My name is Scott Feld. I am the Founder and President of Xtreme Fun Corp. and the COO of XTF Enterprises our franchise organization. I have been in the “kid world” well, since I was a kid. Every job I’ve ever had has been with kids. I taught and coached through my late teen and early 20’s. My junior college years were filled with Early Childhood Education classes and Child Psychology. For some reason I was always drawn to working with kids. I started Xtreme Fun on a whim, at the suggestion of a parent whose kid I taught Karate. It was only supposed to be a side job while I got my degree but it soon took over all my weekends and some point I decide it was time to go all in and make it my profession. I put all my time and effort into developing the activities (now known as PLAYS) and the systems (now known as WAYS) to have a legitimate company. Through business training and mentoring programs like: Rich Dad, Landmark education, and E-Myth I learned how to really systemize everything, train employees to do what I had been doing (and still do). We grew from a couple parties a month to a couple parties a week to a couple parties a weekend day to over 300 parties a year ranging in size from 10 kids to 1000 or more guests. It has been 24 years since I did the first party and have never looked back. The people of San Diego and other areas have had tons of their events with Xtreme Fun over the years and it makes me so happy to know that what I created has been such a big part of so many peoples best memories.
1. Tell us about the Xtreme Fun concept.
Xtreme Fun is an interactive entertainment company designed so that all ages, both genders, and all abilities can participate in our wide variety of activities. The program has been designed so that almost everything we do is great for adults, kids, or teens with just a little change in context, presentation, and explanation. The main service we offer is parties of all shapes and sizes for all types of different celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, company events, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Graduations…anything.
2. How and when did you become involved with Xtreme Fun?
I started the company in my young 20’s. I was told that I was really good with kids and should start my own thing. I decided on a weekend party company doing Karate, Dance, and Fitness. The company was originally called FI-DA-KA (Fitness, Dance, Karate). Soon I added new different activity choices that mostly I personally liked to myself or know were popular for kids (Slime for example). Later I taught myself how to DJ (so the party business wouldn’t end at 4). As the years rolled on, I was able to hire employees, train them to do what I created, and really have an established business that people love and use over and over for all their events.
3. What was your background prior to joining Xtreme Fun?
I worked at youth centers, kids’ gyms, karate studio, taught swim lessons, led afterschool programs, worked at the Y and had some college early childhood education.
4. What are some of the advantages in being a Xtreme Fun franchisee?
There are many advantages including; Being the company that creates the fun and memories for people, always getting to work within people’s good times, making money yourself while enjoying your work-often times just playing games outside. You also will have a complete, tested, diverse program to use that is always being updated and improved, a Franchisor who is involved and excited about what he has created and excited for more people to be able to experience Xtreme Fun. Lastly, A franchisee can either choose slow growth and work Xtreme Fun on the weekends and after work (not quit current job until it gets really pumping) or go all in with 3 vehicles and a dozen staff. Furthermore, he/she can choose to be an owner/operator or just an owner with hired operators. Its flexible in how a franchise chooses to run and grow his/her new business.
5. Who is your ideal franchisee?
Our ideal franchisee may be a recent college graduate with a Rec or Teaching type degree looking for a fun, outdoor business as an alternative to working for someone else for less money. This scenario might have the parents purchasing the franchise as an investment for their child. Another ideal franchisee would be a business man/ woman who is looking for an exciting new opportunity to invest in (and may by an area vs. a single franchise) and hire staff/manager to run it. This could also easily be a great family operated business and a family may want to purchase an Xtreme Fun franchise for their area knowing that they already have built in clientele (school kids/families they already know) as a base and can expand it while not really disrupting their current lifestyle.
6. Tell us a little about the Entertainment Market?
There are stationary entertainment locations like: Indoor playgrounds, Trampoline Parks, Go Karts and more…there are also kids’ gyms, YMCA’s, Karate studios, dance studios, Disneyland, and every other kids’ place offering parties as a side bar and, for the most part, marketing to a pretty specific age, gender, and activity. There are also other DJ companies that offer school, kid, teen entertainment. They are all out there but none have such a diverse package that has been developed so completely with so much experience behind it as Xtreme Fun.
7. What are some of the greatest lessons you’ve learned in growing this franchise?
I learned a lot about seeing where improvements can be made. I’ve learned to listen and be patient with the process, and I’ve learned that what I/We (my team) have created is worthwhile and a great asset to the world.
8. Do you have a mentor and is their someone you use for inspiration?
My CEO has been my mentor in the business area and in personal development prior to becoming my CEO. I have many successful businessmen who have been great sounding boards to me over the years and I like Marcus Lemonis (The Profit).
9. What advice do you have for someone looking to acquire a Franchise?
Be ready to have some fun. We have all the processes and systems in place. Have a great, friendly attitude, enjoy the learning curve and journey to making tens of thousands of future clients and participants X-tremely happy.
10. In your opinion, why do you think that Xtreme Fun would be a great opportunity for someone?
Xtreme Fun kid of says it all in the name. The opportunity to really add or increase the amount of fun you have in your life by what you do everyday is the best reason. People love to have fun and will spend money on that fun if they feel the value is there. Xtreme Fun has made sure that what we offer, how we offer it, and the overall result is always more than a great value for your clients. They will spread the word for you and soon enough your biggest problems will be how to expand and service all those party requests.
