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

Hi Joy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Initially I was planning to become a full time clean comedienne after my daughter graduated high school, but the death of my mom in 2014 made me want to live the life I wanted. I’ve always worked for other people and would get fired or company downsizing. So I knew I could get a job, but for once I wanted a career.

I fell in love by the foodie scene and the locals behind it. Once I started the Eat.Drink.Ride Food Tours, it was clear I could use my gift of making people laugh and my passion for good food for my entrepreneurial journey.

What should our readers know about your business?
I take guests on the ultimate food & drink experience by going to 5 different restaurants in 4 hours throughout metro Birmingham! Our mode of transportation is a luxury party bus! They get to eat at some of my favorite places and sip on some of my favorite cocktails! What excites me the most about my job is when guests say they can’t wait to come back or when I see them in a restaurant that I’ve introduced them to!

I actually saw a party bus for the 1st time in 2017 when a transportation manager asked me what could I do to bring notoriety to his party bus. I had no clue as I was focused on my restaurant TV show. After speaking with a friend about the party bus he suggestion I tape a restaurant segment on the bus and I went live on fb and everyone wanted to ride on the party bus. That’s when it clicked, viewers wanted to eat where I ate and the party bus could take us to all the restaurants on my show so now they could #EatLikeME.

Well after the party bus wasn’t available for my tours sometimes and football season coming, I thought I need my own bus. But I didn’t have enough money to buy one & my credit was jacked. But Jesus showed me favor with a sponsor to get a bus for my use. It was great, but part of the deal is they wanted to use it too. Yikes. It was business for me, but pleasure for them. So then I had a little talk with Jesus and I got my 1st bus. It was beautiful to behold. I got my picture on it. One of my close friends booked it for her daughter’s birthday…that night it keep cutting off and a light came on the dash. long story short, the engine needed to be replaced. #JesusTakeTheWheel. literally. The company I bought it from repaired the engine, but I did NOT know that would be a lengthy process, so I had to transport guests on a forward facing shuttle bus and they were NOT happy. Lesson learned, have a contract that states if the bus break, you may not be on a party bus for the tour, but most importantly save at least $10K for repairs. Buses are expensive cars. Long story short, I actually own 2 of them now. I got a newer bus. I want the world to come to Birmingham, Alabama and book a food tour and try some foods you never would have tried and learn some history lessons on alcohol.! In fact, I’m trying to sell my 1st bus and get replace it with a newer bus.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Yikes this is hard, because I have so many favorites! So some of my tour guests favorites are the fried chicken tacos at Tostadas. The Asian apps at Shiki Birmingham. Broccoli salad & strawberry lemonade from Urban Cookhouse. Seafood from Red Sea Ethiopian, any cocktail from LaCalle Tacos & Snacks, & the wings from East West.

Of course, Birmingham is full of civil rights history, mountains & look out points. My friends know I’m a foodie, so it would be plenty of eating and drinking!!! Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out my team & my rider affectionately known as #BusBae. Without them, I could not be in 2 or 3 places at one time! I can’t wait for all of them to come back!

Website: https://comediennejoy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhameatdrinkride/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComedienneJOY

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EatDrinkRideWithComedienneJoy

Youtube: Comedienne Joy

Image Credits
J&M Photography and Design

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