One-stop shop to LA entertainment
By Rob Kadivar
Oct. 26, 2009 9:10 p.m.
There is little doubt that Los Angeles is a magnet to all things entertainment-related. It’s also an unfortunate fact that, to experience these cultural gems, Bruins find themselves paying large amounts to taxi drivers or gas stations. Entertainment group LA Hopper, led by founder and CEO Andrew Citores, offers local college students not only an event to go to, but also a ride there and back.
“We are a good source for anything that has to do with entertainment,” Citores said. “What sets us apart is the extent of our services. We don’t just promote and plan events, we are like a one-stop shop. We book a limo, get dinner reservations and get names on a guest list at some of the hottest spots in Hollywood.”
Citores founded the group in 2006 during his second year at Loyola Marymount University. Since then, the company has expanded its reach to Pepperdine University, USC, Chapman University and more recently, UCLA. As the group grows within the Westwood campus, more representatives are being recruited to spread the word about their events.
Second-year sociology student and UCLA basketball guard Blake Arnet is one of Citores’ newest recruits.
“I originally got in touch with Andrew through Facebook, and he hired me to promote his events on campus,” Arnet said. “As I talked to people about the company, most of them really liked the idea.”
The company owns two vehicles and charters another 100 through other companies to escort students to and from their events. These events include college nights at major Hollywood venues such as the Upper Manhattan Lounge, as well as more local venues like Westwood Brewing Company, which features an electro night DJ’d by UCLA alumnus Josh Garcia.
“(Andrew) knew I was a DJ and approached me, and we figured out how we could help each other out,” Garcia said. “Basically, he let me DJ, and I helped him promote his events to UCLA students.”
Citores said he realized early on that the key to success would be to spread his reach as wide as possible.
“It is just impossible for me to know thousands of people, but if I have a bunch of reps who know a couple hundred each, things get around quicker,” Citores said. “It’s basically been a word-of-mouth thing. For the last three years, it’s all been about meeting the right people and extending the brand.”
While making a name for themselves by playing the role of master of ceremonies, LA Hopper members have also proven that their transportation branch is not only a convenience, but a service to the community.
“There’s no real good public transportation in the city, and considering how expensive cabs can be, they’re not always a great choice either,” Garcia said. “(LA Hopper) is a really useful resource, and (it) helps prevent drunk-driving.”
As a brand made up of three parts ““ transportation, promotion and event-planning ““ LA Hopper has established a firm grasp on various aspects of the entertainment market, making it one of the more convenient parts of an otherwise complicated industry.
“What I like about (LA Hopper) is that they’ve created a tight-knit community by uniting these different campuses,” Garcia said. “L.A. is such a large city with so much to offer, it can be daunting, and you may not know where to go. But if you go to an LA Hopper event, you know you’re going to have a good time.”
