Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jeff Stein, Founder of Drone Studios, located in San Diego, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Drone Studios has evolved into an Arts & Entertainment company specializing in drone light shows, aka aerial animations. Originally when I founded my company in 2016, it was a drone photography and videography company which we still offer as well.
Tell us about yourself
My inspiration for creating Drone Studios came from traveling. I spent a lot of time traveling internationally in my twenties to experience other cultures and broaden my understanding of the world. Throughout my travels, I would seek out the most unique and extreme aspects of the local culture and try to avoid anything mainstream or "touristy." I spent time with the locals and would inquire about where I could find or experience these exotic or sui generis aspects of their culture, like drinking snake blood, eating giant forest scorpions, or the habitat of an endangered species. I began documenting my travels by filming and editing videos and realized I had an affinity for videography which quickly became a passion. I then took it a step further and created a website called "Dudes vs. Wild," which is pretty cheesy, but my friends and I had so much fun and didn't take it too seriously. I created episodes in Thailand, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Haiti, Switzerland, and others.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The biggest accomplishment so far is that Drone Studios has just become a drone show provider, and we can honestly say that we are the first local San Diego-based drone show company! It took 6 years of good standing with the FAA as a drone pilot to get approved to operate drone swarms or fleets of drones. I have spent the last year training and learning how to plan, design, and perform drone light shows, aka aerial animations. Think of each drone as a pixel, so the more drones you have, the more pixels you have to create 3D animations in the sky. We are beyond excited to start booking and performing mind-bending drone shows that bring smiles to faces and excite audiences.
Another major accomplishment as a business owner is the positive impact and value I have created and brought to so many of my clients. For example, I create marketing content for a concrete company based in Los Angeles, and their business has skyrocketed since I made their first video. They were pouring concrete for the foundation of a highrise building in San Diego which isn't all that exciting. But the way I filmed and edited the video blew your mind and also demonstrated the quality and skill of their work. They now submit that video every time they bid on a project, and it's made a massive impact on their closing contracts. Ultimately, the success and accomplishment of Drone Studios are evident through the success and accomplishments of my clients and the value I have brought to them.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Definitely finding and maintaining balance in your life. When you own a business, there's no limit to how much time and energy you put into it. Sometimes the more you put in, the more you get out. But there are thresholds, and if you lose your balance, the quality of your work goes down, or you burn out.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Know your passions and find a way to monetize them.
- Never give up.
- Strive to exceed the expectations of your clients.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://droneshows.io/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dronestudiosinc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dronestudiosinc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drone-studios-usa/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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