Meet Josh Jackson of J. Jackson: Mobile Mixologist

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Jackson.

Hi Josh, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The business started as a silly little experiment I would do in my kitchen where I would Play around with making coffee and booze combinations to share with my friends. It became clear over time that I did not really know what I was doing. I would later come across a helpful Self Help Ceres by Earl Nightingale and I was challenged to stop what I was trying to do instead to just become a student of bartending and cocktail creation. In the process, I discovered the concept of private bartending and got really named with the idea of starting a side hustle for myself or I would bartend for small parties. From 2012 to about 2014, I did just that, and if an event required more than just myself, I would recruit some friends, teach them a few things and we would go and bartend weddings or whatever.

By 2015, I was starting to get recommended to Barton weddings that had more higher-end vendors and planners, who would then recommend me to others. It was becoming clear that this was starting to go from side hustle territory into an actual business. I started to see hockey stick growth from 2015 to 2019 comment where I was finally able to bring on some proper partners and support staff.

Because I spent a lot of time honing my ability to create value for clients as well as vendors and people that work for me, I was able to attract some real talent which then helped me go from a humble business to something that is doing some really big things in middle Tennessee. I’ve gone from doing about 12 to 14 events a year in 2012 to 30 plus events a month in 2021, and it’s all thanks to the talented people I’ve been able to attract to the company.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a very difficult path. Being a self-employed entrepreneur for a small business, especially one that was performing a service that most people were not at all thinking about in 2012, is lonely at times. In order to grow, I needed to find valuable partners that I can delegate to, and finding like-minded motivated people took me a decade to accomplish.

Some of the people I trusted to help carry the load actually betrayed me even. And of course, I’ve made many mistakes and tried experiments that didn’t pan out or even cost me in the long term.

As you know, we’re big fans of J. Jackson: Mobile Mixologist. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are an events bartending service providing a wide range of libations experiences for middle Tennessee. We tend bar for any range of events, design original cocktails for clients, provide educational experiences like mixology lessons and whiskey tastings, and even manage the bar as an outsourced service for nonprofits.

What sets us apart from the pack is ultimately our thorough fun, honest and easy way in which we take care of our clients. We are often told how refreshing it is to work with us.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Yes. Just remember that all successful businesses are only successful because they SOLVE A PROBLEM. If you are not attracting clients, ask yourself if your communication or messaging or process or execution is actually causing more problems than they are solving. The more people you truly serve, the more successful you will be.

However, this is also true for every stakeholder you touch, not just your clients. You need to provide value for your workers, fellow vendors and your community as well. One at the expense of the other will be destructive in the long run.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Jjacksonmobilemixologist.com
• Instagram: Jjacksonmobilemixologist

Image Credits
Courtney Davidson CourtneyDavidsonWeddings.com