Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Piper.
Jason, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
So, way back when Instagram was hitting its peak popularity, I was still the guy who was anti-social media, sure I had a facebook from college, but regarding activeness post bar scenes, formals and gamedays, I was not active. Throughout my adolescent and young adult life, my parents were heavily involved in the food scene in New Orleans and surrounding areas. They always made it a point to take me out to eat to experience the cuisine and service that is quantically, New Orleans.
From that, mixed with my own drive to be immersed in the food and social scene in New Orleans kept my pulse on the culinary scene in what many consider the “culinary capital of the world”. Friends, Family, etc would call or write asking me where to eat, where to go, whether it be date night, vacation, or a staycation, they would come to me for where to go. My wife eventually advised me that because I was involved and had a routine habit living out what many people would say was a more than average involvement in the food scene, advised I should start a blog. I hesitated due to the amount of work surrounding a blog and the extreme dedication, as well as I never and still have never considered myself an expert in the field (let alone had proper grammar).
We pivoted to starting a personal Instagram page for myself, which then I would be able to just show those who wished to take part in following along in my life, would perhaps take part and view some of the culinary and lifestyle scenes in my hometown. I still laugh today that my first post was a bag of peanuts and a scotch on a Delta flight…. few years later here we are. We transferred to ATL due to work into this (ATL) new metro hub, many times larger than my original hometown where it all began, cities that are true rivals even when it comes to football and persona, and yet many times more embraced here than we ever could have imagined.
Has it been a smooth road?
Moving from New Orleans to Atlanta is more complicated than anyone can understand. New Orleans is a neighborhood, small town big city feel. You either love it, and it captivates you, or you prefer not to associate.
Friends and family alike were skeptical, ATL? The sworn enemy? The Falcons? The Bulldogs? Won’t you miss the culture? The food? Mardi Gras? — Okay so maybe I miss seeing my Saints play, and sure Mardi Gras in Atlanta as well, lacking; sure there’s an attempt, but frankly what we (my wife and I) found there was a city that is from all walks of life, open and willing to converse and open their arms to us.
We stayed in three different complexes in 6 weeks time and had relatively truly started from scratch. but when the dust settled we winded up in quant and beautiful Decatur, GA and two years later are humbled to be apart of the foodie and lifestyle scene that is ATL.
This interview alone is beyond humbling given at the end of the day, I am just a guy who likes to eat and live life.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the @nolapartyof2 story. Tell us more about the business.
What am I known for? What are we known for? That is a tough question, I suppose I am known for being an Instagram foodie that has over time and more recently become more of a window into my life with my wife and our life and events that surround us.
What I am most proud of and at the same time what sets me apart from others is, what you see is what you get. My wife and I are natural travelers, foodies, and all around “on the go”, I know many people in the social media scene come with a stigma. staged, over dramatized portrayal, fantasy… etc.
But frankly, I believe my audience sticks around because we are genuinely just living our life one day at a time and sharing experiences encountered and that resonates with people. It shows when people you have never met or spoken to stop you on the street both in New Orleans and Atlanta to tell you hello and they have been following along and feel apart of your life.
It’s a very prideful feeling (as well as flattering). Especially when at the end of the day your just a guy posting pictures which may or may not be artistically creative and your wife secretly is editing your caption for standard grammar errors which are constantly plaguing my feed.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Social media is ever evolving, Instagram alone has changed its (Facebooks) algorithm several times over the course of a few years, some for the better – some for the worst. The demand of audiences drives much of the changes we see on a constant basis, you saw it with the new roll out of Instagram TV and other changes they consistently make.
We also must remember at the end of the day Social media is a business like any other and is and has successfully created nonstop content generation for business and products on a massively organic platform so Facebook, Instagram etc are constantly looking for ways to optimize engagement for its user while also trying to find ways to make the user experience better. Because of this, influencers and members alike consistently fight an uphill battle with engagement and trying to reach their audience.
The struggle of what audiences are looking for and how to maintain engagement rates and produce content that your followers will like is ever changing. At times it is truly difficult to appease an audience, but the main rule is to always maintain your voice and consistently represent it. If you do that, you will keep and maintain a loyal following. Pro Tip: Direct from my wife who is in the industry: always remember regarding photographs and content: “Pretty, with a purpose”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/nolapartyof2/
- Email: nolapartyof2@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolapartyof2/
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.
