Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Buzian.
Jack, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my business in 2018 after moving from the Bay Area to San Diego in order to attend San Diego State University. Prior to relocating, I spent much of high school and early college writing, managing and performing with with my band at the time. Though music has been – and likely will always remain – my biggest passion, the managerial experience opened my eyes to the world of event planning and helped me gain an understanding of the careful coordination that goes into every successful event. This skill set was highly beneficial when I entered the world of photo booth operation in early 2017. I was given the opportunity to work as a photo booth operator in San Francisco for Fun Frame Photo. By the time I arrived in San Diego a year later, I was highly confident in my abilities and decided to begin my own business.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Some of the most standout obstacles I’ve faced stem from balancing work and school. Growing a business while also attending school has certainly been a challenging experience, as both require large quantities of time, energy and patience to fully reap the benefits. At times, my class schedule can conflict with job opportunities; limiting my ability to offer service to every interested client. Conversely, having multiple weekend bookings is great for expanding my business, but severely impacts my ability to prepare for the exams, essays and projects that are almost always due at the start of the week. I’ve yet to find a truly “perfect” solution to this conundrum other than maximizing my productivity in both areas and utilizing my free time as efficiently as possible.
Additionally, remaining competitive with more well-established photo booth businesses around the area has been a challenge within itself. Starting out, I wasn’t able to offer the same high-end equipment that many in the industry provided. Slowly, however, I’ve been able to make upgrades as needed and put together what I feel confident is a high-quality photo booth experience. I’m proud of the work it has taken to achieve this feat and the fact I can now offer my clients a product I know they’ll be satisfied with.
Please tell us about your business.
I generally explain my business as specialized in providing photographic entertainment. Main Stage Photo Booth isn’t a typical photography company, and we don’t claim to be either. Whether it is the diverse array of props guests decorate themselves with while stepping up to the camera, the instantaneous access to photos made possible through on-site text, email and print capabilities, or any number of our additional party enhancing services (such as an 8 square ft. LED enclosure), our service is ultimately focused on physically creating an atmosphere of fun within itself. While many companies claim similar desires, success in attaining this goal is largely dependent on who is providing the service.
When I work an event, I engage with every person who walks up to the booth and build rapport with all who are willing. Many of my clients note my enthusiastic disposition as a highlight of their experience and I take great pride in this accolade. The boundaries of a business relationship are pertinent and should not be crossed, but providing an energy that matches the upbeat, celebratory environment of an event is every bit as important to me. I’m certainly not the first entrepreneur with this mindset, but I do my absolute best to retain a level of buoyancy with anyone and everyone in both my professional and personal lives.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is a very broad term to me and my personal definition of success became solidified during my years of playing in a band. While my experience with music wasn’t altogether the most monetarily lucrative venture, I learned the fulfillment of creating something that others enjoy and find value in. Just before I turned 21, my band did a tour throughout the West Coast and played a night at Hi-Fi Music Hall in Eugene, Oregon. It was the first time I ever played to a crowd of over 50 people within another state (500 miles from home) and had fans come up to me explaining how they not only knew our music, but loved it and were excited to meet the band. Words can’t describe feelings like this. That’s success to me. It’s a feeling that really can’t be achieved without passion, hard work and a strong determination to constantly improve my craft. These are the same standards I apply to my photo booth business. Though I don’t know exactly what the future holds for my business, I strive to make sure my clients love the work I do and are excited to meet me; because I’m always excited to meet them! Whether I “succeed” or “fail” at this endeavor is entirely in the eye of the beholder. I do this because I enjoy the creative process. If I view each of my clients as a potential fan, every event I work is another chance to perform at my best.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mainstagephotobooth.com
- Phone: 1-415-858-9121
- Email: jack@mainstagephotobooth.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mainstagephotobooth
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mainstagephotobooth
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/main-stage-photo-booth-san-diego
- Other: www.thumbtack.com/ca/san-diego/photo-booth-rentals/main-stage-photo-booth/service/324947219785285639
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