Ever wonder how casino’s, big and small, have the capacity to get the highest name acts in addition to guest-pleasing entertainment like meet and greets with hugely popular TV shows stars? It starts with the casino buyer. And the way do you get to be the number 1 casino buyer within the industry?  Just ask Kell Houston, president, Houston Productions and longtime Raving Consulting partner, Gaming Entertainment. 

His peers and members of the (International Entertainment Buyers Association) voted for Kell in 2012, 2014, 2016 (winners don't seem to be eligible the year after) because the top Casino Buyer of the Year in Nashville last month. He credits this award to, “Giving personal service to every and each client. We create partnerships. We build successful programs. For example, in Oklahoma, we've got created some strong success in casinos that currently don’t have venues for shows, with celebrity appearances/meet-n-greets with stars from Game of Thrones, and Sons of Anarchy. As a company, my goal is to offer unique and prior to the curve ideas, in addition to the standard concerts.”

If you read the testimonials on his website, or chat with lots of his clients, both commercial and tribal, they’ll say that Kell's value lies in is his expertise at providing the best entertainment for his or her casino’s brand, in addition to his uncanny ability to make the precise entertainment choices for his or her demographic. 

Chris C. Archunde, director of marketing, Port Madison Enterprises, shared, “Kell does a really perfect job bringing different genres of entertainment to us.  He isn’t one to only ‘shop properties’ with the similar artists, as some buyers do. He works closely with us to figure out what we’re searching for within our budget and this has allowed us to give new and dynamic entertainers to our market.” 

If you don’t know Kell, you’ll recognize him because the guy who's a head taller than most men and always has a sincere smile on his face. You’ll see him at most every industry trade show, either on a panel or “working the floor.” “Kell was our go-to-guy for our clients for just about 15 years as a result of his integrity and complete knowledge of gaming-specific entertainment. He's also an enormous advocate of tribal gaming and cares deeply for each client he works with,” shared Dennis Conrad, President & Chief Strategist, Raving Consulting. 

Luckily for the industry, Kell’s plans to be a highschool music teacher were waylaid during college, after hearing bands like Blood Sweat and Tears  and Chicago. He realized that he too is usually a horn player in a rock band.….and so his career began in entertainment.  

Growing up in a musical family, his passion for music started at age six with piano lessons. He then started the trombone in 4th grade, and played in band and orchestra all over junior high and highschool. For several years he played around the country; had a few record deals  fizzle out, and was the founding member and manager of a well-liked funk band, Epicentre, within the Pacific Northwest. They ended up being signed with Stevie Wonder’s company and spent a couple of year in La recording with him and playing gigs around Southern California. Kell even recorded on Tower Of Power’s “Back to Oakland” album. 

When life at the road came to an end, he pursued and educated himself at the business side of the music industry. Probably the most companies he worked for before forming Houston Productions was instrumental in introducing Kell to tribal gaming, which was just beginning to come to life. He was capable of use his educational approach in an excessively new marketplace. Kell adds, “Today, Indian Gaming is a $30 billion a year business and my company is on the forefront. We currently work with just about 30 Tribal casinos, buying talent and helping build successful entertainment programs around the country.” 

You name the entertainer, Kell has worked with them. However, probably the most more interesting projects happened as a result of teamwork and the timing. For example, he shared:

“We booked ALICE COOPER on the Little River Casino Resort.  The casino provided a spot for him to rehearse all week for an upcoming tour, and on the end of the week had a sold out concert.

“Just because the group was breaking big, we were capable of get the FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, at Chinook Winds Casino Resort.  The show was tied right into a Portland radio station and we sold out in 24 hours.

“Back years ago, I had THE DIXIE CHICKS, playing on the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas, just as their record skyrocketed. It was just like the Beatles had shown up!”

When asked what he sees for the way forward for casino entertainment, he replied, “Live music will always be around. That have can't be artificially produced. The success of the massive festivals with iconic groups proves some degree. The music of those people will live on, in lots of forms. And skill is everywhere.”

Read More... [Source: Gaming Industry News]