Today we’d like to introduce you to Joelle Platt
Hi Joelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2020, we moved from Nashville to Franklin and were lucky enough to purchase a home that had some land. I have always loved birds and have owned parrots before, and even rehabilitated wild birds, but I never had chickens. Once we were moved in, I connected with a friend of mine who lives very close and she had chickens and I immediately fell in love with them, and I wanted to get them as well. It wasn’t until spring of 2021 however that, as an anniversary present from my husband, I got my first 6 chickens from a local hatchery. I immediately noticed how each chicken had their own personality and also how truly hilarious they were. I started filming them here and there, mostly to just share with friends and family. In summer of 2022, I developed some health issues & was having bouts of vertigo every three to four days, so I was unable to do much except be still and could only really focus on things close up, like my phone. I had joined TikTok & Instagram, and on TikTok, I had seen a cute and funny video of someone having a tea party with their chickens. I started looking for more videos like that, and eventually decided to try and make my own videos to post. I didn’t really know what I was doing at first, but caught on pretty quickly, started getting better at editing, finding trending and funny sounds and ideas. My page started to grow on TikTok. Then, I did a “series” that I called “Chicken Crimes” where I used the Law & Order Theme song and showed the “Crimes my Chickens Committed this week” which included things like “breaking and entering” “theft” “destruction of property” and “disturbing the peace”. This series ended up going pretty viral on TikTok and then on Instagram, I went from 200 followers to over 30,000 in just one week! Ever since then, my social media pages have grown rapidly. I added Facebook & Youtube as well. I now have well over a million followers combined on all of these platforms. I have been lucky enough to also do deals with brands and companies. I also began collaborating with a well known Instagram star (Edigar Silva) in Brasil who does voiceovers and he has been voicing some of my chickens calling out names. This has been very viral and landed my chickens on the Television show “The View” twice! Most recently, I have launched a website that is my store where I have original Chicken Happy Hour merchandise for purchase,
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not always a smooth road! Starting a business is hard work, as many know. I made the choice to make Chicken Happy Hour a business when I saw it was taking off, I wanted to take all the right actions to make sure it was secure and protected. This process has not always been easy, and it has been costly at times too. Also, due to the volatile nature of social media, I have had to deal with a lot of people trying to impersonate me and/or take my videos and say that they are theirs. Having them removed is sometimes not an easy process. In terms of creating, that seems to come pretty naturally to me now as I have been doing this for a while but sometimes I definitely get ‘blocked’ on ideas, and knowing what to post (I post 1-3 videos daily on every platform). In regards to the animals, they are the main stars (sometimes I appear in the videos too but the focus is definitely on them!). And sometimes they are ill or something happens, and it is definitely stressful because, above everything else, I care about my chickens and their health and wellbeing first and foremost.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I actually started out wanting to be a professional singer/recording artist, that is why I am here in Tennessee. I graduated from Berklee College of Music and from there have lived all over the country, ending up here where I have been now for 16 years. Since living here, I have worked with many great musicians and producers doing recordings, performing, etc. I even was a vocal coach for many years as well. In terms of singing, now I am part of a duo called Stereo Angels, I also still do session work. My day job, I work for a local Tax Management firm where I have been for over three years and love that as well. I’d say what sets me apart from others is probably just that I wear so many unexpected hats!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mom has always been my number one supporter with everything I do, and still is! My husband and my kids have also been very supportive and help make everything possible. My family and close friends have all been my biggest cheerleaders. Also, my best friend Dana Robinson who is a lawyer, became my lawyer and has been helping me navigate so many things involving my business and getting it off the ground. My team at my day job, I credit them for giving me the stability and support to be able to pursue my own business venture. Also, my dear friend Rick Stevens has been instrumental in helping me with my business in SO many ways. One of those was connecting me with my merch company Flagship Apparel, who I partnered with to sell my merchandise, and who I am so grateful for as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chickenhappyhour.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chickenhappyhour
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChickenHappyHour
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChickenHappyHour
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chickenhappyhour?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
