None of us are quite serious about our future at our teen
age. We rarely plan our next 50 years when we are 19 but then there are people
who are ambitious since the time they landed into their senses. One of those
few is Mr. Rohit Raj, who was always clear about his plans and as to what he
wants to achieve. He had a very clear cut goal to be an event organizer because
he wanted to manage people’s entertainment and bring smile on their faces by
turning their mere dream into a subsisting reality. His desire is to turn into
out into the biggest wedding planner of this country. He has mixed experiences
from his past works. From managing some great events in school life to bringing
an international artist from Russia to India on a tour with 17 mega events
around the country, this journey was not at all that smooth and cozy. He
managed to pull some shows in renowned Delhi University, like the Annual Fest
of DRC, IP College for Women, College of Vocational Studies and many more. But
as they say dreams are infinite so this man also has some major plans in his
store to which he is looking forward to surmount as soon as possible. So by now
you know him by his achievements and future plans, but now you will know him by
his own words.
Interviewer: Hey Rohit! First of all, thank you for
being a part of our program: IN CONVERSATION WITH VYAPAAR. It’s a pleasure to
have you.
Rohit: Hi! It’s my pleasure to answer your questions.
Hoping for an amazing time with you.
Interviewer: Sir I would like to begin with asking
you about your school life. How had it been?
Rohit: My school life was extra ordinary with best of
friends, best of teachers. Being a DPS kid the exposure provided was of next
level. I must say the support I got in my senior year was amazing. I became the
President Co-Curricular activities of the student’s council which bought a lot
of confidence in me. I always miss my school and the people around me.
Interviewer: Did you aspire to be an event planner
from the very beginning?
Rohit: I always aspired to do something different.
Something that not many peopledo. Event management influenced me in November, 2010 and since then
there was no looking back.
Interviewer: If we see your social life, we observe
that you have a good circle. How do you think it has helped you in your
professional life?
Rohit: To be honest I have a very small friend
circle. I do talk to a lot of people but my circle is small. Well yes my
network has grown in past few years because of my work. You know being in such
an industry which is all about public relations, the network has helped me in
many ways. Most of thecollege fests I do are because of my college friends and
relatives, which has definitely bought me a lot of work.
Interviewer: You dropped an year and then you chose
journalism over engineering. Why so?
Rohit: Well, my father wanted me to be an engineer, a
civil engineer to be more precise. But after one year I realized that it was
not my cup of tea. I could not really study engineering and do justice. It was
not there in my destiny. One fine day I confessed it and my father asked if I
wished to do something else. I said Mass Communication and Journalism and since
then I am on a roller coaster ride.
Interviewer: Do you think you made the right
decision?
Rohit: Oh yes! It feels good to do something that I
like. And yes it was difficult to face the people around and answer their
questions like why did you leave Engineering? Why Journalism? But after 6
months when they read my mention in TOI, it was a big slap on their faces and
now when people talk about my work with respect, it feels great.
Interviewer: What sacrifices did you do or problems
you faced to transform your ideas into a real life project?
Rohit: There were a few sacrifices I had to make to
pursue my business properly. I have a working weekend, during peak seasons
there are no routines. I actually slept in my car in the month of February and
I was literally shivering. But there is one major sacrifice that I have made. I
wanted to fulfill my parent’s dream to be an engineer, but I could not. That’s
destiny!
Interviewer: How do you overcome them?
Rohit: I try to enjoy my work. I don’t care if I am
working on the weekends. I make work fun and try to give my best. I remember
once we came to CP all the way, just to get chicken hot dog at 3 bin the night.
So yeah we try to enjoy our work. And talking about my parents, they are very
happy with the progress so they do not mind.
Interviewer: How do you manage your business and your
studies at the very same time?
Rohit: I have this really coo college where the
college hours are from 10 to 4, so I get ample of time at night to fix my
meetings and do my homework. The attendance is not much of a problem so I
manage my attendance well. Talking about my result in my first year, I was
amongst the top 3 students from my batch.
Interviewer: Who is your ideal? In which way do you
follow them?
Rohit: There is no specific ideal to be honest. Anyone
who has made their name in the market with their name and talent, anyone who
has achieved something big are the people who attract me. I would like to be
someone like Shahrukh Khan or Yuvraaj Singh who made so much out of their life
from nothing. I want to make my own brand and build my name in the market and I
am working rigorously on it.
Interviewer: We would like to know about some of your
recent events.
Rohit: We just completed a major 18 show in the month
of February. Artists like Nikhil D’souza , FalakShabir and others have performed
for us at different colleges and universities. We managed to entertain 40,000
students in the first quarter and hoping to entertain more students out there.
Interviewer: What is your take on Gurgaon Rave Party
case in which the police arrested around 100 children?
Rohit: I thing the age limit and the rules and
regulations should be followed wisely. I still laugh at people who are still
16, forget 18 and they end up coming at public events like a boss. One needs to
understand that there is an age for everything. I might sound like a stupid
here but I must say that one should take it slow. I don’t understand why people
organize such raves for children. They are anyway illegal.
Interviewer: Did you face such problems ever?
Rohit: Well. I don’t really encourage all this in my
events. I have this different foot fall for my events so I don’t face such
issues in my events. Thank god for that.
Interviewer: Do you think collaborations boast
business expansion ?
Rohit: Oh collaborations are always welcome. My
partner Mr. ShantanvKapoor has this mantra “Together we rule, divided we fall”
so we follow this theory blindly. If we
are a team then we are socially stronger than an individual. The network grow
when you collaborate with different people. One can collaborate with
companies/artists/vendors or others which definitely helps us in a long run.
Interviewer: If yes then how did you go about it? And
do you have specific names with whom you wish to collaborate with?
Rohit: Yes. In many events we have collaborated with
new and old different event companies. We have even tied up with few artists
and we promote our collaborations. In the future I would really like to manage
Mr. Arijit Singh or YoYo Honey Singh as these are one of the most selling
artists and working with them will be an experience of its own. I have
collaborations in Pakistan and I would like to engage with at least one artist
from each country.
Interviewer: How many key members are there in your
team? What are their priorities at GROG EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT PVT. LTD. ?
Rohit: I have my brother in work and partner in crime
Mr. Shantav Kapoor with me in the firm who works as the Director Operations and
I work as the Director Marketing and that my friend is a small happy Grog
family.
Interviewer: Do you think hierarchy system in an
organization like yours comes with efficiency or not?
Rohit: See I don’t think there is anybody ranked
above another. Everybody works as a team and contributes their part. Everybody
is assigned with a work and is supported to do that. I always believe that I
want people to work WITH me not FOR me. Till the time people are working WITH
me they will give in their cent percent but if they will work FOR me they will
not give their best.
Interviewer: What marketing strategies do you opt for
promoting your events/
Rohit: Some events are like corporate events/weddings
[yes we did three weddings last season] College fests, such kind of event does
not really need promotion. But yeah ticketed shows and
promotional events are promoted through social networking sites. Ticketing
portals, hoardings, pamphlets, print ads are the best techniques for promotion.
Interviewer: How was your experience of working with DJ NastiaZolote?[the 3rd
best DJ in the world]
Rohit: Nastia Zolote is only a DJ but she is also a
music producer. Her Indian tour was a turning point. It bought me some name and
fame all over the country bringing me the title of one of the youngest artist
manager in the country. Her tour was indeed memorable.
Interviewer: Whom do you wish to work with in the future?
Rohit: Any artist who is not snobbish and is down to
earth is welcome. Any artist who can entertain the crowd is invited. Any artist
that helps me make money is always appreciated. But yes I wanted to do a huge
show with Swedish House Malfie, which I know will remain a dream now.
Interviewer: Where do you see yourself after 10
years?
Rohit: I see myself in a huge multi story office
space, with bigger work force, with a bigger name, with a brand name that needs
no introduction, with an aim that will always grow, with more tattoos on my
body and a flat tummy and a hot sedan
parked outside my office.
Interviewer: Any suggestions for all the budding
entrepreneurs out there?
Rohit: I would like to say one thing which I have
mentioned many times before that you only live once, but if you do it right,
once is enough. Do what you love, struggle to achieve it, face difficulties,
fight bravely. Take your own decisions and don’t let your parents take it. Even
if you make one wrong move don’t forget there is a lot left in life. Don’t you
take your academic results that seriously, how well you fit in the market
matters. This might be misleading, but I
strongly believe in it.
Interviewer: Thank you sir, it was a pleasure to talk
to you. Thank you!
Rohit: This is an amazing initiative by the DCAC.
Vyapaar’s newsletter might help in bringing a change in the life of a few. High
five to you guys. All the best.
This interview is taken by one of our founding members- Vijay kapoor
