Coast—by mid-afternoon, the workday is practically won.

Meeting with a Fellow Tent & Event Pro

In the afternoon, I connected with another event business owner. He’s been growing steadily for 15 years and had great insights. One key takeaway: it’s tough to hit $1M with just one vehicle. The convo also reignited my interest in adding a lift gate and finally installing E-Track in my truck. Both long overdue.

Keeping Things Running While Away

While I was gone, one of my guys handled a corporate cocktail table pickup. I usually go to every job, but I didn’t want to lose this client just because I was out of town. I paid my guy extra to handle it, which slightly lowered the profit margin. Still, keeping the client happy was worth it.

• Total Revenue: ~$700

• Job Costs: $180

• Contribution Margin: $520 (74%)

• Adjusted for Labor: $420 (60%)

Not my best margin, but acceptable for maintaining a strong relationship.

Back to Business: Tent Pickups & Installations

After catching a red-eye home, I jumped straight into action. Rain had delayed two tent pickups from Monday to Thursday, and thankfully, clients were flexible.

Wedding Tent Setup (20x30)
If you’re keeping up to date, this was my fifth trip to this location. And despite that, the client was thrilled—so much so that they offered to leave a review (note to self: follow up). Given all the back-and-forth and first-time experiences with equipment, I expected a lower return. Surprisingly, the numbers held up well.

• Total Revenue: $3,500

• Job Costs: $713

• Profit Margin: $2,787 (~80%)

Huge win, especially for a setup we don’t do often.

20x20 Tent Package (40 Guests)
A routine job, but my first time calculating profitability. Smooth execution, but the real cost was post-event cleaning—wet weather left everything filthy.

• Total Revenue: $880

• Job Costs: $200

• Profit Margin: $680 (77%)

Despite the extra cleaning time, the client’s flexibility made this job worthwhile. Now, if I can just lock in a review…

Clocking Out Early (Finally)

We were back at the warehouse by 1 PM, and I helped a customer with a last-minute dance floor rental before calling it a day. Between traveling and back-to-back jobs, I needed the rest.

Takeaways:

• Balancing work and travel is tough—business has a way of creeping in.

• Connecting with other industry pros is invaluable.

• Profitability is solid, but small adjustments (like better truck setup) could make a big difference.

• Reviews matter—time to follow up!

Back at it tomorrow. Let’s see what’s next.