Starting out as a waiter and rising to develop into CEO of his personal firm, Venture Lifestyle, some of the profitable occasion planners in the area as we speak, Rabih Mockbel’s speedy journey to the highest is aware of no bounds.
This summer time Mockbel is organising his most spectacular occasion ever, an unique live performance by famous person Jennifer Lopez on Egypt’s North Coast. And, with additional plans to carry the most important and the very best stars to Egypt, Mockbel is way from accomplished. eniGma’s Bronwen Mehta sat down with him to find the person behind Egypt’s most extraordinary occasions.
After rising up in Saudi Arabia, on the age of 16 Rabih Mockbel was parachuted from the life he knew to his homeland, Lebanon, the place he started finding out hospitality.
While pursuing his research, he took up work as a waiter. “I didn’t work as a waiter for money, but simply because I had no friends in Beirut. The only person I knew in Lebanon was a waiter in a hotel, so I just went along with him,” he candidly reveals.
Little did Rabih Mockbel know on the time, that this job would catapult him to a lot larger issues. He impressed his employers from the outset, “I was a fast and eager learner. On top of that, it was unusual for a waiter to have the level of education I had. I was the most educated waiter they’d ever seen!” he recounts.
His skills and his willpower to be taught paid off, and he was quickly promoted to the lodge receptionist and after a whereas, was supplied the chance that modified his life.
“In 2003, I was offered the job of a waiter at Lebanon’s first-ever official rooftop bar, Skybar. The position was a step-down, but the potential was much greater,” Mockbel explains. Thanks to his work ethic and already in depth expertise in hospitality, Mockbel was quickly managing the entire venue, and in 2006, Skybar, now famend throughout the area, relocated to a grander venue. Unfortunately, in 2006, as a result of outbreak of struggle in Lebanon, Mockbel left the nation. Returning to Saudi Arabia, Mockbel started working for a massive occasion planning firm, the place he gained a lot of the hands-on skill-set that he nonetheless makes use of to at the present time.
Ever the adventurer, Mockbel went wherever the chance arose. He returned to Beirut after the struggle, this time to develop into the General Manager of Skybar. Then in 2009, he moved to Egypt to take the place of General Manager of the brand new Skybar in Sahel.
After two years of success there, Mockbel’s life was once more disrupted by battle. When the 2011 revolution broke out in Egypt, Mockbel relocated to Abu Dhabi and started organising unique and exuberant occasions for Formula 1, earlier than returning to Beirut in 2013 to launch his very personal venue, The Bronx.
Thanks to those years crammed with assorted experiences, when Mockbel returned to Egypt in 2016, this time for good, his grasp of the regional entertainment scene was second to none. After beginning two eating places, Code in Dusit Thani and SeaCode in Sahel, Mockbel started to grasp what the Egyptian scene was lacking.
“There was a lack of big-name artists. Promoters weren’t taking any risks. If they had a sponsor, they’d organise a party. If there was no sponsor, they wouldn’t,” he explains, including, “Promoters made it look like artists don’t need to come to Egypt, so it’s not possible to get them.
Which isn’t true. The promoters simply don’t need to take the chance.” Mockbel noticed this hole in the nightlife and entertainment business as his alternative to “break all the rules,” happening to utterly revitalise the Egyptian scene by bringing a complete host of much-awaited worldwide names.
“Instead of trying to find sponsors first, I take the risk, sign the act, and then find the sponsors. As a result of my proven successes, now sponsors come running,” Mockbel explains. And the proof is in the pudding.
Despite the truth that many in the business had deemed it not possible, Mockbel for the primary time ever, introduced Solomun, Black Coffee and hip hop stars Nelly, Tyga and Inna to Egypt, giving us among the most talked about occasions of the last decade.
“When I said I wanted Solomun, they said it wouldn’t happen. I made it happen,” he proudly declares.
Although Mockbel’s profession is replete with massive occasions, together with Justin Timberlake in Dubai, J.Lo’s efficiency in Egypt for an viewers of 20,000, is his most colossal occasion but. Emphasising its significance, Mockbel says, “I don’t feel like I’ve made it yet, but maybe after J.Lo I will. I think her concert is going to be a huge turning point for the industry as a whole. Once J.Lo has come and everything goes well, what international artist will be able to say no?!”
Looking ahead, the potential for bringing new names and holding large-scale occasions is why Mockbel’s ardour and future is tied to Egypt for now. “In Lebanon, the scene is so small and tired. In Egypt, on the other hand, people are not going out to show off and to pop champagne bottles. They club for the experience. Plus, there are just so many places available, like El Gouna, Sokhna and Sahel. They feel like completely different countries! In the next 5 years or so, the scene in Egypt is really going to take off,” he exclaims.
And he plans not simply to be right here for it, however to truly orchestrate it.
Priding himself as being a true trendsetter, he notes, “I never book a DJ twice. It is about being the first to do something. I don’t mind who books Solomun or Black Coffee now, the important thing is that we did it first.”
Pulling off among the most profitable occasions in Egypt doesn’t simply occur by luck. From idea to execution, Mockbel’s consideration to element is impeccable. “I am not just going to book an act without knowing that there is demand for it. Extensive research is key, I know exactly what the audience wants to see and listen to,” he says.
But even that isn’t sufficient. “It is about choosing the right date and location, otherwise having the right artist doesn’t work. And once you have those, you need the right team to execute them. When necessary, I bring the best people I’ve worked with from across the region to work on an event. This is what I’ve done with J.Lo to make sure that everything goes perfectly,” Mockbel explains.
While the general public is focussing on the efficiency itself, Rabih Mockbel’s head is elsewhere, analysing all the particulars that we don’t even realise are important to creating the right occasion.
“I am not worried about the performance, J.Lo will put on a great show. My focus is on how the audience are treated, how they will be fed and generally how to create the optimal environment for them. I am determined to make it quick and easy for the audience to enter and exit,” Mockbel elucidates.
His want to innovate via bringing in new expertise has additionally pushed the scene in Egypt to take massive strides. But he nonetheless has grand plans for the longer term. “I want the transport to be part of the ticket, so that you get picked up and dropped off right at your home, with no need to drive and find parking. I want to move beyond normal tickets and wristbands,” he excitedly exclaims.
To guarantee that he’s on high of the most recent techniques, Rabih Mockbel makes positive that he will get first-hand expertise from overseas.
Travelling to Houston to look at J.Lo carry out, he was eagle-eyed trying to be taught from any errors and to see what it took to make the occasion go down with out a hitch.
Today, with such an in depth confirmed observe file, Mockbel can truthfully inform potential sponsors, “I can get any name, and I deliver,” he says. Looking forward, for starters he’s organising the most important youngsters’ two-day occasion that Egypt has ever seen, “The Baby Shark Show,” in October; and the legendary Bryan Adams is anticipated in February. So, look out Egypt, we now have heaps extra thrilling occasions to prepare for!
(Disclaimer: This is a Brand Desk Content)
