Meet Brooke Brueggemeyer | Owner of Hot N’ Poppin’ Events

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

Hi Brooke, how do you think about risk?
My life has been defined by taking risks. Looking back on my 31 years, the most monumental moments in my life have always been defined by risk. The kind of risks like jumping out of an airplane for pleasure; twice. After I graduated from California State University, Fresno with my Bachelor of Art’s Degree in Liberal Studies, in a split second, I made the decision to pack up my entire life up and move halfway across the country, back to Dallas, Texas.
Once in Dallas, I received my teaching certificate. I put a couple of years under my belt as an elementary school teacher. I love kids and I love being an influential person in the life of a developing child; but, that has never been my only passion. I have always had a great love for events. I grew up in a household where my mom was constantly hosting! Our house was always lively, it was fun and festive, and always decorated for every holiday; what most would describe as, “doing the most”.
As a woman in my young 20’s, I naturally grew up with the same love for hosting; for the gathering of friends and family to celebrate someone or something, for the laughter that fills not only the room, but the souls of those there, for the show-stopping decorations, for the festive foods and beverages; I had developed a deep love for events. It was in the middle of my third year of teaching, that I took the biggest risk yet; I left the Field of Education and took a dive into the Event Industry. Unfortunately for me, four months later, the COVID pandemic hit; and as you well know, the event industry crashed. My job was lost. Talk about risk that didn’t work out, it was one of my lowest moments.
I refused to let that keep me down though. I eventually returned to teaching, as my love for kids and teaching had never died out; and after a few more years, I reached a point in my life where I thought to myself, “Why can’t I have both? Why am I only allowing myself one or the other? Why not take the risk and be successful at both?” For a while, my game was a side hustle; some side gigs here and there, just for some extra cash.This was in the middle of the Pandemic though, people were forced to host (in a safe way) their event from their own homes.
That is when my phone started ringing, when I had the idea that this could be so much more than a little “side hustle”; when my mind came back to those questions of risk. Truth be told, everything about starting your own business is a risk. Will I fail? Will I succeed? What will others think of me? Do I have the capabilities, support system, and physical means of making this dream work? My answer to all of it could not be screaming at my face any louder; the answer was YES. Was I capable? Yes. Did I have the means? Yes. Could I balance both? Yes. Did I have mentors to help guide me along this path? I absolutely did, as both of my parents, and grandparents, are successful entrepreneurs, business owners, and salesmen. I had witnessed that kind of success my whole life. I knew what it would take; the long hours, the dedication, the consistency.
So, I took the risk, and started my own event company. Taking that risk, the metaphorical “leap of faith”, was the best risk I have ever decided to take. All of the risks that I have taken in my life, has lead me here; to this interview, to a growing and successful business, and to more exposure that I could have dreamed. Take the risk, your dreams are worth it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We are our name! At Hot N’ Poppin’ Events, we help get your event Hot N’ Poppin’! We have grown, and are continuing to grow, into a “one-stop shop” event business! We offer a large variety of services and products for any and all types of events! From a multitude of different styles of balloon displays, to light-up marquee numbers and letters, custom signage (neon, wooden, and vinyl), to backdrop props and rentals, grazing tables and dessert bars; we offer a lot! A full view of our services can be found on our website www.hotnopponballoons.com. At Hot N’ Poppin’ Events, we ensure our clients their best, and easiest, experience from start to finish! I am very excited about some new services that are being dropped within this next month. These services that we have “in the works”, are absolutely going to be a game-changer!! We can’t wait to drop those so you all can find out what they are!

As a “thank-you” for your business, as our first-time customer we offer a 15% discount on your entire invoice, not just one item. We also offer discounts to our community service members such as: nurses, police officers, firefighters, teachers, military and veterans, etc. As a community service member myself, I will always want to give back what I can; as that is what we do for others every single day.

We are currently verified official vendors for many major cities such as the City of Dallas. We had the highest pleasure in having our work displayed in Dallas City Hall over the holiday season in 2023. We also work closely with major businesses such as, Bank of America, Dallas Police Association, Cookies By Design, and Painting with a Twist. We also have partnered together with School Districts such as: Plano ISD, Red Oak ISD, and Uplift Education. We specialize in large installs, so no matter how grand the dream is; we can absolutely make yours become larger than life! Big or small, we can do it all.

We are also continuing to expand on social media. Our audience is a huge factor as to why we have been so popular! The smallest interactions such as following, liking, commenting, and sharing, our social media posts truly goes a very long way! We have taken off on Facebook. Within three days of promoting our page, we went from 200 followers to over 1.1 Thousand! Help us continue to grow, by supporting this local small business and giving us a follow! Our instagram is: @hot.n.poppin.events and our Facebook is: Hot N’ Poppin’ Events. We would love for you to share along in our journey with us!

All in all, Hot N’ Poppin’ Events is a small business in the event industry. We are growing and have the highest dreams for our-self and our customers. I am so incredibly proud, humbled, and in awe of where Hot N’ Poppin’ Events is at, of where I am at. I never, in a million years thought I would wake up one morning with an email asking for this interview. “My story” isn’t something that I think about on a daily basis. In fact, if I’m being honest, it’s something that for a long time, I liked to avoid thinking about. At 31 this is not what I had pictured for myself; but my oh my, I am so thankful that my reality has become better than my initial dreams of where I would be. This interview has brought me to tears; looking back at my story, the risks, the failures, the triumphs, the liberation; I am very proud of where I’m at now and who I have grown to be. All of the challenges, set-backs, the invisible chains that were so hard to break; all of the struggles, they have all been worth it. If I could do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing, because Hot N’ Poppin’ Events, is where it’s at!!

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?
Texas truly has it all! If I was planning a week long trip in Texas there are so many things I would want to do! I would definitely srart by taking a drive down to San Antonio; sight-seeing and experiencing the river-walk. I would then make our way up to the San Marcos River and spend a day floating, roasting away in the sun. We would spend a day in Austin, listening to all of their amazing live music and eating their fantastic foods. Dallas is the place to be when it comes to shopping! We would have to spend a day, shopping til we drop! There is so much to do in the DFW metroplex. I would spend the remainder of the week within the surrounding cities doing anything and everything! The possibilties are endless. We would absolutely spend one of the mornings at brunch which would turn into lunch, and a fun outing afterwards. There wouldn’t be much time to rest; truly, a week in Texas isn’t near enough!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I truly have been blessed with the support system I have in my life. From family, to friends, co-workers, employees, and customers; I feel like I have it all!

My parents have been a huge support system in my life. Not only do they have successful business experiences to mentor me in; but their love and dedication to my happiness and success has never not been anything other than blaringly evident. Thank you for your unyielding guidance and support. It never goes unnoticed. I couldn’t do this without you. I love you.

Luckily for me, I have a large family; and every member of my immediate family has been supportive in numerous ways. From praise and encouragement, to purchasing products, social media support, watching my dogs during event prep, and letting me go absolutely wild with the showers we’ve thrown; they’ve been there for it all, from the beginning. My thank-you’s will never be enough.

Through the new venture the last four years, I have made many new friendships; and through that has been an on-pour of love and support. Of course, there are also the friends who have been here since my journey first began when I moved to Dallas almost 8 years ago. They have been by my side; through all of my peaks and all of my valleys. In my vocabulary, “friend” is the definition of family; and I am the luckiest woman to be blessed with the wonderful, cherished, and loved friends that I have. Thank you for standing by me in all of my seasons.

I would also love to shout-out my coworkers! I am still a full-time Special Education Teacher. There are days when I have to take leave from my classroom and students, because I have an event/install. They have been nothing short of supportive! They encourage me, cheer me on, want to hear about every job, they pray over my business, and continuously lift me up. They know that growing my business is, in short, growing myself. My personal goals align with my “big picture”, long-term professional goals. Without their support and encouragement my life would feel very “split”, very “this or that”, instead of what it really is; ME. All of it, education and events; they and I, are one in the same. Thank you all for your constant cheers of support!

To all of my customers and long-term clients. You all are the reason I have a business in a first place! You are our “why”. Seeing the joy, laughter, and lasting memories that our services help bring to an event, is why we do this. We love spreading joy and memories, in any way that we can! The trust that you place in myself and my team to execute your vision with precision, gives us the drive to make sure everything is perfect!! We don’t leave until there is a smile on your face, and that is something we have always, and will continue to, stand firm in. To the clients who decided to give me a try, and the clients who have been repeat customers; you all mean the world to myself and my team! Thank you for helping us get to where we are today; because of you, this dream, being able to provide for more than myself, has now become more than just my own reality.

Lastly, (but certainly not least!) I want to shout out my team! Katherine, bringing you into Hot N’ Poppin’ was one of the easiest, and best decisions I could have ever made. Growing this business by myself, as a single woman, with another full-time career, was (and still is) HARD; but adding you to the team has done so, so much for not only HNP, but for myself as a person as well. You instill an extra drive in myself to be my best, and in turn Hot N’ Poppin’ has been thriving. Not only did you immediately take to the art that is “balloon-ing” but you also brought your own personal culinary love to this business and helped us go from Hot N’ Poppin’ Balloons, to Hot N’ Poppin’ Events. Thank you for constantly providing inspiration, love, critique, and a whole lot of fun, to work! Mady, when I saw your work, I knew I had to have you! You were the missing puzzle piece to our trio. You have not only provided amazing balloon displays; but you help me tackle all things admin! Growing this business continues to soar because we have you. Thank you for your creativity, your OCD, your fully charged energy, your laughter, your amazing signage skills, and more. You have without a doubt, elevated our HNP game. Thank you both for the drop of the hat tasks, the constant desire to continue learning, and the love for what we do!

I could not have gotten where I am without every single one of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all!

Website: https://www.hotnpoppinballoons.com

Instagram: @hot.n.poppin.events

Facebook: @ Hot N’ Poppin’ Events