DANIEL YMAR

CO-FOUNDER + PARTNER | GOTHAM ARTISTS

Daniel grew up in Rockville, MD, in the suburbs of Washington DC where he early on had a great interest in politics. He attended the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School where he (in a landslide) won student council treasurer although he ran unopposed. In the summer between his sophomore and junior year, he was an intern for NY Senator Patrick Moynihan where he roamed the halls of the US Capitol learning how a bill becomes a law. He then went on to study economics at NYU while getting his first taste of the entertainment world interning at the Endeavor Talent Agency. 

Upon graduation in 2003, he took his first job in the mailroom of NBC News in DC learning everything he could about the news business and seeing up close legendary journalists like Tim Russert and Andrea Mitchell. It was right at the beginning of the Iraq war leading into the 2004 elections and was an indelible experience. 

In 2005, Daniel went to work at a a top speakers bureau, learning the ins and outs of booking high profile keynote speakers. There he met his future business partner Alec Melman. On Alec's first day at the agency, he used the word "pedantic" in a meeting and Daniel knew he had to be in business with this guy. 

In 2009 Daniel and Alec formed Gotham Artists, a full service buyer focused lecture bureau. "We wanted to create a family atmosphere where every employee felt like an integral part of the team which would in turn make every event flawlessly executed". Working with some of the most exciting and fascinating voices in the world like Magic Johnson, Danny Meyer, Jay Leno, Charles Best, Bob Woodward and others, Gotham has been able to bring inspiration to audiences all over the world. 

Daniel resides in Long Beach, NY with his 3 children and no dog. He likes to tell everyone that he surfs but they know the truth. Hanging out on the beach and playing music and lego (and wrestling of course!) with his kids are his favorite things to do.