The Party Princess Podcast

For years, the character entertainment industry has debated the same question: What’s more important—looking the part or loving kids? In this episode of The Party Princess Podcast , I’m sharing why I believe we’ve been asking the wrong question all along. Families deserve more than a beautiful costume.  They deserve more than good intentions. They deserve both. Whether you’re a company owner, perf...

Things I Wish I Knew Before Taking Over The Party Palace When I purchased The Party Palace in January 2020, I thought I knew what I was getting into. After all, I had managed the company for years. Then just weeks later, the world shut down. In this episode, I’m sharing the biggest lessons I’ve learned from taking over one of the longest-running character entertainment companies in the country. Fr...

What is it REALLY like running a princess and character entertainment company behind the scenes? 👑✨ In this episode of the Party Princess Podcast, Lelah Clifford sits down with Michaela Vivona, owner of A Dream Is A Wish Parties LLC in New York, for a fun, honest, and sometimes spicy conversation about the character entertainment industry. Whether you’re a performer, business owner, cosplayer, p...

This week’s episode is a little more personal and a lot less polished. After a difficult couple of weeks filled with bad news, sickness, burnout, and trying to balance life behind the scenes, I wanted to sit down and have a real conversation about what people don’t see behind running a character entertainment company. In this episode, I’m talking about:  ✨ burnout in creative industries  ✨ the p...

Are cosplay and professional princessing the same thing? They might look similar—but they are very different. In this episode of the Party Princess Podcast, we’re having an honest (and respectful) conversation about the key differences between cosplay and professional character work—and why those differences matter in the event and entertainment industry. From creative freedom to professional stan...

If you’re running a character entertainment company and struggling with training your team… this episode is for you. In this episode of The Party Princess Podcast, I’m breaking down exactly how I run training inside my company—from my once-a-year mandatory training day to optional workshops throughout the year. We’re talking structure, expectations, and how to create a consistent, professional tea...

What really goes into a “one-hour party”? In this episode of the Party Princess Podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the character entertainment industry and having a real, honest conversation about what happens behind the scenes—from both the business owner perspective and the performer experience. If you’ve ever heard, “It’s just an hour…”—this episode is for you. We’re diving into:  ✨ Th...

Let’s talk about the side of the party princess industry that nobody wants to talk about… but everyone NEEDS to. In this episode, we’re diving into the legal and structural side of running your business—because creating magic is one thing, but protecting it is another. We’re covering: ✨ Contracts (for BOTH clients and performers) ✨ Non-competes & protecting your brand ✨ Why having everythin...

Comparison is something we all face… especially in an industry where we’re constantly surrounded by others doing similar work. In this episode of the Party Princess Podcast, we’re having a real and honest conversation about what comparison actually does—not just to your confidence, but to your creativity, your mindset, and your ability to lead your business well. It’s so easy to look around and fe...

Burnout in this industry is real… and it’s not talked about enough. In this episode, I’m getting completely honest about what burnout actually looks like as a business owner in the character entertainment industry—the late nights, the pressure of being a one-woman show, and the emotional weight of constantly showing up for others while running on empty. I’m sharing personal experiences from my own...

Everyone says “ winners never quit .” But the truth in business? Winners quit all the time. They quit systems that don’t work. They quit habits that create stress. They quit expectations that no longer serve their business. In this episode of The Party Princess Podcast , I’m sharing some of the things I stopped doing in my company that actually made it stronger — from removing free extras to setti...

Running a business with heart is beautiful… but it can also be painful. In creative industries like character entertainment, teams often become more than coworkers — they become family. We celebrate together, get ready together, travel together, and build something meaningful side by side. But what happens when leadership requires boundaries? In this episode, I’m sharing one of the hardest lessons...

If you’re a character company owner, children’s entertainer, princess performer, or creative entrepreneur — this episode is your reset. In this powerful start-of-the-year conversation, I’m breaking down what it really means to take back your company — your leadership, your systems, your pricing, your standards, and your confidence. We’re talking about: ✨ Building smarter booking systems (includin...

In this short introduction episode, I’m sharing why The Party Princess Podcast exists — and why the party princess and children’s entertainment industry deserves a higher standard. If you’ve ever minimized what you do by saying “I just do princess parties,” this episode is your shift. This podcast is for performers and company owners who are ready to treat their magic like a real business — with s...