Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Feltgen.
Hi Jack, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I ended up in automotive media & marketing after a long, nonlinear path of combining both what I was passionate about and what I was talented in.
I had been interested in cars since I was little, growing up a huge NASCAR fan in the early 00s while also growing an infatuation for my grandfather’s custom hot rod — a 1923 Ford Model T aka “T-Bucket” donning flaked blue paint. huge flames, and lots of chrome components. I had dozens of hot wheels, and “professional race car driver” was my early career choice for the first ten years of my existence.
When I was 10 years old, I finally picked up the family tape-based camcorder from the 90s, videoing anything and everything around the house. I was hooked on entertaining others through the videos I produced — this would carry into the next 10 years, where I studied Film & Marketing at Texas Christian University here in Fort Worth, while also spending time as a member of our school’s Auto Club. While in school, I thought I was destined to go to Hollywood and work in the Film & Television industry, working summers as a Production Assistant, and being a part of some of NBC’s biggest reality programs, such as American Ninja Warrior, The Voice, and America’s Got Talent. Eventually, the nature of the industry, defined by unbelievably long hours, tone-deaf executives, and no promise of career advancement, pushed me away.
I knew I wanted to make my own content and be solely responsible for its creation. I knew the automotive industry was something I was always passionate about, and combined with my talents in photography, videography, and digital marketing, I would have all of the tools to make a difference. About a year after graduating, I founded Voodoo Garage, a media & marketing agency that provides a simple, yet appealing approach to all things automotive. I was influenced by automotive media icons such as Discovery’s FAST N’ LOUD, Hoonigan, and YouTube’s Donut Media. We strive to bring an entirely new level of credibility and visibility to brands by showcasing the people, processes, and vehicles that make your business or vehicle great.
After more than a dozen clients our first year, we were also invited to SEMA, a trade-only event & show only open to established members of the automotive industry as recognized members of the media.
Alright, 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?
Definitely not a smooth road. As a lot of young grads do, it was really tough adapting to life after graduation. I initially felt very lost and uncertain, as parents, nor school would dictate my schedule anymore. You can do anything you want now all the time, and on top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic had just gotten underway. That feeling was originally overwhelming, but once I established a consistent, healthful routine, and surrounded myself with supportive people, those feelings would eventually subside.
As cliche as this sounds, once I got rolling with business, there would in fact be plenty of haters, critics, and doubters. As a creative, it has been critical to use these comments and people as fuel to constantly be improving, and not to just bring you down.
With anything, there will always be people who do X better than you, the important part is being able to use it to your advantage. They are plenty of extremely talented people in my industry who do the exact same things as I do, the difference is I continue to spend time building my brand to separate myself. Some examples of how you can build your personal brand are by creating constantly, interacting with others (online & in-person), providing consistent work, and most importantly, being genuine in how you act, speak, and work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We offer media and marketing services to motorsports (racing) teams, as well as aftermarket automotive businesses, such as car audio, detailers, speed shops, paint, specialty mechanics, and more.
VG specializes in images and video for social media, web, and print forms, in addition to social media management, SEO, web development, and digital ads.
I’m most proud of how much I evolved as an artist and an entrepreneur in only a year, and I owe that to constantly practicing and learning more online and with books. In my opinion, a lot of artists or creators I come across do stunning work but aren’t able to effectively market their products and communicate with clients. Fine-tuning my business skills as much as my creative skills is what I credit a lot of my success from — tax deductions, business structures, B2B marketing, and so much more has allowed me to evolve from an artist to an entrepreneur.
What do you think about happiness?
Definitely being able to entertain others through my work. That’s how it started as a 10-year-old with a video camera, and that’s how it continues today.
Contact Info:
- Email: voodoogaragetx@gmail.com
- Website: voodoogaragetx.com
- Instagram: @voodoogarage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voodoogarage0
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/voodoo-garage-fort-worth
