In our first in-person interview, we sat down with David Carvalho: entrepreneur, veteran DJ, and the man behind some of San Francisco’s most iconic tech and music events. For more than two decades, David has booked talent for Dreamforce, the Super Bowl, and private gatherings for Silicon Valley’s most influential leaders, while also performing at Coachella, Ultra, Outside Lands, Giants, Warriors, and Raiders games, Google and Facebook’s IPO parties, and even Christina Aguilera’s wedding.
In our conversation, David shares how he has built long-lasting partnerships and a storied career by balancing integrity, creativity, and negotiation savvy.
We cover:
- How to discover priorities before talking price
- Why putting someone between you and the money protects both leverage and relationships
- The value of buying time instead of deciding on the spot
- How to use anchor packages to create choice and reframe negotiations
We also share:
- David’s path from spinning house music at local bars to performing at world-renowned music festivals, big tech’s IPO parties, professional sports games, and even Christina Aguilera’s wedding
- His journey building his event production company, SFVibe, and organizing San Francisco’s mega tech parties with VR-controlled robot fights
- Lessons from booking events for Dreamforce, the Super Bowl, and Silicon Valley’s most influential tech leaders
Whether you’re a job seeker, founder, or just navigating big decisions, this episode is a masterclass in applying real-world negotiation lessons to your own career and life.
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