Photo Caption: Mattina with DJ Joe Zizzo in Mineola, NY (1996)
Eventique’s VP of Operations
Christopher Mattina
Talks Tractors, Music, and Events
Where are we catching you right now?
I’m on the Long Island Expressway on my way for some tractor time. I have an old 1947 John Deere that was a family tractor that was sold 25 years ago; I tracked it down, bought it back and have been restoring it into a show grade-style tractor. It was my grandfathers and want it to be able to share it with my son.
What have you been up to on the work front?
I’ve been trying to figure out when there will be a break to cool down so that I can push my game and learn more on the technical side and creative builds. My client IPsoft has me constantly working on projects. In between that, I’m overseeing the operations of the company and seeing where I can add value as we grow.
How long have been with Eventique?
I’ve been working with Liron [David] since 2007, and officially full-time since 2012.
How did you get your start in events?
I started out as a DJ when I was 14. My uncle was a DJ. I carried equipment for him; he made me carry obscenely large speakers and dozens of milk crates full of vinyl.
Back then it was easy to look at a record cover and get excited about what was inside.
Yes! And with DJing I fell in love with the fact that you could be in control of the music. My uncle would put me on all the cheap jobs, namely block parties; I’d make 150 dollars and I was happy playing music for hours. My mom would drive me to elementary school every morning and all I wanted to know was what was on the rock radio station at the time, WPLJ.
Do you remember the first record you bought?
Of course. It was from the Japanese jazz fusion band Hiroshima.
What trends in events are you into these days?
Right now I’m obsessed with lighting on an event. Cool, LED-style, straight forward Tron-style lighting. It doesn’t fit every event, but anywhere I can fit that look, I go for it.
What would you be doing if you weren’t in event production?
I’d be a film and television music supervisor — the person who picks out songs for scenes.
