April 24, 2017

Meet Joe Diamond of Joe Diamond Events in Sherman Oaks

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Diamond.

Joe Diamond, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Started in music at the ripe old age of 7, with my first instrument being accordion. First gig at age of 9 on a radio show with Bob Hope. Added clarinet, piano and vocal lessons during my years in high school. BA in music from UCLA and MA from CSUN. National and international tours with Walt Disney Productions and Roger Wagner Chorale. Had my own bands throughout high school and college and performed at many private events. In 1987, formed my own Special Events Company, providing music, entertainment and décor for corporate and social events, providing a variety of services from a small, intimate reception to a full production, with décor, lighting and more… We are often called “The 1 Stop Shop for Fun.” To date we have produced and/or provide services for more than #7500 events.

Exclusive Productions:

•• Producer-Co-Creator L.O.V.E. (Lots of Voices Everywhere) – Flash Mob meets “Glee.” An original special events production
• Creator of DLS (Dancing Like the Stars) – corporate version of the popular TV show
• Creator of Realiteam – reality TV for special events, including Kazoo Idol and Minor Home Makeover.

Happily married to Jane Diamond, with one amazing and awesome son named Austin.

Have 2 very special collections:

#750 Accordion Figurines from all around the world (might be the largest in the world). More than #150 musical “autobiographies.” Have traveled extensively nationally and internationally. Most recently, visited Vietnam and Cambodia and about to take our #15th Cruise – this time to Sri Lanka, India, Oman and Dubai.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Honestly, pretty darn smooth. Of course, it’s not all glamour. There’s the client’s clients who wait until the last minute to finalize their plans and then call us to make it happen. They know we will pull it off, but they don’t quite understand the additional anxiety and stress that is caused. The holiday season is always, by far, our very busiest time of the year. With few exceptions, clients postpone their final decisions with us until the very last possible moment. With more than #75 gigs during that one month alone, it seems that 75% of them are booked between October 1st and December 1st.

If you’re looking for a non-stress job, this is definitely not a good choice. There are numerous pieces to the puzzle – from concept to closing curtain.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Joe Diamond Events – what should we know?
Often referred to as “The 1 Stop Shop for Fun.” We are definitely a niche Company. We don’t do the Academy Awards or the Grammys, but corporate Galas and weddings, mitzvahs, and birthday parties are always a part of our calendar. We run a lean and mean machine, with only 4 full time employees. For a specific event, we employ a variety of vendors.

We are often called upon for “out of the box” ideas. Although we can provide the usual, we enjoy the unusual so that we can be trend setters. We are always available to brainstorm with our clients and, in fact, that is what we truly enjoy.

I am most proud of the fact that I have stayed in business for so many years. I am very active and hands on in the business. Mostly, I am proud of the fact that several of my former employees are working in an event role and credit me for their success and mentoring.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
From the very beginning, I was encouraged by my parents. My mom regularly sat down with me and made me practice. It was accordion practicing first and then homework and then fun. I hated to practice at the beginning, but I’m sure thankful that I was not allowed to give up.

My business acumen is a result of my Dad’s amazing sales skills. As the saying goes, “he could sell anything.” More importantly, he was well liked because of his fun attitude and his great sense of humor. I have inherited all of his positive traits.

I have to credit a former employee named Marilyn Carren for my transition from only a music provider to a full-service Company. In the beginning, we would make recommendations for services that we did not have in-house. When the market place took a dip, Marilyn encouraged me to add services instead of downsizing. This proved to be a very smart business decision and allowed us to compete in the larger event world.

I have done continuous business with many Hoteliers and I am grateful for their continued patronage. I guess we continue to do things right because they’re still calling us and still recommending us. In fact, the last 3 months have been record months for JDE.

Because I consider myself to be an excellent marketer and sales professional, I would thoroughly enjoy mentoring and/or writing a book on sales techniques. I have lots of secrets that I am more than willing to share.

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