Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Ross.
Hi Jason, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always had a passion for music and the entertainment industry. In 2002, I moved to Orlando to attend Full Sail University. During my time at Full Sail, I took an internship at A.R.S. Studio a local recording studio in Winter Springs.
I graduated and was offered a full-time position with A.R.S. Studio. In March of 2004, just six months into my full-time role with A.R.S. Studio, I decided to start my own company, Trusun Media Inc. – TSM Studio. I officially founded the company on March 8, 2004, and recruited a few friends turned colleagues to join me. I started the company with zero money and hustled to get by. Initially, TSM Studio was going to make DVDs and CD/DVD duplications for bands, but my colleagues and I all had skills in design, web development, video production, and audio, so this plan quickly evolved. We started to focus a lot on multimedia marketing and through the implementation of innovative advertising strategies, TSM Studio, Inc. was becoming a one-stop-shop for local, state, and national clients.
Early on, I invested a lot of time into networking and relationship building. As a result, I was able to acquire some high-profile clients, and in 2005, I brought on Dwight Howard as a client. For 12 years, TSM Studio served as Dwight’s digital gatekeeper, handling website development, video production, and social media management. This coupled with connections I made in the music industry helped TSM Studio gain a lot of traction in the sports and entertainment industry. Over the last18 years, TSM Studio, Inc. has grown to serve a diverse array of clientele ranging from Fortune 500 companies, sports figures, and entertainers to small businesses and organizations in the Orlando area.
I have always been an entrepreneur, so I am constantly looking for new ways to grow, innovate, create. Right now, my main focuses are TSM and my other company, Next Move which is a network of real estate agents and investment advisers who work with athletes and entertainers.
TSM will turn 18 in March, and we remain focused on our founding tenets: staying current with trends that affect our client’s success, delivering high-quality, one-of-a-kind work products, and being the best, we can be.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing is ever smooth especially after 18 years. Among the most challenging have been economic hardship, learning how to expect the unexpected, and employee relations: partnerships and employees.
- Economic Hardships: Starting my company from the ground up with no money in the bank was a blessing and a curse. It gave me the drive and determination to succeed because I had no other option. I don’t think anything can motivate a person to win like being in survival mode. On one hand, humble beginnings make you appreciate how far you have come on the other, having no money makes it hard to grow at a fast rate. Starting out, we could not afford the expensive equipment used in the higher quality digital marketing we were breaking into. We were just trying to make enough money to pay the bills. This taught me to how to find deals, be crafty, but instilled the importance of networking and client relations to find new work. constantly find new work. I’ve just always carried the attitude that I would not be outworked.
- Partnerships: It is very difficult to have partners. Inevitably, there comes a day where your life goals do not align with one another’s. Through my journey, I have parted ways with a few individuals who I would consider to be key players. Each time, it has been difficult, but it really shows you if you have what it takes or if you were truly dependent. I have been fortunate enough to make it through each parting and continue to have good relationships with them.
- Employees: Employing and managing people is a lot more time-consuming and complex than people think. Each employee is an investment, and you are entrusting someone to learn, work and manage your business. Sometimes, finding someone who shares the same level of passion as you do is difficult. I have employed many people over the years, and I would say that managing people is one of the biggest rollercoaster rides in a business.
- Global Events: When the economy tanked in 2008, I was lucky enough to get by. By this time, TSM Studio, Inc. was stable and had a steady clientele base. In 2020 the pandemic hit and everything you ever thought about saving or surviving all got thrown out the window. It goes to show you that you can never fully prepare for life. You just must do your best and hope it is enough.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about TSM Studio?
TSM Studio, Inc. has spent the greater part of 18 years growing and evolving into what it is today: an industry leader in digital media, production, and marketing. We have had the opportunity to help thousands of clients make an identity for themselves and their companies. We provide a variety of services for businesses, individuals, and organizations. TSM has a full-blown commercial recording studio, and sister companies spanning multiple industries including the real estate, finance, and education sectors.
What sets TSM apart from others in the industry is our culture. We have the talent, the connections, and the personalities, to collaborate and help just about any type of person. TSM Studio, Inc. employs a diverse range of people and is eager to serve any type of person, any race, gender, and life orientation. I have met some of the most interesting people on this journey and done projects that I could have never imagined as a kid.
Above all else, I would say I am most proud of our longevity and reputation.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I am an animal lover; I love dogs more than anything. I am the kind of person who would take a spider outside and let it go. I just think we are all here just trying to live. Dogs are my life though, I donate to rescue shelters constantly and If I were rich, I would buy a large property that people would be able to bring rescues to for a place to stay.
I also love entrepreneurship. As a kid, I started my own business at 17 and have been on this path ever since. I love to work and make deals, but my true passion is creativity. I spend most of my time doing graphic design, audio, and video production and when a vision comes together, nothing else compares.
Contact Info:
- Email: jr@tsmstudio.com
- Website: www.tsmstudio.com
- Instagram: @tsmstudio
- Facebook: tsmstudio
- Twitter: tsmstudio
- Youtube: tsmstudio
