Meet Monica McKendrick | 360 Video/Photo Booth Owner

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

Hi Monica, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Being a working professional, entrepreneur, and involved in various non-profit organizations (Board Member for One Albany, LLC and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.) and volunteering in the community, it can very easily become a work/work balance if you let it. There are times when I am solely focused on work, day in and day out, moving from one job to the next. I don’t think that’s bad sometimes, as you must put in the work to be successful. However, it’s important to have a work/life balance as well. Everyone needs time to disconnect from work, decompress and have time to focus on themselves and/or family and friends.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Although I have a full-time job as an Engineer in addition to owning Party Central ATL, I have always had a desire to become an entrepreneur and start my own business. The idea of Party Central ATL, specifically, came about when my sister was planning a college graduation party for my niece in December of 2021. I was helping her locate vendors for various party items, and it was somewhat difficult to find certain things that weren’t outrageously priced. Coupled with my belief in simply celebrating life itself and creating memories, I wanted to see how I could assist others that would one day be planning events of their own. Currently at Party Central ATL we offer 360 Photo Booth rental services for all types of events – weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, corporate events, etc. We bring the fun for your guests to enjoy! In the future we hope to expand into other areas that will also help your event be a success.

Since becoming an entrepreneur, I can tell you that it’s not always easy and it can require a lot of your time; however, it can be very rewarding as well. The freedom, satisfaction and flexibility are all things that I have enjoyed throughout this process so far.

One of the lessons I’ve learned along the way is to just do it and to not be afraid to take risks. Taking risks is a part of life, and although it can be scary, it’s a necessary component as an entrepreneur. There will be some uncertainty at times and one doesn’t always know the outcome of every decision made. Risks can be very rewarding and likewise there will be some that are realized. However, both are opportunities for a business owner to learn and grow. I’ve taken many risks in life and in my career over the years. Some worked out for me and were very favorable and there were some that didn’t pan out how I preferred. But that’s ok! In those moments I was able to learn so much and apply that learning to future efforts.

What sets Party Central ATL apart is providing professional and quality service to my clients and doing what I say I’m going to do. Those things have also been the most important factors behind my success. These are lost skills that are often the differentiator between getting booked for an event or not. A lot of my business opportunities come about via word of mouth from others, therefore, it is important to me that I provide the best experience possible for my clients and their guests.

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?

I would suggest that they definitely do all of the touristy things that makes Atlanta, Atlanta. Go to the World of Coca-Cola, the Aquarium and the College Football Hall of Fame. I would also suggest visiting the King Center, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birth home and the Atlanta University Center – home of 4 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). For outdoor activities, they could take a walk or bike ride on the Belt Line and/or around Truist Park, visit Piedmont Park for hopefully a festival or concert, and/or go hiking at Cochran Mills Park or Sweetwater Creek State Park.

I love food so eating is high on the list of things I would suggest to do. There are many restaurants in the metro Atlanta area and some of my favorite go to spots are Gocha’s Breakfast Bar,  Nouveau Bar and Grill, Slutty Vegan, and Poor Calvin’s.  For a nice chill spot in the evenings, I would recommend Studio Cigar Lounge.

Lastly, I love sports so catching a game is always a great idea if the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta United or Atlanta Braves are playing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents for sure, for instilling in me confidence, dedication and drive to work hard for everything. I’d also like to recognize my family and close knit circle of friends as they have truly supported me in this venture, volunteering their time and expertise to assist me, when needed.

Website: www.partycentralatl.com

Instagram: @partycentral_atl

Facebook: Party Central ATL