Meet Darren, an innovative entrepreneur who brings families together through unforgettable carnival experiences. Specialising in family-themed events, Darren designs and curates exciting, interactive carnivals that create lasting memories for all ages.
From fun games and activities to magic shows, every event is carefully crafted to ensure fun, laughter, and bonding for families. With a passion for creating joy and a commitment to excellence, he is transforming the way families experience entertainment and leisure. Find out what Darren is up to lately.
What inspired you to start organising family team carnivals, and how did you get started in this industry?
I started this event business in 2018. The reason I started it is because I really love gatherings, and in the event industry, there are a lot of happy faces. When I see people happy, it makes me happy as well.
At that point in time, I was also involved in a sales job and I was very unhappy. That’s where I decided to leave the company and venture into the business world.
What do you believe makes a successful family carnival, and how do you ensure that your events cater to all age groups?
To make a successful family carnival, I need to understand the age groups of my clients. Once I know the age group, I can propose suitable activities. For example, arcade games can be catered to adults and teenagers, while bouncy castles are great for younger children. Magic shows are generally good for everyone.
Can you share some of the most memorable experiences or challenges you’ve faced when organising these carnivals?
One memorable experience was when I first started out. One client supported me, and during that event, I did a mascot appearance. I dressed up as Spider-Man, and that created a very deep impression with the client, which has lasted until today.
How do you approach the planning process for each event, from the concept all the way to execution?
The planning process usually takes at least two months, depending on the event’s requirements. For family events, we typically need two months because we sometimes have to source items from overseas. Some clients expect us to find things that aren’t available in Singapore.
When a client approaches us, we first understand their requirements, then work out the timeline and event date. After that, we start planning logistics, purchase necessary items, and find suitable vendors. We always try to negotiate the best price and create a backup plan in case a supplier or vendor can’t make it to the event.
One client supported me, and during that event, I did a mascot appearance. I dressed up as Spider-Man, and that created a very deep impression with the client, which has lasted until today.
What are some of the key elements you focus on when setting up a family carnival to ensure that it’s both safe and fun?
To ensure safety, we must have an ambulance on-site. After that, we make sure the manpower on-site is vigilant and proactive to handle any safety concerns. We also use queue poles and barricades to ensure the lines are properly managed.
As for fun, once safety is in place and everything runs smoothly, the fun will naturally follow. To make the event more engaging, we hire an emcee to hype up the crowd and set up a good audio system to enhance the atmosphere.
Can you share any behind-the-scenes stories of how you have managed challenging situations during an event?
There are always challenges behind the scenes because we deal with a lot of logistics. We have a backup logistics driver, so if something goes wrong with a delivery, we can quickly execute the plan with the backup driver.
Communication is also key in event management, as there are many people involved, and human errors can happen. Sometimes we miss items that need to be brought to the event, so we always have someone on standby in the warehouse to prepare anything we’ve missed, ensuring it can be delivered to the event site immediately.
What are your future goals for your event business, and how do you plan to evolve your services over the next few years?
We want to expand beyond family carnivals and offer more event services, such as opening ceremonies. In Singapore, there aren’t many companies offering specialised opening ceremony equipment, so we are currently in the planning stage to provide those services. For expansion, I’d like to grow the team to at least 10 people and have two transport vehicles.
Where do you see yourself and what’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
In five years’ time, I want to achieve more personal goals and do more charity work. I feel a sense of happiness by helping others within my means. Eventually, if possible, I hope to be part of the board of directors of a charity organisation. This is so that I can have a say in ensuring the organisation is genuinely running with clean transactions.
As for my vision for Singapore, I would love to see more government support for the event industry, which could promote social cohesion and help businesses improve their offerings for clients. This would benefit both clients and vendors and make Singapore a more integrated country.
