Today we’d like to introduce you to Jarrod Watts.
Jarrod, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I guess you can say it all begin when I was about 13. The last two weeks of 8th grade at McNair middle school, I got into some trouble that caused me to spend my first semester of ninth grade at DeKalb alternative school. Which was my second time going (first time in 7th grade)? While in history class, I noticed the morning news on a daily on the TVs in the school. So, I asked how I could join the broadcast class and next thing you know I was doing the morning news, creating documentaries, and so much more. I instantly fell in love with the craft. I then began Mcnair High School on Bouldercrest Rd the second semester of my freshman year. Once my sophomore year rolled around I was in English class and the teacher just so happens to be the yearbook advisor. I then became the editor in chief of the yearbook staff for the next three years. I was every game/event and was involved in a plethora of organizations which resulted in me being voted most involved for senior superlatives. I also was an editor for the school’s newspaper as well. Any club I joined I was immediately put into a media or public relations position. I was somewhat of a go-getter and leader which is where the name “BossMan” originated from. Two friends of mine, Lorenzo and Deonzo were 6’6 and 6’7 and I’m 5’9. It would always be the three of us anywhere we go. So, their mom and entire family started calling me BossMan because they said wherever I tell them to go or tell them to do they do it. So, it was history.
After graduating high school, I attended the illustrious HBCU known as Savannah State University and earned a bachelors degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Audio/Video Production. My freshman year we had a whole show for the mass communications department named “Tiger Talk” with some of the campuses top go-getters on the show. I had a segment on the show called billboard breakdown where we rated all the latest underground and mainstream music. The director of the program end up leaving the very next year, so the momentum of the program went downhill. I lost focus on the real purpose I was school because there was no platform to showcase the mass comm students work. So, I joined a modeling organization “Nubian Elite Council of Fashion that helps mold me a great deal. There were always issues with the executive board and getting tasks done so I stepped and started created little flyers for our shows and eventually begin to get better and better, self-teaching myself how to use photoshop since our department was lacking at the moment. Eventually, I became the director of public relations for several on-campus organizations. I then said hey, why don’t I start a company. So, I named it BossMan Graphics, to look back at some of my original work I have come a long way, a very long way.
Moreover, between 2010 – 2015 everything seemed ok to me, but I would always see other students posting videos online or doing personal projects and I would say “this is trash, I know I can do better” but didn’t have the momentum or motivation to do so because I thought to myself, who is going to see this, what’s the point if I have no platform to showcase my work, it pointless. The very next semester (Spring 2015), I lot my job and had to sit out semester from school (which felt like a year), and was going through a bad breakup. I was devastated, depressed, you name it. Ended up getting blessed to get into summer school, and would see my business partner Nandi Conteh on a daily, and we were both fed up with the department. She wanted a talk show and I wanted a production company where we provide video, photography, event hosting and promotion, and so much more to the student body organizations. We ended up naming the organization ‘The Juice Live” because the Juice is a word that means so many things, one, in particular, is respect, or clout. The media organization “The Juice Live” was created to promote campus activity, HBCU culture, and school spirit since that’s normally not showcased about HBCU’s. The organization was also created to provide real word opportunities to the students to help build their resumes up to be more attractive in their respective fields upon graduation because most students don’t get jobs after graduation because they have no experience.
It was just the two of us with a camera and we took the campus by storm and have had over 80 members over the course of the last three and a half years. Students have gone on to work for epic records, streets 94.5 and many other notable companies simply for having The Juice Live on their resumes. It blows my mind how ahead of time we were, we were running the organization the same way live productions are run without knowing it. So, we would go out cover most events to the point the campus expected us to be at events, we even started hosting every home basketball game, and would air an episode every two weeks/month. Within the midst of all of this, I changed my company named BossMan Media because I did not want to limit myself to only graphics. I was able to do videography, graphic design, and photography it all came so naturally to me. So, while being a full-time student, working full time, running my business, I was also running a team of 30+ with The Juice Live and still modeled. I loved every bit of it and motivating the younger students in the org to keep going and be the best they can be.
By the time summer 2016 had approached, we had made a big name not only on campus but in the city of Savannah and amongst other HBCU’s and even build a partnership with HBCU pride nation, yardtalk101, and the AUC Cam. Graduation for me was approaching December 2016 and I had yet to obtain an internship and I always doubted myself and til this day, and believing that I wasn’t good enough or smart enough because I didn’t have scholarships or the gap that the next student boasted about. I obtained an internship at Streetz 94.5 Radio station, and one at wolf creek amphitheater (before live nation took over). While doing both internships that summer, I was also taking four online classes so I could graduate and working a full-time job every single day and the engine on my car blew out so it was hard getting to all the places on the Marta bus. All I can say is God is good! I knocked it out the park shined at both internships learned so much went on many video shoots with streetz 94.5 producers, and engineers. Gained professional camera skills and production assistant skills and more at wolf creek amphitheater. I even got hired on after my internship. December quickly approached and the one thing everyone asked me was what are you going to do next, where are you going to work, I had no idea, lol.
So, I started telling people I was going to work in the stadium production department at the Mercedes Benz Stadium since it opened up the next year in 2017. I did not know how this was going to happen but long story short it did. I spoke it into existence. January 2017, started working a call center was miserable and gave myself 6months to get into my field, on the 7th month get an email that the stadium just opened up positions, mind you I applied in January but didn’t know they weren’t open because football season starts in August. After getting the email, I applied to 25 positions in the department because I knew they would see my name and I could do every position. Just wanted to get my foot in the door. A week in a half later, I had an interview and secured my first entry-level position in the production filed. I then went on to be employed by GPB Sports during high school football season every year, GWCC and a few hotels doing corporate audio/video setup. I had the opportunity to be crewed as Production Assistant for an Essence Festival 2018 commercial Summer 2018. I even tried to get in with the hawks and sent an email in October 2017. I did not get a reply back until July 2018. So, patience is key, I end up getting a position in event production at State Farm Arena with the Hawks as well. So, through it all, I had accumulated over six places of employment but three places I could retire from.
Mercedes Benz Stadium – Falcons/Atlanta United – Camera Grip
GPB Sports – Camera Grip
State Farm Arena – Hawks – Camera Grip
Right after getting the job with State Farm arena, I was involved in a very bad car accident. Just a few days before the Hawks opening night which was going to be my first day, and on top of that my favorite artist Future was performing half time and I was going to be right there next to him. A guy hit me head on totaled my car, killed my dog, and fractured my ankle bone down the middle and caused me a mild concussion. I wasn’t supposed to make it out but other drivers helped pulled me out. I still don’t remember the accident. I couldnt walk for two months. I found out I have no friends, I questioned why God allowed that to happen and I felt like I was doing everything right, being a stand-up guy, but Oh man, God had so much more. I couldn’t even get my self in the shower on my own, it was very bad. And my emotions got the best of me. I honestly tear up watching the Falcons and Hawks games from home because I was so used to being at the games and working, that’s when. Realized I can’t stay down this is my passion, I have to go harder and try to get better. GPB Sports let me come to work and be on light duty after the first two months then I was back at the stadium and State Farm arena before you knew it. Everyone showed so much fake love but I can see right through it. As if I see the bigger picture. I had gotten in tunnel vision and was focused because no one was there for my near-death experience the way I thought they would, the same way in there for everyone else with their hand out. I reflected a lot and got my mojo back going. Every day, I was at work I was happy. Through it all, I said I have to go harder, and I start seeing building spaces that say for sale or for rent and I’m like hey I pay rent now, all I need are the extra funds. Even though I started my business in 2013 in college, I never paid for it to be registered under the secretary of state because I was just uninformed. So, I finally registered my business under the secretary of state as BossMan Media INC., because everything I do is always bigger than me.
Right when I did that, my dad got me another car from the auction so I could get around because some days, I would ride uber and some the bus and it was taking a toll on my ankle and I hated asking for help and rides because people would always make me feel like a burden when I have done the impossible for the same ones I’m asking for help. So, I feel like with my vision my business will be more than what I can see now which is why its INC not LLC. With those same thoughts, I went on to establish a second chapter of The Juice Live in the AUC at Clark Atlanta University and being crewed for BET Super Bowl Gospel Show, ESPN 3 – Celebrity Flag Football Championship, Bet Social Awards, went from Camera Grip with GPB to Parabolic operator, was crewed for Moto America , and a UFC that was recently in Atlanta and I just finished working BET Sunday’s best season 9 which will air June 30th. Through all of this, I saw what God was doing he was opening doors for me that no one could close, and the accident started making sense, I went from a totaled vehicle to now owning two vehicles that are both paid for (no car note) and I now have an EIN # for BossMan Media and plan to open a studio similar to cam kirk studios. Or media production studios (but of course, with the touch of a BOSS, lol) by Summer 2020.
My current studio is being run from my home office in Lithonia near Panola Rd. I’m currently enrolled at Full Sail University obtaining a Masters of Fine Arts in Media Design online and will be walking across the stage, December 2019. With everything I have accomplished so far, I have barely. Scratched the surface with all that God will have me doing. I recently received a promotion at the Mercedes Benz stadium, went from camera grip to Video Engineer Assistant. Lastly, I have been selected as the Overcoming Man of the Year at First Iconium Baptist Church and will be recognized by the Concerned Black Clergy at a Salute to Black Men banquet on Friday,
June 14, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. The banquet is being held at the New Friendship Baptist Church, located 80 Walnut Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30314. And on Fathers Day 6/16/19 at First Iconium Baptist Church, I will be honored again at the 10:45 am service.
I am also a mentor/member of the 100 Black Men of Dekalb County who has also instilled so much into me over the years from high school to know which is why I’m involved with the students so much.
“It’s a Dog eat Dog in this industry so make sure you’re hungry because everybody is trying to eat.” -BossMan Media
Please tell us about BossMan Media INC., & The Juice Live.
BossMan Media INC. is a company that provides photography, videography, and a multitude of Graphic Design Services. It is a pleasure to be a one-stop-shop/media connection for our clients. There’s no need to go to one company for photos, another for a promo video and then another to get a flyer made. With BossMan Media INC., we pride ourselves in being able to specialize in all aspects of media and being connected in the production industry to be able to connect our clients to any mediums of the medium. Which is why our slogan is: “Your Media Connection.”
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from my childhood would have to be spending time with my aunt Tierra, who passed away when I was 11. I, her and my brother Juan have the best memories.
Pricing:
- Photography Services start at $85
- Videography Services start at $95
- Graphic Design Services start at $65
- Security deposit must be paid to secure booking date, and a security deposit will go towards total balance
- contract must be digitally signed and returned with security deposit before services can begin
- Consultation Fee is $20
Contact Info:
- Phone: 4046430733
- Email: bookbossmanmedia@gmail.com
- Instagram: bossmanmedia
- Facebook: bossmanmedia
- Other: Youtube: BossMan Media
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
