January 20, 2017

Meet David Skale of Happiness Unlimited in Los Angeles and Orange County Areas

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Skale.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was seven years old, I came across the magic trick “How to Pour a Glass of Milk Into a Newspaper”. It was part of a series of magic tricks. Of course, I was hooked. I had to have them all.

My interest in magic continued over the years. When I was 13, my piano teacher, who was also a booking agent, suggested that she could get me work entertaining at parties (she was also a bit senile, and it didn’t occur to her that maybe a 13-year-old wasn’t quite ready to be working professionally). I wasn’t particularly good, but I was too young to know better.

I continued developing my skills through college, when, in the late 80’s, something hit the party industry that would change the landscape forever… Ninja Turtles! Before the Ninja Turtles, the industry was primarily dominated by clowns and magicians. The Ninja Turtles were just becoming popular, and it happened that I have a martial arts background. The thought of performing as a Ninja Turtle really appealed to me, so I purchased a costume and developed a show. Shortly after, the tidal wave of popularity hit, and I was one of the few performers set up with a show, costume, and martial arts.

I couldn’t handle the demand, so I purchased some more costumes, trained several other performers, and became one of the top sources for Ninja Turtles in Southern California.

The Ninja Turtles were followed by a series of other superhero characters, which kept me busy throughout college and graduate school.

By the time I finished graduate school, I was firmly established in the entertainment industry. I had developed a huge network of some of the most talented performers in Southern California. Being a performer myself, I was down in the trenches, and able to assess first-hand other entertainers who were exceptional.

In the mid-90’s, I decided to pursue the entertainment industry full-time. I established Life of the Party, an event planning company while continuing my career as a magician and entertainer.

In 1999, I acquired Auntie Roxie and Company, another outstanding entertainment company. This merger vastly increased my clientele and set me up to offer other party services (eg. catering, rides, games, etc). We combined the names, and became “Auntie Roxie’s Life of the Party”.

My company continued with tremendous success throughout the 2000’s. All the while, I was developing myself as an entertainer. I graduated from the Second City Training Academy, where I studied improv comedy. I also studied stage hypnosis and developed an entire hypnosis show for parties and events.

Recently (like… a few months ago), the owner of Happiness Unlimited decided to retire from the industry. Happiness Unlimited was another outstanding company that offered virtually the same services I offered. She approached me and asked if I would be interested in taking over. We used many of the same performers and vendors. I was already set up to manage the company. It was a perfect fit.

And so, a few months ago, Happiness Unlimited merged with Auntie Roxie’s Life of the Party. We are currently running under both names since both companies enjoy tremendous name recognition. With the combined roster of performers and client base, my company is now one of the largest providers of entertainment in Southern California.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I can’t imagine any business being without its bumps along the way. Starting and managing a business is risky, and failure is part of the growth process.

In the late 90’s, I decided to rent a kiosk in the local mall. I thought that the increased exposure and foot traffic would be a huge hit. We set up a display to promote our characters. We had plenty of extra shelf space on the kiosk, so we also sold magic and novelties.

We did have a lot of success. Plenty of people hired us for their birthday parties. The challenge, however, was the incredible overhead. The rent was through the roof, and the kiosk had to be staffed all day seven days a week. We were continuously in the red. And so, after about 10 months, I pulled the plug on the experiment and went back to the original business model.

Please tell us about Happiness Unlimited.
We provide entertainment and party services for events of all sizes. From a princess or superhero for a birthday party to an entire carnival, we are the company people call when they want to make their event amazing.

Our core services are our live entertainers. Clowns, characters, magicians, jugglers, puppeteers, etc… we have an amazing roster of talent. What makes us unique is that, in addition to running the company, I’m also a full-time magician/performer myself. This means that I’m constantly encountering other entertainers, either at other events or at industry showcases for performers only. I have a first-hand opportunity to see them in action and determine if they meet my standards.

Over the years, I’ve developed close, personal friendships with these performers. We socialize with each other. We turn to each other if we need to advise or help. We critique each other’s programs as they are being developed. And, we trust each other when we work together. My ability to assess highly talented performers and develop personal friendships with them is what sets me apart in the industry and results in the highest quality experience for my clients.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I think my favorite childhood memory would be the first time I performed a magic show in front of a live audience. It was my 5th-grade class. Mr. Smith was my teacher. I ran a string of the corners of the walls and hung sheets to create a curtain. I set up a little card table with all of my tricks prepared. I then proceeded to do a variety of simple, self-working tricks.

The rest is history.

Just last year, the story came full circle. I was invited back to my elementary school to perform a Red Ribbon (anti-drug) assembly. Mr. Smith had retired, but he was actually there (he still teaches part time for the gifted student’s program). I got to visit with him (he said he still remembered me).

The chairs were a lot smaller than I remembered, but it was great to come back.

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