The guys behind your favorite rooftop in LA.
DAN MANCINI
1. What are your title/responsibilities at the Standard?
Culture Coordinator. Running and playing the Guestlists, Dj's and live acts. Attempting with the aid of 'T' Elliott to liase fresh integrity and credible based events without alienating the base hotel guests.
2. How did you end up at The Standard Downtown LA?
Back in the day I used to spin the Hollywood Standard purple lounge on their legendary Wednesdays and when the downtown location opened the bosses brought me down as an opening resident.
3. What are the three best things about Los Angeles?
Only town I've been in where if you do it right you can find three wonders in a day, geographically and personally (and can continue to do so). We are spoiled for choice.
4. What are the three worst things about Los Angeles?
The desperation of the cowardly hip, the generic uniform of a one dimensional scene (happily this seems to be changing). Microscope gossip.
5. What makes the rooftop one of the best venues in town?
In all my travels I'm yet to see another like it. Seven years old and the design still holds gold.
6. Any crazy stories to share from the pool or elsewhere on the roof?
One of daft punk stuck at the door trying to get in to his own show with his helmet off sans costume. Nobody recognized him nor had any-idea who to look for. 'Justice' via dubFrequency playing a riot in one of our conference rooms. The usual LA bad dancefloor blow jobs and swimming pool shagging. Celebrity bollocks.
7. Name one drink or food item must order at the rooftop?
The Bloody Marys are spice channel tasty.
8. Something/anything about yourself that might surprise people (special talent, moonlighting gig, hobbies, ... etc)?
For someone whose career is based on nightlife and entertainment I am a shy wee bugger and lust for solitude. I am the devils insomniac.
T ELLIOTT
1. What are your title/responsibilities at the Standard?
“T” Elliott, Rooftop General manager. My responsibilities are basically the operations of the rooftop, which includes managing the staff, ordering liquor/supplies, scheduling, working directly with our Culture Coordinator (Dan Mancini) in bringing in events/parties and making sure they work for both the promoter and the hotel.
2. How did you end up at The Standard Downtown LA?
Long journey, but the cliff notes version it that I was always scared of water, and afraid of heights, so I figured the best place to work was at an outdoor bar with a swimming pool on the rooftop of a twelve story building. Ya know what I’m saying?
3. What are the three best things about Los Angeles?
Sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll…
4. What are the three worst things about Los Angeles?
Sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll (lol)…
5. What makes the rooftop one of the best venues in town?
The obvious is the view that you see as you step off of the elevator, it really blows your mind. It’s surrounded by the tallest buildings in LA, so you see walls of glass, metal, cement, and the universe. Where else can you grab a cocktail, watch fireworks being set off from as far away as Dodger stadium, take a dip in a pool, and see helicopters landing on buildings right next to you day and night? And be 160 feet off the ground?
6. Any crazy stories to share from the pool or elsewhere on the roof?
I’m sworn to secrecy. I’ll leave that one up to your imagination…
7. Name one drink or food item must order at the rooftop?
Ya gotta check out the mini cheese burgers, the fries kick ass too!
8. Something/anything about yourself that might surprise people (special talent, moonlighting gig, hobbies, ... etc)?
Right out of college, I took a commission as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps for 4 years. Not many people know that. Since then, I’ve vowed to never cut my hair again!!!
