We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Josh Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Josh, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
I love talking about my parents, they are an example of what it is to bet on yourself. Two thing comes to mind immediately. First, my mom was willing to be unconventional. At 27, divorced, with two kids she pursued a life she wanted. She met my pops, moved me and my brother to the Philadelphia area, and got married. It may be the one decision that I can without question changed the trajectory of my life.
Similarly my Pops modeled the entrepreneurial spirit. Some of my best memories are in the back of his red 1994 Honda Civic as he drove to studio sessions, release parties, and book signings. My pops was. Never the front man but always felt like the most important person in the running. The one booking the space, gathering the crowd, raising the funds. I’ve modeled much of my approach to The County Jawn off of those early experiences. From the priority I place on building an authentic connection with THE PEEEOPLE (the loyal County Jawn customers) to my artistic centric approach, Rodney Smith’s work with Alifia Records, Grace For Gods People, and his approach to fatherhood is undoubtedly the foundation I’ve been able to build on.
Josh, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I entered the field of concert curation as a point of pivot on my life. I was turning 30, newly divorced, and grieving the death of my best friend. I was working at a mental health therapist while struggling to keep my head above the waves of grief and depression that the season was bringing. In a point of desperation I sat down and made a list if the things I wanted to accomplish that would help me feel like myself again. Like may makes divorcees I got a motorcycle and like the more adventurous ones I sky dived, but those were the easy things on the list. For nearly 10 years I wanted to host an event in The County (Delaware County) and away from the usual Philadelphia spots.
In June of 2022 we launched our first concert at a small 75 person venue. To my surprise we sold out. What started out as a list item became proof of concept. After surveying the crowded I learned I wasn’t the only person who yearned for a safe environment where I could have fun, listen to great music, and feel like a part of a community. The first pain point we met was creating a safe, easily accessible space for people to be introduced to independent artists.
Shortly into the process of curating shows I realized it wasn’t enough to simply put together a show, we had to make people care about the artist we were hosting. To that end we create high quality promotional materials that not only serve to build anticipation for the show but serve artist long after their performance. From short music promos and podcasts to full concert footage The County Jawns creates materials that artists can use to effectively market themselves long after they work with us.
Long story short, we introduce artists to their audience and audiences to their new favorite artist.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
For anything to thrive it needs resources. I think the thing society can do to best support creatives is be mindful of the art that we consume. We are constantly being entertained and stimulated. Whether it’s the latest release from our favorite musicians, the YouTube holes you fall in, or watching Netflix until it checks for out pulse we are constantly consuming. How often do we take time to think about how our resources (time, attention, money) are being used? As creatives we are competing with corporate machines to make our livelihood. So every share, like, comment, and stream matters. Also, every dollar spent in and with us matters. Streaming is more convenient but trying buying the album directly from the musician; target has great decor, but there are artists that can provide you more sustainable art. Your spending shows your convictions.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The great poet Robert Rimeek Williams once emphatically said “scared money don’t make no money.” Society taught me to be conventional, get a degree, get a job, be stable. And in a lot of ways that’s a great lesson because it has provided an income that has helped me expand my creative practice. But something’s in life aren’t conventional. Somethings you have to take risks on. After the success of the second County Jawn, I knew in order to have the impact we wanted we’d have to move to a bigger venue. My Pops found and showed me Ardmore Music Hall and immediately I thought I couldn’t afford it. And I was right, the last three shows have been no small hurdle financially. However, dreaming big requires real risks in reality. The product that we create now is not because we suddenly made a lot of money and invested. I bet on my vision. With the help of my pops and my team we’re consistently improving and growing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thecountyjawn.com/
- Instagram: @Thecountyjawn @smithxjosh
- Youtube: @thecountyjawn
Image Credits
Azella Gardens