Talent on Tap

Joe Costello, CEO of Onstage Entertainment Group, is an expert on all things entertainment

By Kaylor Jones / Photo by Claudia Johnstone

Joe Costello is no stranger to the stage – when he was growing up, musicians were ever-present in his family’s restaurant, and after picking the drums as his instrument of choice, he was often found sitting in with the band.

After studying music in college, Costello tried to make it big in the Big Apple. “It just wasn’t in the cards for me,” he says.

Upon moving to Arizona, Costello and his band started playing at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia every Friday and Saturday night. “When we gained popularity and got asked to do destination weddings and corporate events, I had to make sure our spot was filled and everything went seamlessly for the resort.”

This proved the perfect intersection of his talents, from his entrepreneurial spirit to his intimate knowledge of the entertainment and hospitality industries. Fifteen years ago, he founded Onstage Entertainment Group (www.osegllc.com), a Phoenix-based booking agency for luxury resorts, country clubs, private events, senior living communities and destination management companies.

“We present ourselves as a one-stop shop. Instead of having to get quotes from five to eight vendors in each type of entertainment the client may want, we handle it all, acting as a research team scouring the earth to find all the latest and greatest stuff.”

Today, there are over 890 acts on the roster, from musicians and magicians to dancers, circus shows, synchronized swimmers and everything in between. “No one gets on our roster until they come through me,” Costello says. “I’m the Wizard of Oz in the background deciding who’s up to our level of professionalism.”

With plans to grow their secondary market in Colorado and across destination markets in the Southern U.S., Costello says one of the greatest rewards is helping talented entertainers achieve financial stability.

One thing he’d change about the journey? Walking away from his music career sooner.

“You’re told to never give up if you want something bad enough. That’s true in a sense, but you need to be honest with yourself if you’re not working hard at the right thing. Give yourself the permission and grace to pivot in another direction that makes you happy.”

Farm Fresh

Paul Oberg, head roaster for Press Coffee, on the hard work that goes into every cup of morning joe

By Kaylor Jones / Photo by Claudia Johnstone

Paul Oberg’s journey to the world of specialty coffee was a bit atypical – rather than starting as a barista, he fell in love with the industry while working on a farm in Guatemala in 2012.

“To see how coffee is actually produced, how beautiful the mountains that coffee generally grows on are, and how hardworking and humble the people who produce coffee are completely changed the way I viewed coffee,” Oberg says. “There’s so much going on to get a bag of coffee to a roastery that not many people get to see or hear about.”

Now, years after he first brought his farm-focused expertise back to Phoenix, Oberg has taken on a new role as the head roaster and green coffee buyer for Press Coffee (www.presscoffee.com). It’s a match made in heaven – Press sources beans from its own farm in the highlands of western Panama, which benefits from a unique microclimate and nutrient-rich volcanic soils.

“It’s a true honor to be a part of one of the most famous farms in the entire world, as well as introduce some coffees that are quite fun and different from the vast majority of coffees you see being served at any given cafe front.”

With 19 locations across the Valley, Oberg says Press is perfectly positioned to make a big impact on the community – and the supply chain as a whole.

“The largest misconception I see is that coffee is a readily available and cheap commodity,” he says. “I firmly believe that coffee is the most complicated beverage that we consume. By helping bridge the gap between producer and consumer, I hope to see more consciously-driven purchases on the consumer’s end, which will hopefully come back to my end goal of making sure that the producers who take care of their communities and Mother Earth are also seeing great success.”

At the end of the day, there is no coffee without the people who grow it.

“My greatest inspirations in life are those who have a deep understanding of how connected everything is. When you meet someone who truly understands how to work alongside Mother Nature, you can tell how much of an impact they have.”