Meet Jefferson Jay | President, The Good Vibe

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jefferson Jay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jefferson, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
My company is called The Good Vibe. Our goals are to educate, entertain, and enlighten. we have many projects that we are working on that all seek to do this in one form or another. The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit, which began as a series of plays I wrote and directed with a cast of actors with disabilities is being developed as the first ever show starring a fully inclusive case. Through authentic representation in the media, people, especially children can experience a work in which all voices are heard.

Our work with The San Diego Music Hall of Fame has impacted the music community in San Diego by celebrating music, musicians and music-lovers contributions for over a century. We are involved in many other shows that share that ensemble mentality and celebrate the contributions of creative individuals in a way to lift spirits and unite souls.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I believe in making the world a better place through art and connection every day. I have hosted Open Mic for 20 years. in doing this, I have helped best friends, spouses and all kinds of other folks make connections that would help chart directions for their lives. I try to instill hope and optimism with my performances. I often use colorful approaches to take people out of their comfort zone briefly, I hopes they will settle back in a way, that soothes their body, mind and soul.

I do things differently and it is never easy. I have booked and hosted 24 Hours of Free Music on four occasions. It is a free, fully inclusive show featuring a full 24 hours of free. eclectic entertainment. I generated the largest daily internet project in history, The Operation 365 TWICE (in 2011 and 2016.) This quest involved making and posting 3 videos daily and an accompanying blog, The videos featured an original song, a cover song and a 3rd video. None were repeated. It was far from easy. Ha!. The Huffington Past called me “The King of Front-Facing Media.” I overcame the challenges by showing up and doing it every day, proving to m y audience that it could be done.

I have learned and am still learning that we can do ambitious, challenging things if we put our minds to it. I am still riding this roller coaster as we work to find a home for The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit, the first fully inclusive series ever, This animated project, with 24 written episodes and over 120 original songs written. will show the world what a full cast of actors with disabilities can do when given a chance , they have yet to receive in almost 80 years of television. I am driven by the fact that I know they can do it, having directed four of these episodes in stage in El Cajon, California from 2014-2017. I hope we can find visionary producers to partner with us and share and celebrate the wonderful gifts and personalities of our talented cast.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love San Diego and I love Ocean Beach. OB is loaded with wonderful restaurants and tasting rooms that are fun for the whole family. Beyond that, the beach and Sunset Cliffs are epic destinations that anyone can enjoy.

I’d head out to OB Brewery for some delicious delectables and bring down the crew on a Wednesday where I play some family-friendly fun songs from 5-8 alongside OB’s excellent Farmer’s Market. I’d take friends to Tony’s Martini Bar on a Tuesday where a host my Open Mic from 7-10 and friends can enjoy their world-class Espresso Martini.

As far as places I don’t work weekly, I love Kilowatt tasting room, a living. breathing, all ages art exhibit with beer too. For fine dining, The Joint and its daily 12-6 Happy Hour are top notch. California Wild Ales tasting room is another fine place to gather with friends where kiddos can come too.

Outside of OB, La Jolla’s Athenaeum Music & Arts Library dates back over 1200 years and is an epic place to explore. I write my Master’s Thesis on their history for San Diego State and have hosted Acoustic Evenings at The Athenaeum with Jefferson Jay there since 2008. Our 15th anniversary season is coming in October/November 2023 and we have an incredible slate of acoustic artistry scheduled.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I was in high school, I tried out for a play. I had no idea it would change my life completely. This is largely in part to the work of our director, Thomas Ratzin, and the views he conveyed on how theater should work. Mr. Ratzin was demanding, because he knew what we were capable of and wanted us to see that for ourselves. He showed us how important every role in the cast was and familiarized us with axioms of the theater including, “There are no small parts, only small actors.” He passed shortly after I graduated high school, but his wisdom, insight, and faith in our abilities has continued to inspire my classmates and I and we are forever grateful.

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