Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy King.
Joy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was the host of a local restaurant TV show in Birmingham, AL called “Dining Out With Comedienne Joy” which featured local restaurants in metro Birmingham very similar to Food Network’s Triple D. I felt many of the locals needed a platform to promote their food. So I started blogging to airing on a local network. That led to people saying they wanted to eat where I eat. Fast forward three years later, a bus company approached me about using their party bus. I had never been on a party bus before but was good at putting compound words together to figure out what is was! I asked a friend about how to incorporate it in my TV show and he suggested instead of being inside a restaurant to put the restaurant on the party bus. I went live on facebook and my followers wanted to ride the party bus. That’s when the light bulb came on to offer food tours like most major cities so I could take them to my favorite local spots. That was the birth of the Eat.Drink.Ride Food Tours. I had a good following since I’d been performing clean comedy for the last 15 years. So guests have used the tour to celebrate their birthday, couples night, girls night out or a fun night eating from 5 different places in 4 hours on a luxury party bus. I’ve been hosting these tours and in January added the In Their Footsteps Civil Rights Tour and in March “the thing” happened….Covid19 which brought all of my businesses to a screeching halt! I hope to resume in July. Obviously, everything is very uncertain, but what is for sure is my phone ringing with people wanting to get out and have a little fun. So I have my k95 mask, face shield, hand sanitizer, cleaning solution & prayers so we’re all safe.
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?
Smooth—ahhh no! As a comedienne, I performed clean comedy, as a bus owner I curse!!! I love people who are cool with getting on the bus and visit my favorite restaurants versus those that are high maintenance and a food allergies. I am a meatarian, so don’t come expecting some gluten-free organic, grass-fed beet! If I am engaging with you and you’re laughing don’t ask me to tell you a joke! Don’t be ghetto on the food tour such as bringing in another restaurant inside where we’re eating. I can go on, but I will focus on some of the folks that have been 13 times and don’t care where we go & those that came to celebrate with someone else and they now want their party on the bus!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Eat Drink Ride Food Tour – what should we know?
I am the only African-American party bus food tour in the city of Birmingham. I specialize in food and adult beverages. So I can take you to places off the beaten path for some good eats to a boutique liquor store that carry African American wine. I am known for food and drink. I am most proud that people are calling me to ride on my bus during the middle of a pandemic. We are #SaferAtHome, but I will take your money! What sets me apart is I am able to take you on a night out on the town where you don’t worry about parking, where to sit and where you’re gonna eat. I tell my guests to book their ticket and get ready to have fun and I got the rest!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Prayer is the most important characteristic to any endeavor. You need prayer through the good and bad. Before every tour, I say a quick prayer. I tell people if you don’t want my prayer to take a knee, but it is going to happen. I pray for safe travels and over the food. I have faith that God will bring us back to their cars safely, even if we have mechanical failure on the bus. Trust me, I’ve had my share!
Pricing:
- $120 per person which includes food, drink and transportation
- Tips are always appreciated!
Contact Info:
- Address: P.O. Box 364
- Website: www.DiningOutWithComedienneJoy.com
- Phone: 2054826999
- Email: comediennejoy@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhameatdrinkride/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comediennejoy/?ref=settings
- Other: www.ExperienceBirminghamTours.com
Image Credit:
Coleton Phillips
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