We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David Granger, CSEP, CTEP a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
David, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.
For over five years, I had the privilege of serving in many different roles from truck diver, warehouse cleanup, flower bucket cleaner to finally Production Manager at John Daly, Inc. International, and during that time, John Daly became far more than a boss—he became a mentor and friend whose influence would shape the course of my entire career.
In an industry known for high energy and even higher stress, John taught me that “Big Fun is Serious Business.” It wasn’t just a catchy phrase—it was a philosophy. Every event we produced was a blend of spectacle and precision, joy and discipline. John instilled in me the importance of approaching creativity not just with imagination, but with intention, strategy, and integrity.
What set John apart wasn’t just his genius for showmanship—it was his unwavering commitment to ethics, professionalism, and values. He believed that excellence wasn’t negotiable, that kindness was powerful, and that how we treat people—clients, vendors, team members—matters just as much as the end result. He didn’t just direct productions, he built trust and modeled leadership that lifted everyone around him.
More than 30 years later, I still carry his lessons with me. In every client interaction, every creative concept, and every production plan, his voice echoes in my head: Do it right, do it smart, and always bring the fun. John didn’t just teach me how to build events—he taught me how to build a legacy.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Over 30 years ago, David A. Granger got the special event bug after volunteering for the Los Angeles Marathon setting up the race’s “Midpoint Mardi Gras” event. By the end of event, David was driving a 26′ box truck packed with decor and props, back to the warehouse as the newest employee of John Daly, Inc. International! David mentored under the tutelage of this great industry icon for 5 years as Production Manager, traveling to all four corners of the US, as well as many parts around the world. In 1999, after working many times in Dallas, David decided to make the Great State of Texas home, and as the saying goes “I may not have been born here, but I got here as soon as I could!” Most who know him will say David is a naturalized Texan through and through!
Ever since David entered the special events industry, he has been involved in education development in the industry. David was not only 6th President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the International Live Events Society (1996-1997), he was also the 3rd President of the Dallas Chapter (2000-2001). This makes David one of the few people to have served in 2 chapters in this role to this day. His leadership benefited the industry as it was his dream and ultimately conceived and developed the LA-La Awards, and was one of the “first four” that developed and started The Texas Star Awards, which continues today honoring excellence in the special event industry throughout the state of Texas.
David was one of the first 100 in the world to earn the Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) certification and was one of the first few to earn his Certified Talent and Entertainment Professional (CTEP) certification.
For over 10 years, David was the Creative Director and talent booking agent for an award winning talent booking agency, and was instrumental in the development and execution of many of their world class talent. During this time David traveled the world from many cities in the US to as far away as: Edmonton, Toronto, Frankfurt, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. David also had the honor of managing and producing over 1,000 talent members and volunteers for 3 Super Bowls; Dallas, New York and Phoenix, for their pre-game Fan Plazas at each stadium, right up to the games kick off.
David has booked and/or managed shows with some of the best in celebrity talent: Jason Aldean, Clint Black, Taylor Dayne, Expose, Billy Gilman, Ty Herndon, Patti LaBelle, Erika Jayne, KC and the Sunshine Band, Sammy Kershaw, Tracy Lawrence, Jerry Jones, Johnny Mathis, Liza Minnelli, Eddie Money, Colin Raye, Pam Tillis, Aaron Tippin, Tonya Tucker, Kristine W, The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and The Flying Wallenda’s to name a few.
David understands how important it is for you to hire a company you can trust, and keep coming back to, to book the talent you want, while still getting you the best rates, creating the right message and exceeding you and your guests expectations!
With over 30 years of “on the job training”, David brings, a passion for the industry and experience in talent booking and management, event planning, production knowledge, account management and event sales to your event and event Team. “We get to do this!”
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My creative journey is rooted in connection and impact. Whether I’m producing, or curating experiences, my goal is always to bring people together in meaningful ways. I’m driven by the idea that creativity can shift energy in a room, spark inspiration, and even create lasting memories. I get to change peoples lives, “4 hours at a time.” The average time of an event. The world is harsh out there, and for a certain amount of time, we get to bring guests into a space, and give them the opportunity to forget whats happening “out there”. I don’t just want to just “put talent or entertainment on a stage” — I want to “stage entertainment and talent” to elevate moments and make them unforgettable.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Over the years, several books and resources have helped shape my approach to leadership and entrepreneurship, but just as influential was my experience working under an employer who embodied everything I “didn’t” want to be. That environment was marked by negativity, a lack of support, and a toxic pattern of disrespect towards employees, clients, and talent alike. It was demeaning, confrontational, and draining.
Ironically, that experience became a powerful teacher. It clarified for me what kind of leader I “did” want to be — someone who uplifts others, fosters collaboration, communicates with respect, and builds trust with both clients and talent. I learned that culture starts at the top, and treating people with dignity isn’t just good ethics — it’s good business.
Books like “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann, “The Catalyst” by Jonah Berger, and “You are a Badass” by Jen Sincero gave me language and frameworks for building healthy teams and businesses. But in many ways, that difficult work experience was the most defining resource of all — because it showed me what not to tolerate, and gave me the motivation to build something better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Talent-Envy.com
- Instagram: talent_envyentertainment
