His&Hers magazine sat down with the "King" of the events world to see what all the buzz is about.
Q: Tell us about the philosophy behind Staffing and Events byDavid.
We cater to individuals and companies, providing them the best of the best to meet their needs. It's that simple!
Q: What drew you to the hospitality world?
The fact that you meet so many different people and see the many different ideas that people come up with--it amazes you. That's where I get my "oomph" from. Who wants to sit behind a desk for the rest of their life? Go out and throw a party--that's what life is really all about! Think about it, you were born and there was a celebration, so celebrate being alive!
Q: Why did you build a service company?
I enjoy making other people feel good and allowing them not to worry about the odds and ends. That's why we are so good at what we do. In all honesty, the service business is tough because you need to rely on your staff and all of your vendors. But when you work with the best of the best like I do, it all falls into place.
Q: What does your staff provide that is so unique from any other?
When you are paying for our kind of service, you want a professional staff that looks fabulous. The byDavid staff is composed of the "beautiful people"--aspiring models, actors, actresses and regular jo's who really want to work hard for a buck as well as make the client feel honored. And they look great doing it! Next time you're at an event, watch the service and the people you are being served by--that is really what counts! You want to walk away from a party and say "WOW, that was excellent all the way around."
Q: Who are some of your clients?
Trump National Golf Course, The Altman Building, The Metropolitan Building, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ed Hardy Retail stores, A&P/Food Emporium stores, Morrell Caterers, Bagel Boss Catering, Acquolina Catering, Sen Catering, Fred's at Barneys/Barneys New York, just to name a few.
Q: This is a large metropolitan area with many companies in the event and staffing business. Why should someone choose byDavid? What makes you stand out?
I hate to sound clique-ish, but you get what you pay for. It's so true. I've had clients that went with the next guy because of cheaper rates. The competition will try to undercut me to get the business and sometimes a client goes with them. Then I get the emails and the phone calls saying "oh, the staff was a no-show", "the party was a disaster", "the florist ruined the arrangements" or "they were an hour late." They always come back to byDavid. The money you save isn't worth the heartache. Anyone ever try to sell you a $100 Rolex? Did you buy it? Of course not! You know it's not real. You pay for what you get, bottom line. We're not the cheapest and we're not the most expensive either.
Q: What would you say is the best time of year to throw an event?
Year round! Drinking, eating and celebrating--why limit that to a certain time of year?
Q: What's next for the entrepreneur?
It's actually kind of funny. byDavid was based on the fact that as an entrepreneur, I wanted everything that I did to be "byDavid." I am in the works now of venturing out into Domestic Staffing, but who knows? Hotels byDavid? Tastings byDavid? There's no limit. I always return to this quote: "The World is yours--take it if you want it, don't give up on your dreams and passions!"
David Beck is CEO of Staffing and Events byDavid, one of the top-rated boutique hospitality and event management companies in New York. After graduating Johnson & Wales University (a hospitality school) and selling his shares in a catering company, David moved back to NYC to start his own business. He quickly gained the trust of several top-notch companies who now use his hospitality staff and event management resources on a regular basis. David's become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry to date.
