E63: You’re the Business. That’s the Problem. (How to Stop Doing It All Yourself with Tim Sentance of Boujee Music)

In this episode, we’re tackling the big question: How do you build a business that doesn’t rely entirely on you? The simple answer is that you need to create systems, empower others, and redefine your role from doer to leader. Roxy chats with Tim Sentance, co-founder of Boujee Music, about how he and his wife Lizzie built one of the UK’s top live music businesses by learning to let go, hire smart, and set boundaries. Tim shares his real-world experience on building processes, trusting your team, and growing a business that gives you back your time and freedom.

Episode Highlights

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Tim and Lizzie turned their passion for live music into a thriving business, Boujee Music.

• The reality of doing everything yourself — and how to know when it’s time to change.

• The biggest mindset shift every business owner needs: from control to delegation.

• How to start outsourcing and hiring — even when you think you can’t afford it.

• Tim’s four pillars for breaking through business bottlenecks: Priority, Profit, Process, and People.

• Why events like WEDCON 2025 are powerful opportunities for growth, community, and clarity.

Resources Mentioned

• Boujee Music Live: @boujeemusiclive

• Tim Sentance on Instagram: @timsentance

• WedCon 2025 Tickets: www.wedcon.co.uk

• The Wedding Business Hub: www.theweddingbusinesshub.com

Full Transcript

Roxy:Hey friends, welcome back to the Wed Pro Podcast — the show that helps you build a thriving wedding business without the burnout.

Today I’ve got a brilliant guest joining me: Tim Sentance.

Tim:Hi there. How’s it going?

Roxy:Really good, thank you! How are you?

Tim:Yes, I’m all good — all good.

Roxy:Amazing. So you’re the co-founder of Boujee Music, right? One of the UK’s leading live-music companies, performing at over 150 weddings a year — which you run with your amazing wife, Lizzie. Is that correct?

Tim:I mean, your words, not mine — but I’ll take it! Yes, factually accurate. My wife Lizzie and I run Boujee Music, performing at about 150 events a year. It’s all about high-energy, interactive live music for weddings — think sing-along dance-floor moments and daytime party vibes too.

Roxy:I love that. You’ve built an incredible business, and you’re also one of our amazing sponsors and speakers at WECON 2025. Your talk — “You Are the Business: That’s the Problem” — is going to hit home for a lot of people.

Today we’re diving into how to build a business that doesn’t rely on you doing every single thing yourself. If you’ve ever felt like your business runs you — not the other way round — you’re going to love this one. Welcome, Tim!

Tim:Thank you very much for having me.

Starting Boujee Music

Roxy:I love that Boujee started from such a genuine love of performing. It’s really clear every time I speak to you. But let’s rewind — how did Boujee Music first come about?

Tim:It’s very cliché because Lizzie and I met in a wedding band! So running a wedding-band agency was kind of inevitable.We played in a lot of bands, saw loads of great things, and also a few things we thought could be done better. Boujee Music was us creating something that captured the best bits — the high energy, the live feel, the entertainment that’s sometimes missing.And because we’re a couple, we had that natural connection with other couples. We’d planned our own wedding, so we really got it.On the other side, as musicians, we’d also been treated poorly by some agencies — so we wanted to build a business that looked after our musicians as well as our clients.

The Early Days

Roxy:What did those early days look like for you both? Were you doing everything yourselves? And — just being nosy — what’s it like working with your partner?

Tim:Two very different questions! But yes, we did everything ourselves. We were the performers and the people running the business.Lizzie’s a singer — she fronted the band. I played sax and keys, ran the sound, DJ’ed. Behind the scenes, every email, every client, every schedule, every outfit — it was all us.We’re total control freaks, but that experience taught me exactly what it feels like to be the business — the one doing it all — and that’s why I can now help others who feel the same way.

Challenges in the Beginning

Roxy:What were the biggest challenges back then?

Tim:At first, it was simply getting work. Neither of us had sales or marketing training — I could write a polite email, but funnels, nurture sequences, ideal clients? No idea.Then, once we got busy, it became about time and boundaries. We gigged late, got up early, and never really had a day off. The overwhelm was real.

The Turning Point

Roxy:Was there a moment when you thought, “We can’t keep doing this on our own”?

Tim:Several! Before the pandemic we were busy, but after it — when weddings came roaring back — that’s when it really hit.The first season back was chaos; we told ourselves it was a one-off. Then the next year felt the same. I realised I didn’t know how to run a business that didn’t rely on me. That’s when I started looking for mentorship and learning proper business skills.

Mistakes and Lessons

Roxy:Were there mistakes you made that others might relate to?

Tim:Definitely. The biggest one was saying yes to everything. When you start out, you think you need to take every job — but actually, focus and saying no is key.Another was not having systems. Doing everything from memory makes you inconsistent and impossible to delegate. I wish we’d documented our processes from day one.

Roxy:We call that a “sticky-pasta business” — throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks!

Tim:Exactly. You only realise you need systems once you’re too busy to build them.

Learning to Let Go

Roxy:You’ve said you’re a bit of a control freak. How hard was it to start letting go?

Tim:Very! The way you start a business isn’t how you grow it. You begin by doing everything, but eventually you become the bottleneck.You have to unlearn that instinct to jump in. Someone else won’t do it exactly like you — but 80 percent done is 100 percent awesome. The freedom and headspace you get back are worth far more than that extra 20 percent.

Bringing in Help

Roxy:When you first realised you couldn’t do it all, what changed?

Tim:It took time. Hiring and delegating were new to me. I made mistakes.But with mentors I learned how to lead, create systems, and grow without losing quality. There’s a method to it — you just need guidance.

Defining Success

Roxy:Success means different things to different people. What does it mean for you and Lizzie?

Tim:For us, success is freedom — supporting our family, giving our kids experiences, and making our own decisions.We love our work, but we don’t want to be slaves to it. The business is a vehicle for the life we want, not the other way around.

Boundaries and Balance

Roxy:Lizzie sounds great at keeping balance.

Tim:She is! I love work, so I’d keep going endlessly if she didn’t remind me to stop. We always protect one day a week as our day.It’s harder now with two boys — five and six — but we still make it happen.You can’t just keep postponing your life until the business is “ready.” You have to bring parts of that dream life into the present.

Hiring Smart

Roxy:When you started hiring, which roles made the biggest difference?

Tim:Our first hire was an enquiries manager, but I’ve since learned to think in processes, not job titles.Start with admin — repetitive, process-driven tasks like emails and invoices. That helps every area of the business.Then build up through delivery, marketing, and sales.Hire by skill level of the task, not fancy titles.

Roxy:We did the same! Outsourcing social media was a game-changer for us.

Tim:Exactly. It’s not just about time — it’s about energy. I use a time-energy audit: track what you do, rate it by value and how it makes you feel. Then keep only the high-value, energising tasks.

“I Can’t Afford to Outsource!”

Roxy:What about people who think they can’t afford to outsource?

Tim:I’d challenge that. Everyone can afford some help.Work out your “buy-back rate” — basically your hourly value divided by four. If you earn £25 an hour effectively, hire help under £6 an hour and you’ll gain time profitably.You can start with just 10 hours a week of admin support — it’s often life-changing.

Roxy:Yes! We hired an accountant before we even paid ourselves. It freed up so much mental space.

Tim:Exactly — it’s about recognising your highest-value work.

From Burnout to Leadership

Roxy:Was there a moment you went from burnout to real leadership?

Tim:It wasn’t a single moment; it was a process.Working with my first mentor, James Baldwin, taught me self-management, boundaries, and time control. Once you fix that, you finally have space to learn and grow the business side.

Thinking Like a Leader

Roxy:We always say, “Think like a CEO, not just a doer.” How can wedding pros start doing that?

Tim:It’s about moving from “How do I do this?” to “Who can do this?”Even if it’s freelancers or contractors, give them ownership and clear outcomes — not micromanagement.True leadership is setting the vision and enabling others to achieve it, not constantly fixing everything yourself.

A Sneak Peek at WEDCON 2025

Roxy:Without giving away your whole WEDCON talk, can you share a teaser?

Tim:Sure! It’s all about breaking through the bottleneck — you.I’ll share the four Pillars of Growth:

1. Priority – Identify your biggest constraint.

2. Profit – Generate the money to free up time.

3. Process – Build systems to hand things over.

4. People – Bring in the right support.

We’ll go deep on how to free your time and focus on what truly grows the business.

Why Events Like WEDCON Matter

Roxy:Why do you think events like WEDCON are so powerful for business owners?

Tim:Because everything I’ve learned came from mentors and community. At WEDCON you get three kinds of learning:

• From teachers ahead of you.

• From peers beside you.

• From students you help — which reinforces your own learning.

That combination is incredible. Plus, it’s energising — one idea can change everything.

Final Thoughts

Roxy:We always ask: what’s one piece of wisdom you’d pass on to other wedding business owners?

Tim:Two things.First — get a mentor. Everyone needs one, no matter your level.Second — constantly review your time. Keep offloading low-value tasks and focus on high-value work that you love. That process never ends.

Roxy:So good. Building a business that works for you, not just because of you — that’s the takeaway.

Massive thanks, Tim, for being such a brilliant guest, sponsor, and speaker for WEDCON 2025.

If you want to learn directly from people like Tim, join us on 26 November 2025 at Hecco in Shrewsbury. There are only a few tables left! It’s a full day of strategy, connection, and real talk to move your business forward.

Tickets: www.wedcon.co.uk

Roxy:Tim, what’s next for you and Boujee Music, and where can people find you?

Tim:The best place is Instagram — @timsentance and @boujeemusiclive.We’re growing Boujee Music across the UK and I’m also looking to mentor more people — to help others the way I’ve been helped.

Roxy:I love that. Thank you so much, Tim, for joining me on the Wed Pro Podcast.

And thank you all for listening! Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode, and we’ll see you next time for more honest conversations and strategy to grow your wedding business without the overwhelm.

If you loved this conversation, make sure you subscribe or follow The WedPro Podcast so you never miss an episode. You can also read the full transcript and catch up on all past episodes at www.theweddingbusinesshub.com/blogs.

🎟️ Join us at WEDCON 2025 on November 26th in Shrewsbury for a full day of real talk, strategy, and inspiration — plus your free copy of our brand new book! Tickets are limited: www.wedcon.co.uk