We recently connected with Bryce Beck and have shared our conversation below.

Bryce, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I started my creative career in 2017, but it definitely didn’t begin as some grand plan. At the time, I was deep into my corporate career—working as an accountant at Verizon after graduating from FAU and starting my professional life with PwC. My wife and I had built a stable, comfortable life, and trivia was just something we did for fun with friends on Tuesday nights.

Over time, we got to know the host, and eventually I asked if I could help out—at first just for a bar tab. That turned into a real opportunity, and my first gigs were running game nights at Smokey Bones in Sanford. From there, I slowly worked my way into hosting trivia, and that’s when everything started to click. The more I got on the mic, the more I realized this was something I genuinely loved—and something I was actually good at.

A big turning point came in 2018 when I was asked to start hosting a new night at Persimmon Hollow in DeLand. The week before my first show, my dad passed away unexpectedly. It completely shook me, and I almost walked away from all of it. But I knew he would’ve wanted me to keep going, and in a lot of ways, that became my motivation—to make him proud.

From there, things grew slowly and intentionally. I was still working full-time at Verizon, which gave me the financial stability to build something the right way—without rushing or cutting corners. When 2020 hit and the world shut down, it unexpectedly created the opportunity for me to launch Big Tuna Entertainment. What started as trivia has grown into so much more: music bingo, DJing, weddings, corporate events, and more. Along the way, I’ve built a team, become part of the DeLand community, and even checked off bucket list moments like officiating weddings.

Looking back, I do sometimes wish I had discovered this side of myself earlier. I didn’t know I had this in me—the ability to be on a mic, to lead a room, to create experiences for people. If I had, maybe I would’ve taken a completely different path.

But at the same time, I wouldn’t change it.

My corporate career gave me the structure, discipline, and stability to build something meaningful without the pressure of it needing to succeed overnight. It allowed this to stay fun—to grow into a passion instead of becoming a burden.

If I had started earlier, I don’t think I would’ve been ready. If I had started later, I think I would’ve felt like something was missing.

So the truth is, I started exactly when I needed to.

This creative path has given my life color in a way my corporate career never could. It’s given me confidence, a sense of community, and a way to bring people together and create something memorable. What started as a side hustle has become a huge part of who I am—and I’m still finding new ways to grow it every day.

Bryce, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Bryce Beck, owner of Big Tuna Entertainment—and if you told 2013 accountant Bryce that this is what he’d be doing, he probably would’ve laughed and gone back to his spreadsheet.

My background is actually in corporate finance. I started my career at PwC, moved into Verizon, did the whole “climb the ladder” thing… and on the side, my wife and I were just regulars at trivia nights, trying to come up with a decent team name and win some bar tabs. Somewhere along the way, I got the chance to jump on the mic and help out—and that’s when everything changed.

Turns out, I really liked being the one running the fun instead of just participating in it.

What started as “I’ll do this for a free drink” quickly turned into something I took seriously. Then in 2020, when everything shut down and then slowly reopened, I saw an opportunity to build something of my own—and Big Tuna Entertainment was born.

Now, we do it all—trivia, music bingo, bingo, game nights, DJing, weddings, corporate events, private parties… if it involves people having a good time, I’m probably in.

At the end of the day, that’s really what I do—I create fun. People are constantly looking for a reason to get out, connect, laugh, and enjoy themselves, and I’ve been lucky enough to build something around providing exactly that. Whether it’s a packed brewery on a Wednesday night or someone’s wedding day, there’s a level of trust there that I don’t take lightly. When someone hires me, they’re basically saying, “Hey, you’re in charge of the vibe tonight”—and I love that.

What sets me apart is pretty simple: I don’t treat this like a job. I genuinely enjoy it. I think people can tell right away when someone is just going through the motions versus when they actually care—and I care a lot. I’m not a cookie-cutter host. I’m constantly reading the room, adjusting, and making sure the experience fits the crowd. With trivia, I’ll tailor questions to the demographic and even let the players help steer categories. It makes the night feel like it’s theirs, not just something they showed up for.

For private events, especially weddings and big life moments, my mindset is: I want to be the easiest “yes” on your list. Clear communication, flexibility, and making sure you don’t have to stress about entertainment at all. You’ve got enough going on—my job is to make sure this part is seamless and fun.

And honestly, I lead by example. If I’m having fun, the room will have fun. Energy is contagious, and I’m bringing it every time.

What I’m most proud of is what this has grown into. This started as a side hustle and turned into something that’s given me a second identity outside of my corporate career. It’s brought me into the community, introduced me to incredible people, and created real relationships—not just customers, but regulars and friends. I’ve had the chance to be part of weddings, major events, and random Wednesday nights that people end up talking about for weeks—and that’s a pretty cool thing.

Big Tuna Entertainment isn’t just about trivia or music or events—it’s about creating moments. The kind where people forget about their day, laugh a little louder, stay out a little longer, and leave saying, “That was a great night.”

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At the core of it, my mission is pretty simple: I want to bring people together and make sure they have a genuinely great time.

That might sound straightforward, but I don’t take it lightly. People are busy, stressed, and pulled in a hundred different directions every day. When they show up to a trivia night, a wedding, or an event I’m running, that’s their time to unplug, laugh, and just enjoy being around other people. If I can create an environment where that happens naturally, then I’ve done my job.

On a bigger level, I’m really driven by creating experiences that people remember. Not just “that was fun,” but “that was a great night.” The kind of nights people talk about the next day or make part of their weekly routine. That’s especially true for the local businesses I work with—I want to help them build something that keeps people coming back and creates a real sense of community.

There’s also a personal side to it. This journey has been about proving to myself that I can build something of my own, something that reflects who I am. It started as a side hustle, but it’s grown into a creative outlet that brings a lot of balance to my life. My corporate career gave me structure, but this gives me energy.

And honestly, a big part of what drives me is continuing to grow. I didn’t even know I had this in me when I started, and now I’m constantly looking for new ways to expand—whether that’s new types of events, bigger opportunities, or just finding ways to make each experience better than the last.

At the end of the day, if people leave something I’ve hosted feeling a little happier than when they walked in, that’s the mission.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part is seeing people genuinely have a great time because of something I created.

There’s always a moment where the energy clicks—people are laughing, competing, singing along—and you can feel that you helped make that happen. That never gets old.

I also don’t take for granted the trust people put in me, especially for big events like weddings. Being part of those moments and knowing I helped make them memorable is huge.

But more than anything, it’s the relationships. What started as customers has turned into a real community. That, and the confidence I’ve gained along the way, has been the most rewarding part of all.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BigTunaEnt
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigTunaEnt

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