Meet Joy Melan | Owner of StageJunkie Productions & Artist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Joy Melan and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Joy, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I always grew up feeling like my idea of “fun” was far different than traditional ways a lot of people like to have fun, and that really rolled over into my adult years. I didn’t really want to go clubbing, or get drunk just to say I was. I wanted an experience. I wanted to feel like I was apart of something and I wanted other people to feel that way too. There were a lot of times I’d watch something on TV and say I wish I could do something like that, and one day I realized I could.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
There’s always been a sense of emptiness no matter what career I through myself into. There was a longing for fulfillment I just couldn’t achieve. I tried to take the traditional route of life and got a house, started a business, even almost got married. After a near death health experience I realized life is too short to settle for anything that doesn’t completely fill your heart. I realized I had always been a creative and I moved to Austin and through myself in to music. I went out everyday for months and created, networked, and made a name for myself. I constantly watched comedy and music shows until I myself had a firm enough understanding to put on my own. With that StageJunkie was born. I stopped saying “I wish” and started saying “I will” and haven’t looked back since.
When it comes to my music and artistry I love to take an obscure approach to show the range of emotion. Creating music is a release for me. I struggle daily with communicating what’s going on in my head, but with music I am able to paint that picture so easily. For someone to come up to me after a show and say “I needed to hear that” is life changing. A lot of my music is fun to dance to but has an underlying message of mental illness or struggle. My main goal with music and my events will always be to create a safe, loving, and open environment and I will never stray from that goal no matter the money opportunity.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Austin has so much to offer. It truly is a gem in Texas that I never knew about, other than what I saw on T.V.
I personally love the comedy, music, and food that Austin has to offer. My perfect week would consist of having sushi at Kura where each plate of sushi is $2.90 and served in a revolving style. After that I’d love to catch a comedy show either at Creek and the Cave or Sunset Strip. They have a show going on everyday and you never really know what you’re going to walk into . Finally to top off the night if it’s Tuesday you’d find me at Cutthroat Karaoke at Latchkey.
It is the BEST karaoke in Austin and provides and amazing sense of community. The host are the most sweet and entertaining couple you’ve ever met and the crowd is ALWAYS full. There’s many places I live doing karaoke at like Egos and Common Interest, but Cuthroat is the most entertaining one! It’s not regular karaoke and it’s a bit more competitive . If the crowd doesn’t like what you are doing they can put up scissors and 25 scissors will get you off the stage! It reall raises the stakes.
If you are every in Austin I highly advise giving it a go, it’s an experience.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to recognize Maddie Ava of Maddie and the DeadNames. After two years of very hard times and losing my self and goals, Maddie Ava was the first to support and help lift up my career as an artist. I tried for years to do what I’m doing name but I never believed in myself. Maddie saw in me what I never saw in myself.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/joy.melan?igshid=YzcxN2Q2NzY0OA==
Image Credits
Max Watson (MXVW)
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
