Meet Lane and Lani Bidlack | Handyman and Event Planner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lane and Lani Bidlack and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lane and Lani, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
We started our podcast during “The ‘Vid”Season, when the world was quarantined to their homes. We thought “We have interesting thoughts and conversations, let’s record it!” I would have to speak for the both of us here when I say that starting our own businesses was scary, and that we just had to take the leap! Outside of the podcast, Lani runs a wedding rental business, and also a balloon art business that caters to parties and events of all different sizes in Partydreams Toledo. I work as a handyman, doing all sorts of different projects, which I basically learned to do from YouTube for each project. So waking up every day and not knowing what you’re going to be doing, plus having to learn new skills to complete the task, is a very scary thing. We both feel that it beats being told that you’re only allowed to take one vacation a year for all your hard work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For our podcast, what sets us apart, and what we are most proud of, is that we let people come on our show and truly explain their story and point of view. We feel that in this day and age, everyone has their soundbite, elevator pitch story, that is only so deep. Plus, we believe that no one TRULY listens to anyone anymore when they are speaking- they are sitting on their own retort, and we hate that. We try to push past that and get to know our guests better, and have them explain their story more than just a topical conversation. Lani- outside of the podcast, the business climb as an entrepreneur is full of false summits, but rewarding nonetheless. The pride of taking on whatever task is presented to you, and figuring it out, makes you feel very accomplished in your life. My former career was full of belittlement and a lot of spinning my tires regarding an increase in pay and respect. People know that they’re getting an honest deal, and definitely all of me in my creations that I provide to them. I’m still learning for sure, but everything is all on me, and that was a hard thing to adjust to in the beginning.
Lane- I pride myself on being on time, actually finishing a job that I have quoted, and being thorough and polite in the process. Those may sound like qualities that everyone should have, but in the Handyman world, it is amazing how hard those qualities are to come by. The hardest thing for me is getting my name out there- as is the problem with the podcast. We are strictly on a word of mouth basis for our show, and that is how my handyman work is also promoted.
If I had one regret, but I would not have arrived to that regret had I not left my job, it would be to maintain my income with my 9 to 5 while I worked my side hustle a bit longer so that I could fund it properly.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Boy, on this question, we have to plead semi-ignorant. We really don’t get out that much considering that our entrepreneur tasks take up a good amount of our time, and our children, seven and 10, take up much of the remainder of our time. However, when we do get out for a nice meal, we like to visit Element 112 And Chef, Chris Nixon. For a casual evening, either with the kids, or without, we like to visit Inside The Five.
We don’t proclaim ourselves to be “duds,” per se- it’s more that we are really tired!
Lane enjoys a good bourbon, and/or mixed drink, and Lani enjoys a seasonal beer and/or an occasional wine. it’s almost guaranteed that when the waitress returns to our table, she will place the “manly drink” in front of Lani! We find it amusing…

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Lane- I would like to give a shout out to all of the motivational and inspirational gurus on YouTube, first and foremost. Without their constant encouragement being pumped into my ears on a daily basis, I don’t feel that I could’ve had the courage to leave my position as a personal trainer and move into the world of working for myself. I would also like to send a shout out to my wife- she is the one that allowed me to take that leap, only to watch me bounce off the rocks on the way down, as she patiently waited at the bottom for me. Lani- I would like to send a shout out to the entrepreneur and content-creator in The Bright Balloon Podcast’s Sara Meyer. She has been like a virtual mentor for me, both in business and in balloon creation aspects. It’s important to have someone to follow, especially in the beginning of your journey, so that you may see at least one path that has gone the right way, and one that you wish to follow.

Website: PartydreamsToledo.com

Instagram: Allthethingswithlaneandlani PartydreamsToledo Pictureitprojects

Facebook: All the things…with Lane and Lani Partydreams Toledo Picture-it Projects

Youtube: Lane and Lani