We were lucky to catch up with Zephaniah Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Zephaniah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

In being a creative there are many times that we wish we knew what we know now sooner. For me being a creative has always been about understanding how to reach people and help them on their journeys. So I think it’s fair to say I wish I would have started sooner, but I couldn’t say sooner would be the right time. Over the years of performing, teaching, connecting and networking I have grown fond of the lessons learned and the experience gained from not starting sooner. It’s truly been a blessing to start honing in on the craft of building people through the arts, but that was only possible when I started Think All Be All Creative Arts Incubator.

Yes the journey is a tough one but a necessary one. The expense of starting sooner would have been different struggle, and the reward possible different successes. I challenge those who know that they truly aspire to be creatives to do everything on their path to learn and cultivate a hunger for success in 2 ways: 1) understanding that your success is crucial and growing as a person and become stable in the endeavor is life changing. And 2) understanding that there is power in your success story as other reach you for help or you choose to share your lesson (which I urge you to do).

Believe in yourself and in your abilities to create and love what you believe. If like me you believe in God, that is the where my faith sits shining quite bright, so everyday I understand the power of the lessons I learn. I think the right time is the time best decided by your ability to believe in your creativity. A sooner start won’t matter of the events don’t lins up to make it so, and starting later only matters if you don’t have a mindset to understand the purpose you intend to live out.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hey!

My name is Zephaniah Jones, but you can certainly call me Zeph Jones. I am the Owner Operator of Think All Be All, Creative Arts Incubator located in Montgomery, AL. The purpose of the incubator is to provide resources and create opportunities for creatives no matter the age or financial situation. We believe that everyone can succeed if they have the mind, heart, and resources to do so.

I am a musician that has performed in small, medium, and large ensembles. Primary studies in jazz forms, and world music and instrumentations. I’ve been in and led several bands over the years while cultivating the aims of an Incubator long before it existed. I studied at BTW Magnet H.S., Troy University for a Bachelor’s in Psychology (but really it was all music based), and re-attending for a Master’s in Management with a concentration in Leadership. All of that to say I like creativity and helping people get from point A to wherever else they’d like to go.

Through series of classes, practices, workshops, and performances we’ve trained musicians, vocalists, engineers, small business owners, hobbyist, children, and adults how to change their mindset and obtain or strengthen their skills in a creative art form. We primarily have worked in the surrounding Montgomery communities but that has not limited us to working in communities that are probably closer to you.

Thanks to the help of partnering organization and the communities themselves we’ve had the opportunity to present, consult, and project normalized avenues for creatives to learn, promote, share, and most of all have fun being a creative. As a member of the creative community myself it is within my purest intent to establish safe spaces and partnership to establish, normalize, and innovate creative communities where they would otherwise not exist.

A tough path but an exciting and well needed movement towards growth. If you’d like to know more or partner there are several ways to do so:

Email: thinkallbeall@gmail.com or taba.event@gmail.com

Follow Us: @thinkallbeall on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter

Website is under construction but our linktree has all the links above and more to get in contact

*** www.linktree.com/thinkallbeall ***

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In space where the creative art making isn’t taking place, it takes understanding it’s importance. This means not simply looking at other places and going I wish we had they, but finding out what you want in your community and giving it a try. For instance if there’s a lack of music in the community see who the musicians are and give them a space to regularly practice and perform.

I was able to do that for free and my community supplying whatever instrumentation I had and partnering with locations that were ready for that accessibility. In some spaces over 600 shows have been done all with the help of the creatives in the community.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being creative is the ability to share/preserve thought and ideas through an ever-changing and ever adapting medium. The opportunity for others to experience in their own perspective your relationship to that piece of art or music is an experience unlike any other. It’s truly an honor.

Contact Info: 

• Website: Www.linktree.com/thinkallbeall

Image Credits
Zephaniah Jones Terrell Jackson T Jackson’s Pro-Photography