Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Drake.
Hi Jessica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Los Angeles in 2003 with dreams of making it as an actor. While waiting for my “big break” I needed a side hustle so I applied to an ad looking for a Front Desk employee at a gym. I walked in and was hired on the spot! The job came with a free gym membership and since I had no idea what I was doing in terms of training myself, I thought it was best to stick to classes. Kickboxing sounded fun so I decided to try. I remember being nervous and looking on the internet about best practices…one of which was no shoes. So I show up to this class without shoes…and was the only one. I thought, “Well, this isn’t off to a great start.” My instructor was understanding and told me in most gyms that would be a correct way to take class but since we were on a hard wood floor and not mats, I’d fair better with shoes. And I did! I loved it and threw myself into the art as much as possible. I started training with a personal trainer as often as I could and really wanted to compete. Unfortunately, the chance of a black eye or broken nose didn’t bode well with the whole reason why I was in Los Angeles, which was to act. Seven years later, lots of hours training and a baby in my belly, I decided to move to Austin, where my ex-husband was from. It was a much-needed move…and necessary for my career as an actor, even though I didn’t realize it at the time. Fast forward to the summer of 2017 when my ex and I were scouting properties for another business venture when we decided to shift gears and look for a studio space to open a kickboxing studio. Our real estate broker mentioned that her husband was currently looking to do the same thing and asked if we’d be open to meeting him. Twenty minutes later we met and about six months later, we opened Rise Kickbox!
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?
Like any business, we’ve had our fair share of obstacles. With business partners, it takes a bit to understand each other’s quirks and get into a groove. We were lucky that it didn’t take too long and we fell into a successful pattern of working well as a partnership. Our largest obstacle has been Covid. We had to shut down due to a city-wide protocol and were really forced to reinvent the wheel. While many people took advantage of the opportunity to catch up on the latest binge-worthy tv shoes, we were filming live videos from our homes to encourage people to work out. We filmed every day and kept on it! Our members truly appreciated the effort we put forth and we, in turn, felt like we were giving back and helping people stay focused and de-stressed during a time of uncertainty.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Besides co-owning Rise Kickbox, I also own my own little baking company, Sweeties, and am an actor! I’m extremely proud of Rise and our commitment to being an inclusive environment. We encourage people from all levels of expertise to train with us and consider our members to be a part of our Rise family. I think that really sets us apart from the rest. Gyms can be intimidating and we don’t want anyone to feel intimidated when they walk through our doors.
As for Sweeties, I specialize in Banana Bread (shout out to Cherrywood Coffee who’s been carrying my bread for the past 6ish years) and Canadian desserts! I’m pretty sure I’m the only baker in town who sells Nanaimo Bars and Butter tarts.
I have to say above all, I’m most proud of being a Mom. There is no other job like it! Once I gave birth to my son a little over ten years ago, it really changed my perspective on a lot of things…acting being one of them! As an actor, you’re constantly being critiqued, as it’s just the nature of the business. Being a Mom really broke down a wall for me to where I focused less on the emotion behind the business and focused more on the art and the fact that I chose to be in the business. I started to audition and forget about it instead of constantly wondering if I’d get a callback or book the job. It brought me so much more joy and I started to book so much more.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Rise Kickbox wouldn’t be the success that it is today without my business partner, Fernando. I couldn’t do it without him! And in turn, we couldn’t do it without his wife, Jennifer. And I wouldn’t even be where I’m at today as a business co-owner if it weren’t for my ex-husband, Michael, who encouraged me to see it all through. I also have to say that my Mom, Dianne, is probably my biggest cheerleader. She has always encouraged me to be independent, pave my own way and to follow my dreams…which is exactly what I’m doing today!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@risekickbox.com
- Website: https://risekickbox.com/
- Instagram: @risekickbox
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RiseKickbox
