How a Backpacking Adventure Became a Global Entertainment Phenomenon
C
raig Reynolds is the co-founder of Locomotive, a global experiential events company behind some of the fastest-growing participatory entertainment concepts in the world, including Bingo Loco, Electronic Orchestra, and K-Pop Superstars Live. What began as an unexpected discovery during a backpacking trip with friends has grown into a business operating in more than 12 countries and 300 cities, selling over 2.5 million tickets worldwide.
Craig Reynolds
Co-founder of Locomotive
01
Tell us about Locomotive and the journey that led to its creation.
Nine years ago, I was backpacking through the Middle East with two of my best friends when we found ourselves in a military base bar.
What started as a game of bingo quickly turned into a dance party with crazy prizes and complete chaos in the best possible way. We immediately felt there was something special about it.
We brought the concept back to Dublin and the first events sold out almost instantly. People kept asking for more. That eventually became Bingo Loco, which is now our flagship experience and operates in more than 12 countries and 300 cities worldwide. Along the way, it also became the foundation for building Locomotive and launching new concepts under the brand.
We brought the concept back to Dublin and the first events sold out almost instantly. People kept asking for more. That eventually became Bingo Loco, which is now our flagship experience and operates in more than 12 countries and 300 cities worldwide. Along the way, it also became the foundation for building Locomotive and launching new concepts under the brand.
02
What makes Bingo Loco different from traditional entertainment experiences?
Most entertainment asks people to sit back and watch. We've always been interested in creating experiences where people actively participate.
Whether it's Bingo Loco, Electronic Orchestra, or one of our newer concepts, the goal is the same: create an environment where people feel connected, free, and are given permission to play again. That's where the magic happens.
03
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced as an entrepreneur?
Moving to the United States just weeks before the pandemic to launch Bingo Loco was certainly not part of the plan.
Like many businesses, we had to adapt very quickly. Instead of stopping, we pivoted and created online experiences that kept people connected and entertained during a difficult period. Looking back, that experience reinforced the importance of staying flexible and moving quickly when circumstances change.
04
What leadership lessons have had the biggest impact on your success?
One of the most important lessons is creating an environment where talented people are free to experiment, fail quickly, and improve constantly.
I've also learned that the best decisions are rarely made alone. We approach major decisions as a team because diverse perspectives almost always lead to better outcomes.
05
How would you describe your leadership philosophy?
Innovation comes from creating a culture where talented people are encouraged to try things that might sound slightly insane at first.
Many of our best ideas probably wouldn't have survived in an environment where people were afraid of failure. We want our team to feel comfortable taking risks, testing ideas, and pushing creative boundaries.
06
What separates great leaders from average ones?
The best leaders are willing to do everything the rest of the team does.
They understand the business from the ground up, stay connected to their people, and never act as though any task is beneath them. Those leaders earn trust because their teams know they're willing to get into the trenches alongside everyone else.
07
What industry trends are you paying close attention to?
We're seeing a major shift toward participatory entertainment.
Consumers increasingly want experiences where they are part of the action rather than simply observing it. At the same time, we're seeing challenges for forms of entertainment that rely solely on passive consumption.
People are craving connection, interaction, and shared experiences, and I think that trend will only continue to grow.
People are craving connection, interaction, and shared experiences, and I think that trend will only continue to grow.
08
How do you define success?
Success is creating something that leaves people happier, lighter, and more connected than when they arrived.
If people leave one of our events with memories they'll talk about for years, that's meaningful to me.
09
What are you most proud of building?
Without question, it's the team.
We've assembled an outrageously talented group of people who I'm fortunate to call both colleagues and friends. Together, we've built a business that creates human connection at scale, and that's something I'm incredibly proud of.
10
What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs?
Pay attention to what people are missing.
The biggest opportunities are often hiding in plain sight. If you can identify something people genuinely want and build it into a living, evolving experience, you're already ahead of most entrepreneurs.
11
What's next for Locomotive?
We're continuing to expand our live events studio with new experiences like Electronic Orchestra and K-Pop Superstars, both of which have recently launched U.S. tours.
What excites me most is the opportunity to keep building the future of entertainment alongside an incredible team of people. We're still early in the journey, and there's a lot more to come.
Closing Perspective
Craig Reynolds didn't set out to reinvent entertainment. What started as an unexpected moment during a backpacking trip evolved into a global company that has welcomed millions of people into shared experiences built around participation, nostalgia, and human connection.
As entertainment continues to evolve, Reynolds believes the future belongs to experiences that bring people together rather than keeping them apart. Through Locomotive and its growing portfolio of event brands, he's proving that sometimes the most powerful business opportunities come from recognizing what people are missing and giving them a reason to connect again.