We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mario Papathanasiou a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mario, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are often hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?

Just a few years into my journey as a creative professional, I had the opportunity to DJ with a legendary rock star at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Besides being a bucket list moment as a performer, it gave me a glimpse of what it takes to thrive in a high level production environment. Keep your eyes open. Soak it all in. And, most importantly, act like you’ve been there.

I had just moved back to Boston, having spent three years in Los Angeles post grad at Emerson College. It was a foundational moment in my career. I had worked at two mega studios and expanded my knowledge of production to a whole other level. Equally as important as getting in all those high level reps, were the relationships that developed in that time. Those friendships continued and have presented some magical opportunities throughout my career. This being one of them.

It was early morning when I drove my late modeled Jeep Grand Cherokee from Boston into a bustling NYC. Horns honking, windows down, old Kanye playing on Hot 97, I circled onto West 33rd and pulled into the loading dock at Pennsylvania Plaza. This was by far the largest venue I had ever performed at and it was surreal to drive into the bowels of such an iconic structure.

Once the Jeep rolled to a stop, I hopped out and opened the tailgate to unload my equipment but was quickly met with instructions not to touch my gear. The faces behind the voices were teamsters from IBC Local 817. These hard working men and women were responsible for the work flow at MSG. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t handle my own gear. They follow strict policies and procedures that cover every aspect of production, so I stepped aside as they unloaded my flight cases packed with turntables and records. I was then escorted from the loading dock, through the tunnel and onto the floor of the Garden.

However awestruck I was to bask under those lights that have shined on such historic moments in sports and entertainment, I was quickly reminded of the controlled chaos in the room. Hundreds of creative professional were hard at work preparing the show which was only hours away. Up to this point, my only information from the client was that this was a corporate event, an Upfront for a television studio. Once the show started my job was to get the audience engaged and vibing before the headlining performer. Easy enough but we still needed to make it to show time.

Being the low man on the totem pole, my sound check was to come after the band had finished their walk-through. It was only then, when the band began to rehearse, that I realized who the main act was. In true rockstar fashion, the headliner was not yet on site but his band continue to work on their set. Then, out of no where, he strutted in. Full leather, sunglasses on, one button of his shirt buttoned, this mega star popped onto the stage. The sound crew threw him a guitar – literally 15 feet in the air. He caught it, strapped in, and in-stride, without missing a beat, jumped into the chorus of his most famous song. It sounded incredible. Better than the all the videos, more visceral than cranking his CD to the max. It took all of my powers of restraint to stay cool and not let the fanboy get the best of me.

Once the reverb from the amps lingered off, the sound engineer turned on the overhead and asked, “How’s it sound?”. He nodded his head and answered, “Pretty good. Pretty damn good.” Everyone exhaled. He added, “It’s about fucking time”. I thought to myself, “Lenny Kravitz is a certified rock god and this is a moment that I will never forget!“

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

It’s me, Mario! I’ve been a professional selector of music for over 20 years. I create memorable experiences for my clients through live music performances, custom playlists, and immersive events. I help my clients connect to their guests, express value to their audience, and personify their brand through thoughtful music selections.

Paying your dues may be an unappreciated skill in today’s market, but hard work, sacrifice and experiences are what sets me apart. I’ve worked my way from DJing local parties, to weekly nightclub residencies, to becoming on an On-Air radio host. From performing weddings featured in Vogue Magazine, to entertaining 20,000 people at a corporate event, to being the Music Director of major brands in hospitality. Each step informing the next. Each experience creating growth.

Currently, I am the owner of Every Second Counts, an audio production and sonic branding company based in Boston. When I’m not DJing and managing events with ESC, I travel internationally as a performer with acclaimed event entertainers, Élan Artists.

I am most proud of my ability to connect with people. I absolutely love what I do. Music is a way of life for me.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

There are few strategies that have been effective for growing my clientele. I find that maintaining a presence in the local nightlife scene has been a powerful tool to connect with an audience. This allows potential clients to see me perform in a public settings that is generally more casual than a formal event. Another useful practice is working with non-profit organizations, charities, and passion projects. These experiences offer creative and personal fulfillment and introduce me to a new audience in a positive way.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My advise on building an audience on social media is to be your authentic self and consistently offer content that directly relates to your craft. In my case, music and wellbeing are at the forefront of my business, so I’ve combined these two passions with daily posts called, “Tracks @ the Track”. Every day I discuss three new music releases while getting in sustained cardio. This practice has created organic relationships with other musicians, producers, and artists across the globe who appreciate my take on their material. It also provides motivation for me to show up consistently for my own health and growth as an artist. My “Tracks @ Track” playlist on Spotify has close to a thousand songs and has been reposted by some of the biggest artists in the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.escaudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariothedj/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-papathanasiou
• Other: Press Kit: https://l.ead.me/beTweVPromo Video: https://l.ead.me/beTvq3

  Feel Good Mix: https://l.ead.me/beTwWh

  After Party Mix: https://l.ead.me/beTwNm