Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Jackson.
Nathan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I first started my journey, because my sister in law had a musical gift and needed access to a studio. I then created a studio because I believed in her gift and her passion just as much as she did. I started learning the “sound” aspect of the studio while just messing around and watching videos to learn more. While becoming more interested in sound, I attended many concerts and church services where music played a vital role. The artists and the pastor’s number one concern was sound. It just had to be right or it disturbed the entire atmosphere during their ministry. So, I then began to work the soundboard at my home church: Faith Deliverance Christian Church in Morrow, GA under the leadership of Apostle Jackson. I wanted to learn more and apply what I was already learning. So, as I read more and watched YouTube videos, I became more knowledgeable about how the music and the sound worked hand in hand and how they are a vital part of a production. There is so much more to sound than just turning the board on and sliding the lever to adjust the volume. Things like pitch, frequencies, the user and most importantly the equipment, all play an important role. Once I had sound down packed, I started marketing myself and building relationships with other church ministries to offer my services to improve their sound. “Word of mouth”, placed me in venues that I never imagined being in.
Humbled by it all, I established relationships and began contracting for businesses and meeting new people that introduced me to the “concert” industry. The lights caught my eyes every time, and I wanted to know more. I went back to YouTube and asked a million questions while on the set at concerts. Lights had become popular in the churches, so now, I had another service to sell. Lighting was also popular at weddings and personal events. Anywhere there was music or a celebration there was sound and lights, and I knew that this was what I wanted to do. While working a full-time job, I pursued this career of contract work on my off-days; sometimes calling in :). It all paid off. I have been doing this full time for a little over two years, and God has really blessed my family and my business tremendously. I’ve established many relationships and business is going good.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This has definitely not been a smooth process, but the bumps have all been lessons. I had to start and stop on many parts of this venture, just trying to find what my niche was. I struggled with being my “only” employee which kept me away from my personal life. Another challenge was that I struggled with making sure that I had all the right resources, being that I was self- taught, and there is always new technology when it comes to sound, and new equipment comes out all the time, so I established relationships with one vendor in particular: Guitar Center. They helped me tremendously. Lastly, I didn’t have a mentor at first, to show me the ropes of owning my own business. But through the challenges my faith in the plan and promises that God had revealed to me has gotten me to where I am today. I now have employee(s), several mentors, and I am a preferred vendor for several event planners. As I grow, I always remember that “if it doesn’t challenge you it won’t change you” -unknown
RAW Sound and Lighting, LLC. – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I own a sound & lighting company called RAW Sound and Lighting, LLC. We specialize in sound & lighting. We provide services for events that range from small parties, corporate events, weddings, church services, and even large concerts with over thousands of attendees.
I provide lighting for these events, sound engineering services, and I diagnose and install sound systems. I also provide consultations for upgrades of equipment that are needed for any event(shows) and church sanctuaries. I am often proud of the feedback that I receive from my clients. They love the personable service and often compliment me for “performing the job for their businesses as if it was my own”. This goes a long way and keeps my business afloat. Though lighting is not a large industry, sound is, and There are several competitors in this industry but usually, they only provide either sound or lighting, we provide both along with many other services that will complement the work that we perform. Besides decor, I am a one-stop-shop for your event between my partners and I.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career is getting my first contract for my uplighting service. Because the lighting industry is so small and being brand new, it was hard to get a contract because businesses usually use the same person every year to perform the same services. So, getting my first contract so soon was a major accomplishment for me.
Pricing:
- Wedding packages starting at @$250 including 10 uplights and 2 cake pin lights
- Sound consultations starting at $75
- 10% discount to any first-time customers
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rawsoundandlighting.com
- Phone: 678-630-1056
- Email: rawsoundandlighting@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawsoundandlighting/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R.A.W.soundandlighting/
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