Episode Summary
This episode is a special one because sometimes the people behind the lens aren’t photographers… but they are absolutely part of how the magic gets made.
I’m sitting down with my longtime friend and college choir/theatre buddy, Patrick Clayton, the creative force behind Patrick J. Clayton Productions, a bi-coastal, full-service event production company creating large-scale branded experiences across the country.
We talk about growing up in Nebraska, finding your way to New York City, building a business from a spare bedroom, and what really goes into producing events that look effortlessly.
And yes… Patrick shares a confession booth story involving an 1,100-person event he thought was happening the next day. 😅
⏱️ What We Cover (Timestamps)
[0:00] Welcome & real-life check-inQuarter four sales, world chaos, and why “just do whatever you want” sometimes feels valid.
[2:24] How Kate and Patrick know each otherDoane College (and why it will always be Doane College), choir, theatre, and lifelong creative friendships.
[7:56] Studying business while living in the artsWhy Patrick didn’t have a master plan — and how a business degree plus creativity changed everything.
[9:50] The moment he knew it was time to leave NebraskaSupportive mentors, big conversations, and choosing a bigger world.
[11:16] Moving to New York CityFashion-focused business school, retail design, visual merchandising, and learning corporate life fast.
[12:54] Working for Pret A MangerNearly a million-dollar employee experience budget — and the only job Patrick ever loved while leaving.
[13:34] Discovering event productionCreative services, entertaining instincts, and realizing this could actually be a career.
[14:28] Starting a business with three months’ rent savedWhat it looked like in the beginning — and why that leap mattered.
[17:48] What a bi-coastal production company actually doesBranded events, PR activations, pop-ups, launches, charity dinners, and nationwide logistics.
[20:49] Growing from a spare bedroom to a full floor studioContainer Store shelves, flower district studios, wood shops, and gradual growth.
[24:08] Decorating the East Wing of the White HouseHow Patrick applied, what the warehouse looks like, replica doorways, Secret Service escorts, and why it still matters.
[29:31] Being asked back as a White House docentGuiding military families and accidentally ending up in national photos.
[32:25] Rising costs, tariffs, and hard conversationsWhy flowers, plywood, wire, and ribbon affect everything — and how creatives are pivoting.
[35:30] How cost pressure impacts creativityStaying inspired while still running a business and paying the bills.
[37:07] Patrick’s creative process, step-by-stepClient calls, budgets, decks, renderings, logistics, and the “fun things vs non-fun things.”
[40:32] Why behind-the-scenes content mattersWhat people don’t see — elevators, unions, freight access, and build timing.
[43:36] Photography relationships done rightRespecting boundaries, fees, shot lists, and choosing the right photographer for the job.
[47:17] Learning what you like as a clientHorizontal vs vertical, atmosphere vs people, and trusting the experts.
[51:14] Rapid Fire Questions• Florals vs planning vs set building• Must-have production tools• Dream location (Paris 👀)• Creative style as a movie genre (hello, dramedy)
[56:16] Event Confession BoothThe 1,100-person event… on the wrong day.
[1:00:35] Fix it first, feel laterWhy compartmentalizing emotions is a survival skill in creative work.
💬 Quotes to Remember
“We make pretty things… and we also buy plywood.”
“The client shows up at 3 PM and wants the same result.”
“I’m this kid from Nebraska, carrying ornaments to the East Wing of the White House.”
“It’s amazing how good a good box cutter is — and how bad a bad one is.”
“We get irrationally excited when an event is on ground level.”
🔗 Connect with Patrick
- Website: https://www.patrickjclaytonproductions.com
