Fabled for forging immersive and everlasting experiences, the entertainment industry, specifically the realm of live music, has been reaping its pre-pandemic glory. This, in turn, has re-energized the nightlife of cities like Hong Kong, which were once deemed vibrant but had lost their shine due to the subsequent COVID-19 restrictions. Managing live bands, however, has never been a rosy path. It requires an amalgam of leadership skills to continuously enable the creative spirit and satisfaction of different stakeholders, most importantly, the audiences. There are only a few who are successful in proving such a mettle, and the one name that stands at the forefront of the lineup is Georges Elchakieh, a music aficionado, a best-selling author, and the co-founder of el-live Productions, the largest international live band company. Through his unwavering passion, Georges has propelled el-live to gain profound mileage as a formidable company in Southeast Asia, specializing in delivering unparagoned entertainment across many countries, including China, India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
Run under the stewardship of an adept management team of like-minded veterans, Georges, Marc Lajoie, and Bernard Ferrier, el-live has been nurturing best-in-class upbeat bands of diverse performers and genres since 2008. Renowned for professionalism, adaptability, and dedication to excellence, the professionals at the company provide different solutions, including but not limited to crafting international artistic concepts for 5-star luxury hotels and bars. “Our platform ensures to provide the consistency, professionalism, and continuity venues need, managing all the live music logistics so that the venue operators can focus solely on running their venue,” explains Georges.
The Distinctive Leadership
“It took me 14 years to become a competent band leader, but now we can build bands in just 14 days,” claims Georges. According to him, one of the keys to managing bands remotely by ensuring consistency and motivation across various locations and countries lies in onboarding musicians who share the company’s values and work collectively to create an
electrifying environment. “Bars and venues increasingly seek out live bands because nothing matches the excitement and energy of a live performance,” specifies Georges. But this business of joy often becomes challenging for musicians, who, as Georges says, are inherently emotional.
While Georges shares the emotional nature of the craft as a musician, his tough love leadership approach epitomizes his efficiency in coaxing the best out of each artist, all the while establishing clear and direct communication with the artists. Treating musicians as professionals, he prioritizes resolving conflicts and issues candidly and effectively. “In our high-stakes environment, professionalism, consistency, and respect for local cultures and traditions are paramount. Hence, we have zero tolerance for musicians who do not align with our values or display diva attitudes. No one is talented enough to undermine the band,” elucidates Georges. He makes sure to instill growth by unlocking a professional’s hidden potential to improve, be centered, understand the selfless nature of their job, and thrive.
Georges’ mentoring and guiding competency is also exemplified in his best-selling book, ‘Gig For Life’, which speaks about the business-must skills of self-development and collaboration, among other traits. “Witnessing my friends’ struggles and my mistakes in the last 40 years, I felt uniquely positioned to guide musicians on how to have a sustainable career, balancing their passion with practical aspects of life. If it helps even one person gig for life, I’ll consider it a success,” states Georges. Another rationale for effective collaboration and cross-cultural communication visible in el-live is the time the team spends in different countries. Georges regards this as an honorable and life-changing experience that teaches the professionals about not just the local cultures and differences but also the common human values that all seek: happiness, safety, love, respect, and connection. Georges mentoring & guiding competency is also exemplified in his best-selling book, 'Gig For Life', which speaks about the business-must skills of self-development & collaboration, among other traits
The Mantra for Long-Term Success
Georges considers musicians as entrepreneurs who need to possess not just the traits of constant selfdevelopment, professionalism, trustworthiness, and cohesion but also risk-taking and creative problemsolving abilities. Assuming high level of ownership, the professionals have to deliver value to all the stakeholders who invest money in them, be it venue owners, promoters, or the audience. He has integrated training programs in el-live to help musicians master all such necessities, which empowers them to boost their musical and entrepreneurial careers. The pursuit of continuous learning and improvement is further driven by the book club formed by the company, which impels the executive team and the band leaders to read the same book and implement the lessons after weekly discussions. “As we improve ourselves, the band improves, venues benefit, and people get what they are looking for - value, joy, and happiness,” says Georges.
Aiming to fuel its legacy, el-live is actively eyeing business expansion, with equal focus on remaining current with innovation by investing in talent development and advanced technologies for management. Moving forward, Georges wishes to uphold the company’s vision of creating the world’s largest global community of musicians, partners, bar owners, and music lovers, reinforcing collaboration, enjoyment, and mutual support. Backed by such strategies, el-live continues to be a leader in the live music industry by catering to the demands of a dynamic market through continual innovation.
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