We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jake Jansing a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jake, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
I’m from a family that has always been very business-oriented. My mother is an accountant and small business owner, while my brother works in commercial real estate. When I decided to attend film school and pursue a career in entertainment, I was the first in the family to break from the business-oriented career path.
When I made that decision, my mom could have been hesitant and skeptical, and yet she was entirely supportive. While my family did not have a background in the entertainment industry, my mother knew that she raised me with the work ethic and determination to accomplish my wildest dreams.
When I said I wanted to go to film school, instead of saying that career path was impossible, my mother set me up with the guidance I needed. My mom made sure I found the right schools, she made sure I focused on networking, she made sure I had the proper tools for success.
My advice to parents would simply be to take a note from my mother. If your child tells you they want to pursue entertainment, tell them it is a difficult road, tell them it takes years of dedication and persistence, but never tell them its impossible.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
When I was 9 years old, I launched what became my life-long brand. My brand started as ‘Jocosus Comedy,’ an online community for comedians and entertainers. ‘Jocosus Comedy’ then became ‘Jocosus All Access,’ a digital outlet for event reviews. I now operate ‘Jocosus Media,’ which is an influencer marketing and PR company.
As a comedian, I am my own business. I write material, I perform that material, and I do my own marketing. The skills that I need as a comedian are the same skills I have acquired from my years building and expanding my brand.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is having the opportunity to help small business owners and entertainers grow their brand by utilizing my experience. I especially love influencer marketing because I have both the business background, and experience as a comedian to help negotiate deals that are beneficial to both sides.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
For years, I would simply post random content and hope for the best (it never worked). Then I realized I was approaching it at the wrong angle; I had to see myself as a business. What do businesses do to reach new customers? Advertisements. I decided to start posting videos of me performing on stage and boosting those posts specifically to people in my age group that had an interest in comedy.
Social media has allowed us to reach very niche audiences and I believe every creator should be using every tool available to them. While it may seem awkward or weird to use a performance video as an advertisement, that is an easy way to reach potential fans directly.
My in-person strategy for social media growth has always been social media business cards. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always carried cards with me that list my top social media platforms. Right now, I always carry a stack of cards with my Instagram handle and when I meet new people, I have something to hand them and leave a lasting impression. Now, not only will I gain the people I meet as new followers, but maybe they take that card home, or they take it to work and someone asks about it and I gain even more brand exposure.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Someone I have always admired is Michael Moore. The first time I saw a Michael Moore documentary was in high school and it changed my whole view of documentaries. It may seem odd that a documentarian inspires me as a comedian, but that is the true power of Michael Moore. The lessons of critical thinking and holding people in power accountable for their actions are invaluable. My world-view is expanded every time I watch a Michael Moore project and the information I gain helps me as a comedian, as a leader, and as a person in general. I would highly recommend Michael Moore documentaries to anyone, especially Gen Z, because I believe the spirit of innovation and revolution in Gen Z will one day change the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jocosusmedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jake.jansing
Image Credits
Cameron McLeod