We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Minshall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.
Jessica, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
Over 10 years ago when I decided to take my first steps (on stilts) I had no idea that it would lead to a business that employed over 30 people, scheduling hundreds of events a year, and hiring talent like balloon twisters and magicians along with fire breathing, walking and talking trees, and marching in parades all over Ohio. I had no intention of taking my stilts across the world with my best friends and driving large cargo vans full of costumes and equipment. In 2011 when I decided to take a chance and continue walking on stilts to street fairs and music festivals across Ohio one of the first events we were brought to for an agreed amount of $50 per person which was so great to receive. I went under the name Jessijem and the stilt brigade literally not knowing what to call the other 3 people that were joining me on our street fair walk-about. My contact came up to me and said “OMG, You all are giant and amazing!” I knew right then how suiting it would If we just started calling ourselves while on stilts, “The Amazing Giants” Every time we went anywhere no matter what, those words were spoken, ‘Amazing & Giant.’ Immediately we became recognized as stilt walkers under the name “The Amazing Giants” How perfect of a brand. Now that we have expanded not only to stilt walkers but all sorts of circus inspired entertainers I have branded our logo to say “The Amazing Giants Entertainment”. We do a lot more than stilt walking now, but The Amazing Giants are especially known for their talented and attractive stilt walkers and costumes!
Jessica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
It was all a unintentional entry into this industry. I have always loved to entertain, and music but never expected to be a circus style performer and business owner. I’ve always been creative and very hard working and I know those two things have pushed me a long the way. I bring accessibility of talents to producers of events, I bring a platform to performers, and creators, I push designers and ideas forward, I am driven to create successful events and translations for those that have ideas. I enjoy providing this platform for creatives to bring their talents to life. I love also performing and interacting with so many people on a daily basis. I believe consistency has brought us to where we are today, and doing a good job and remaining strong and determined even if others don’t always agree with what you do. I’m proud that we have continued to grow our Amazing Giants team and clientele over the years, and am proud to have established a good brand in the industry throughout the United States.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
When I started stilt walking I was working several jobs, had just finished schooling in social work sector, was managing 5 separate employers in the catering and mental healthcare sector and in a band. I remember taking calls standing in the back of house kitchen of a wedding guessing at how much it would cost to make an appearance for me to come in a circus costume “Oh yeah we have that look…..” on stilts, as I am wearing my server’s tie thinking um, I got to go to the store and figure something out! Taking a big breathe and just making it up as I go, yes this is she…. The make it up as I go along guessing game of managing a business.
I remember eliminating these jobs one by one because I kept making more commitments to performing and managing my budget where I could likely make more if I was doing what I love, what- how could IT be?
13 years later and a global pandemic shut down for over a year, The Amazing Giants have never been so busy and we continue to grow each year beyond 2020.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
“Never count your chickens before they hatch”. It’s an old statement, I think my grandma probably said it but it is so true. I don’t know how many times I have spent money that I thought was coming in, or made a promise to pay for something before I actually had the check cashed or money accounted for. You may think you are up, but then you get a thunderstorm that can take a way a weekend’s worth of planned income. When in the event industry money is spent on so many things (overhead) and then a client changes their mind on a theme, what you already bought and paid for something and didn’t get a deposit, or you shipped something you had a feeling would go through, but never did, or you end up paying for a damaged piece of equipment after you thought you cleared ‘x’amount. Basically I wait until the end of the month and mostly year to see where we really land. As a single member LLC I can only do so much, I have an accountant to help manage the flow of the profit and loss. Your chicken hatch when those statements are finalized at the end of the year, and it’s always good to understand what that says vs. your deposited checks and receipt piles throughout a very busy year.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theamazinggiants.com
- Instagram: @theamazinggiants
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theamazinggiants
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-minshall-708b08179/
- Twitter: amazinggiantsjem
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_T5mYhXMTm3gTBGaOicFew