Mr. Joe Adkins fell in love with country music about 7 years ago.  The stories told by cowboys and outlaws over a slide guitar, surrounded by friends dancing and playing, quickly became the pastime of choice.  Throwing on a pair of boots, with tickets in hand to a concert, Joe would set up a tailgate experience that would turn into an epic preparty to any event. 

 

He recreated his favorite game, horseshoes, to be portable and began bringing it parties and tailgates. His parking lot preparties grew to 60 people.   It wasn’t long until a local bar took interest and rented a few for the summer.  He found himself in a business of entertainment- providing another option outside of Jenga and Cornhole for patrons to have fun while taking a break from line dancing or crowding a stage. 

 

Every year his crew would set out on a road trip to attend the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a country music festival set in the middle of the Las Vegas lights.  He and his country family were there on October 1, 2017 caught in the chaos of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.   

 

Though spared from physical injury, the emotional wounds ran deep.   Still climbing out of the valley of trauma, Joe is finding ways to cope and keep his love of country music, concerts, and tailgate hosting strong.  By concentrating on developing Ringer, The Portable Horseshoe Game, it occupied his mind and gave him reason to attend events as he had to go to fulfill rental agreements. He now finds himself getting to concert venues much earlier than the crowds to set up and staying much later to break the games down and pack up. 

 

It’s still a long road ahead for Joe, before he’s able to attend a concert and not feel like all the joy and happiness of the moment him won’t suddenly turn to terror.  It may take another year before he’s able to move away from his career in finance and do this full time.  But he’s on his way, and he is making every moment count bringing fun to others who share his love of musical stories told by cowboys and outlaws. 

 

It’s an honor speaking with you, Joe. Thank you!

 

Get a game for your next backyard party! www.portablehorseshoegame.com or email Joe directly at portablehorseshoegame@gmail.com It’s ‘Ringer’ of a time!!!

 

Catch full episodes on Thursday. Follow ANBRWY on Facebook or YouTube to catch the video and iTunes, Transistor, or anywhere you get your podcasts to stream the audio!