AboutHouckTalent:
Established in 2003; Houck Talent, Inc. is a diverse production company and talent agency that produces, procures, and manages a wide spectrum of entertainment, activities, and projects designed to deliver that “WOW” factor for a host of world class theme parks, signature venues, major sporting events, corporate galas and trade shows.
Working closely with our clients, we develop and deliver a wide variety of turnkey and brand-integrated entertainment options.
Biography: Dustin Houck
Our owner’s story, a little insight about his past:
Dustin auditioned for Walt Disney World while still in high school and was cast as a toy soldier in the their Christmas parade. It was unknowingly the start of an amazing career! Starting as a parade performer, he was able to move through the ranks and performed various roles including stunts on inline skates, stilt walker, atmosphere character, and a face character (and he still never grown up)! While in college, he worked as a night club DJ in Orlando and Miami. Through night clubs, Dustin was getting drawn towards the business side of entertainment and pursued opportunities as an independent contractor for both promotions and talent booking.
Not yet ready to leave his love for performing, Dustin joined the NBC / Universal Orlando family and was cast in a lead role in a new show and attraction (a.k.a., Barney, the purple dinosaur). During this time, he continued his college education, pursuing a degree in business administration and management with a specialization in marketing. He interned with the Promotions and Talent Booking department at House of Blues where he engaged in contract negotiations, event promotions, and advertising.
After graduation, Dustin went back to NBC / Universal Orlando full time as a Venue Coordinator. Universal had just finished opening a new theme park, Islands of Adventure, as well as a night time entertainment complex, CityWalk, and opportunity was knocking. He started exploring opportunities as an independent contractor and entertainment provider, and as a result of those discussions, he was offered a position with Universal Orlando Talent Booking and Casting. In this position, he assisted in developing, locating, auditioning, casting, and purchasing entertainment for Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk (including such venues as Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Motown Café, Latin Quarter, CityJazz, Hard Rock Café and NASCAR Café). He also assisted in developing entertainment programs as well as internal communications within the sales departments, operation teams, and marketing departments. Through these projects and events, Dustin delivered acts ranging from bands, variety acts, and dancers to James Brown, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Sean Paul. He was also the first in that department to be awarded entertainment’s Excellence in Leadership Award.
Today, Dustin leads a diverse production company and talent agency as Executive Producer for Houck Talent, Inc.. Alongside a hand selected team of professionals who are at the top in their field, they provide parade development, headline talent, creative costuming, theming, atmosphere entertainment, as well as creation of theatrical concepts and show production.
Most recently, Dustin was a recognized as a “40 Under 40″ Honoree; a prestigious award presented by the Orlando Business Journal recognizing Central Florida’s most successful young executives.