Team Member Spotlight: Erick Misael Ovalles Hurtado

Some people show up to work an event. Others show up to run one.

Erick Misael Ovalles Hurtado joined FS Event Staffing about a year ago, and in that time he's become one of the people we hand the hardest days to. His title is a mouthful: Manager, Bartender, and Audio Visual Engineer. That range is exactly the point. Erick is the person who can build a bar program in the afternoon, troubleshoot a sound board an hour before doors, and lead a floor team through a long, complicated evening without ever raising his voice.

This month, we wanted you to meet him.

It Started in a Gallery

Erick's first assignment with FS Event Staffing was AV engineering for an artist exposition at the 8th Floor Gallery. What he remembers isn't the equipment.

"It was memorable seeing all the human rights advocacy these artists do through the lens of their paintings and sculptures."

That's a revealing first answer. Plenty of technicians would remember the load-in, the cable runs, the rig. Erick remembers what was on the walls. It's the same instinct that makes him good on a floor: he pays attention to the room he's in, not just the task in front of him.

The Mindset of Delicacy

Ask Erick what he's improved on since joining the team and he doesn't name a technical skill. He names a way of thinking. He calls it "the mindset of delicacy": the care it takes to nurture and solidify an existing account rather than simply service it.

It's a genuinely sophisticated idea, and it's one most people learn much later in their careers, if at all. Winning a client is one job. Keeping one is a completely different discipline. It means noticing the small preferences, remembering how a venue likes its load-out handled, and protecting a relationship that took years to build. Erick figured that out in his first year.

It shows in the accounts he's helped hold, from long-running gallery programs to some of the most demanding hospitality rooms in the city.

Why the Bench Matters

No event company is one person. On a busy Saturday, FS Event Staffing may have teams working three venues at once. The strength of any staffing partner comes down to the leads carrying each room. Erick is one of the people we put in that position, and one of the reasons clients get the same standard whichever event they're at.

"It's a true privilege to lift up the FS Event Staffing flag and name with excellency."

He takes the representation part seriously. He also takes the teaching part seriously, which may matter even more. Erick works alongside a lot of newer staff, and he sees passing along what he knows as part of the job rather than a favor:

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with so many upcoming talents and being able to pass on and impart some of my wisdom on them."

That's how a staffing company gets better over time. Not by hiring perfectly, but by having people on the floor who make everyone around them sharper.

What Most People Don't Know

Here's the part that surprised us.

Erick is a working artist: a composer, songwriter, rapper, and singer with more than twenty years in the music industry, including released songs and music videos with real reach.

Which, once you know it, explains a lot. The comfort with an audio board. The ease in front of a room. The instinct for timing and pacing that separates a good event lead from an average one. Erick has spent two decades understanding how a crowd feels a moment. He just applies it to events now.

What's Next

He's not slowing down. Erick is actively stacking certifications and is currently studying artificial intelligence academically, looking for ways to bring what he learns back to the work.

"Expanding my knowledge, always doing different certifications."

Twenty years into one career, one year into another, and still enrolling in things. That tells you everything.

Thank You, Erick

Every great event is built by people the guests never think about. They're the ones who arrive first, solve the problems nobody planned for, and leave the venue better than they found it. Erick is one of those people, and FS Event Staffing is better for having him.

Looking for an event team led by people like Erick? Our bartenders, mixologists, and event leads bring professionalism, judgment, and calm to every event we staff. Get in touch to talk about your next one.

Interested in joining the team? We're always looking for talented people. Join the team.