Business is booming at the Comedy Club
Partnerships can either make or break a business. With the ideal skills mix, connections and a cohesive vision, a partnership can turn out to be very profitable. Passion, commitment and good communication skills are some of the characteristics imperative in maintaining solid relationships, according to the Goliath and Goliath team.
The partners are the epitome of a successful collaboration. Donovan and Jason met five years ago at a comedy session, which led to the four Goliaths joining forces and becoming owners of the Goliath Comedy Club and Roast Cafe. Kate and Jason are siblings and Nicholas is their cousin. Donovan on the other hand coincidently shares the same surname. “It was like fate brought us all together because it’s probably the rarest thing in the world to have four people with the surname Goliath come together all in comedy,” Donovan chuckles. With the same vision and goal in mind, the four ventured into the comedy club that would see them take the African entertainment industry to the next level.
Donovan says running a business is not as simple as doing comedy, especially with four partners. But each partner brings along personal unique skills, resources, education, and experience. Donovan says they all have, “different skill sets to run a business because we represent different pillars and that’s how we run our company.”
The partners may have comedy in common, but their different skills and experiences complete this mix. This is how they add value with their different skills and attributes.
Jason Goliath - the money guy
Jason previously owned an insurance company which didn’t work out. With a failed venture up his sleeve, his experience plays a vital role in the success of the club. The group describes him as being financially savvy and a calculated risk taker. “Financial knowledge is not only important in running a business it’s also important in life,” Jason says. Jason says he was raised by a family who lived from hand to mouth. But he was adamant to change this. The number-one solution was to be financially liberated. He says, “For every rand you make, save 50c and use the other 50c to make a rand and repeat forever.” Starting up, the club was partly funded by the bank and 50% by an investor, Tony Raciti, who also owns the club’s premises. Raciti has extensive experience club management. “He’s pedantic about small things, like food costs, cost per head, doing your research and managing your data so you can start understanding your market and customers more,” Jason explains. By keeping good financial books, he bets on paying taxes on time, hiring a qualified accountant, keeping a close eye on staff and making a profit.
Donovan Goliath - the creative guru
After resigning from an advertising job, Donovan decided to focus on comedy. He formed a friendship with Jason who introduced him to the rest of the Goliaths. Donovan says the comedy club is like running a lot of Johannesburg gigs under one roof. They were all performing all over town before getting together at the Goliath Comedy Club. They took that concept and applied it to one space. He says Jason was the forward thinker in establishing the club, and he saw the vision.
Once they formed the group, Donovan designed a logo and they were ready for business. Donovan’s role is to ensure that graphic designs and the company’s public profile are always up to date. As the creative director he guides the team and employees with skills and experience related to the creative industry fields. He has recently landed a TV presenting spot and says his breakthrough represents the rest of the Goliaths members, eliminating any form of competition among the members. “People always ask us ‘is there competition among you guys?’. But there is no competition because every time one of us wins we all win.”
Nicholas Goliath - the handyman
Nicholas previously worked in a call centre, and quit his job to chase the comedy dream. He is greatly involved in daily operations of the club. From bookings to being the lights and sound guy. “I am the do everything kind of guy. When things need to be done, it doesn’t matter what it is, whether it falls in my line or not,” he says. Nicholas ensures the club is always abuzz over weekends by ensuring diversity for their lineups. “That’s what keeps people coming back and the fact that there’s always someone who’s going to perform just for you.” Nicholas urges entertainment entrepreneurs to know where their strengths and weaknesses lie. He says happy customers are a sure way to secure a sustainable business.
Kate Goliath - the thread
Among the quartet, Kate is the thread that pulls everything and everyone together. From administration to public relations, and dealing with staff. She yields from a PR and management background and handles the team’s schedules and tasks. With a staff of more than 20 and demanding careers of the other members, Kate is the pilot of the plane. She believes that hard work is the essence of running a successful business. In the midst of juggling demanding entertainment gigs, TV presenting and MC-ing to running one of the continent’s top comedy clubs, the Goliaths are game changers on the entertainment landscape, while bringing laughter to many.