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Harshad Parashare's journey: From Theatre to PARA SHARE Entertainment | Indian.Community #16

• Harshad Parashare • Episode 16

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The Phenomenal Journey of Harshad Parashare: From Theatre to Global Entertainment

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PARA SHARE Entertainments : https://parashare.com/


Join us for a inspiring journey as Harshad Parashare shares his story of going from theatre to entrepreneurship in the global entertainment industry. 

This podcast on Indian startups is a must-listen for anyone interested in learning from the success of others and taking their own entrepreneurial journey to the next level.

This comprehensive script details an enlightening interview with Harshad Parashare, the entrepreneurial mind behind PARA SHARE Entertainments, on the Indian Community Podcast hosted by Amit Gupta and Rahul Mehra. 

Harshad shares his inspiring journey from his early theatre days in India to founding a globally recognized entertainment company that has orchestrated over 200 shows across continents, engaging a global audience of over 220,000 people. 

He shares heartfelt stories about his motivations, the challenges of entrepreneurship, the inception and evolution of PARASHARE Entertainments, his ambitious future projects, including exciting collaborations with renowned artists, and the profound impact of family support on his endeavors. 

The podcast beautifully encapsulates Harshad's passion, innovation, and the remarkable story of turning a side hustle into a thriving global entertainment venture.

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Connect with Rahul Mehra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulmehra/

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Atlanta me aaj tak humne, 300 k uper crowd he nhi dekha kabhi achha lekin Ballimaaraan me 625 log in the audience was my childhood friend. He lives in Sandy Springs, I live in Johns Creek. So this was the first time he was going to come for a show. And there was a Gobo PARA SHARE logo projected on a column over there in the auditorium before the show. He takes that picture and send it, send it to me saying I'm so proud looking at this today. So, you know, that, that was also a very heartfelting moment. They write to me afterwards that we were there. Saale mila kyu nhi? We thought you must be busy. Bilkul busy nhi hota hu jarur aake milo Rahul ye

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

subtle chaata hai mere liye, because I missed the Atlanta show. So Harshad, jo hai na bohot pyar se mujhe chata laga rha hai tu aaya nhi it's also inspirational because there's an entrepreneur hiding inside each one of us, right? Everybody wants to do something. Hello and welcome to the Indian Community Podcast. I'm your host Amit Gupta and with my co host Rahul Mehra. And together we bring to you the enchanting world of Harshad Parashare, the creative force behind PARA SHARE Entertainments. From his early days as an avid actor, to becoming a trailblazer in design strategy. Harshad journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has served a global audience of over 220, 000 people and performed or conducted over 200 shows across continents. So Parashare Entertainment not just excels in the art of crafting delightful experiences, but they also go beyond by making them memorable. So let's join in and dive into this remarkable story of passion, innovation and global entertainment. Welcome to the Indian Community Podcast, Harshad.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Thank you, Amit. Thank you, Rahul. Before we kick off the name of our company or our startup is Parashare Entertainments.

Track 1:

Re Okay. Yeah.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

an interesting story behind that. When I started this, obviously the first thought was to have some connection to my name or last name in the venture. When this company was formed, it was never a thought that it can be an entertainment company. It was registered as a LLC for a very different objective. I said, whatever I do half share is going to be involved in this because half share, I'm going to do my job. let's look at it like that. And that's why my last name was broken into two halves and we made it Parashare. Entertainment came in later,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Okay, that's cool. That's interesting and very cool play of words there because Parashare is the way you would pronounce it as a surname in India and you've played that with para share. Okay. So I'm, I'm

Track 1:

So

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

to remember.

Track 1:

youre Or

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Parashare.

Track 1:

reshare. Okay.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

That's

Track 1:

So you kept it,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

people are curious, whether it's Parashare, whether it's Parashare, whether it's Parashare, what the heck is going on and We let that curiosity remain active.

Track 1:

but everybody knows its entertainment.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yeah. Okay. I think that the main focus there is entertainment and that reminds me Harshad. I think you were all over my timeline with the Piyush Mishra show right. And that was one of the. Biggest events that I've seen, in us. In fact, a lot of my friends and family were talking about it. Everybody was posting pictures of being at that show. How was your experience with Mr piyush Mishra

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

It was fabulous, to say the least, but, I was just writing an article which is going to be released today, but we just did a retrospective yesterday about it. There, there were many wins by doing this particular tour. There were a lot of learnings. Every day is a learning for us, but this particular show number one was the biggest venture we had embarked upon. It was risky because this type of unique content you know, rarely comes to the United States. It is more of a Indian content, more of a Bollywoodish content that we always see on our timelines in advertisement and big arenas are booked for that. But a niche show, which is content powered. How are you going to bring the audience to the show and you know, while I say God was kind to us I must give all the credits to our team that worked hard communicate with the larger fan base, the public, larger public over here, the audiences to make them understand what the heck is this show. What is going to be in that show? What is the content? And I think we were able to do that well, not only through our native media, but also to the purchased media that we had gone with, like radios and press wire, business wire, those kinds of stuff.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

That is cool. Yeah. I mean, I, I can tell you I was, listening about that show. Not just on these media channels, like you mentioned, but there was also a lot of positive word of mouth. Almost everybody that I know had pictures on their timeline of them being at the show or even at the end of the show meeting with the artist, right? So, an uncle of mine who lives in Texas. So he had of himself and his wife and meeting Piyush Mishra. And I told him, you know what? That show is organized by my friend, Harshad. So was like, Oh my God, it's a small world. it is it is really inspirational to see you achieve those that kind of a performance. Great job on that, Harshad. So Harshad, I know you from many, many years ago, and we used to work together in, in the IT space, right? when I see you, and I'm like, Oh, my God, this is the same Harshad, who was a product and a design and a Customer experience experts. So what sparked you to get into entertainment Right? So, and like you said, but our share was to be something else. How did you pivot towards becoming an entertainment company?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Actually, it's a very interesting that I was always meant to do something like this. The world of design and digital that came in between and took away about 10 to 13, 14 years of my life. Learned a lot in that. Long back after doing my diploma in electrical engineering back in India I got into theater. very accidentally I got into theater. I was very less time on stage. Although you started my introduction being an actor I I'm a very bad actor. Uh And it looks like my theater mentors. They realized that pretty early and they said Harshad yaar, tu ek kaam kar, tu technical stuff dekh le. So that's how I started looking at the technical aspects of the shows and in the end I started producing those shows. But that gave me some fabulous learning. While, while I was done with about three to four years into that do you want to do this? If you want to do this, then you need to pursue some education into that. Get better at it. You know, start thinking about it professionally. not, something else. And obviously, I think. I thought about something else. I went to a design school and I studied product design. My focus was set design over there. So there was some connection to what I was doing in the past.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

huh,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

said, designs used to be modular systems, Joe, you know, you know, SUV that kind of a that kind of products I used to design. And then I ended up getting a scholarship in a design school in England. So I went to study design management over there. Surprisingly, I did well over there and started working. I came back to India. I was working with some design forms in India. I was working with Wellingkar Institute of Management as a faculty. I was part of the innovation lab over there. I was working on my own projects as well. And one day somebody said, Hey, you know what? Cognizant is recruiting people like you. And I had no interest in going in those glass walls. And I didn't know what was going to happen. Over there absolutely uninterested and I meet a person named Avijit Thosar, uh, I was going to meet him for 15 minutes, but we ended up about two and a half hours. Uh, and that's how November, 2010, I was at Cognizant. I started traveling immediately. For work at some of my clients in UK, Canada, soon in the U S and then 2013, I moved over here rest is history. So that is how I moved really from my design, I mean, from theater to design, to design management. To digital then 2015, I was talking to my investment advisor and he said, you know what you form LLC because there are some interesting investment products that you can use by having that I said, okay, let's see. And it was pretty easy to form a company over here as against to where I come from. So go on LegalZoom. a company and hey, you know what, you have a company. So that was the kick I was getting by forming that PARASHARE LLC. I was not doing anything about it, but in 2017, there was an opportunity. Uh, I hosted one regional movie show in Atlanta.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

uh

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

By then I had spent about two and a half, three and a half years in Atlanta. And I started canvassing it through social media. I didn't have any email database, nothing, nothing like that. I just posted it on Facebook and said, this movie, this day, this theater. And here is the ticket booking link. In about, it went sold out and I came home. was very happy that I had done something entrepreneurial in my life. was still with I was with State Farm at that time. And of course, State Farm has all the, gave me all freedom to do anything that is non competing. So it was fun to do that. But, it was, it was an interesting time when, you know, the person or the company from whom I got that show, they were painful.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

okay, uh huh,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

They, I mean, no one has done this much background research of mine, maybe they have done that much. And I thought, man, now I'm going to be this and that. They have a lot of power.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So, thank you. Let's see if we can get something. And I got something, but I took that movie that film Distributorship for all the international regions except India.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

okay,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I did good 26 27 shows, but it was a very difficult film.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

okay,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

it was a festival film kind of a thing. was, it got a national award two years later, like in tough Mojave, what hardships, but I was trying to sell that film show to everybody. And looking at the trailer, it was pretty hard. so everyone was like, no, no, we don't want to present this. And we ended up. Making only 26, 27 shows,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

mm

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

we didn't go in red, we were in green, but we made a lot of connections in, various markets, right from New Zealand to Australia, Singapore, Middle East Europe, America, Canada, everywhere. So next time I decided that the film that I'm going to get has to be very light hearted.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

mm,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Easy bechna chahiye. So, but the content has to be good as well.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

correct,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

And the same producer said, you know what a friend of mine is doing something. I think your style of working will match with them. And this time I was very careful. I said, I am not going to present a film until I preview it.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

okay, correct

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

yes. I'm seeking a project to say CK key. Okay. Bella project. Oh, I see. Good idea. Second project. Hey excitement. Melilla. So much. May I get a solid heart project? Third, maybe said, no, no, no. Now I'm going to preview this. So many preview key. Yeah. The content was very good. And I'm with Rahul. I tell you. So we stopped keeping the count of that film. 196 or something shows all over the world. There is still an university in Luxembourg that presents that show. After they present the show, they send the money to the producer. They get an email notification. And all this is still going on. Now, this is fantastic. This is what gives us satisfaction.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

correct,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

The producer at that time was doing a theatrical show. He said, you did such a good job, would you be interested in doing an in person show tour? I said, maybe, there is a condition, like you did the film for all the regions, just India,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

mm hmm,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

you have to do a theatre show as well. And that time I was reading a book by Richard Branson, in which Richard Branson says,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

solid!

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

an author, you first say yes to things and then figure things out. So I said yes. K. And then I started researching about things. Started making phone calls to people whom I think could be helpful. phone calls, SAB ki helpful. Name, un producer, tap Kiki to so now I, be in working.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Nice.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

all those things keep on happening. But yeah, that's how 2017 I started working on, in-person shows. Why I say I Is, because it was a. Solopreneur thing at that time you know, I was selling that show at Peanuts all the centers in the US or Wape, 900 log aaye hue hai 1000 log aaye hue hai That was a good learning. Okay.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right? Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I should have thought about it. I mean, we learned a lot again. We did our first tour in 2018. The second tour in 2019, 2019, we did multiple tours and yeah 2020 was a different story altogether.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Got it? Mm-Hmm?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

We were crushed by COVID. About 49 shows got canceled The 49 shows were booked 70 percent of the time. We had received the money from the customers. And we returned all the money. USCIS didn't return us a penny for the visas were approved already. So, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, they gave us credit coupons in the names of the artists.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Oh.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So, Aage jaake humein ussi artist ko lana padda. We cannot use that fund for anybody. So yeah, 2020 was tough and then 2021 was closed as well. 2022 is when we came back in action. 2022, we did only one tour we were the first ones in the community to make that tour happen. A theatrical tour with 14, 13, 14 people, team Shadi ki baaraat type. I didn't take a small trolley as to take that big trolley at the airport. And this was still So it was fun to work on that, but then things started moving. People started reaching out that we want to work with you. We want to do, want to do what you do. And that's when we thought of building a team. I'm it been rejoined us. And as a creative lead, but slowly took on the entire responsibility of creative as well as operations.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Mm-Hmm.

Track 1:

mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

doing our website and that's when I reached out to Tanvi Kulkarni, who is with us now. And I said, I need some help in copywriting of the website. And she submitted her estimate, which was too expensive. I said, okay, let me do it myself. two days later, we realized that the kind of projects that we have, we need someone to manage the entire media and communications

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right? Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

again and said, you are too expensive, but is there anyone in your circle who would be interested in something like this? Or if you are interested, we can talk as well. A few days afterwards, she says, I am interested and she comes on board.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Nice.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

That's how we started building a team in 2023. Two of my friends as well. Now Salil is with us. He handles entire show technology and Vaibhav is with us. He works with me a lot on general management. And leads Texas as a region. yeah, I mean, I, I'm blabbering a lot. I need to take a pause, I guess, and see what kind of questions you have.

Track 1:

No, no, that's okay. Good to hear.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

It is a wonderful story there were so many things in this. There was emotion, there was drama, there was suspense, right? And and there was this hustle of being an entrepreneur, right? So there was true hustle, right? Especially being a solopreneur for so long and still doing so, you know, such good work. And I think the one thing that I really loved about this story was it coming to a full circle. You started with theater. And you, you did a bunch of different things. And then eventually started calling you back again. And in, in one form or the other, and you're doing what you are good at, right? Not everybody's a great actor. You can be a great producer. And what you're doing right now in the industry is is exactly that. So I think that's a. That's a wonderful story. And set of achievements. So you should be proud of that. I'm very proud of it. And I tell everybody, even in my family, that wo harshad hai na wo mera dost hai we and harshad go back many, many years, although even if we haven't spoken for many years but we are still friends. And you know, Raul the funny part is Harshad and I, we spoke for a few minutes only when, when we were in India

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yeah,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

have spoken for 15 minutes, but there was a, there was a connection that was made and that connection has survived all these years and all that distance. And now we are neighbors.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

totally. Absolutely. I mean, we were half of our size by brain as well as by our widths, but conversation very well. Absolutely.

Track 1:

Yeah. I would like to talk to you about some of the challenges, you know, every journey has its challenges and you spoke about COVID and work vanished at that time and how you had done all the bookings and everything. and there might be other challenges also even before and after the COVID. So, challenges are a very important part a very critical part of an entrepreneur's journey. And everybody paints a rosy picture, you know, when we talk about entrepreneurs, startups, funding, everything. So it's a very rosy picture, but I would like you to throw some light on the hardships. Some challenges that you've faced and how you overcome,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

was good for PARASHARE Entertainments and I So good. And the lineup for 2020 was about 49 shows. Just escape Booking already 70% Booking was in hand when Covid pandemic was declared. So.

Track 1:

Mm hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

It was, the, the hope was great.

Track 1:

Right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

was able to convince my wife that I should rather jump full time into this and I will be able to scale it up. So after a lot of convincing and doing the entire circus, I was able to

Track 1:

Permitted? Right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I convinced and

Track 1:

hmm. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Right. Correct. It's good. Mm hmm. It's good.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

for me, it was like, ah, all right, no problem. Toh pehle toh ab bhi jo tour shuru hai, that time 14 March 2020, a tour was on. A team was over here from India. out of they had completed three shows and was talking to the airlines and my travel agents on how to get these 14 people back home in India. Worked on that, but then I had to start writing my CV again because entertainment business was shut not only in the U. S., but all over the world. Writing CV. My wife was still in her full time job where she is right now as well. She works with State Farm and was doing was writing CV. Applying for jobs, with people, taking care of our two kids. Was just born in 2019 and Abir was three, four, whatever. Every morning I had great fun with them. Every morning there was a regime that 8. 45 we will go out on the trail. We'll take a nice walk. It was you know, pleasure spending time with them for so many months. And of course, on the hindsight, there was a little bit of stress. What is going to happen? Am I going to When am I going to get a job? I think the more question was, when am I going to get a job? I was confident in the profile that I had, I was confident about the qualifications that I had and whatever I had done so far with the digital and design skillsets that I possessed. But the market was shut. No one was getting jobs anyway. But then. hai.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

September of 2020 I had three job offers on my table. One was EPAM, one was from USAA and the third was from METHOD. Why am I specific about mentioning Method over here is because they were paying me much lesser than one of the other two jobs, method the culture. The culture that they projected through the 13 rounds of interviews that I had with them was

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Nice.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I thought,Thanks aree

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Thanks.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

yaar interviewer? I always thought, wow, another level of conversation with method. I'm going to interact with some fabulous people. A few months before that, I had done a full day interview session with Amazon and it was, trust me, stressful, very learning, but it was stressful as well. But culture was a different level. I selected method over the other two positions because they said, we love what you do. And we don't stop doing that. That was the kind of underlying message they were giving me. so I

Track 1:

Mm hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

and did a lot of things. market opened up. I did the first tour in 2022 when method was still my employer. Some of, some of my friends in method, they used to come and sit at my shows. They didn't understand what was going on, on stage because of the language barrier, but they used to enjoy, and they used to say that our friend is doing something and we are here to support him, you know, that, that used to be a very heart filling time for me that, you know, such friends I have made. And in then when we were started, started planning, when we started planning for 2023 we realized that soon I may end up getting unfairer to either of the teams. One is family, another is my employer, third could be my clients. And someone said, and yourself as well. Oh,

Track 1:

True.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

was an eye opening one. But given the recent past where we had a shocker with COVID trying to crush us. It was, it was yet difficult conversation at home on how do we handle this? So on one side, we have our job that is going to. Pay me a good amount of money every month. I was doing pretty well over there. On one side, there is my passion, which is also going to be a good business. There are people who are wanting to work with us. Should I still continue as a side hustle or should I? Jump into it full time and make it happen.

Track 1:

Mm hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

of 2023 on my birthday, I, told method that, you know, this is the plunge that I have decided to take. They supported me very well. And right now I cannot be thankful to my family. I cannot be thankful to everything that I'm doing today. We have wonderful projects, not boing, but today we say more of nos than yeses to various shows. 2023, ended with 72 shows. The way I'm seeing 2024 shaping it is going to be not less than 86.

Track 1:

Right. Okay.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

The scale of the shows has changed as well. The language of the show, the community that we attract shows is changing dramatically. So Of course, we started predominantly with Marathi shows because that is where I came from. And then music came in, comedy came in. The core that we believe in is content is the king.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

good

Track 1:

That's true.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

the show we bring in. I don't want, even if I get standup comedy I want some tinge of content. Is the king over there? If it's just a hollow standup, standup comedy, I'm not interested. No matter how much ever famous the artist is.

Track 1:

Have you done those shows? Stand up comedy shows? Have you in the U. S.?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So, not in the non Marathi sector. In the Marathi sector, we invited Bhadipa over here Bharatiya Digital Party. They are quite famous. So, each and every Marathi person in the U. S. was looking forward to having Bhadipa and we brought them here for the first time. It was

Track 1:

Right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

to work with them. Saran Sathe, who is their lead is a theater person originally. So he understood our way of thinking. We had, we had a blast with them, but then what we also realized was we were already catering to that market. do we grow beyond that market? And that

Track 1:

Mm

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

us to take some risks. We started doing some music shows where language was no barrier, or there was some kind of a it was a good mixture of attracting the Marathi crowd yet delivering a non Marathi content and pulling that other market community to the show as well.

Track 1:

hmm. Mm

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

did that, but our biggest one was really Piyush Mishra where we had gone full guns. It was risky because we still didn't have, we never catered to that community that came for Piyush Mishra. So when I look at the data, 95 percent is a net new customer that we have.

Track 1:

hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So we, in 10 shows, we entertained 9, 000 people in that one month.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Wow!

Track 1:

hmm. Mm

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

5 percent of the data is net new. So,

Track 1:

hmm. It's on customer base, you know, audience, I would say, but customer base.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right. So there are multiple ways to look at it. One, of course. Huge buys following second. So that, that following will definitely come to your shows. However, is that going to be enough? Because huge by is a brand in India, of course in the

Track 1:

hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

S. people they know some people they don't know when we did when we do our primary research when we talk to customers to understand the pulse Some of them were Oh huge by of course, we will be there and some of them were Sorry, we are not able to gather what you're saying that

Track 1:

Some people know him by face, but don't know the name.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

this

Track 1:

a challenge.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

person you are talking about that kind of a reaction.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I was from that fourth category, right? Because I knew him, I knew the name, but I never knew he's a performer. I, I always knew him as an actor. And when I, you know, we met Harshad last time and you told me about him. And even Rahul, you also told me that he's, he's got these beautiful videos on YouTube. You should check them out. And that's when I realized, Oh my God, this is. This is an incredible genre that I have never really been exposed to. So that I'm from that fourth category. Correct. Mm hmm. Got

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So, no, and, and that gives me a solid kick that gives me some challenge. Somebody asked me, so now when are you going to get Sonu Nigam? No, I'm never going to get Sonu Nigam because he has been here a hundred times. Has his relations. He has his customers. If I go and talk to him, first of all, he will not talk to me. Even if he talks to me, he's going to say, I always come over there. Why should I come with you? And then I also think the same. Why should I get him? I mean, he has come here so many times and I'm just using him as an example. I love Sonu Nigam. He's amazing performer, great singer, but there is nothing unique. Yeah. If you, if you ask me, All right, Sonu Nigam is composing a show where he's going to with a harmonium ghazals.

Track 1:

That's different.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

are talking some

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Thank

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

uniqueness there. Ki Sonu Nigam ne aaj tak yeh kiya nahi hai. Lekin abhi he is coming up with that professional show where there are going to be 4 6 people on the stage. He is sitting criss cross down with his harmonium and sing ghazals like what probably Jagjit ji used to do. Will so be able to do that? Of course, he will be able to do that. But there needs to be that kind of a show for me to get jump off my seat, for me to jump off my seat and say, heck yeah, I will do it. And that is what the team at Parashar also looks at. What is the challenge that we are getting? is the unique stuff that we are getting to the market? So now we are in the spot where we are challenging ourselves by composing some shows. We are producing some shows where we realize that the kind of, the taste that we have doesn't exist. In ample in the market today, and that also gives us an opportunity to create that, to create those kinds of products. So we have kicked off the journey on Parashare productions, where we will be producing those kinds of shows where the content is really the king presentation is the key. And storytelling is what we are going to, you know, focus on to pull the customer, explain to them what the heck we are doing. This is not something usual. This is very unique. Come for a rich experience. And we believe that the customer experience in today's time, it is not only about how the show is, show is just one part of that entire life cycle. It starts from the moment. customer sees a reel or a poster for the first time on their social media. And the experience that carries forward until the show is also over and a survey is filled. when I, as a company, respond that survey feedback that the customer has given, thanking that customer and saying, Thank you for taking this effort on letting us know your opinion.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So if I'm talking about a customer who is a 25 year old customer coming to me today, I want to cater him for next 50 years. Same with the artist. If I am working with a 30 year old artist, I want to work with that artist for the next 40 years. So

Track 1:

Is

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

somebody, a mentor of mine, very cleverly gave me an advice. Plan for the future because that future is going to be present of tomorrow.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Got it.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So, you know, that is how we function. Everything is for future. We have paid advances for all the venues of 2024. So, you know, money came in. But yeah, it is paid to the advances of all the 2024 shows. So where is the money? Well, money is invested in future because that future is going to be present of tomorrow.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Got it.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So these are some challenges. We are not a funded company by venture capitalist. We are strapped company. So And

Track 1:

that good or not? You find it good or bad?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right now it's good,

Track 1:

Yeah.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Because, you know, there could be a few nuances that could come with funding. First of all, I am not knowledgeable enough on that part. I must confess that and the way I understand from the basic premises, If I pitch share entertainment to a few investors. They are going to say, okay, let's get valuation of your company. And given the valuation of company, if they give me X amount that means Own that much equivalent stakes also in the company when

Track 1:

Right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

grows because of our efforts They will get a good amount of stakes. So I rather wait let the valuation grow.

Track 1:

So are you looking for funding in the future?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

No, not right now future I don't know. At least not for next two years, I would say

Track 1:

Okay.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

If someone is interested in coming on board as an investor project per se, then yeah, we can have that discussion for sure. That there is a project where we need 200, 000, 300, 000 and somebody wants to chime in and take away some percentage. Yeah, those kind of opportunities definitely. So crowdsourcing essentially definitely exists. But in terms of venture funding, no, we are not.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yeah, I think private

Track 1:

Right.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

people come in they bring in some of them will also bring in the artist, they, and they'll bring in the money, but they

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yeah,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

to partner with who can actually organize and and build this experience right for them. So that's also an area where, because some people may have the connections, they may have the money, but they, they don't have Harshal Parashare at their disposal actually orchestrate that experience. that's

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

definitely a collaboration opportunity there. So,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Definitely. Yeah.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Harshad, I noticed and you also mentioned about it, how you are focused on the experience that you're going to deliver, right? So if you look at Piyush Mishra he is, he's not the conventional artist, right? You look at shows like your 38 Krishna Villas you have the Santo Mastro Rahul Sharma coming in. And then you have my favorite Ajay Atul also you know, coming in. They, they've got terrific music. So when you, and, and then there's this whole Nathuram Godse which is I think that's going to be. you know, like a wildfire because that's also very unconventional. So what I'm, what I've observed with the artists that you're working with are not the conventional, like you said Sonu Nigam is is a very famous artist who, who doesn't need. The platform that you are offering for anybody who is an artist or an upcoming artist, what would be those key attributes that you would look for in that artist and, and, and, and that would say, okay, yes, I want to bring this person onto this platform that I'm or, you know, creating. So what are those key characteristics that you would be observing? Because I'm seeing, you know, the people that you're working with, they're famous in their own rights, right? So it's not that they're not or they're upcoming artists. They're, they're incredible artists in their own, categories. But I'm seeing a very different style of selection, which is not conventional. So what is that methodology that you're approaching this with? And what would you look for in an emerging artist? Okay.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

first of all, our radars are very strong. when an emerging artist reaches out to us and we find them not very appropriate for the time, explain to them and tell them that so there is some method to that madness that method, the madness is from multiple perspective. We look at the artist. Also when we look at the artists, it is not really only the artists that we look at. We also look at what kind of product exists around that artist or what kind of product can be crafted with that art.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Okay.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So it is the product first and the artist So when it comes to Bhuj bhai, the product really is Balli Maran. Ballimaaraan as a band, Balli Maran as a concert as a concept was very, very attractive. of course, led by Piyushbhai is a cherry on the top. So multiple perspectives are, all right, what is the content? Is the content rich? one. Is the content unique? Number two. the artist Known is the artist operating as an entrepreneur where they understand or their management understands the importance of media that is literally on the fingertips today. I can name 50 artists right now who are world class in terms of their art and presentation, but they will get negative marks when it comes to media. They don't understand the power of media today. And I can name 50 artists right now who are very strong on media, but their content and their performance is Kachra. So, we meet all kinds of artists. There are essentially three. One, great artist, great media. Kachra artist, great media. And then there is the middle one. You where, you know,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Great.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

essentially

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

a media. So there, that

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

yeah, great

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

media, great, artist. Qra Media is a very interesting space where we have been explaining to them how we can help them improve their media, avo, improve Ji consistently, then by just use that media. There are so many artists who say, No, no, we stay away from social media. If you stay

Track 1:

Right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

away from money and in what I mean by if you stay away from money, you know, the exposure that you will get if you use that media diligently is just phenomenal. Everybody is there. All artists are there on Facebook, Instagram. They need to utilize it diligently. If they don't know, there are crash courses available in the market that can help them. There are friends and family who will help them understand how to leverage that. instead of having Kachra artist. Using media diligently, we'd rather have good artists using the media diligently. So these are some of our challenge that we want to bring in some of the best artists in the world, not all the artists right now because finally, Hey. I want to 10 people and be okay with it. It's not like that, right? Yeah.

Track 1:

And Lana be difficult to

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

like

Track 1:

because of no media

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

they're the only ones coming. There is going to be, if not the, if not artists in the same community, there could be some Broadway happening. There could be some vacation happening there. Long weekend is our biggest competition. Long weekend is our biggest competition. Duration between mid of May to first week of August is our biggest competition because schools have holidays and people are vacationing somewhere.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

There's a lot of internet competition, especially because there's so many avenues which are trying to get our time, attention and money, right? And if you are going to orchestrate something, which is going to ask for all three to be invested. Right. Then it has to be of a, of a certain quality and that is only when people will come back to you and trust you and keep coming back. Right. So there's a, there's a quality of the experience. So one is there is a buildup of the experience. Then there's the quality of the experience. And then, then there is the after experience, right?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Absolutely.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So those three.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yeah. In today's time, when I'm trying to convince my audience to get off their couch. Get into their car, come to the performing arts center and be there at the show. You know, it takes a lot of hustle. It is not only the show ticket that they have to buy. most of the American houses, they have to buy childcare as well.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Correct.

Track 1:

Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

My show needs to be worthy of that. There are, you know, it could be a case where someone trusts us for the first time. And if I don't deliver to their expectations, the next time they won't even look at our website.

Track 1:

Right?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

One mistake is going to cause me 20x to bring them back.

Track 1:

Good.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

But in the first time, if I deliver that good experience, they are going to be with us for a good time is what we know.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

But, Harshad,

Track 1:

True. True.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right? Hota hai. You know, no matter how well you plan things, hai, right? So, it's not that you cannot mistakes. We are all human at the end of the day. what is your strategy to, to deal with mistakes?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yeah. That weekend was Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta. So Detroit, we had a fabulous, fabulous show in Detroit.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Piyush bhai ke?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Peewees by Kaj. And then in the morning we had a big bus stop. We sat on, on the bus, everybody, and went to Chicago. We went to the hotel, up, or s who is our tech lead. He goes to the venue immediately after eating his breakfast, he goes over there and says, Rachel. There seems to be an issue. Our tech vendor has forgotten submit the request that we have for the sound console. So it is going to start a little late

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

from wherever their office is to be dispatched to our venue, I said. All right. When do you anticipate the show time to be? Because our declared show time is 5 o'clock.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right? Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

He said 30 minutes delay.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I don't like delays. As per our, you know, there were only two times in last eight years of the shows that we have hosted, only two times there have been delays. One was in 2023 and the second one was in Chicago in 2024. We had a one hour delay or a little bit more because the console reached late

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Right?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

and the console delivery guy, just Dropped the console and ran away. He was scared. These guys are going to just butcher me. Toh wo console jo hota hai, wo hamne kabhi khola nahi tha. Toh hamne khola, usko table pe rakha hai. And then the connection started happening. Until that time, patrons in the lobby.

Track 1:

Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

am the owner of the company. I had to stand in front of them. So 700 versus 1. Microphone chal nahi raha hai. Console hi nahi hai. House mein microphone ke speakers hi nahi hai. So I

Track 1:

Right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

be over there standing in front of 700 patrons and apologizing and telling them that we effed up, but we are making things happen. Trust us. Once this starts, you are going to have a fabulous experience.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

dealing with that situation taught me a lot. Be transparent, sure. Because I would have, I could have made some reasons and that was not going to fly. So be transparent. And, of course, we told them that the vendor put the order in, so it is late. And now we are working on setting it up. And we have to wait for an hour. Fortunately, there was a bar and a cafe at the venue that they minted business that day. So, at least that was taken care that there is something there. It was cold outside, Chicago. The weather was cold, February.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

everybody was inside. And that was a, that was a tough situation. But we, we were able to manage, we learned a lot, in the feedback email people did so every, morning after the show, feedback request goes from us. And there is a whole Google form system that we have. So people did comment about the delay, but they also said you made it up by delivering the quality of the show. So. We still have a good rapport maintained in Chicago.

Track 1:

Good.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Although that's a, that's a phenomenal story, but I was hoping that you'll say it. I had to do a standup at, for an hour.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

After the show started, I was in the mood to run away from the stand up cab. The show started and now I need to go and have my own drink, you know.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

you attend every show that your company organizes? Are you, are you present at all shows?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

No, I'm not. Earlier I used to be, but now we are a team. So, we take turns. But what we are taking as a next step is also empowering our local crews to lead the shows by themselves.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

nice.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So today I can say if we have 10 centers, then at each center we have at least five to six crew members who are now enough that they can lead shows by themselves.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

And, and they're, they're not just, so the show is at least three parts, right? So one is, of course, the, the guests were coming to the show. You, you, you need to manage that. Then there is on stage. There are things that you have to manage on stage and then there is off stage managing the needs of the artist and, you know, their travel and their accommodation and the food and all of that stuff. So everything is managed by these crews locally.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yes. no so I mean, things are really not very different from the corporate world that we have been into.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Okay.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I run a digital company. Only difference is in a digital company, I used the end product used to be a web portal or an app or something digital. that I can touch and play with. Over here, the out, the is not digital. The outcome is a physical show.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Okay.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

We have per diem system for the artist. We do our travels through Uber for business.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Nice.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Our contracts happen through DocuSign. Our accounts are managed through QuickBooks. We are on Slack. We use Jira. We work in sprints.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Nice.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

We have a standup every morning. There is a scrum master.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Nice.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So everything is just the way I was doing in my job previous to jumping into this full time.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So you brought in your learnings of Agile product your organization and do you do you find value with with those practices?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

100%. So only these practices or in terms of tools, but in terms of thinking, whenever we take any decision of putting some show in some city, we We mine our data, we harvest our data, and today I can tell you for a particular show, given the demographics of people in that particular city that we are focusing on, I can tell you how bad, or ugly that show can be.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Nice. That's, that's very interesting. So, Harshad you have delivered so many unforgettable memories for people all over the world. What is that one memory that you think is unforgettable for yourselves? Right? Koi special incident, something that, you know, you'll also narrate to your grand grandchildren, ki bhai ek right? So what is, what would that be?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

19

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Okay.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Sachin

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Khedekar

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

performs in that show. He does a one man show and it is directed by a very famous Marti film director named Chandra Kulkarni and, uh, that was again, a very unique show that we were bringing, we were very proud of it. It's written by Professor Mahesh Elkunzawar so When that tour was on, I was talking to my wife about getting into entertainment full time and, you know, this is how the 2020 lineup looks. We have already started doing good bookings and she was going to be there at that show in Atlanta. Was looking. conversations. Gauri were having then were very interesting. And I wanted to look at patrons reactions afterwards. I want to see this girl's reaction, how she reacts to this. And I found her, um, she had puffed eyes. And all she did was give me a hug and said, go do whatever you want to do. That is, that is an unforgettable moment. I would say getting that encouragement from family after seeing the outcome that you have delivered. I think I will never forget that evening. Yeah,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So, and not just family getting that stamp of approval from that super boss, right? So everybody knows who's the super boss in a married man's household. So getting that stamp of approval, from gory must have been up to, you know, up child Jovi. O you know, I, I think I have, I have the backing. So

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Absolutely. Yeah.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

fund investor, you know, I've got everything that I needed. Mm-Hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Absolutely. That, that was the moment. The second heartfelling moment was, uh, we did Bali Maran in Atlanta me aaj tak humne 300 k uper crowd he nhi dekha kabhi achha lekin Ballimaaraan me 625 log and in the audience was my childhood friend. Jo class mein amesha pehla aata tha aur aakhir bhi we were the best buddies, we are the best buddies and we were destined to be together in Atlanta. He lives in Sandy Springs, I live in Johns Creek. So this was the first time he was going to come for a show. And there was a Gobo PARA SHARE logo projected on on a column over there in the auditorium before the show. He takes that picture and send it, send it to me saying I'm so proud looking at this today. So, you know, that, that was also a very heartfelting moment.

Track 1:

That's cool. So Harshad, you'd go and do shows all across the many, many countries. You said that you

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Let me transfer full transparency. Yes, we have done shows in many parts of the world, but outside of us, we are still a B2B shop. So we have sold shows most of the times when it comes to doing shows outside of the United States. Very soon we will start doing shows by ourselves in outside of the United States, but most of the shows we have done B2C, where we have sold tickets, are in the

Track 1:

Okay. Okay.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

heart filling moments, I'm on an emotional track. It is always awesome to see my old friends, relatives. Old colleagues coming to the shows and greeting me over there. We have studied together. have worked together. How many people come to Cognizant? They come and they write to me afterwards that we were there. Saale mila kyu nhi we thought you must be busy. Bilkul busy nhi hota hu jarur aake milo Rahul ye

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Subtle chaata hai mere liye because I missed the Atlanta show. So Harshad, jo hai na bohot pyar se mujhe chata laga rha hai tu aaya nhi to look

Track 1:

But I mean, if I ask you this question in a reverse manner, that how do you feel today, your friend coming to your show, never heard of the name

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

feel, I feel privileged. To, to have known Harshad for this long. And I also feel excited that Harshad felt that there is value in us having this conversation. And you know, when you reached out Harshad, I was also very excited. I was telling my wife Rachna that you know, Harshad and I, and she's like, who Harshad? I've never heard of this name. And then I told her. Yeah, so

Track 1:

It's a very famous name.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

know, I've never heard from you and then I told her everything and then she's like, okay, that's cool. And you, you guys are connecting after a long time. I said, yes there's, there's stuff happening. And we are also talking about a bunch of other things. So I feel very excited and I feel very proud to see what Harshad you've gone ahead and achieved. And it's also inspirational because there's an entrepreneur hiding inside each one of us, right? Everybody wants to do something. And at some point in their lives, everybody gets the opportunity or gets the. gets the, that bravery, right. To go and take that plunge and do this and even then face those hardships. Sometimes you have to take a step back, then pivot. So in, in entrepreneurship, this is one thing that happens that it's okay if your idea fails, right? It's, it's, it's a momentary thing and you, you've always got to be able to adjust and move on, right? So that, that is a mindset on entrepreneur is not somebody who is. Who set up enterprise, it is a mindset that you actually.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yeah. I mean, you, you actually hit the right spot. It's a mindset, know, I missed on sharing one heartwarming story that happened in the COVID times. Everything was closed. But And in India, there were the most casualties. Because of That time my mom was alone in my hometown. And I thought, I should have an oxygen concentrator for her. Just as a backup. If I ever need it. And I wasn't getting it. If I was getting it, it was very expensive. I said, what can I do? So I started reaching out, to some suppliers and I said, ki mujhe ek chahiye. Wale ek nahi milega, pachas chahiye, bolo. Said, kitne mein? Then that lady goes, this much. This was in another country. I said, all right, let me come back. So in one night, we put together a website. Jaise hum ticket bech rahe the, us tarah ka ne ek portal banaya.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Mm hmm. Correct.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Took pre bookings. for oxygen concentrators, which were household category. Next night, we were sold out with all the 50.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Correct.

Track 1:

Forty nine. One you needed.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

One I needed, were sold. And then we set up a supply chain system in India, which my in laws managed. And the whole shipment arrived in four days in India. And all the 50th was my at my mom's place. Then more inquiries started coming and we said, okay, so we did a hundred more one night. Let's write to the CEO of chroma. Yeah,

Track 1:

Supply Garage. I

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

friends. They also laughed like you. Next day morning, please work with all these people. And I was working with them. In next one week, we got vendor registered for Chroma and we supplied 1500 pieces to them. And it was, that was our community service. said, do you want to do this? Let's make it happen. Yeah.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So it

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

you

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

utilized in a better way at that time. Yeah.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

is because that is that mindset, right? a entrepreneur mindset in a work. He's going to leave name a reach out. Karmine may, there is no. don't judge yourself. You just go and do it. They'll ignore you. They'll say no. Correct. Right. Correct.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

this is a very entrepreneurial trade. are not scared of failures. I've seen a lot of failures. I was not a great student in school. My parents.

Track 1:

think that,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Sorry, I

Track 1:

all three of us. We keep building.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So I was never scared of failures. My friends who were rather first, second, third in my classes who topped the boards, I think they must be scared of failures. That's why, you know, but I'm not. so failures though, any so I have seen that many of my friends struggle after their schooling and academic curriculum is done. Job, what if I performed less so they would work all night. I was never scared, per se. Okay. Yeah, there will be hiccups. the way I've managed as a kid, I'll manage it right now as well. I know that we are doing so many shows, all of them are not going to be green. Some shows will be red, some will be delayed, some will be abused. That is part of the game. And either you are up for it or you're not up for it. I think I am. Absolutely.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

That is true. Immunity, we built early on in our lives, right? So, we were able to face rejection. Keep building. It is a muscle memory, right?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

my wife Rachna, she keeps saying this. You know, sometimes we are like those ants. So entrepreneurs like that. So they, you'll keep, you know, moving them away from their target, but they'll keep coming back. Right. So, and, and that is why there's also this element of being fearless, you know? Like ham I could, I could understand what you did. Ha. Okay. You know, let me write it. And I do that also. Right. Like Raul will ask me and, and a lot of times people come back with positive, And they were waiting for something, somebody to reach out to them. And just because you, you started judging yourself and you thought, are they, you know, how will people react low and all that stuff? Like when we started off with this whole Indian community, had this fear of going on camera. I had this concept in my brain for at least two years before I actually started it. And this thing was in my head, how will I go on camera? How am I going to sound like how am I going to look like people are going to judge me? And then one day I was like, when I was speaking with Rahul, we said. We were sitting in a t shirt and said, let's record it. We recorded

Track 1:

Diwali. Diwali.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

then we said, okay, we'll sit and publish it on YouTube. We just went and did it. And that you know, took away our fear, right? The act of doing away that fear that first uh,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

See I come from design school. So I'm already Joe Dean now he's retired. Sony, sir, he always used to say. by doing. So if you, if you, if you're thinking about designing this pen, okay, make it.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

it

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

We used to design an intricate chair and, you know, present it. We used to present it and used to be like. Very nice. Now go make it, how to make it. That's what you are learning. Go make it. So, do it. Then you will learn. It is not, I don't think yes, planning is required. But until you convert that plan into implementation, you are never going to learn

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

as an entrepreneur. I'm, I, I'm very thankful that I've been, you know, doing things. And learning out of it. And that is the kind of team that we have now. That entire team also believes in doing things. They are all ready to roll up their sleeves. Come time, they will be sweeping the stage, going, climbing the ladders and doing the lights. And there is just no shame. Everyone has each other's back. And it's just a, you know, amazing environment that we have at Parashare Entertainments today.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Excellent.

Track 1:

That's good. That's good. That's the team, teamwork. That's called teamwork and team spirit.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I mean, I, I really believe in that sentence where, you know, culture eats strategy for breakfast. We actually believe in that if I, if I don't lead that culture. not making leaders who would continue to have that culture in the company. They won't be able to relate. So we all first is culture that we are very strong on. strategies will be good. We have so many intelligent people with us. We have so many people who reach out to us. We have so many producers and partners with whom we work today. They trust us and we have a fabulous advisory board as well. That is always there at our disposal to guide us They keep encouraging us to whatever we were doing. They keep us. They never let us be satisfied with where we are. So,

Track 1:

Superb. Superb. So you said you never let you be satisfied with where you are. So what are your aspirations for coming in the future?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So today if we are doing one tour at a time, think the next for us is how can we run parallel tours at a time? How can we expand into other by doing shows ourselves? How can we. Use content by ourselves so that, you know, we are doing it in the appropriate fashion. Not always we are dependent on having a producer or a presenter who understands our wavelengths. So I think there are many objectives in front of us we have to prioritize and that's what we are going to do right now is a phase where we are on this cusp of, you know, just transitioning from a language medium to a wide spectrum of community of audiences. Thank you. And we want to make sure that we don't repeat the same mistakes that we have done in the past. We, we remained engaged in B2B for a very long time and then, you know, we always felt safe show based there, safer, but then we missed out on that point where. Are we delivering a brand promise? Are we delivering the experience or are we just selling off in bulk and being happy in the small margin that we are getting on a temporary basis? So we, we spent a lot of time doing that. And then transitioning out of that was very difficult. We don't want to repeat those same mistakes over here.

Track 1:

Any new projects, anything specific that you're looking forward to, and you know, you want to do something new, or you want to tell us about some of your new projects, you want to disclose them here.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Frankly, everything is new. Everything is exciting. 38 Krishna Villa, I watched the show in New Jersey and I was just spellbound. It is a show where a playwright is getting awards left and right, biggest of the awards, wife of another playwright or a writer comes into picture and says, whatever you are writing is not yours. written by my husband. Now, look at the plot now that accused playwright has to prove himself non guilty. This is a two play. Wow. It would be unfair for me to disclose why this really happens and what really happens. But

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

two artists on the stage. Beautiful.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

the male full time on the stage. Dr. Girish Oak is full time on the stage, right from the curtain open

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

long is that show?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

two hours,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

two hours,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

two hours.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

is on the stage, performing live. And,

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yes,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

just that concept, forget the plot of the show, right? Just the concept of watching a senior artist, right? Being on stage, performing live in front of you. I, I think there, there's nothing more than that, right? You, if you look at the cinema world where. An artist gets to do multiple takes and you know, there's a body double for things. This is, this is at a very different level altogether.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

absolutely. So that gives me a kick. Rahul Sharma, Ojas Adia, we are really doing that tour as a tribute to Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. It's going to be a very rich concert. So looking forward to that, unfortunately.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

we are missing it here.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

No, it is happening in Atlanta.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I, I thought it's not. So, okay, that, that is one show that I should book then.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Absolutely. It is happening in Atlanta. It is at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center on April 7th, Sunday.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Okay, that's nice. And can kids come?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Absolutely.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Okay, that's cool. Because I would love for my kids to listen to him and in person. I think is very important for our kids who living very far away from Right. And they're, they're growing up in a very different culture to listen to some of this cultural and classic music. Especially if you get it from Rahul Sharma, who has been trained by, you know, Pundit Shiv Kumar, right. So that is a, that's a very different league altogether. And I think that's definitely content that our kids should enjoy.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Absolutely. Another heart filling moment that I would like to share. my son who is eight doing backstage and for all the Atlanta shows, he's there with me at backstage Bali Maran. He traveled with me from Atlanta to Dallas, Dallas to New Jersey, New Jersey back to Atlanta. So both those shows, he was there at the backstage apart from Atlanta show. And he's waiting actually to have the same swag and we are getting his size done for him. Now. Hello.

Track 1:

cool. That's cool. That's beautiful. Beautiful. That's good. Wow. That's good.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

at the last show for the curtain call.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

is.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So, yeah.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

That would have been

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So, yeah.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

for him.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Absolutely. Rahul Sharma is happening all over about six to seven shows. Ajay Atul is a big project for us. it's a scary project because of the whole of it. we are doing New Jersey, Dallas, and Chicago. These are good hubs. I cannot do that in Atlanta. So sorry about that. But Nathuram Ghodse, we have 21 shows. Nathuram would say, why Rahul can also come. So while the show is going to be presented in Marathi language, you can bring your own device, bring your own earphones or airpods. There will be an hybrid app on which you can select your preferred language and real time you will be able to listen to translation either in Hindi or English.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

that's cool. Are you, are you

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

that? Are you telling people that they can listen to that show in other languages?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Very soon we will we have the technology figured out we will soon have the translations and everything done and the promos will actually happen in that language. So yeah, that's a big one. We are doing a music festival in September. We have Purabayan Chatterjee who is the sitar artist with him is going to be all time favorite Mamey Khan. so that's that's an interesting combination that we are working out. We are we are co producing that show with these artists. there is another artist that we are bringing for the Marathi segment. The name is Confidential right now, but it will soon come on the charts. And in October, we are doing only six shows. is again a surprise package for that will not only be a show, but it will be a show followed with a culinary experience as well. So yeah, that is going to be our first time when we will do a show followed by the whole evening going into a designed culinary experience. And that is

Track 1:

Right.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

D. C. and New Jersey.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

That is, that is wonderful. I am really looking forward to. Seeing and maybe attending some of these shows. So I I'm I'm really excited. Harshad Harshad. Thank you so much for all the time and the insights that you shared on this session. We'll do a quick wrap up with some rapid fire questions, right? One Indian habit that you love and can't, can't stop doing, but Gorry hates it.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Thinking about my tourism, starting with food.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Oh, that one is a good one, right? Because yes, we think of places and then we immediately we look at Instagram key. Wow. Restaurant.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Well,

Track 1:

a theater or a movie person.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

both actually. Just that my screen time apart from my computer has reduced. So whenever I'm on flights, I make sure to download some content and watch. But is where my heart is. So I do appreciate going to theater. Like in it has been a problem. The problem is the dealer never dopes. So, there are only, I must confess, there are only two shows that have brought to the United States and I have watched them full length. There are only two shows and it would be unfair for me to spell those out. So I won't do that.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

That's fine. We'll not

Track 1:

Okay.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

One person who inspires you the most?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I think my son the way I see him getting involved in the whole hustle that I am into every time he's so curious about things, every time he asks me a lot of questions, knows the artist. Well, have to tell the artist that, know, you remember my son? They are like, of course we know him better than, you know, anybody else. So he's making those relationships at this age. It is very hard and truly inspiring.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

right. Abir you said.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Yes.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

So, hopefully in a few years, Raul, let's, let's make sure we invite Abir, to the podcast

Track 1:

Automatically that will be, you know, he's actually handing over his legacy to who already has started.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Right now, but had, if he knew that I was going to be on a podcast and we are going to talk about Parashar, I can guarantee you would have asked me, can I also join?

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

No. Then we'll,

Track 1:

You would have left

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

bite with him when he is back from school then. Perfect. one.

Track 1:

and he is in his teacher.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

And he, and yes,

Track 1:

Any.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

gets his swag, right? We should do that. One hidden talent that most people don't know about.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I cook well,

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Okay, that's nice. What kind of cuisine?

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

The Indian cuisine I can so yesterday or day before I made some good fish curry. I love doing that. It takes me away from everything that I'm doing. It's fun. many people know that actually. I don't think I have any hidden time.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

We will ask Gauri that question, so she might tell us something else, right? There is one thing that he does.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Say, yeah, he has some skill of giving me some answers that I cannot do anything with.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Right. And our final question for this session, Harshad, is one artist that you aspire. collaborate with

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

AR Rahman not

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

hmm.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

usual arena show, but would love him to have a Sufi concert where he's sitting with a harmonium.

Track 1:

Wow.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

I would love listening to that and I would love presenting that.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

That would be wonderful. Yes, I I'm hoping that when you truly aspire to get something done, the universe conspires to make that happen, right? So now that you said it, I'm hoping that one day know, we'll see an announcement come through that para Is, or Para is, is doing a show with a Rahman. And it's gonna be a Sufi show and a very immersive experience for people who attend. So I, I wish you good luck with that. Harshad Harshad, once again, thank you so much for being on this show. We went above and beyond the time that we had thought about. This is, this is probably one of our longest shows. And just because, you have shared so much. And I think it's, it's a very rich episode with not just your history and how you got here, but there's also a truckload of inspiration here for anybody who thinks that they want to go out and do something. I am inspired. I'm going out. With this show, very inspired likewise, Rahul, I'm sure you're also feeling very excited about this conversation and anybody who listens to this is going to want to connect with you, Harshad. So we're going to put links to your LinkedIn. your website in this and maybe a couple of links to the events that you're hosting this year so that people can can reach out and book those tickets. So thank you once again for appearing on the Indian Community Podcast.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Thanks to you and we must meet in person now. It's been a number of years. Yes, you're my neighbor, but it's, it's odd to only meet you on digital, so thank you for inviting me here and let's meet soon.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

are a busy man, Arshad. I am always around in Alpharetta, but you're the one who is in Seattle and Chicago and Detroit and all these places. I am, I am in Alpharetta all the time. So anytime you say, I

Track 1:

What I'm saying in, in actually short is give him a free ticket. He will come and join you.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

even let him in with a ticket. No, that is.

harshad-parashare_2_03-05-2024_101239:

You guys are always welcome to our shows.

amit-gupta_2_03-05-2024_101239:

Thank you. Thank you so much, Harshad. Thank you for appearing on this podcast. And yes, my video editor keeps telling me remind people to like, and subscribe to the channel and, you know, hopefully stay in touch with Harshad as well. Thank you so much,

People on this episode

Head Shot

Amit Gupta

Host
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Rahul Mehra

Co-host