What to fall back on when your startup starts taking off

“It’s important to have a value system because it helps you know what to say yes to and what to say no to,” Jason Mowatt says. Mowatt is the founder of the currently blowing up Trap Karaoke project. He’s also the director of marketing for the Williamsburg-based tech startup Thunderclap.
“Find people who have the same values as you do,” Mowatt says. “The older you get, the more you realize you need to be able to walk away. Whenever you’re in a situation when you can’t walk away, you’re fucked, you’re in too deep.”

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/250342488″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Mowatt was speaking on Anthony Frasier’s Disruptor podcast.
Mowatt’s success stems from his project Trap Karaoke, which was profiled here first in December. Since then it’s drawn the likes of Deray McKesson, Tristan Walker, LeBron James and Amber Rose. Trap Karaoke is basically what it sounds like. It’s a big karaoke party but with Future songs instead of, like, Journey.
Mowatt is using his company’s technology to sell tickets directly to his most loyal fans. Everyone who signed up for Trap Karaoke’s Crescendo got a notification as soon as tickets went on sale for the show in Washington, D.C. It worked. Tickets sold out in 40 seconds.
Now Trap Karaoke is set to go on tour. Tickets are available now on the company’s site, and nearly 40 more cities, including Rio de Janeiro are upcoming (you have to sign up to get the info on when the tickets drop).

Lebron James performs 'March Madness' @trapkaraoke #trapkaraoke pic.twitter.com/VWOwWRLQFo

— TRAP Karaoke (@trapkaraoke) February 14, 2016

“A lot of people try to see the future, but the most important thing you need is clarity of mind, being able to see things for what they actually are and focus,” Mowatt said on the podcast. “When you realize not everything is for you it takes the emotion out of it. Clarity is the most important thing, man. You want to move from a position of power. You want to approach life from a state of abundance, not desperation.”
Mowatt has been contacted by television networks, promoters and major corporations who would like to buy and license the parties, he told me. It’s a lot of opportunities, it’s a lot to think about. Some of the opportunities are likely good, others aren’t.
“Be ruthless in clearing your space. If there are people around you who you feel don’t align with what your values are, either you gotta leave or they gotta leave,” he said. “You lay with dogs, you get fleas, man.”