Meet Jon Griffiths of Impulse 713 in Midtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Griffiths.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a music man, always have been, always will be. I grew up on everything you can think of from rock to reggae and from soul to country. House music is where I found myself happiest though. As I grew older, experienced more variations, it was techno that grabbed my attention…since then I’ve never looked back.
Fast forward through my teens and I was working as an electrical designer in oil & gas (that’s another story).

After working in oil & gas for several years I decided to try something new. I’d just finished an assignment in the Middle East when I got offered a job in Houston. I knew there wasn’t much to go home for, in terms of work, so I figured an adventure would be more fun.

I landed in Houston in 2010, a vast new city with plenty to explore. With over 6 million people, it took me by surprise that the nightlife scene here was dominated by one common theme – bottle service with chart music. So many people and not as wide of a variety as I had anticipated. Where could I find techno? Was there an underground scene? I figured I’d discover new places as time went on.

Fast forward almost a year and I hear Carl Cox is coming to town for Halloween…finally an event I can get excited about. Maybe the tide was turning. The event was amazing, not as packed as I expected but I finally got to hear some great music. I met one of my now good friends, Danny, at the party. I met up with Danny a few weeks later and he told me stories about the rave days in Houston and how alive the underground used to be. We talked about trying to host a show but that’s all it was at that time…talk.

A year goes by, I’m working at a new company in Houston and I get offered a field job in Singapore for a while. There are a few more shows going on that I’d found but I figured a break might help me shake the frustrating lack of options in the city. Off I go overseas again, spend some quality time traveling around the world, fall in love and importantly: I come back to Houston inspired to make a change instead of being that guy always complaining.

It takes me a while to get settled back in, I’m now married and have a baby on the way…music is gonna have to wait a bit. I get back into old routines and the frustration creeps back over me. I link back up with Danny and, with a push from my wife, we decided to give it a shot. We’re going to throw an event. We spend months planning, scouring for suitable venues and we finally have our first event ready. The nerves set in as we try to gauge the turnout…there’s not many options that night….maybe for a reason… BAM. The first show goes great. It’s not the 3,000 people I had dreamed about but the buzz and thrill of doing it was a reward in itself. I got to present to Houston what I liked and they seemed to like it too. Fantastic.

We kick off a monthly event and just 3 months in, Danny wasn’t able to continue. All the hard work couldn’t end just like that…so I went at it alone. With the support from my family, I worked a full-time job in oil & gas as well as hosting some amazing parties over the next 2 years to come. I sacrificed time with my family, vacations and more than anything else SLEEP.

Come 2017 I’m finding it difficult to find venues that have what we need. Nobody has a really good sound system. We need to do better…this is music, the sound is important. I decided to shut down Impulse for a few months to figure out what our next move would be. Through a crazy series of events, a venue pops up on my radar. Midtown, great location, perfect size space for our crowd…it was almost too good to be true.

Oil & gas is tanking hard so the family gets together, we talk out our ideas and try to formulate a business plan. It’s a rough time with work being slow so it’s really now or never. The only thing I KNOW I’ll work hard at for the rest of my life is something where I get to enjoy good music.

WE PULL THE TRIGGER. This is it, no going back now. We’ve paid the deposit, we’re buying materials and I’m spending every single day at this venue hammering away for what feels like a lifetime.

On August 10th I take a break as it’s the one year anniversary of my fathers passing. I try to remain focused and keep moving forward…I just wished he was able to see how much I was pushing for my dreams. A few days later we receive a letter…it’s our TABC license…dated August 10th. I’m not a big believer in signs but that one was a punch in the face. Re-energised and more determined than ever we steam ahead with the venue as we close in on opening day.

August 25th, Hurricane Harvey news is everywhere. Me, I’m on the patio at the venue painting. Reluctantly I shut it down, barricade the doors and pray for the best. The private viewing was canceled and I go home to wait out the storm. A week later we can finally get back in and to my absolute delight, there’s no damage. The barricades held up. Back to work.

Diavolo Systems came in and moved mountains to get our Void Acoustics sound system installed. It’s finally starting to look like I’d imagined it would. A glorious venue built around one pivotal component; a fantastic sound system.

On September 9th I open the doors to family and friends. I can finally breathe again. I float around the room chatting with friends and observing people as they enter the building for the first time. It’s a great feeling but I know this is just the beginning. All in all, the venue is well received so I’m satisfied with what we’ve achieved.

We’re a few months in now and people constantly ask me how it is ditching a well paid day job to take such a massive risk. I can tell you now; I would rather mop the floors 3-5 times a week and bleach the toilets after a crazy night than ever go back to that day job. I don’t take a paycheck, no. What I do take is more time with my family, more pleasure from my hard work and an overwhelming sense of joy when I see the happiness on peoples faces as they dance around the club. As a result, I’ve got a much better relationship with my wife and daughter, I’m generally a happier person and I feel like I’m doing what I was always meant to be doing.

None of this would have come about without the huge support and encouragement from my wife and family. I only wish my dad was here to see it too. I think he’d be proud.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There’s always struggles, no matter what you do, no matter how prepared you think you are, nothing goes according to plan. So that was our plan…take what I thought would take a month and plan it for 3 months.

I’d say our biggest obstacle was the hurricane during construction. It wasn’t the hurricane that did any direct damage. It was the aftermath. The blocked roads. The impossible task of getting equipment delivered or finding service crews to come to install the bar equipment. Everyone was having a hard time and the chain reaction that ensued was unrelenting.

Our opening date had been pushed back as a result. Trying to remain calm whilst everyone is telling you they can’t make it or there were further delays was a true test of my patience. As mad as I wanted to be, I had to try to understand everyone else’s position. It was the most I’d ever heard the term “force majeure”.

Our grand opening ended up on September 15th. After 3 months and 1 week + a hurricane, we got the doors open. It wasn’t smooth by any means but we opened the doors, had a huge DJ, Christian Smith, perform to a fantastic crowd, we donated ticket sales to charity and we were ultimately one week behind schedule. I can’t be mad about that.

Impulse 713 – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Impulse 713 is the parent company of our venue; Gravity. Gravity is located on Main St in midtown. We’ve got this super cool, modern interior…kind of like a European nightclub vibe which then leads out to our elegant back patio with lounge seating and another bar. Impulse 713/Gravity is the driving force behind bringing the people of Houston quality house + techno music. We’re known for throwing great parties, having fantastic music and wicked vibes at every event.

We’re the only venue dedicated to house + techno in Houston so no matter what else is on, you know there’s always going to be that quality sound system and top-shelf DJ’s every week. I’d say we’re most proud of our level of quality. Having a great sound system is one thing, finding the right individuals to perform on it is another. The quality trickles throughout though, from DJ’s to bartenders to door staff, everyone has been carefully selected to ensure our guests have the best night possible. It’s like a massive party with your family and friends every week.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I don’t believe it’s smart to define success by wealth or happiness alone.

For me, I’ll say I’m “successful” when people dance and leave happy every week without having to check my bank to see if I made enough money to cover my bills. The first step is building that trust with our guests. Not just having one or two good shows but having people return every week despite other options being available. Once we get a good crowd every week for 3-6 months then I’ll know we’re getting that loyal following, that trust every business needs to gain return customers.

Once we have that following, my next step will be working towards taking my family on a much-needed vacation. They’ve all put up with me through all this so they deserve some time on a beach. When I can afford that and entrust my staff with the venue, that’ll be the next level of achievement.

Ultimately though, it’s about expansion. Houston is ground zero and I’m 100% focused on this right now. The long-term goal though is to branch out, expand my concept and take it to other cities + countries, set up other venues as well as develop the one we already have.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2401 Main St
  Ste 200 Houston, TX 77002
• Website: www.gravitymidtown.com
• Phone: +1 (832) 260-5160
• Email: contact@gravitymidtown.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gravitymidtown/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravityMidtown/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gravity-houston-2

Image Credit:
Mike Victorick, Nilu Griffiths

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