We recently connected with Mz Jolie and have shared our conversation below.

Mz Jolie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about how you identified some of your key partners/vendors and how you made those relationships work?

I was asked to host a show for The Blueprint Cigar Lounge. I was told that if it went well, I would be asked to come back. The show did better than I had ever expected. It was a full house! I was asked to host shows every two weeks from that night. It has been a beautiful work relationship. This opportunity fell right into my lap like it was made for me. I couldn’t have asked for better. I have had the opportunity to see how my partner runs their business, and I have also learned so much about the cigar world! This opportunity allowed me to share poetry with all of Dallas, make connections with some beautiful souls along the way, and to do what I love! Essentially, this partnership allowed me to marry my purpose and my passion. I couldn’t be more greatful.

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

This whirlwind of a romance with poetry started from me doing a little self care. I realized that I was attending to everyone’s needs first before my own. Then I looked up one day and realized that I couldn’t remember the last time I did something just for me! So I said I love poetry, let me find a local spot to try. So Google brought me to a local poetry spot and I fell in love with the atmosphere, the energy I received from the crowd was amazing! I was stopped outside of the venue by a patron that asked me to come back! A fellow poet on the poetry team said my poetry was needed.

I asked the Executive Director if I could be their personal assistant which I did for a year and watched the ins and outs of the poetry world. I then began to tour all over Dallas at different poetry spots. I began to create shirts with my poetry on them. I then challenged myself to host shows, and that is where I was spotted and it created an opportunity to start hosting my own shows. I also got the opportunity to network with other artists doing the same thing and collaborate on different projects with them. This blessing has been a great opportunity to connect, engage, and be enlightened. The possibilities are endless

. I wanted a safe space for poets can go and be themselves, and where people can feel encouraged and empowered to do the same. One great take away from my brand is we are all about the community, and hopefully we can start by changing the poetry community and finish once we have changed the world. Some of the services that Jolieizm offers is Hosting events, featured performances, personalized clothing, personalized wine glasses and other crafts. Holding poetry workshops to teach others about poetry, being a personal mentor for poetry, being a brand ambassador for businesses. Modeling, as well as pen for hire with poetry and vows. All of which can be found on my website at www.JolieizmLLC.com I’m also on Twitter and Facebook as MzJoliethapoet. Ig is @Expressyselfopenmic!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Everything was great at first but then I noticed that numbers started to dwindle as we are still recovering from the pandemic. So I began to offer things that would make people dee more comfortable coming out like decreased numbers so no one would have to worry about it being super congested as we were transitioning to being fully open. Sanitizer at each table. Masks are welcome as always. Even a personal microphone protector for each individual artist to protect them as well. It was discouraging when I only had a handful of people in attendance. I was afraid because I know other places have had to close their doors because of the lack of support. My attitude was, even if it only is a handful of people they still deserve a great show. It was never about the numbers, but about the poetry, the connections we make, and the good times that we have.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I was a subcontractor driving for a living but I knew it wasn’t what I was supposed to do. I had to go to work by 4:00 am and it was a struggle being away from my children. The pandemic had just touched down and I was afraid of being around people, but I had to do it to provide for my children. Before leaving that opportunity I used some of the money to create my LLC for my business. I then slowly started to buy small things I would need to get my show off of the ground like a microphone, speaker, signs, and to be able to pay my features artists who I invite to come and perform. I didn’t realize how much things would add up and how long it would take to be able to turn a profit after taking care of paying for the venue, decorations for the show and so on. We are happy to announce our 1 year anniversary of having this open mic in Dallas, in the month of August, and I couldn’t be happier! I pray that I continue to grow as a business woman, as a person, as a host, and as a poet.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.JolieizmLLC.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/expressyaselfopenmic
• Facebook: MzJolie Thapoet
• Twitter: @mzjoliethapoet
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCbbM0m_JQu1POwiwI9WSTkA

Image Credits
April McShoot