How this Founder Created the Ultimate Party Icebreaker
Meet Amanda R. Carlson
Back in the early aughts, Amanda R. Carlson was hosting a house party for 30 people who didn't know each other and needed an icebreaker. She searched high and low for a good party game but only came across murder mysteries. "It was almost tax day, April 13, so I invented a financial game called 'Parley,' and all the guests loved it," Amanda shared. In Parley, a minimum of 20 players walk around and negotiate billion-dollar deals face-to-face.
In 2020, Amanda established Fête Games, Inc. and switched up Parley's format. "I realized that I could overcome the logistics and environmental impact of manufacturing group games by offering the game pieces on mobile for players to use in-person," she said. The creative entrepreneur shared more about herself in her interview with us.
Perhaps that timing and luck play a large role in success, and by continuing to persevere, these two have a bigger chance to come into alignment with all of the new things learned, skills developed and associations made along the way.
At what point did you realize that you could turn your game idea into a business?
The 30 guests who played the original game—with #10 envelopes and slips of copy paper—were all small business owners, and after laughing and meeting each other over gameplay, they told me multiple times that I had to bring it to market.
How do you define success for your creative business?
Society-wise, it's when I start to see and hear about games being played and people having a wonderful time engaging with other people in real life. Economically, it's when people start talking about all the money they're making hosting Parley games instead of getting a job they'd rather not work. And monetarily, when people start preordering our second game on Kickstarter.
Editor's Note: People can earn money by hosting Parley games and setting charging participants a fee to play.
Where do you find inspiration?
I believe that the quality of human relationships on Earth determines the quality of life for everything on the planet. Healthy, caring relationships are therefore core to solving the world's problems. I believe that fun entertainment is the fastest and easiest way to build this connectivity and engagement at scale.
What's one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?
Perhaps that timing and luck play a large role in success, and by continuing to persevere, these two have a bigger chance to come into alignment with all of the new things learned, skills developed and associations made along the way.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start selling their art or creative product?
To bake as much value for other people into your product as possible.
What's something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?For a summer, I was a shelter caretaker on the Appalachian Trail above Franconia Notch, just below the tree line on Mt. Washington.
As creatives, we can be continuously creating and refining our art. How do you manage this?
I had to struggle with my perfectionism, but I think I've reached a better balance now. I think that things have to be as good as possible without taking extraordinary amounts of time, alienating people or costing an arm and a leg.
What's something that surprised you about running a creative business?
I'm running a creative business! I hadn't realized that my business is creative until just recently. But it is, and this has been a really joyous and freeing experience for me. One thing that has always been important in running the business is to have fun building our products and communications. I get surprised a lot that making necessary things for the business has to be creative and fun or I won't do it.
What advice would you give to someone about handling the highs and lows of running a business?
To breathe, meditate, detach a bit and observe. Find the fun and know that in the morning, after a half-decent sleep, new inspiration will definitely deliver new insights to move forward even a little.
Has someone ever criticized your work? How did you handle it?
Actually, a lot. I'm sort of hard-headed. So it takes me a bit to absorb what someone is saying sometimes, and I've definitely gotten better at slowing down, actively and purposefully trying to listen and asking questions or restating what is being said to ensure I'm on the same page. Sometimes, criticisms evolve out of not speaking the same language and not knowing that.
What's a cause you are passionate about and why?
GiGi's Playhouse is an amazing foundation with 58 and counting U.S. locations and online programming for people with Down syndrome aged 0-100 and their families. All programming is free and involves social integration, physical wellness, nutrition, life skills and education. My stepdaughter has Down syndrome and was getting depressed about a lack of a social life after moving from Arizona, where there were programs daily available to her through the state, to North Carolina, where there weren't any. GiGi's has made all the difference! GiGi's Playhouse is a nonprofit providing everything to families for free, is about to go global online and can really use donations. You can learn more at gigisplayhouse.org.
Can you share the name of a supplier or vendor that you use for your business and that you just love?
Canva.com for graphics, businessmadesimple.com for all things business and liveplan.com for business plan development.
What brings you joy?
Family and friends, the great outdoors, birds singing, breezy days, the ocean, humor, jazz, meditation, piano improv, dogs, horses and poetry.
Thanks, Amanda! You can learn more about her business at fete.games.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
