ROB OCAMPO
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, VENUES TODAY
HOMETOWN: Anaheim, Calif.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: Mentoring and teaching. It’s fun to figure things out and share it with other people.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T IN YOUR JOB: Personal trainer or soccer coach.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MENTOR: My father.
WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO WHEN YOU WERE A KID: Astronaut or working for NASA.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME: Play pool.
WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST PET PEEVE: When people ask you a question but don’t let you fully answer.
PREFERRED ONE DAY ESCAPE: Costa Rica.
WHAT IS THE TOP SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “Seek and Destroy” by Metallica.
WHAT IS THE MOST EMBARRASSING SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” by Kylie Minogue.
FAMOUS PERSON IN HISTORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET: Ghandi.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED: Always think about what you’d advise your kids when faced with a decision. This applies to anything.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT ATTENDED: A show I promoted myself called Heavy Metal Sundays, formally known as KNAC Nights. It was a huge night and so exciting to see all my hard work come together.
LINDA DECKARD
PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF, VENUES TODAY
CURRENT CITY: Huntington Beach, Calif.
HOMETOWN: Annandale, Va.
WHERE DID YOU GO TO UNIVERSITY: Indiana University, Bloomington.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Amusement Business, a trade publication that covered mass entertainment.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR CURRENT JOB: I founded Venues Today after leaving Amusement Business/ Billboard in 2002.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: The people and the relationships; I’ve made many good friends in this industry over the years.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T IN YOUR JOB: Writing a novel.
MENTORS: Tom Powell, Mike McGee, Jane Kleinberger and Fr. Gordon Walker.
WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR ONE DAY: I’d stay home alone; I like silence.
FAMOUS PERSON IN HISTORY WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET: John F. Kennedy.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I lived in a commune in San Francisco in the 60’s called Project One.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED: Don’t assume. In journalism especially, dig for the true meaning of things.
IF YOU COULD HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Time.
BIGGEST GUILTY PLEASURE: Condiments. I like a little hot dog with my mustard.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT YOU’VE ATTENDED: Peter, Paul and Mary at the Carter Barron Amphitheater when I was 13. And any amphitheater show, especially the Eagles or James Taylor.
RICH DiGIACOMO
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, VENUES TODAY
CURRENT CITY: Los Angeles
HOMETOWN: Boston
WHERE DID YOU GO TO UNIVERSITY: San Diego State.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Peterson Publishing Company, a specialty car and hunting magazine outfit, where I sold ads.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR CURRENT JOB: I sold my company and sailed around the world. When I got home, I was bored and decided it was time to look for another opportunity. I found Linda and Venues Today.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: Marketing on the sales level; extending the brand name and creating visibility.
YOUR FAVORITE MENTOR: Lee Oser, head of Hampton International Communications.
WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO WHEN YOU WERE A KID: Dentist or the first Italian astronaut.
BIGGEST PET PEEVE: People ignoring you and not giving you their time or not responding to you.
WHAT IS THE TOP SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: Anything by the Counting Crows.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I’m an amazing cook.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED: Live as though heaven is on earth.
IF YOU COULD HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Great wines.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT YOU’VE ATTENDED: Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull at the Long Beach (Calif.) Convention Center.
DESIRED SUPER POWER: Seeing the future.