We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rob Jimison. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rob below.

Alright, Rob thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission behind Righteous Retro was to make NEW memories and build community by sharing retro memories as the icebreaker. Locally, the culture (and counterculture) of Austin has been threatened, reduced, and forced to relocate for several years. Growth to a city isn’t all bad. But at the same time, people used to move here because it was traditionally a sanctuary for individuals and weirdos. It doesn’t help that this country has become so divided over the years too. My mission is meaningful to me because I know it’s possible for Austin to keep its identity and we can all have a good time together because we can all find something in common.

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.

I use the name Righteous Retro for all of my events. It’s best known for retro pop-up markets and concerts that include retro pop-ups.

People can always find unique retro/vintage items like physical media (vinyl/vhs), clothing, and posters at the markets. When I DJ an event, I play 20th century music across a lot of genres (both underground and mainstream) since I’m a music lover. The BYOvinyl events are a lot of fun too because people make a lot of new friends.

Righteous Retro is my hobby and side gig, but it’s like the culmination of all the hobbies and even artistic careers that I’ve ever dabbled in my adult life. I ran a company called Rockin’ Bones (Video and later Clothing) 2001-2018, where I did some booking, promoting, and even sound for my own events. Regarding the pop-up markets, my involvement with Austin VHS Swap is what inspired me to take Righteous Retro out of my backyard in 2020. Originally, Righteous Retro was my neighborhood block party, but AVS was an event series that I helped put on with my vhs friends.

What sets Righteous Retro events apart from comparable ones is that it feels like a house party, which makes sense given the origin.

People who are new in town have told me that they made some of their first friends outside of work at the events. Others have shared that it was the catalyst for reconnecting with old friends.

I’m most proud of the fact that people are starting to say “it feels like Austin again” after doing this for four years.

I want everyone to know that you can make an impact in your community and retain some culture too, but you can’t let money prioritize integrity. That seemed to be a lesson that a lot of us learned in the 90s, but forgot along the way.

Any advice for managing a team?

Emotional intelligence and work ethic are important. You need to listen to everyone and use empathy, but know your boundaries. Leave your ego at the door. If someone takes me seriously, it’s because I get my hands dirty. I help musicians and vendors load their equipment. I ask everyone (whether we’ve met or not) if they’re having a good time like they’re at my house.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I make every event count. I’ve had a few that were purely favors for venues and booked at the last minute with lower attendance. But the impression that the few had travelled by word of mouth and ultimately lead to new venues through their networks. It stems from my diy punk roots that I learned decades ago.

I really appreciate Canvas Rebel taking the time to share everyone’s stories and contributing to the community.

Contact Info:

• Website: righteousretro.com
• Instagram: @righteousretro
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/righteousretro