Today we’d like to introduce you to Tam Lo.
Hi Tam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hello, I’m Tam Lo, a second-generation Taiwanese American, and my life’s journey has been a captivating series of experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. My story began with a move from New York City to Houston in my youth, where I was deeply inspired by my dad, a skilled chef, and my mom, a dedicated accountant who owned a restaurant. These early influences ignited my passion for the restaurant industry, which became a central part of my life as I balanced school with evenings spent working at my parent’s restaurant.
High school marked a pivotal moment when I discovered my fascination with the coffee industry, particularly the art of latte making. This passion led me to Starbucks, where I embarked on a journey starting at their 24-hour Galleria location and eventually managing one of their specialty stores. During this time, my involvement in event planning began through an invitation to join the Anime Matsuri planning team. For seven years, I dedicated myself to creating unforgettable experiences for anime enthusiasts.
After my tenure at Starbucks, I found a new home at Revival Market, a craft coffee shop that became my sanctuary for five years. Here, I combined my culinary skills with my love for beverages, crafting unique menus that attracted guests from all corners of Houston. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, I took a leap, leaving the Anime Matsuri team to establish my own events company, Spectral Bouquet. My goal was to help local business owners create events that would draw in more customers, a challenge I intimately understood from my family’s small business background.
During this phase, I crossed paths with my future business partner, Naoki Yoshida, the chef and owner of Shun Japanese Kitchen. Frequent visits to his restaurant and a deepening partnership eventually led to the birth of Tokyo Night Festival.
Our initial vision for Tokyo Night Festival was to provide a platform for local businesses and emerging vendors to sell their products in person. The inaugural event exceeded our expectations, attracting an attendance of well over 7,000 people. In 2022, we aimed to expand the festival, showcasing the blend of tradition and modernity in Japanese culture, catering to the current generation. By our second year, we received news of a proclamation declaring a Tokyo Night Festival Day, recognizing our dedication.
Determined to make a triumphant return, I held numerous meetings and site visits, culminating in a highly successful event, Tokyo X, at NRG Center that drew over 13,000 attendees. This journey has been a rollercoaster, filled with challenges and triumphs, a testament to the power of perseverance and community spirit.
In May of this year, I was approached by OCA Greater Houston to assist with their AAPI Restaurant Weeks, signing up over 70 restaurants to provide special discounts for a donation benefiting seniors. They acknowledged the efforts Naoki and I made to enrich the Japanese and Houston communities with our festival, and now we’re collaborating on their next cultural arts event, Starry Nite Fest. It’s a new chapter in our journey, and I’m excited to continue making a positive impact on the community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The pandemic had a profound impact on how we had to operate, especially when launching a new event without the established rapport or trust that comes from previous experiences. This presented significant challenges in securing sponsorships and participants. My business partner, Naoki, personally funded the entire endeavor using his restaurant’s earnings, and both of us had to balance our work commitments while dedicating every available moment to the planning process. Running Tokyo Night Festival carried substantial risks.
Unfortunately, in 2022, we faced a series of devastating setbacks. Firstly, our initial venue, Lucky Land, became unavailable due to multiple violations during a fire marshal inspection, leaving us with just two weeks to secure an alternative location. Then, we were at the mercy of unpredictable inclement weather, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the event we had diligently planned for an entire year. It was extremely disheartening to see all that effort go to waste. Despite the financial strain it imposed, we were committed to doing right by our attendees and offered refunds for up to a month after the event had passed.
The financial toll was substantial, including the expenses related to a stage that never hosted a single performance and the costs incurred for special guest performers who had traveled all the way from Japan. It was undoubtedly a challenging period, both emotionally and financially.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Answering this question has always been a delightful challenge for me, as those who know me might humorously say, “What doesn’t Tam do?”
Throughout my diverse career, I’ve taken on a multitude of roles, from teaching computer classes for senior citizens, providing IT support, and managing corporate retail operations to handling accounting, offering translation services, crafting recipes, providing event staffing solutions, offering business consulting, specializing in branding and marketing, creating graphic designs, corporate management, sales, and even engaging in HR recruitment.
In addition to receiving two proclamations from the mayor, recognizing Tokyo Night Festival Day and AAPI Restaurant Month, one of my most significant achievements is the successful hosting of Tokyo X at NRG Center. This event drew attendees from all corners of the globe and featured high-caliber guests like Yuki Kaji, a renowned voice actor celebrated for his iconic role as Eren Yeager in the popular Attack on Titan series.
What truly sets me apart is my unshakable composure; nothing fazes me. My ability to adapt swiftly enables me to make rapid decisions, ensuring the successful completion of my projects.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5 to 10 years, the events industry will undergo continued transformation to align with evolving trends and technologies. Adapting to the preferences of the next generation will be pivotal in shaping the direction events take to remain appealing to guests. I am excited to see what the future holds.
Pricing:
- $10 entry to Starry Nite Fest
- $30 special guest concert with Alan Z, Justin Park, and Katherine Ho.
- Custom pricing for event staffing and management.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tokyonightfest.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/tokyonightfestival
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tokyonightfestival
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tokyonightfest
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Tokyonightfest?si=aMEB5oKYXxD40fif
- Other: https://linktr.ee/tokyonightfestival
Image Credits
Joshua Vela
