Describe your business
Mountain House Events hosts a variety of free public events for all ages, funded and sponsored by me, Matt Disko.
What made you decide to open this business?
Mountain House Events LLC was founded in 2020, approximately one year after I moved to Mountain House. I conducted extensive research before the launch, including online articles, reading Mountain House Matters archives, and identifying the individuals who organized and sponsored local events. I also looked into the demographics of the town and the types of attendees at those events. My goal was to take these events to another level by creating something new and engaging for residents, especially since the town was transitioning from a small-town vibe to a developing city. It was the perfect opportunity to raise the bar on the quality of events and then offer them for free.
Can you tell us about your experience in event planning and production?
I started getting involved in tech production for events when I was a preteen. At around 12 years old, I was doing sound and lighting for my local community fair and an annual country fair. I continued doing events throughout high school, while attending the Orange County High School for the Arts, where I specialized in stage production and broadcasting. By my sophomore year, I was working almost full-time doing events and decided that I didn’t want to sit around and waste time in school. I switched to independent studies while working about 40-50 hours a week in the event production industry during my junior year. I graduated a year and a half early and was heavily involved with Coachella and the Electric Daisy Carnival at that time, which were driving forces in the live and electronic dance music markets. With those markets emerging and exploding, I was at the right place and the right time to pursue my trade. If I had waited and gone to a traditional school/college, I would have missed the chance to make my mark in the evolution of live entertainment.
How do you choose which events to plan and produce, and what factors do you consider?
I tend to plan a lot of events when I can’t sleep and need a creative outlet at night. This is when my ideas start flowing, so I start sketching and bullet-pointing these crazy ideas. I usually launch the announcement for the event 60-90 days before it takes place, making sure that I’m not competing with other local events. Once I see that there is a need and opportunity to do an event that people would be inspired to attend, I go full throttle and announce it, then continue building it as I go. The only thing that holds me back sometimes is confirming a venue. When I don’t confirm a specific headline performer, a good theme, or type of food offered early, it can come back to bite me when I need to pivot.
How do you handle unexpected challenges or issues that arise during an event?
Sometimes I may feel panicked and stressed, but I make sure to keep a calm and composed demeanor in front of others. These moments of panic can push me to come up with unexpected solutions and ideas, but I also take the time to revisit them later with a clearer mind and create better strategies. Even when I think that a mistake or setback can sidetrack everything, I remind myself to take a step back and evaluate the situation. In the end, I usually end up making a better educated decision.
Can you describe a particularly successful event you've planned and produced, and what made it successful?
The most successful event we had was the 4th of July celebration in 2020, when we finally realized how COVID was affecting indoor gatherings and many restrictions were being lifted. As a result, 4,000 people showed up for the first time in Mountain House immediately following the lockdown. The reason it was so successful was because it had the right mix of people, with all the local businesses and vendors participating. It gave people a chance to interact and socialize after being isolated due to the pandemic. It was a beautiful day in the park for people to enjoy the farmers market and try new foods, this bringing everyone together after a tragic epidemic. The event allowed people to reunite again and get off their phones or Zoom to engage. Thus enabling new neighbors to meet each other and see who’s who beyond those FB screen names. It was super awesome because it brought people together after we had been trained to stay apart for so long.
What are your future plans and goals for the events you plan and produce?
I have accomplished a lot in event planning, but I am struggling to figure out how to exceed my past achievements. The ultimate goal is to take my legacy events to the next level and I continuously strive to outdo myself each year. I am particularly passionate about the Halloween block party and am determined to find ways to accommodate the possibility of 3000 attendees this year by securing additional venues and incorporating new special effects and hidden surprises. However, this will come with a significant cost increase, possibly even double the $8000 I spent last year. My aim is to exceed the expectations of the giant Halloween block party compared to the previous year.
Note: This article is about Mountain House Events LLC. Please visit their profile page to find more information and review the business.
