Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Wisley.
Hi Amanda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started Bubbles Productions back in 2010, but the funny thing is, I did not start out planning to build a children’s entertainment company.
At the time, I was working as a government contractor processing contracts for the government. It was steady work, but I quickly realized it was not mentally stimulating for me. I needed something more creative, more energetic, and honestly, more fun. Eventually I put in my two months’ notice without knowing exactly what I was going to do next. I just knew I needed to take a leap toward something that felt more like me.
Back in 2010, Craigslist was still very much a thing, so I started looking there for opportunities. I came across a company that needed people to wear mascot costumes, face paint, and balloon twist. It immediately caught my attention because, in a way, it connected back to things I had already done throughout my life.
My face painting experience actually started when I was in third grade, back in 1993. I face painted for school events and later for different Girl Scout events. I also had experience wearing costumes. In 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, I was the Easter Bunny at Capitol Plaza Mall, which was a very popular mall in the 90s, though it no longer exists. Through Girl Scouts, we would wear the Easter Bunny costume, and the Girl Scout moms would take the pictures while families came to the mall for photos. I absolutely loved doing that. It was fun, playful, and it made people happy.
Then when I went to Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland, I became the school mascot, the Roadrunner. So without realizing it at the time, I had already been building the foundation for this business since childhood. Face painting, costumes, interacting with children and families, bringing characters to life, it was all already part of my story.
The only thing I really had to learn was balloon twisting, and thankfully, that came pretty naturally to me. I started working for that first company and then picked up work with another company as well. But I quickly noticed that the main company I was working with was not very professional. They would book events and then often not show up with everything they promised, or sometimes barely show up at all. There were events where the clients were expecting multiple entertainers, characters, and activities, and then the only person who arrived was me.
That was really hard for me to watch. I would see the disappointment on the clients’ faces, especially when it involved children’s parties or special events. These were moments families had planned and looked forward to. I realized very quickly that this industry needed people who cared about reliability just as much as creativity.
Within the first several months, I decided I should start doing this on my own. I began buying costumes, training other people, learning the business side, and building a team. Very quickly, Bubbles Productions was born.
From there, we hit the ground running and honestly have never stopped. Over the years, we have done everything from small birthday parties and community events to large corporate, school, holiday, and venue events. We have provided face painting, balloon twisting, characters, mascots, bubble entertainment, concessions, and so many other fun services.
What started as me leaving a job that did not feel right turned into a business built around joy, creativity, and showing up for people. I think that has always been the heart of Bubbles Productions. We are not just providing entertainment. We are helping create memories. Whether it is a child meeting the Easter Bunny, getting their face painted for the first time, watching a giant bubble float over their head, or seeing their favorite character walk into a party, those moments matter.
And for me, that is still the magic of it. I get to do work that is colorful, creative, unpredictable, and full of life, and I get to bring that joy to other people. Bubbles Productions really grew out of a leap of faith, a little Craigslist luck, and a lifelong love of making people smile.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has mostly been a really positive one, and I feel very grateful that Bubbles Productions has continued to grow and evolve over the years. But like with any business, it has definitely come with obstacles and lessons along the way.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it is absolutely impossible to make 100% of people happy 100% of the time. Of course, we always try our best. We care deeply about the events we’re part of, and we want every client and every child to have a wonderful experience. But sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned, and sometimes even when a lot of effort has gone into something, not everyone will be happy with the outcome.
That has taught me the importance of giving myself grace. As a business owner, especially in an industry built around parties, joy, and special memories, you can put a lot of pressure on yourself to make everything perfect. But real life does not always work that way. There are weather issues, traffic issues, last-minute changes, communication challenges, and just the normal unpredictability that comes with live events.
There is also a lot more behind the scenes than people might realize. It is not all costumes, face paint, balloons, bubbles, and fun party moments. There are emails, invoices, scheduling, staffing, planning, ordering supplies, maintaining costumes, handling client questions, and making sure every detail is in place. The workload can get very heavy at times, especially during busy seasons.
But overall, it has been a really fun and meaningful journey. Even with the challenges, I still love what we do. We are constantly learning, improving, and growing. The obstacles have helped shape the business and have made me better at what I do. At the end of the day, as long as the vast majority of clients are happy, children are smiling, and we are continuing to show up and do our best, then I know we are doing something right.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Bubbles Productions is a children’s entertainment company serving the D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia area. We offer a wide variety of entertainment services for parties, schools, corporate events, community events, restaurants, festivals, and large-scale celebrations.
My personal forte has always been face painting. That was really my first love in this industry, and it goes all the way back to when I was a child. I love the creativity of it, the color, the detail, and the way something as simple as face paint can completely light up a child’s face. There is something really special about watching a child look in the mirror and suddenly feel like a butterfly, a superhero, a tiger, or a princess.
Our biggest niche as a company, though, is mascot characters. We have over 300 mascot costumes, which makes us one of the main sources for mascot characters in the D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia area. We have more mascot options than any other local company I’m aware of, and many other entertainment companies rent costumes from us when they receive requests for characters they do not personally have. That is something I am very proud of because it has taken years of collecting, investing, maintaining, organizing, and building that side of the business.
Beyond face painting and mascots, we also offer balloon twisting, bubble shows, mascot telegrams, henna art, caricature artists, glitter tattoos, airbrush tattoos, hair tinsel, magicians, clowns, stilt walkers, and many other specialty entertainers. I always joke that if a client asks me for something and I can figure out how to get it done, I will do my best to make it happen. That flexibility has allowed the business to keep growing and evolving over the years.
What I am most proud of is that Bubbles Productions has become a trusted resource for so many different kinds of events. We have done small birthday parties in backyards, large public events, corporate events, holiday events, restaurant events, school events, and everything in between. I love that we can bring joy to so many different spaces.
I think what sets us apart is a combination of variety, communication, and heart. We offer a huge range of services, but I also put a lot of focus on setting expectations clearly, answering questions, and making sure clients feel taken care of from the first message to the day of the event. Good communication is a huge part of running a successful event business.
I also believe very strongly in treating my main staff members well. Many of them feel like family to me, and I truly believe that when you treat your team with respect and appreciation, it shows in the work they do. Happy entertainers create better experiences for clients and guests. The people representing your business matter, and I am very proud of the team and relationships I have built over the years.
At the end of the day, what we do is not just about costumes, balloons, face paint, or bubbles. It is about creating moments that people remember. It is about making children feel special, helping families celebrate milestones, and bringing a little extra magic into events. That is what Bubbles Productions is known for, and that is what I am most proud of.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me in my business is, first and foremost, my staff. The people who have been loyal to me, supported me, and helped build Bubbles Productions over the years are incredibly important to me. They are not just people who work with me. Many of them feel like family.
I truly believe that when you treat your team well, it creates a stronger business. When staff members feel valued, respected, and appreciated, they are more motivated, more reliable, and more invested in the work they do. In an event-based business, your team is everything. They are the ones showing up, interacting with children and families, representing the company, and helping create the memories that clients are hoping for.
A very close second would be my clients. Many of our clients have also become friends and feel like family. We have worked with some families, venues, companies, and organizations for years, and those relationships mean a lot to me. It is very rewarding when people trust us to be part of their special events again and again.
Overall, what matters most to me is clear communication, trust, and helping bring people’s ideas to life. Whether it is a child’s birthday party, a school event, a corporate celebration, a holiday event, or a large community festival, people usually come to us with a vision. Sometimes it is simple, and sometimes it is elaborate. I love being able to help take that vision and turn it into something real.
At the heart of it, this business is about people. It is about taking care of my staff, taking care of my clients, and creating experiences that feel joyful, organized, and memorable. That is what matters most to me, because without the people behind it and the people we serve, the business would not be what it is.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://BubblesProductions.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BubblesProductions
