How Malik McGhie Built a 6-figure Events & Photo Booth Business

There’s just one person you need to call for world-class event management and photo booth experiences in the Houston market.

Malik McGhie delivers exceptional service and creativity across multiple brands, including Just Call Malik for event planning and management, and Glow Booth for dedicated photo booth rentals.

Glow Booth has leveraged Simple Booth’s cutting-edge photo technology to snap over 85,000 selfies and group pictures—captivating audiences and creating unforgettable memories that resonate long after the event has ended.

Many people dream of running their own businesses. But like most overnight successes, this one was years in the making.

Born from a Passion for Creativity

Malik’s passion for event management began during his time at the University of Houston, where he earned a degree in Event & Venue Management from Hilton College in 2014.

After graduating, he landed a job as the Corporate Sales Manager for a prominent venue in the Houston area. He was soon busy meeting with new vendors and exploring opportunities to expand the venue’s offerings.

As fortune would have it, he saw a social media blast from regional photo booth company MYEVENTISTHEBOMB (MEITB) seeking demo opportunities. Malik invited the team over to see what it was all about and ultimately loved the Simple Booth HALO® setup.

After testing the waters with the products at an art show, Malik took a leap and joined the team full-time at MEITB. Soon he was managing large activations with five or more photo booths for major clients across Houston.

Business was great and the future looked bright, but everything was about to change.

An Opportunity to Adapt

The COVID-19 pandemic presented historic challenges for the events industry in 2020. When the world shut down, MEITB discontinued operations indefinitely, leaving its former event staff out of work.

Instead of succumbing to doubt and fear, Malik seized the opportunity to follow his passion, innovate, and build a business.

“I started Just Call Malik in 2020, right as the world was grappling with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a challenging time, but also an opportunity to innovate and adapt. It forced us to rethink our approach and find new ways to engage and entertain,” Malik recalled.

Now, Just Call Malik is a full-service event management company, offering everything from corporate conference planning to community art shows, and managing three to four events per week. The company also serves as a trusted event resource hub for the Houston area—a reputation that inspired the name, Just Call Malik.

“I call my company Just Call Malik because you can call me for any event resources. If I can facilitate a service, I will. If not, I will recommend another resource or point you to somebody else,” Malik emphasized.

Just Call Malik & Glow Booth

As Malik’s business grew, Glow Booth emerged as the dedicated photo booth brand, utilizing Simple Booth’s diverse features to meet the needs of a broad clientele.

“We provide a range of options, from self-service rentals to full-service setups with attendants and print stations. Our goal is to tailor our services to meet the specific needs of each client,” he explained.

By treating his brands as separate entities, Malik can offer diverse services and tailored solutions, all while ensuring they complement and strengthen one another. The photo booth remains a central tool in his business, consistently opening doors to new activations, business opportunities, and revenue streams.

“It’s a way to get people to interact. And most of the time it segues into something else. It just works perfectly, so I kept it that way” Malik noted.

One of Malik’s recent projects began with a photo booth activation at a hospital featuring a green screen and Simple Booth’s drawing tool. Participants signed their names on the prompt to show their support for the cause: “[Participant Name] is working to end homelessness in Houston.”

This event inspired a follow-up activation where Malik used projectors and screens to create an immersive simulation of homelessness, demonstrating the versatility and impact of his offerings.

Bridging Corporate & Community Events

Malik’s expertise in bridging the corporate world and the grassroots community has been a game-changer, setting him apart from the competition.

“This unique niche allows me to bring creative, grassroots elements into corporate events and vice versa,” Malik explained.

And that’s not all. Malik takes it one step further by creating, branding, and marketing unique experiences for the public.

“The way that I separated myself was by actually putting on events for the general public, coming up with ticketing, what the content is going to be, reaching out and marketing it, basically creating a brand from scratch and doing all the grassroots movement to help facilitate and grow. That’s really Just Call Malik in a whole,” Malik emphasized.

In 2016, he also founded the All Access Art Show in Houston, a creative platform that provides valuable opportunities for emerging and underprivileged artists. In recognition of their efforts, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner declared September 17th as #AllAccessArtShow Day in 2021, honoring his impact on the city’s arts community.

“My background in managing events at venues, combined with my grassroots initiatives like the All Access Art Show, has helped me build a robust network and a versatile skill set,” Malik said.

Malik’s hands-on approach and extensive experience across Houston venues, along with his involvement with the International Live Events Association (ILEA), where he’s currently serving as President of the board, have established him as a leading figure in event planning and audience engagement in the Houston market and beyond.

Activating Blank Spaces

While the buzz around 360 photo booths is growing, Malik has strategic reasons for not jumping on the bandwagon just yet.

“I find 360 booths cumbersome and less effective in delivering a clean, professional experience,” he explained.

Instead, Malik champions Simple Booth HALO for its simplicity, reliability, and superior photo quality.

“HALO is really good for activating blank spaces and creating branding opportunities. I think the best selling point to a lot of clients is the branding that they get from it,” he said.

Simple Booth’s Live Feed feature, for example, keeps guests engaged and entertained by showcasing them on the big screen, which amplifies excitement and enhances participation.

“I think one of the things that makes guests go ‘wow’ is the Live Feed. It seems like such a simple thing. But the fact that people can see themselves on the big screen really brings a level of excitement to the event,” Malik shared.

Malik also highlighted how features like background replacement technology elevate the guest experience with immersive digital backgrounds and themed step-and-repeats. He praised Simple Booth’s self-service capability, which eliminates the need for an attendant, and the quick delivery of photos via text message.

“We’re continually exploring new ways to innovate and enhance our services,” he said.

Stay Consistent

When asked about the key to his success in building a six-figure business, Malik summed it up with one word: consistency.

“You’re going to feel like an imposter at times, but it goes back to self-value. A lot of times you just have to push past it and just keep doing what you’re doing. It will get to the point where you can’t even escape it because you were so consistent,” Malik shared.

And the consistency goes beyond the business itself. It requires actively getting involved.

“The next step you need to take is to go to some industry organizations. If you want to be anything, there’s niches and groups. Then think about sponsoring and actually getting active. By showcasing your product, you’re actually getting to know these people. If you truly want to be a part of that world, it’s the easiest and best way,” Malik suggested.

Big Things Ahead

Looking ahead, Malik is excited about the future of Just Call Malik, Glow Booth, and his continued partnership with Simple Booth.

“Simple Booth has been a reliable partner, offering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients. The support from their team has been exceptional. I may be a little bit biased, but I have been using this product for eight years and it definitely blows a lot of other photo booth units out of the water. And I recommend it,” he said.

Malik offered a word of advice to other companies considering Simple Booth: “Don’t hesitate. Simple Booth’s technology is a game-changer. It simplifies operations, enhances guest experiences, and offers endless creative possibilities.”

For more information, visit Malik’s Instagram profiles at Just Call Malik and Glow Booth.