Most people go to Journeyman Distillery’s American Factory in Valparaiso for a night out with friends and family to try the unique foods and whiskey on the menu. It’s also a hot spot for people to come into the venue and enjoy some fresh entertainment.
Bill Welter, owner at Journeyman, believes his businesses offer a wide variety of events that customers can appreciate.
“The term we like to use with our brand is whiskey hospitality,” Welter said. “We’re all about creating a unique experience where whiskey and spirits are intertwined with everything at both facilities in Three Oaks and Valparaiso. We host corporate weddings and bring in artists to supply some entertainment that revolves around brewing and the distillery.”
One of the special activities that’s continued to grow in popularity for Journeyman’s American Factory is the comedy series. Welter has heard from customers who might only visit the factory one or two times a year just to get a front row seat to one of the comedy shows.
“We had a young guy here a few years ago who was a comedian working part time at a local comedy club,” Welter said. “He felt like he could put on a comedy show here. We gave him a shot at our Three Oaks location. His act drew a crowd and the people really enjoyed it. After that show, we decided to emphasize our comedy series a bit more.”
One of the top shows in this series is called “Comedy on the Rocks,” a multi-hour performance that brings a headliner and a feature act together to jump start a fun weekend. The most recent Comedy on the Rocks show featured Dave Dyer as the headliner and Will Green as the feature act.
With the comedy series continuing to soar, the process of getting acts to perform can be a little overwhelming at times. As a way to alleviate some of the stress, Welter and the Journeyman crew go through an agency to book talent for the shows.
Welter believes special ideas like the comedy series are a great boost for the Valparaiso community. Having a spot to rely on during the weekends where people can always find new entertainment is one of the traits that the Journeyman hangs its hat on.
“This has been a great opportunity for us to bring some of what we did in Three Oaks over to the American Factory and the customers we have in Valparaiso,” Welter said. “Carrying out traditions is an important part of what Journeyman is all about.”
When it comes to the future of the comedy series at the American Factory, Welter is confident and willing to take risks in order to put together the best product possible.
“The vision is to continue to provide experiences at the distilleries that people won’t come across very often,” Welter said. “We have a wide range of events – from our comedy series, artisan markets, and live music performances – that we can pull off. Not every event is going to be a hit, but we’re not afraid of taking a risk. It’s part of the trial and understanding that our audience wants, and our goal is to deliver on that.”
For more information on Journeyman Distillery’s American Factory, you can visit its website.
