Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Balaguer.
Hi Frank, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
So how did I get my foot in the door of the music and entertainment industry and end up with Focus Created?
It all kicked off when I was a bouncer (a babysitter) at Knight Library, the number one college bar in America back in the day at UCF. Picture me herding drunk undergrads with liquid courage every night until 2am. I was working with Evan Sanza, and this dude Nate McCoole known as the world’s strongest teenager, an actual human tank. Nate had buddies in the festival scene. They put us on, starting us as directors of security operations at EDC Orlando. The world’s strongest teenager left the gig. But before I knew it, we were invited to work at EDC Las Vegas, where Evan and I spent a month living in a tent in the desert, surrounded by glitter, neon, and F-22 fighter jets running simulations so loud that you could feel the concussions stacking up.
From there, it snowballed. We went from EDC to managing operations at every major festival across North America. Somewhere in that glitter covered chaos, I ended up working with the Pamela Anderson. She even bought me a car, because apparently that’s what happens when you make sure a Hollywood party doesn’t end.
Fast forward to July 2021. James Tonic taps my security company for his Rolling Loud performance in Miami. We clicked fast. I’d booked him to perform at over 10 clubs in just a few days, in front of Gunna, Lil Baby, Rick Ross, and more. Things moved quick when we got an invite to a Triller event at P. Diddy’s mansion. Just another Tuesday.
The next few months were a grind: working on James’ album, collaborating with the biggest rappers, talking with lawyers, and label reps. Then there was the time we played basketball with Drake at his Toronto estate. Guy’s a menace on the court, he bullied YK Osiris. At that point, starting a record label (Drummer Records, drummer.com) felt like the next logical step, so we signed YK Osiris to a year deal.
Around then we brokered Drake’s 100+ million dollar deal with stake.com. Just another day at the office.
With so much networking and experiences I figured, “Why not start Focus Created?” (focuscreated.com) From babysitting college kids to launching a marketing company, it’s been a wild ride.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. The journey in the music industry is far from smooth. Every step comes with its own set of challenges that no one really prepares you for. For example, collaborating with a major artist isn’t just about the creative process, which is tough enough on its own. It’s a logistical nightmare involving their team, their label, and a bunch more moving parts. Everyone’s got their own timeline, and trying to sync it all up feels like herding flies with chopsticks.
Take something basic like getting a email reply from a major label like Universal Music. You might send 20 follow ups and still get nothing. And that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Now imagine the chaos of securing rights for every track with featured artists, each signed to different labels, all tied to an album with a set release date. It’s messy. Even someone as big as Kanye West might face delays with a project like Donda because of these behind the scenes battles. In this industry, deadlines are often more like wishful thinking than hard facts.
But here’s the key: you’ve got to keep going. Every obstacle you push through builds a stronger, more reliable network. The outcome? A web of connections that can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Focus Created?
We’re a new marketing agency that helps businesses stand out and grow, focusing on three main things: Brand Strategy, Visual Content, and Digital Marketing. Basically, we figure out who you are as a brand, shoot and edit visuals that people actually notice, and manage your online presence. We make aesthetically pleasing, algorithm friendly content so your stuff doesn’t just sit there, it gets seen.
We’re not here to throw a bunch of random services at you. It’s all tied together, built on a strategy that actually works. And we’re not stuck in the past—we understand today’s trends, and our editors can weave in CGI or AI generated visuals.
Brand wise, we’re stoked about helping businesses find their vibe and connect with the right crowd. It’s not about flashy played out nonsense, it’s about keeping it sharp and locking down your niche. Check out focuscreated.com and see if you like our style.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is food at the family table growing up in West Palm Beach, Florida. Being Dominican, food was life. I’m the only boy, stuck with two sisters. We’d pile around whatever Mom or Dad cooked up. Before we could eat, though, we had to settle our sibling beef. Me and my sisters would be screaming over who hogged the TV or ate the last brownie.
Dad is a grill master, but his breakfast? Don’t get me started. Every morning before school, he’d have the best cheesy scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon ready. Pure fuel. Mom’s cooking is so good, especially her meatloaf.
When they were feeling it, you could taste the love. But some days, me and my sisters would taste it, look at each other, and joke, ‘Mom/Dad doesn’t love us today.’ We’d all be laughing, while they’d give us that look.
Then there was Abuela, the kitchen queen. Her oxtail or Moro de habichuelas, were so good you’d forget other food was a thing. Abuelo held his own too. His Italian sausage sandwich absolutely smacked.
It was loud, chaotic, full of flavor and family. All that food made me a big eater. Now I work my butt off so I can travel, eat everywhere, and still swing back home for more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://focuscreated.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankbalaguer/
- LinkedIn: https://james.com
- Other: https://drummer.com
