We had the good fortune of connecting with Catherine Rawlings and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Catherine, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I started my business, I was at a very chaotic time in my life. I was in the throes of motherhood with a toddler and baby and they took up most of my time. I wanted something for myself and an outlet to express my creativity and nurture my talents. I went into it with the sole purpose of having fun and getting to explore my passions! I had no idea it would turn into what it has become today!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is a magical one! I run a children’s entertainment company called Fairest of All Parties providing high quality characters for parties & events throughout Houston! We are not alone in doing this, there are many similar companies in the Houston area (and I’m friends with half of them)! What makes us stand out is our commitment to quality and excellence in all that we do. We are known for having the most professional performers who look and act exactly like the characters your child loves! I am very strict in my casting process and have very high standards for our performers who are all trained in musical theatre, amazing singers & actors and wonderful with children! When you book one of our characters, you can rest assured that your event is guaranteed to be a magical experience for everyone!

We have been in business for 6 years now and have grown every year! I started my company back in 2018 as more of a hobby where I would dress up and do free princess events at the park, toy stores, for my friends’ kids, etc. It was so much fun and gave me a creative outlet where I could do what I love! It wasn’t until I took a free Business class offered by my church that things really began to take off. When I finished the course, I had a website up and running, business cards, social media accounts, a business bank account, and a list of solid, actionable goals I knew I needed to take to succeed. Pretty soon, I was working most weekends and it felt like my dream came true!

The following year Covid-19 hit and things took a significant turn. Although we could no longer do in-person parties, we branched out and went virtual! We began offering Virtual Visits, Zoom parties with a princess & Personalized Videos! We did lots of Live Storytimes and one weekend we even spent the whole day making video calls for children stuck at home. That year, we were able to branch out and had the opportunity to do virtual visits for children all over the U.S. and even different parts of the world! Our social media following grew and by the time 2021 hit we were much bigger than before! So what started out as a setback actually turned out to be the thing that helped establish my company and paved the way for more growth and opportunities.

Today, I have a cast of 16+ performers and we average about 10-20 events every week! I have taken a step back from performing (currently expecting baby #3!) and am so lucky to have an extremely talented cast of performers whom I trust to uphold the quality and professionalism I strive for. Fairest of All Parties has become bigger than I ever dreamed and I’m so grateful for all it has brought me!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in Houston definitely has a lot to offer! There are so many fun things to do here (as long as you don’t mind the heat)! We had family come out recently and took them to NASA Space Center, went boating on Lake Conroe and did lots of swimming & barbecuing! We have some of the best shops at the Houston galleria, delicious restaurants, the Houston Aquarium & Zoo, amazing theater, the Astrodome, and more! It’s such a fun place to live!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not have been able to make this dream job of mine a reality without the help of my supportive husband. Starting my company was actually his idea way back in 2015! He has always believed in me even when I had my own doubts and worries. He has taken on much of the parenting responsibility since I’m usually working most of the weekend and always does so with a positive attitude, never complaining. He is my rock and I owe my success largely to him!

Website: https://www.fairestofallparties.com

Instagram: @FairestOfAllParties

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fairestofallparties

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairestofallpartiestx/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fairest-of-all-parties-houston

Image Credits
Kelly Booth
Deven Donohue
Delight Photography
Kate Robinson Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.