What if the best event training for kids comes from the world of high-end hospitality? We sit down with Gina Maez, the heart behind Little Hands Play Studio in Old Town Fort Collins, to explore how a veteran bartender and event pro reimagined a space designed for preschoolers first—safe, creative, and genuinely fun. From cape-making and slime labs to stomp-rocket launches, Gina shows how a child-first approach can be both calm and electric, giving little kids room to experiment while feeling like the most important person in the room.
We trace her path from 2 a.m. load-outs to morning sensory trays, and why that pivot matters for parents looking beyond trampoline parks. Gina makes a compelling case that toddlers can do far more than we assume when given the right materials, structure, and encouragement. She also opens up about building a business with authenticity: no paid clicks, just community partnerships, loyal families, and thoughtful programs tailored to real life—Friday homeschool sessions, school break camps, and on-site preschool enrichment that lets caregivers breathe.
There’s a deeper current here, too. Gina shares a personal story of loss that reshaped her priorities and boundaries, grounding the studio in purpose and presence. The result is a Fort Collins hub where creativity, early childhood development, and hospitality polish meet: Instagram-worthy birthdays with Vegas flair, sensory-rich projects that build skills, and a culture that treats each child with dignity and delight.
If you’re a parent, educator, or community builder curious about nurturing young kids through art, sensory play, and connection, this conversation offers practical ideas and a refreshing ethos. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs inspiration, and leave a review to help more families find a creative home in Fort Collins.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Nick George.
SPEAKER_02 (00:11):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a children'sart studio, arts and crafts, and
a lot more?
More of like a play studio.
Well, one might be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the great pleasureof introducing Gina Mays from
Little Hands Play Studio.
Gina, how's it going?
SPEAKER_00 (00:28):
Hi, Nick.
Doing great.
Thanks.
Thanks for having me on today.
How are you?
SPEAKER_02 (00:32):
Excellent.
We're glad to have you on today.
Tell us all about your business.
SPEAKER_00 (00:37):
Yeah, absolutely.
So we have been in theentrepreneurial space in
northern Colorado for about 15years now, more in the event
side of things, a lot of prettyhigh-end, big-scale bartending.
And I have a three-year-old now.
So we pivoted a little bit,though we're still doing all of
the big weddings and big eventsin town.
(00:57):
We are focusing a part of ourday on children.
So we have an art studio now inOld Town Fort Collins.
We're really convenientlylocated right on college, uh
just south of Laporte.
Um and yeah, it's awesome.
We work with children of allages, but we really specialize
in preschool age kiddos, so agestwo and a half through about
(01:20):
six.
Um, I was just kind of noticingas a parent that there wasn't a
place that the young guys couldkind of call their own.
Um, I'm definitely a helicoptermom.
So the first time we took him tothe bigger, like urban jumping
trambling places, I told myhusband, he's gonna break his
neck.
Oh my gosh, like there's no waywe can be here.
So we really wanted to dosomething fun and social, uh,
(01:42):
definitely for the littlekiddos.
So, though all children um inelementary school are welcome,
we do a lot of really fun stufffor the young ones.
SPEAKER_02 (01:49):
I agree about the jumping park.
I get hurt there every time Igo, and so do my kids.
That probably doesn't happen atyour place.
How did how did you get intothis business?
SPEAKER_00 (01:59):
Uh, you know, it really just we wanted to do more
with kids.
Um, like I said, I've been inthe event space in northern
Colorado for quite a long time.
I've been in the hospitalityspace for a very long time.
Um, hitting, oh gosh, I don'twant to put my age on display
here, but we're hitting about 25years in the hospitality space.
So as you can imagine, I'm agingand the back starting to hurt a
(02:23):
little bit more in those 2 a.m.
Uh, they they don't come offlike they used to.
So uh I was ready to get out ofthe bartending space and more
into a kid-friendly world.
Um, and there was a need for itin Northern Colorado.
So we've really been enjoyingourselves.
We're really highly involved inthe community.
Um so it felt like a good fitfor us.
So not only has it beenchallenging and exciting in all
(02:46):
the ways that entrepreneurshipalways is, but it's been
particularly rewarding because Ihave a little guy that can also
enjoy it with his mom.
SPEAKER_02 (02:53):
Awesome.
I do too at home.
It's a different world.
SPEAKER_00 (02:57):
Um, Nick, a loud world.
I didn't realize how loud theseguys were.
It's very loud.
unknown (03:04):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (03:07):
That's true.
SPEAKER_02 (03:09):
Um, what are some myths or misconceptions in what
you do in your industry?
SPEAKER_00 (03:15):
Well, you know, I think before becoming a parent,
I would say it's maybe notgiving the young ones as much
credit as they deserve.
Um, so my little guy startedsoccer at about 18 months.
I'm a first-time parent, youknow, so going out there, I
thought, well, this is gonna belike hurting cats.
I mean, they're cuter than heckin their uniforms.
So I did it for the uniform, youknow, it was cute.
(03:38):
But I said, Oh, you know, whatgood are we gonna get out of
this other than running out someenergy?
And I'll tell you, by the secondpractice, those little guys were
stopping the ball.
And so we do it with mightykicks.
I'll share that because Jeremy'sabsolutely awesome and we love
the program.
Um, but yeah, by lesson two,they were stopping the ball with
(03:58):
one foot and learning how toscore a goal and cheering on
their teammates.
And really, just week afterweek, I really saw the
progression.
And I thought, wow, I justdidn't give these kiddos enough
credit.
You know, they're young andthey're learning, but their
bodies and their minds arelittle sponges.
And I was just taken back by howincredible they are.
(04:19):
You know, not only are theycuter than heck in their
uniforms, but they are they'relittle athletes and they're
little scholars.
And I think the misconception isI think that they can do a lot
more than we give them creditfor sometimes.
And I think if you just let themplay, they can show you a lot
more than what you thought theywere capable of.
SPEAKER_02 (04:38):
Give us a window into a day in the life of uh
Little Hands Play Studio.
SPEAKER_00 (04:42):
Sure.
Um, so we actually do a lot intown.
We're multifaceted.
So not only do we have thestudio right there in Old Town
where kids can come up and takea class.
We work with a lot of homeschoolparents that do uh a program
through us on Fridays.
But not only that, we do reallyfun.
So when the kids are out ofschool, they can come in and do
a camp with us to keep thementertained while mom and dad
(05:04):
are at work.
We do enrichment programs with alot of the preschools and
daycares in town.
So it gives their caretakers amoment to kind of take a breath
and you know eat a quick bananawhile we're entertaining the
kids.
Um and the kids really, reallylook forward to it.
As soon as we walk in the door,everyone's excited and yelling
and happy to see our teachers.
(05:24):
So that one's super fun.
Um, and then the part that we'rethe most excited about is here
shortly, we're going to startdabbling into the children's
event space.
So doing um a lot of really fundirect-to-you birthday parties.
So everything from charactercape making to slime making to
just your regularrun-of-the-mill art classes.
(05:46):
But I my background is LasVegas, so of course there's
going to be some glitz and someglamour, not just kiddo stuff.
Very Instagram worthy and veryfun.
But like I said, we've had a lotof years in the event space and
we're ready to take on thekiddos and make sure they have a
great time.
SPEAKER_02 (06:03):
How do you market yourself now?
And who's your target parent orkids?
SPEAKER_00 (06:10):
You know, Nick, I'll tell you that's a tough one for
me as a small business owner.
I truly believe in authenticityand I believe in old school
values, you know, doing what'sright, not what's easy.
And a handshake deal, you know,surmounts everything.
And I think I just have a hardtime kind of buying on to the
(06:31):
new age, paying for clicks andbuying this and buying that.
And I'm sure it's a great wayfor tech to continue to make
money, and that's great forthem.
But I don't know if it's a greatbusiness model for small
business owners.
I don't know how much of thathas a false bottom.
So I would rather just do itauthentically.
So, I mean, if you look at ourFacebook page, I think we're
(06:51):
struggling to barely hit ahundred followers, but we have a
hundred loyal followers, ahundred people that do buy into
the program, buy into us, whosekids have had a great experience
with us.
Um, so that's tough.
You know, we don't really do anypaid advertisement.
And part of it's because yeah,I'm cheap, you know, I'm just a
cheapo.
(07:11):
And the other part is I just Ibelieve in digging this out, you
know.
I I want the first couple ofyears to be hard because I want
to be here in 20 years.
SPEAKER_02 (07:20):
Is there a McDonald's in your industry that
does this on a scale that I justdidn't put together with that
this is your industry?
Or is you did you invent this?
SPEAKER_00 (07:29):
You know, there's not a large scale one.
Um, there are a few others thatdo it um in bigger cities.
So we lived in we're fromColorado, but we lived in
Phoenix area for a while and LasVegas for a while.
And there are some pretty bigones there, but really not one
here.
Everything is more active.
(07:49):
So, like little monsters, um,that's a huge ball pit that's
really fun, but really nothingfor the young kids to craft and
play and make and you know, usesensory to explore their new
world.
SPEAKER_02 (08:03):
Yeah, I've got a two-year-old and a
four-year-old, and I hadn't eventhought of this.
And uh, so I'm intrigued.
Uh, have you ever thought aboutpodcasting to reach people?
SPEAKER_00 (08:11):
Yeah, I would absolutely love to.
I think it would be fun.
I I I I certainly couldn't do itwith the grace um that you are
doing it with, Nick, but I II'll try my hand at anything.
SPEAKER_02 (08:21):
I'll I'm definitely owe you one for that.
Thanks.
SPEAKER_00 (08:24):
Yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_02 (08:25):
Uh so um um what do you do for fun when you're not
having fun?
SPEAKER_00 (08:31):
Oh goodness, that's tough.
What does an entrepreneur do forfun?
We work and then we everybodyelse goes to bed and we work a
little bit more.
Um, I don't know.
I I really like being involvedin my community.
So I serve as our HOA president.
Um, I'm a volunteer on our myson's PTO.
I'm part of the junior leaguehere in Fort Collins.
I do a lot of philanthropy work.
Um, so I really believe ingiving back.
(08:52):
I think that we build thecommunity that we want, but we
need to put in the work if wewant to be surrounded by that.
Um so I certainly do that, andit's challenging and fun.
Um, I'm a hospitality kid atheart, so I'll definitely drink
a fantastic bottle of wine whenit's offered.
Um and then, of course, mylittle guy, he's super involved
(09:14):
in a lot of sports, and he'sjust so fun.
And I really hate to miss anytime with him at all.
So, though we get mom and dadsome time sometimes when
grandparents have him, we welike to put in that family time.
SPEAKER_02 (09:28):
Gina, what's one takeaway that people should
remember from this interviewabout Little Hands Play Studio?
SPEAKER_00 (09:36):
Oh, I think it's just that it's a place that is
designed just for the kiddos.
So it's not for you know, theglitz and the glamour of what
mom and dad, you know, want totake pictures of.
It's really about the littlekids getting in there and just
being themselves and playing andexploring and learning and
meeting them on their level.
Um, and we really try to makeeverything extra special.
(09:59):
I think that's just a hazard ofbeing in the hospitality
industry.
So at the last um camp day thatwe had, we were making rocket
ships.
So I said, Well, we have tolaunch these.
I mean, that's not fun.
Why make a rocket ship if wecan't launch it?
So I scoured the internet, Ifound um a stomp rocket.
(10:19):
So we were able to put theirrockets over the top of what the
mechanism was made for, and thenlet them stomp on the stomp
rocket to actually launch itinto space.
So much fun, like so muchlaughter, so much yelling and
jumping around.
The kids had an absolute blast.
I mean, that would have keptthem busy for the the two hours,
you know, that we had them.
(10:39):
So very, very, very fun.
And we have a lot of tricks upour sleeves like that.
I just I want them to leavefeeling like we've always said
in our our industry that I wantyou to feel like the most
important person in the room.
And that doesn't change, youknow, we're dealing with a
different age group.
I want the bride to feel likethe most important person in the
room.
I want every bar guest to feelthat way, and I want every
(11:00):
little kiddo that has anydealings with us to feel
special.
And we do a great job, I gottasay, we do a great job of it.
SPEAKER_02 (11:07):
That's that's amazing.
That you know, there's we livein a world now where not
everybody likes people.
And so people like you are rareand very needed and valuable.
I do have one more question foryou, if it doesn't offend you.
Is there any hardship in yourlife that's happened that you
don't really wear in your smilethat that that brought you to be
the person that you are todaythat you'd like to share with us
that you overcame, made you astronger person?
SPEAKER_00 (11:29):
Sure, yeah.
You know, there's been a couple.
Um, I think I I was a youngentrepreneur.
Um, so I think that wasdifficult.
I started my first business inmy early 20s, and I don't think
I was taken seriously.
And then I'm a girl of a prettysmall stature.
I stand about four, ten and ahalf at my tallest day.
So I think there was a littlebit of an underdog, kind of had
(11:52):
to learn how to be secure inmyself and push forward without
throwing my weight around, youknow.
So I tend to be of the mindsetthat you get more bees with
honey.
So I think it has made mesofter, you know, learning how
to kind of work that.
Um, and then unfortunately, in2019, um, we had a very planned,
(12:14):
very exciting pregnancy.
Um, and I, right when we got ournursery set up and we were
pretty much ready to go, I wentinto a routine doctor's
appointment pretty close todelivery date and found out that
my daughter had suffered from acord accident.
Um, so my daughter was stillbornin 2019.
Um taking a lot of therapy,obviously, to get through that
(12:38):
story okay without bursting intotears.
Um, but it changes yourperspective.
Um, at that time we were apretty large, pretty successful
event business.
Um, and I had to take a stepback, you know, realize that
family, I've always known thatfamily was more important than
anything, but also I wasimportant, you know, I mattered.
My emotional and mental health,it mattered.
(13:00):
Um, so it changed myperspective.
And I think that now I do tendto slow down, you know, even in
our event business, I pulled ourphone number off of our website.
I don't want to be called whenI'm with my kid, you know, and
that's just I'll I'll trade themoney for the freedom, you know.
And I never thought I would saythat.
(13:20):
I've always been a type A Leogo-getter, you know, crush it.
But now I definitely take thetime to appreciate what I have
and not take it for granted.
SPEAKER_02 (13:30):
So what are thank you, Gina?
Um, I'm not gonna ask you for aphone number now, but what are
all of the other ways thatpeople can get in touch with
Little Hands Play Studio online,social media?
SPEAKER_00 (13:45):
Sure.
Um, so easiest way to get a holdof us is probably through our
website, very long name.
So um Nick will probably have toput it down somewhere for you,
but it'swww.littlehandsplaystudio.com.
And we stay pretty up to date onthat website, so you can check
out all of our local umactivities that we're a part of.
We're sponsoring the pumpkindecorating um out at FOCO Fall
(14:10):
Fest in Old Town Town Square inFort Collins.
We're the sponsor of that, soit's free to the public.
We have about 500 pumpkins thathave been donated by Fort
Collins Nursery that we'll bedoing some really fun stuff
with, not just painting.
Um, and then yeah, we have ourcamps on there.
We have some camps coming up onChildren's Day off um in October
and November.
(14:30):
You can check out our classesthere, check out our birthday
parties and book from there.
So I'd say that's the best one.
You can pop on Facebook orInstagram, but like I said, I'm
a I'm an old millennial, so I'mnot as good at those avenues as
I am the website.
SPEAKER_02 (14:44):
So understood.
Well, Gina, we really appreciateyou being on our show, and we
wish you and Little Hands PlayStudio the very best moving
forward.
SPEAKER_00 (14:54):
Thank you so much, Nick.
I really appreciate your timetoday, and thank you, everyone,
who tuned in.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
SPEAKER_01 (15:01):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to gmpfortcollins.com.
That's gmpfortcollins.com orcall nine seven zero four three
eight zero eight two five.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Nick George.
SPEAKER_02 (00:11):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a children'sart studio, arts and crafts, and
a lot more?
More of like a play studio.
Well, one might be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the great pleasureof introducing Gina Mays from
Little Hands Play Studio.
Gina, how's it going?
SPEAKER_00 (00:28):
Hi, Nick.
Doing great.
Thanks.
Thanks for having me on today.
How are you?
SPEAKER_02 (00:32):
Excellent.
We're glad to have you on today.
Tell us all about your business.
SPEAKER_00 (00:37):
Yeah, absolutely.
So we have been in theentrepreneurial space in
northern Colorado for about 15years now, more in the event
side of things, a lot of prettyhigh-end, big-scale bartending.
And I have a three-year-old now.
So we pivoted a little bit,though we're still doing all of
the big weddings and big eventsin town.
(00:57):
We are focusing a part of ourday on children.
So we have an art studio now inOld Town Fort Collins.
We're really convenientlylocated right on college, uh
just south of Laporte.
Um and yeah, it's awesome.
We work with children of allages, but we really specialize
in preschool age kiddos, so agestwo and a half through about
(01:20):
six.
Um, I was just kind of noticingas a parent that there wasn't a
place that the young guys couldkind of call their own.
Um, I'm definitely a helicoptermom.
So the first time we took him tothe bigger, like urban jumping
trambling places, I told myhusband, he's gonna break his
neck.
Oh my gosh, like there's no waywe can be here.
So we really wanted to dosomething fun and social, uh,
(01:42):
definitely for the littlekiddos.
So, though all children um inelementary school are welcome,
we do a lot of really fun stufffor the young ones.
SPEAKER_02 (01:49):
I agree about the jumping park.
I get hurt there every time Igo, and so do my kids.
That probably doesn't happen atyour place.
How did how did you get intothis business?
SPEAKER_00 (01:59):
Uh, you know, it really just we wanted to do more
with kids.
Um, like I said, I've been inthe event space in northern
Colorado for quite a long time.
I've been in the hospitalityspace for a very long time.
Um, hitting, oh gosh, I don'twant to put my age on display
here, but we're hitting about 25years in the hospitality space.
So as you can imagine, I'm agingand the back starting to hurt a
(02:23):
little bit more in those 2 a.m.
Uh, they they don't come offlike they used to.
So uh I was ready to get out ofthe bartending space and more
into a kid-friendly world.
Um, and there was a need for itin Northern Colorado.
So we've really been enjoyingourselves.
We're really highly involved inthe community.
Um so it felt like a good fitfor us.
So not only has it beenchallenging and exciting in all
(02:46):
the ways that entrepreneurshipalways is, but it's been
particularly rewarding because Ihave a little guy that can also
enjoy it with his mom.
SPEAKER_02 (02:53):
Awesome.
I do too at home.
It's a different world.
SPEAKER_00 (02:57):
Um, Nick, a loud world.
I didn't realize how loud theseguys were.
It's very loud.
unknown (03:04):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (03:07):
That's true.
SPEAKER_02 (03:09):
Um, what are some myths or misconceptions in what
you do in your industry?
SPEAKER_00 (03:15):
Well, you know, I think before becoming a parent,
I would say it's maybe notgiving the young ones as much
credit as they deserve.
Um, so my little guy startedsoccer at about 18 months.
I'm a first-time parent, youknow, so going out there, I
thought, well, this is gonna belike hurting cats.
I mean, they're cuter than heckin their uniforms.
So I did it for the uniform, youknow, it was cute.
(03:38):
But I said, Oh, you know, whatgood are we gonna get out of
this other than running out someenergy?
And I'll tell you, by the secondpractice, those little guys were
stopping the ball.
And so we do it with mightykicks.
I'll share that because Jeremy'sabsolutely awesome and we love
the program.
Um, but yeah, by lesson two,they were stopping the ball with
(03:58):
one foot and learning how toscore a goal and cheering on
their teammates.
And really, just week afterweek, I really saw the
progression.
And I thought, wow, I justdidn't give these kiddos enough
credit.
You know, they're young andthey're learning, but their
bodies and their minds arelittle sponges.
And I was just taken back by howincredible they are.
(04:19):
You know, not only are theycuter than heck in their
uniforms, but they are they'relittle athletes and they're
little scholars.
And I think the misconception isI think that they can do a lot
more than we give them creditfor sometimes.
And I think if you just let themplay, they can show you a lot
more than what you thought theywere capable of.
SPEAKER_02 (04:38):
Give us a window into a day in the life of uh
Little Hands Play Studio.
SPEAKER_00 (04:42):
Sure.
Um, so we actually do a lot intown.
We're multifaceted.
So not only do we have thestudio right there in Old Town
where kids can come up and takea class.
We work with a lot of homeschoolparents that do uh a program
through us on Fridays.
But not only that, we do reallyfun.
So when the kids are out ofschool, they can come in and do
a camp with us to keep thementertained while mom and dad
(05:04):
are at work.
We do enrichment programs with alot of the preschools and
daycares in town.
So it gives their caretakers amoment to kind of take a breath
and you know eat a quick bananawhile we're entertaining the
kids.
Um and the kids really, reallylook forward to it.
As soon as we walk in the door,everyone's excited and yelling
and happy to see our teachers.
(05:24):
So that one's super fun.
Um, and then the part that we'rethe most excited about is here
shortly, we're going to startdabbling into the children's
event space.
So doing um a lot of really fundirect-to-you birthday parties.
So everything from charactercape making to slime making to
just your regularrun-of-the-mill art classes.
(05:46):
But I my background is LasVegas, so of course there's
going to be some glitz and someglamour, not just kiddo stuff.
Very Instagram worthy and veryfun.
But like I said, we've had a lotof years in the event space and
we're ready to take on thekiddos and make sure they have a
great time.
SPEAKER_02 (06:03):
How do you market yourself now?
And who's your target parent orkids?
SPEAKER_00 (06:10):
You know, Nick, I'll tell you that's a tough one for
me as a small business owner.
I truly believe in authenticityand I believe in old school
values, you know, doing what'sright, not what's easy.
And a handshake deal, you know,surmounts everything.
And I think I just have a hardtime kind of buying on to the
(06:31):
new age, paying for clicks andbuying this and buying that.
And I'm sure it's a great wayfor tech to continue to make
money, and that's great forthem.
But I don't know if it's a greatbusiness model for small
business owners.
I don't know how much of thathas a false bottom.
So I would rather just do itauthentically.
So, I mean, if you look at ourFacebook page, I think we're
(06:51):
struggling to barely hit ahundred followers, but we have a
hundred loyal followers, ahundred people that do buy into
the program, buy into us, whosekids have had a great experience
with us.
Um, so that's tough.
You know, we don't really do anypaid advertisement.
And part of it's because yeah,I'm cheap, you know, I'm just a
cheapo.
(07:11):
And the other part is I just Ibelieve in digging this out, you
know.
I I want the first couple ofyears to be hard because I want
to be here in 20 years.
SPEAKER_02 (07:20):
Is there a McDonald's in your industry that
does this on a scale that I justdidn't put together with that
this is your industry?
Or is you did you invent this?
SPEAKER_00 (07:29):
You know, there's not a large scale one.
Um, there are a few others thatdo it um in bigger cities.
So we lived in we're fromColorado, but we lived in
Phoenix area for a while and LasVegas for a while.
And there are some pretty bigones there, but really not one
here.
Everything is more active.
(07:49):
So, like little monsters, um,that's a huge ball pit that's
really fun, but really nothingfor the young kids to craft and
play and make and you know, usesensory to explore their new
world.
SPEAKER_02 (08:03):
Yeah, I've got a two-year-old and a
four-year-old, and I hadn't eventhought of this.
And uh, so I'm intrigued.
Uh, have you ever thought aboutpodcasting to reach people?
SPEAKER_00 (08:11):
Yeah, I would absolutely love to.
I think it would be fun.
I I I I certainly couldn't do itwith the grace um that you are
doing it with, Nick, but I II'll try my hand at anything.
SPEAKER_02 (08:21):
I'll I'm definitely owe you one for that.
Thanks.
SPEAKER_00 (08:24):
Yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_02 (08:25):
Uh so um um what do you do for fun when you're not
having fun?
SPEAKER_00 (08:31):
Oh goodness, that's tough.
What does an entrepreneur do forfun?
We work and then we everybodyelse goes to bed and we work a
little bit more.
Um, I don't know.
I I really like being involvedin my community.
So I serve as our HOA president.
Um, I'm a volunteer on our myson's PTO.
I'm part of the junior leaguehere in Fort Collins.
I do a lot of philanthropy work.
Um, so I really believe ingiving back.
(08:52):
I think that we build thecommunity that we want, but we
need to put in the work if wewant to be surrounded by that.
Um so I certainly do that, andit's challenging and fun.
Um, I'm a hospitality kid atheart, so I'll definitely drink
a fantastic bottle of wine whenit's offered.
Um and then, of course, mylittle guy, he's super involved
(09:14):
in a lot of sports, and he'sjust so fun.
And I really hate to miss anytime with him at all.
So, though we get mom and dadsome time sometimes when
grandparents have him, we welike to put in that family time.
SPEAKER_02 (09:28):
Gina, what's one takeaway that people should
remember from this interviewabout Little Hands Play Studio?
SPEAKER_00 (09:36):
Oh, I think it's just that it's a place that is
designed just for the kiddos.
So it's not for you know, theglitz and the glamour of what
mom and dad, you know, want totake pictures of.
It's really about the littlekids getting in there and just
being themselves and playing andexploring and learning and
meeting them on their level.
Um, and we really try to makeeverything extra special.
(09:59):
I think that's just a hazard ofbeing in the hospitality
industry.
So at the last um camp day thatwe had, we were making rocket
ships.
So I said, Well, we have tolaunch these.
I mean, that's not fun.
Why make a rocket ship if wecan't launch it?
So I scoured the internet, Ifound um a stomp rocket.
(10:19):
So we were able to put theirrockets over the top of what the
mechanism was made for, and thenlet them stomp on the stomp
rocket to actually launch itinto space.
So much fun, like so muchlaughter, so much yelling and
jumping around.
The kids had an absolute blast.
I mean, that would have keptthem busy for the the two hours,
you know, that we had them.
(10:39):
So very, very, very fun.
And we have a lot of tricks upour sleeves like that.
I just I want them to leavefeeling like we've always said
in our our industry that I wantyou to feel like the most
important person in the room.
And that doesn't change, youknow, we're dealing with a
different age group.
I want the bride to feel likethe most important person in the
room.
I want every bar guest to feelthat way, and I want every
(11:00):
little kiddo that has anydealings with us to feel
special.
And we do a great job, I gottasay, we do a great job of it.
SPEAKER_02 (11:07):
That's that's amazing.
That you know, there's we livein a world now where not
everybody likes people.
And so people like you are rareand very needed and valuable.
I do have one more question foryou, if it doesn't offend you.
Is there any hardship in yourlife that's happened that you
don't really wear in your smilethat that that brought you to be
the person that you are todaythat you'd like to share with us
that you overcame, made you astronger person?
SPEAKER_00 (11:29):
Sure, yeah.
You know, there's been a couple.
Um, I think I I was a youngentrepreneur.
Um, so I think that wasdifficult.
I started my first business inmy early 20s, and I don't think
I was taken seriously.
And then I'm a girl of a prettysmall stature.
I stand about four, ten and ahalf at my tallest day.
So I think there was a littlebit of an underdog, kind of had
(11:52):
to learn how to be secure inmyself and push forward without
throwing my weight around, youknow.
So I tend to be of the mindsetthat you get more bees with
honey.
So I think it has made mesofter, you know, learning how
to kind of work that.
Um, and then unfortunately, in2019, um, we had a very planned,
(12:14):
very exciting pregnancy.
Um, and I, right when we got ournursery set up and we were
pretty much ready to go, I wentinto a routine doctor's
appointment pretty close todelivery date and found out that
my daughter had suffered from acord accident.
Um, so my daughter was stillbornin 2019.
Um taking a lot of therapy,obviously, to get through that
(12:38):
story okay without bursting intotears.
Um, but it changes yourperspective.
Um, at that time we were apretty large, pretty successful
event business.
Um, and I had to take a stepback, you know, realize that
family, I've always known thatfamily was more important than
anything, but also I wasimportant, you know, I mattered.
My emotional and mental health,it mattered.
(13:00):
Um, so it changed myperspective.
And I think that now I do tendto slow down, you know, even in
our event business, I pulled ourphone number off of our website.
I don't want to be called whenI'm with my kid, you know, and
that's just I'll I'll trade themoney for the freedom, you know.
And I never thought I would saythat.
(13:20):
I've always been a type A Leogo-getter, you know, crush it.
But now I definitely take thetime to appreciate what I have
and not take it for granted.
SPEAKER_02 (13:30):
So what are thank you, Gina?
Um, I'm not gonna ask you for aphone number now, but what are
all of the other ways thatpeople can get in touch with
Little Hands Play Studio online,social media?
SPEAKER_00 (13:45):
Sure.
Um, so easiest way to get a holdof us is probably through our
website, very long name.
So um Nick will probably have toput it down somewhere for you,
but it'swww.littlehandsplaystudio.com.
And we stay pretty up to date onthat website, so you can check
out all of our local umactivities that we're a part of.
We're sponsoring the pumpkindecorating um out at FOCO Fall
(14:10):
Fest in Old Town Town Square inFort Collins.
We're the sponsor of that, soit's free to the public.
We have about 500 pumpkins thathave been donated by Fort
Collins Nursery that we'll bedoing some really fun stuff
with, not just painting.
Um, and then yeah, we have ourcamps on there.
We have some camps coming up onChildren's Day off um in October
and November.
(14:30):
You can check out our classesthere, check out our birthday
parties and book from there.
So I'd say that's the best one.
You can pop on Facebook orInstagram, but like I said, I'm
a I'm an old millennial, so I'mnot as good at those avenues as
I am the website.
SPEAKER_02 (14:44):
So understood.
Well, Gina, we really appreciateyou being on our show, and we
wish you and Little Hands PlayStudio the very best moving
forward.
SPEAKER_00 (14:54):
Thank you so much, Nick.
I really appreciate your timetoday, and thank you, everyone,
who tuned in.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
SPEAKER_01 (15:01):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to gmpfortcollins.com.
That's gmpfortcollins.com orcall nine seven zero four three
eight zero eight two five.
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