Sitting together at a table with a versatile backdrop in matching black shirts that read “Game Gang,” Eugene Willis Jr. (Blacknerdninja) and Carlos Jones (Lo Down, aka Lou Morningstar) explain that they’re “like-minded collaborators” of Creative Space—co-founders on paper.
“Game Gang. It’s the mind frame. It’s a state of mind. It’s the energy that we’re pushing,” says Jones. “Game Applied Means Elevation. And gang is the unity part.”
Both longtime creatives and accomplished musicians with knowledge and resources to share, Willis and Jones decided to open the brick-and-mortar Creative Space two years ago. “The name explains it,” says Jones, with Willis elaborating that rather than starting with a focal point, they’ve allowed the space to evolve with the needs of their clients. Essentially it is an office-sized space where people can come in to meet, use audio recording equipment or have someone record them, use camera equipment with lighting and screens for video or photography, or come in as a developer for a quiet space to code and connect to an external monitor.
The local podcasts Keeping It Real With Mr. White and Classic City Conversations are both created within the studio, in addition to audiobooks and other projects. If a client needs a larger space than what Creative Space can provide, Willis and Jones help to connect people to other resources as well. The business model draws from other innovation hubs that the co-founders have visited and worked with, maintaining a flexible and always customizable experience at its core.
“Coming into it, we were more hands-on with the clients. We were more hands-on with their projects. I think we’ve pivoted into more of mentoring, more of giving the advice out,” says Willis. “For anyone who’s interacted with me, I just give the resources out just because of my experiences with my creativity. So the same thing with the Space. We give them the game they need in order to apply it, you know, elevate their own situation.”
Another way that the business has evolved is that they no longer actively seek clients—people who want to be involved and work reach out to them. The focus is on building a community and investing time and resources into people on an individual level. Willis explains that the goal is to provide a stepping stone of information and space for people to move on from at a reasonable price. However, they’ve had to become more selective in who they work with for various reasons.
“We’re not money hungry when it comes to the clients. We’re not. Our intention is to be that jump off for individuals as they come through,” says Willis.
The comparison is made to being a smaller Nuçi’s Space, the Athens-based nonprofit musicians’ health and resource center, and the future goal and direction is moving towards something like UGA’s Delta Innovation Hub. However, when asked what makes Creative Space as a place unique, the answer is simple. “Well, you keep saying the place. We are the place,” says Jones.
Jones has a plaque on the Athens Music Walk of Fame honoring his hip-hop duo Lo Down & Duddy and their contributions to the Athens music scene. Willis has also made an impact on fellow creatives as a touring musician, self-published author and content creator. On a personal level for both of them, Willis says that Creative Space is “looking to go past what our legacy has brought us so far.”
Creative Space will celebrate its two-year anniversary with an open house of sorts for the community to network. Past and current clients will attend with an invitation for other creatives or people interested in learning more to come together. Photographer Donald Fuller will be on site, and Willis says he’s invited developers he’s met through developer conferences as well.
“I don’t see too many spaces that actually have knowledgeable developers. So we’re looking as we move forward into the future to get more intentional about the tech side of what we do.”
It’s clear that co-founders Willis and Jones are entering their third year with plans to push their mentorship and resources even further with altruistic hearts and business mindsets.
WHO: Creative Space Two-Year Anniversary
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:30–4 p.m.
WHERE: 2500 W Broad St., Suite 606
HOW MUCH: FREE!
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