Meet Mark Sanders | Owner – 3 Twenty-One Media Company

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Sanders and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
After a decade in radio, I was frequently asked for compelling experiential or music-driven opportunities by clients. I began to create a network of Texas-based opportunities in that space to take to market in the sponsorship realm.

From there, I began to curate more specialized opportunities and have build a network of sponsors, vendor partners, events and artists that we can accomplish almost any marketing objective.

What should our readers know about your business?
3 Twenty-One Media Company offers services in 3 main areas: Event/Artist Sponsorship & Partnership, Talent Buying & Event Production and Integrated Marketing Campaigns.

I started 7 years ago with just myself and a couple of clients who sponsored a series of events across Texas, in conjunction some product launches in 2016. At the time, I would handle every aspect of the process from sponsorship sales, negotiation, activation and more. Starting a new adventure is never easy. But learning via trial and error is the best way to optimize your business and build a strong foundation for future growth.

Testing my proof-of-concept, I was able to confirm the business model was sustainable. From there, it was a process to focus on the highest yielding portions of the business and grow those silos.

From those roots, I have been fortunate buy talent for several of the largest Texas/Red Dirt Festival in Texas, plan private events for The YMCA, The Texas Bowl/NRG Stadium and to partner with some of the best event producers and artists in Texas. We have scaled the operation to include a preferred infrastructure team and onsite staffers.

I started this business to put a spotlight on the music of Texas and our surrounding states. By bringing sponsorship dollars directly to the local promoters, artists and ancillary businesses we are able to raise dollars and keep them here to support our robust Texas Music infrastructure.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely plan on heading to Cadillac Pizza Pub for a nice dinner including a pretzel. Then we’d head to Hank’s for a Texas/Red Dirt show. In addition we’ll be grabbing breakfast from Starwood Diner on Eldorado and fajitas and margaritas from Glorias. Lastly, we’ll be at Hutchins early to beat the line for lunch one day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I couldn’t do it without Lise Hudson, Market Manager of Austin Radio Network; my original clients including Jason Pyka at Diageo, Greg Luehrs at Brown-Forman, Red Dirt Hat Company and several more. In addition, support from my family was integral at the beginning.

Website: www.3twentyone.com

Instagram: @3twentyonemediaco

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-sanders-3157611/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/3TwentyOneMedia