Member Spotlight – Jonny Carroll

Venture X’s flexible office spaces provide an ideal solution for those looking for a professional workspace away from home and other distractions. Venture X members come from a wide array of industries and have found the upscale, modern offices of Venture X’s locations to be the perfect place to grow their businesses. Whether members begin with a virtual office or a full private office space, members enjoy the ability to work surrounded by other professionals without having to worry about the long-term commitment of leasing an office. The freedom to scale up or down as needed each month attracts many businesses to coworking spaces such as Venture X but what sets Venture X apart? Venture X offers uniquely designed locations, access to all locations as a member, perks and amenities that include free coffee and tea, 24/7 access for members, concierge-level services, access to business-class office equipment, fully-equipped conference rooms, and much more. Jonny Carroll, the owner of DTX Media, LLC, a video production and photographer firm in Dallas/Fort Worth, works from Venture X Grapevine – DFW Airport North

We asked Jonny some questions to get to know him and learn about the journey he’s been on, career-wise. 

·         What made you want to get involved in this line of work?

I think my talent was first realized when my friends and I spent every day doing bike jumps and tricks and I became the designated videographer. I started editing the videos and the demand to see them reached the point where we had to rent a park and premiere a video to hundreds of attendees. Keep in mind, YouTube didn’t exist back then. From a career perspective, one college summer while working as a staff photographer at a wedding venue, I took photos for a helicopter company that offered charter flights for the bride and groom. One thing led to another and soon enough, I was taking aerial photos and video with that helicopter company for Fortune 500 companies. These were the pre-drone days when aerials were a very specialized and rare craft. Wow, two age disclaimers already.

·         What has been the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Positive reviews from clients and a finished video I can be proud to share. Sometimes we shoot epic content that we can’t share or in some cases even speak about, which is still rewarding but always a little disappointing. Mainly, I just really enjoy bringing a visual concept to life and having a video accomplish its goal. 

·         What’s the biggest challenge that you have faced in business and how did you overcome it?

My company and identity revolved around helicopter aerial video and photography until drones became mainstream. I lost an enormous market share as supply rapidly skyrocketed and demand changed. I had to adapt a lot. We expanded our interviews, industrial videos, real estate media services and provided coverage to a whole lot of events such as tradeshows and conferences. When COVID-19 hit, we had to adapt again, away from events and more toward live streaming services, training videos, and post-production such as video editing and animation.  

·         What business tips would you like to share with others?

Treat clients and customers as you would like to be treated. It’s such a simple concept, but hard to execute. As a service provider, early on, I found a lot of success by specializing/offering niche services and being the absolute best provider at that service. 

·         What has been your favorite part about working at Venture X?

We moved here less than a year ago from a Regus office after they had very questionable billing practices. There, we worked in a space that I can only describe as a depressing closet. Venture X, on the other hand, is full of glass, natural light, and is simply pretty. As a media company, the visual presentation of our office to clients is important. Not only that, the space has really boosted employee morale. On a less professional note, the Grapevine location is right next to arguably the best mountain biking trail in all of Dallas/Fort Worth. I know what I’m doing after work!

A Personal Look at Jonny Carroll

Jonny shared that he’s inspired by his employees and crew. He shared, “Nothing is more inspirational than to see the DTX Media crew excel and even exceed in skill beyond what I am capable of. I know that sounds like a cookie-cutter response, but it’s really true.” Additionally, he says he’s constantly inspired by just scrolling through social media – everything from viral-like funny ads to gorgeous pictures of geography. He says he’s constantly thinking “Oh, I want to make or capture something like that.” Jonny has also had the opportunity to judge a few photo contests and that always inspires him as well.

In his spare time, Jonny enjoys mountain biking and spending time with his family. He shared, “My two oldest kids are now at an age where they can join me on the trails and it’s such a blast.” As a professional videographer and photographer, Jonny tells us he’s learned to just let his camera stay home on family trips and adventures to remain present. A few years ago, he was convinced to go to Uganda to film pro-bono video production for a ministry serving widows, orphans, and refugees in remote villages outside of Kampala. “Simply put, it’s one thing to say there are starving kids in Africa, it’s a whole other thing to literally witness it,” shared Jonny. He now spends a fair amount of time helping their cause because when you see what he saw, he says, “you can’t not do something. For example, making a shameless plug for Africa Family Rescue in a Member Spotlight.” We’re okay with the shameless plug because it couldn’t be for a better cause. This is why our members constantly inspire us.

We invite you to schedule a tour of the Venture X location closest to you. You’ll love working here too! 

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