872: Michael Dorf Founder and CEO of City Winery

 

Michael Dorf was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. After studying Psychology and Business at Washington University, he founded New York City’s go-to venue for independent music, the Knitting Factory, in 1986.

As Knitting Factory Chairman and CEO, Dorf helped bring the concert house to global prominence by expanding into Europe and Asia via tours, branded festivals, and record production and sales.

Dorf was recognized as a pioneer in producing music on the Internet, through a variety of strategic relationships with Apple Computer, Intel, MCI, and Bell Atlantic. During his Knitting Factory tenure, he produced over 200 recordings, a television series, and built a new venue in Los Angeles. In 2002, he left his operating responsibilities and sold his equity position to pursue other endeavors, including a Carnegie Hall concert fundraiser series, founding a Hebrew school, and winemaking.

By 2008, Dorf had conceptualized a venue that brought his love for both the making and enjoyment of wine under one roof and created City Winery –Manhattan’s first fully-functional winery, restaurant, music venue and private event space. City Winery offers a wide selection of wines, exquisite cuisine and intimate performances from iconic performers.

Dorf expanded his company in 2012 with the opening of City Winery Chicago. Subsequent years have brought new venues to Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, and Washington DC, with Hudson Valley and Philadelphia.

Check out Indulge Your Senses:  Scaling Intimacy in a Digital World by Michael Dorf

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Favorite success quote or mantra:

• "You gotta love what you do."
• "Indulge your senses."

In this episode with Michael Dorf we will discuss:

• Starting out in the music industry
• Marketing
• Making wine
• Unique challenges with an urban winery
• Numbers come first!

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Endorphins
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Over-indulgence
3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
   • Uniqueness
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • People/labor
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Considerate
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Empathy
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • The Overstory by Richard Powers
   • GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
8. What is something restaurateurs don't do well enough or often enough?
   • Take care of their employees
9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • Pre-order your beverages before you arrive at the restaurant on our website
10. Name one service you've hired.
    • Fox Greenberg PR - NYC
11. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • Think outside the box
    • Selfish philanthropy
    • Team leader

Contact info:

Website: citywinery.com

Email: michael@citywinery.com

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Michael Dorf for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

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