We’re creating an ecosystem of live educational, networking, and social events where artists, filmmakers, musicians, authors, fans and other creators from throughout the Hudson Valley can collaborate and find the resources they need to advance their careers.
It began in 2019 when 300 musicians, artist managers, record label execs, entertainment lawyers, publicists, and fans gathered in Kingston, NY for the Hudson Valley Music Summit, a full-day business conference for music industry professionals looking to advance their careers. Next, we ran the Music Video Film Festival, bringing together musicians and filmmakers from throughout the country. Now we’re planning our comeback with the Catastrophicon Rock n Roll Horror Convention – Powered by FanBoy Energy – that insatiable drive you have to get closer to the films, comics, music, and stories that you love! Be a part of it!
Founder and CEO, Dave Hoffman
Gorilla River founder Dave Hoffman is an author, conference producer, and independent musician.
Dave has produced networking and educational events for investors, entrepreneurs and business innovators for over 15 years, setting up B2B conferences in Austin, New Orleans, San Francisco, Nashville, Dublin, Berlin, Sao Paulo, and other cities throughout the world.
In 2016 he published Producing Success: A Career Guide for Conference Producers – the first and only book of its kind. It went on to become a top selling Amazon title, with readers on six continents.
Enamored with the DIY ethos, Dave headed into the studio to record professional versions of songs he had written over the years. The result was two albums by the rock-star persona Daddy Stingray, Sweet Talkin Symphony and A Fun and Happy Place (available on all streaming services).
Before this, Dave worked as a journalist, including a job as Arts and Entertainment Editor of the Hudson Reporter in Hoboken NJ, and as a licensed social worker in the New York City foster care system.
Dave is a graduate of Syracuse University and a holds a master’s degree from University of Pennsylvania. He currently lives in Mount Kisco, NY with his wife and two children.