Today we’d like to introduce you to Learical Jonez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started out writing rhymes in my bedroom in middle school. It was my way of journaling. I’ve always been a creative so the transition from writing rhymes to writing plays was pretty seamless. I moved to Atlanta from Indiana in 2005 because I had won all that I could win in my home state. My sister Jah mentioned that Atlanta had a huge poetry scene and it would be great if I moved here to try it out. So, I packed up my one suitcase and hopped on the greyhound shaking in my shelltoes. I was a nervous wreck because, here I am from this little small town – Fort Wayne, Indiana and I heard so many stories about how big and fast Atlanta was. My friends used to say, “Wouldn’t it be crazy if you got to Atlanta and started working at a radio station?” I would say, “Nah…not likely.” But that’s exactly what happened! I went to a temp agency, got positioned at V-103 for eight months and they liked my dimples so much, they hired me full-time…lol. I was there for nearly 15 years.
I was able to learn how to run events from some of the greats that worked there, such as Shelice Smith, Tara Thomas, Eugene Brooks and one of the best PD’s (Program Directors) known to mankind, Reggie Rouse. The knowledge that I learned from them, led me to building my own brand and events company. My business partner Shaun “Ticc Boom” Gentry and I have been able to produce 15 plays and a countless number of other events with the knowledge we’ve gained over the years. We are currently in the process of preparing for ‘Aunt Sarah’s Girls.’ It is an all female cast and we discuss things that African American women go through in society such as; depression, self esteem, abandonment, addiction, trust issues, rape & so much more. This production will happen on May 13th – mother’s day weekend. These stories are very near and dear to my heart because it tells the story of women who look like me. For that day, I would like to give women a sense of belonging, a sense of community. I want women to understand that they are not alone in their struggles. So I want them to come out and get some healing and have some fun with their tribe, their sisters.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Lol! Smooth? Honestly, if your journey is smooth you are doing something wrong. Your dreams are not big enough if your journey is smooth. There are always going to be obstacles in the road. But you have to remember that it is much bigger than you. You have to remember that your purpose is much bigger than the struggles you endure. For me, quitting is not an option. I owe it to my children and my family because they have sacrificed so much for me to continue to do what I do. But most importantly, I owe it to myself. Sometimes life gets in the way and you want to give up. One of the struggles I had was when my son’s father was murdered. That was definitely a turning point in my life. That’s when my struggles with mental illness came to the forefront but me being me, I kept going. But when Covid hit, I had to give in. I lost everything! I left V-103 in 2019 and decided to venture out and do my own thing. Well, as we know everything shut down during Covid. There were NO events happening. The part-time job that I did have, let everyone go because of the pandemic so that left me with an income of $0. So, car gone, house gone & mind gone. I had to move in with my friend which was a very humbling experience. That is when I decided to get a therapist. And that has helped me tremendously. But you know what, I would not change it for anything. What I went through has made me into the woman that I am today and the woman that I continue to grow into. Was it tough on me mentally, emotionally & physically? Of course, it was! I’ve had my share of health issues due to stress that almost took me out in 2020 but I am still here by the grace of GOD. I will continue to grow and tell my story to help other women who are doggy paddling in the ocean and they see no way out. All I can say is STOP sis. Drown for a little bit. GOD is going to resuscitate you and bring you back bigger and better than before. Just trust him. You got this…on purpose.
As you know, we’re big fans of Learical Jonez Productions. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Learical Jonez Productions is a production company healing souls one event at a time. We specialize in events. We produce events whether it is a small networking event, conference, theatrical production or music festival. Whatever it is, Shaun and I have the knowledge to give you what you are looking for. What sets us apart is our drive and our understanding of needing help but not having the proper resources or money to do what you want because we’ve been there and done that. We like to work with our clients to not only give them a sense of brand positioning but also creative solutions to fit their budget. I am most proud of the fanbase/family that we have created over the years. I am also most proud of the family that we’ve developed with the cast and crew members of each show that we’ve produced. Shaun and I pride ourselves on relationships with the people that have held us down for the last 11-12 years of us being a team. We don’t take the support lightly. I want whomever is reading this to know that you can do it. And if you can’t, we can help you achieve your event goals. We offer Event Management, Event Production, Event Logistics, Stage Management; we are your one stop shop. You can reach us at learicaljonez.com or lj@learicaljonez.com.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Frequent events as much as possible. Introduce yourself to EVERYONE! You never know who you are in the room with. Finding a mentor is very important. But in today’s society everyone wants that buck. So you can see someone that you want to be your mentor and the next email is them stating you need about 10K to work with them. It has happened to me more times than a little bit. All I can say is do not break yourself trying find you a mentor because you can put yourself in a worse situation that you were before. Because in all actuality, if you are starting out or searching for a mentor, more than likely you are looking to make more money than you are making right now. Look for a mentor but if it does not happen for you…READ! Get their books. Read on how they did it. Apply what they did. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel henney…they wrote the book for a reason. Follow their steps. There will be a mentor that comes a long that wants to see you do well without breaking your bank.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.learicaljonez.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelearicaljonez
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/learicalljegjonez
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/learijonez
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/learicaljonez
- Other: www.tiktok.com/learicaljonez
