Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Dillon.
Matthew, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My business journey most definitely is reflective of how my personal journey has evolved over the last decade.
The genesis of MDPR begins back in my hometown of Sydney, Australia when in my early twenties; launched out of my home office and built over a period of five years to be one of the countries most formidable PR firms with a client base including the top celebrities, presenters, designers, authors and so much more.
I have always been one to want more, and it was during this time I found myself back and forth to the USA both for personal reasons and as it progressed more for business so it truly opened my eyes to the scope of what could be.
It was the constant travel and the desire to base myself in the US that led me to take a leap of faith and move to the bright lights of NYC in late 2007 and begin a rebrand/retraining of sorts that allowed me to begin making my mark felt in the US.
One of the first moves I did was whilst growing to retain my Australian clients and begin an umbrella company under MDPR that allowed them to come to the US for promotional and branding purposes and tap into the US market whilst at the same time inching my way into the door to start w US brands and personalities.
This introduced me to one of New York’ premiere firms Industry Publicity headed by Suzanne Koshnoodi (who today still remains a friend and colleague). My training here is not only the US media specifically fashion but also the way it ‘WORKS’ here was my skeleton in continuing out my solo career.
From here MDPR truly blossomed following the same tried and tested method I had applied in its early days back on home turf I was able to build a portfolio of celebrities, labels and more and truly move toward finding what my niche in the US would be.
Special shout out must go to TV Star & Author Aviva Drescher who was on Bravo TV’s Real Housewives of New York for two seasons and was more then memorable – google her if you are living under a rock. Together we learned a lot about the industry, and my celeb training really went into high gear working with her. Moreso she becomes family for the Aussie boy in the big apple by himself.
This was a game changer, and to this very day, they are the closest people to me and my grounding rock in the US. Over the years my clients including Aviva Drescher have appeared on every major network and TV show across the US; from TODAY, Fox & Friends, CNN, graced the covers of the worlds biggest magazines and oh so much mor
It was out on this solo movement post Industry that I met my now Business Partner; Marisa Hebert. They say the best relationships always start w a challenge and boy did we butt heads in the beginning, but once we moved past this, we realized that together we were stronger than solo. The rest is history; MDPR started as my brainchild but is growing thanks to this union.
They say if you can make it in NYC you can make it anywhere and fast forward a decade later I was starting to see this become a reality.
One of the biggest memories I have in NYC is bringing home a little rescue dog who is now affectionately known as Mama. She and I are inseparable, and without knowing it, we would end up becoming a brand as a duo. There is no Matt Dillon without smiling Mama by his side and vice versa. Two Peas in a pod. What made this special was I was able to make her a part of the business and now with the visibility on me and the company she is an integral part of its ongoing development and growth.
Towards the end of the decade long run in New York, I aligned w Celebrity Stylist Derek Warburton who had just become Creative Director of LaPalme Magazine, and we began working w celebrities in Hollywood for our Quarterly covers. My role was to book each celebrity (and trust me this was not as easy as it seemed) and as it progressed I was making in major moves in the Hollywood scene.
It was with this as the catalyst that I realized that if I wanted to immerse myself in the Hollywood culture and really move into that full circle moment of where I started – Hollywood would be home.
Now two years into my LA run based in West Hollywood I find myself on a roll; the celebrities we book for LaPalme are bigger; I represent mainstream network TV talent and music artists and some of the countries most notable Authors and Speakers. And MDPR has been identified as the go-to for television placement nationally and internationally.
I think the best part about this story has been landing in LA has opened up the doors not only for business growth but also for personal branding growth. I am now one of the hosts on Focus TV Network’ Sippin’ The Tea alongside WWE Alum Ariane Andrew. We have a weekly 30-minute digital show which is fast building steam and get to do it with my sidekick Mama.
Where the future goes from here, no one knows, but my goal list has some un-ticked boxes, so I close out by saying #WatchThisSpace.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anyone that says being in business for yourself is smooth sailing is a liar – it’s those bumps that allow growth both personally and professionally.
For me coming from Australia, I guess the initial struggles were acclimating to a new country, new way of doing things and dealing w feeling isolated even when surrounded by a group.
As the business has evolved, my circle has really tightened and become family. I am a firm believer you can have a million acquaintances but only a solid number of friends that one can usually count on your two hands.
I think another note to mention is that the growth of my business has come w relinquishing power and putting trust into a team.
Now I am working on my personal brand Sippin’ The Tea it is about time management with an equal focus on client needs and my own – this is as much for business as much as it is for my personal health.
MDPR – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
MDPR is widely known for its eclectic list of celebrity; TV, film and music talent as well as its books and speaker division. I think many say we are the TV team and that plays a huge part in any client campaign wherever you fall on the scale of notoriety.
I am a firm believer in that PR is the only industry where business and pleasure can be mixed. If I don’t believe in you and or your product and brand I will not work with you. In an age where companies are becoming less personable MDPR,’ No one drawcard is we are family. Every client supports the other, and we roll tightly as a crew.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have so many proud moments; a few highlights below;
-My first Today Show hit in the US for Aviva Drescher and her book tour for #LeggyBlonde
-My first Magazine Cover w Danielle Savre (Station 19/Greys Anatomy Spinoff)
-Organizing alongside Derek Warburton Real fashion, Real Women with Bottomless Closet New York.
-Hosting my own TV Show alongside my friend Ariane Andrew and our fur babies…
The list goes on, but I guess having hit a decade in New York and now almost two years in LA – just doing the damn thing is a proud moment.
I always say the minute I stop getting excited by even the smallest of press wins it’s time to get out – so every day is a proud moment. And no day is the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mdprmedia.com
- Phone: 3473237568
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattdillon1983/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattDillon1983
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mattdillon1983
Image Credit:
T.J Manou, Focus TV Network
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