Meet Tiana Gandelman | TV Producer / Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiana Gandelman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiana, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I love taking risks. If I hadn’t taken risks in life, I would not have had such a successful career as a professional dancer and then as a creative director /TV producer.

When I was young and living in Iowa, most people wanted to go straight to college after high school, and I wanted to move to New York and start a dance career. At that time, it was a significant risk because the blueprint of a dancer was a mystery to many people. I left everything I knew and fell into the dance community with ease.

I took another risk. I moved from New York to Los Angeles with very little and put it all on the line to audition as a dancer for artists. I succeeded with flying colors. In the early 2000s, I danced with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and many more pop stars.

When I felt like I wanted to be rechallenged, I took the risk of putting dance behind me and started looking for jobs in TV. I landed a job as an onscreen choreographer but also found myself producing, and I loved it! From then on, I focused on producing and spent another ten years creating large-scale performances for artists on primetime television.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It brings me so much joy that I can take what I know, from performing on stage to leading and creating a performance from off-stage. I know what it’s like to be a performer, which gives me a better understanding of how to direct talent, speak with talent, and support talent. I’m proud to say I’m a team player and believe in transparent communication within all departments.

I don’t think any path is easy, but I have enjoyed the ride. The biggest challenge I’ve learned as a creative director is to remove all emotions from the equation. It’s excellent to create from the heart, but it’s best to execute for the client. My main goal is to make the artists feel their best. For everyone to succeed, the person in front of the camera or crowd must feel the most support from their team to feel their most significant.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve lived in LA for over twenty years, and I often dine out and take my kids to fun places. So here are a few places I would like to share with my guests.

Monday:
Sweet Salt (https://www.sweetsaltfood.com/)
This is an excellent breakfast, lunch, or casual meeting spot. I love their chai tea lattes and breakfast burrito.

L’antica (https://damicheleusa.com/)
It is a beautiful restaurant that pleases many tastebuds. The ambiance is cool and moody, with indoor-outdoor settings, and the pizza, pasta, and appetizers are so yummy. I usually get the gnocco frito for my appetizer and spaghetti nano for my main course.

Tuesday:
Mizu212 (https://mizu212-sawtelle.com/)
I often indulge in this Shabu Shabu Japanese restaurant. They serve premium meats with organic veggies, glass noodles, and white or brown rice.

Wednesday:
Drag Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s (https://www.hamburgermarys.com/weho/bingo/)
You can enjoy the best entertainment while scoring some fun prizes. I’m a drag queen fan and love bringing my guests to this West Hollywood venue.

Thursday:
Coffee at Alfred’s (https://visitburbank.com/dining-and-nightlife/alfred-coffee/)
If I’m in a hurry, this is my reliable coffee pick-up spot.

Majordomo (https://www.majordomo.la/)
This inconspicuous location will surprise every guest that walks in. Every dish is impressive, a guaranteed hit, and worth every penny spent.

Friday:
Kidztopia (https://www.kidztopiaplayground.com/)
When the kids finish school, we like to go to Kidztopia for some extra Friday fun. It’s a clean, vibrant playground that caters to various ages. From the open seating area and floor plan, it’s easy to see your kids’ activities.

Osawa (https://www.theosawa.com/)
Another excellent place for Shabu Shabu is Osawa. I prefer to dine here on a Friday night. The chefs and the staff are so welcoming to our family. If you can’t get a reservation, arrive at 5pm and get on the waitlist.

Saturday:
Santa Monica Pier (https://pacpark.com/santa-monica-amusement-park/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhb60BhClARIsABGGtw-XZAwHCntn3OXL0pYaySi826mECYx_Hg_z6_Pia9wG52yimE0xKzsaAvY_EALw_wcB)
The rides at the pier are fun for guests of all ages. We usually get an unlimited ticket, so everyone can choose and enjoy what they want.

Regal Movie Theater (https://www.regmovies.com/theatres/regal-north-hollywood-1438?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb-listing)
After a long day at the beach, a great place to cool down and relax is at the movies. Regal Theater in North Hollywood has a variety of movies to see and yummy snacks to indulge in.

Sunday:
Farmer’s Market in Studio City (https://www.yelp.com/biz/studio-city-farmers-market-studio-city)
This is a fabulous farmer’s market because it offers food, flowers, music, and a children’s play area. It gives guests the feeling of an authentic LA native lifestyle.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this to my mom, Mary Clarke.

She always supported my talent and believed in my spunk. Whenever I want to take it to the next level, she has the best advice and doesn’t let doubt creep in.

I’m grateful for her creativity and fearless approach to life; she truly embodies living passionately.

Website: https://tianatoday.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tianatoday/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiana-gandelman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TianaToday/

Other: Creative Director/Producer Reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KJbVqjXuVU&t=5s

Project Fabulous (passion project produced by TCBG Creative): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CipznX_UB-4&t=12s

Image Credits
Black and white photo on stool taken by Lee Gumbs Photography (@leegumbs.photography)

Pink background and green skirt photos taken by Linkk Social Co (@linkksocial)

BET carpet and photo in front of star trailers taken by Tia Rivera (@iamtiarivera)

Project Fabulous BTS w/ light ceiling taken by Ray (@rayslens420)

Black and white seated photo taken by Nicole Rivera (@nicoleg.rivera)

Queen photo taken by Steve Morden