Today we’d like to introduce you to Brook Kraushaar
Hi Brook, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Personally: I’m a dad to a beautiful daughter, stepdad to 2 wonderful kids, & a fiancé.
Musically: My dad went to Georgetown university on a scholarship for marching band (drums). So naturally starting around 5 yrs old I started playing drums. Fast forward a bunch of years, I have been in a handful of remarkable & memorable local bands that lasted several years and toured this great nation a few times with some national acts.
I still tour today. Just more for signed national artists & bands.
I do drum videos as well.
Business: I co-owned a studio from 2020-2022 (Essential Studio), now El Crow Photography
Where we built one of the biggest infinity walls in the Midwest inside the old MacMurray college.
Went solo in 2023 with Brook Kraushaar productions as well as That’s my Jam (sandwich co.)
Both thriving to this day.
The production side I shoot music videos, live events, film, & right now I’m filming a tv pilot episode for an adult comedy called “For the Record”
That’s my jam debuts its food trailer this spring. We partner with a commercial kitchen that allows us to manufacture & distribute our products nationally & internationally.
We have a home cottage bakery as well for other goods you can’t get anywhere but there.
One of our main highlights is collaborations with artists & bands on exclusive peanut butter & jelly flavors.
Fight from within (signed metal band) did a hot honey & cayenne pepper peanut butter paired with a peach & habanero jam.
We have one dropping Valentine’s Day with a death metal band called “Casket Robbery” and it’s a strawberry & sriracha jam dubbed “Casket Strobbery” 🤣
We do 1 collaboration drop a month. Some upcoming ones are “The John Candy” & a popular Facebook page called “deathcore specialists”
For local bands/businesses we offer a napkin incentive. Where you send us your QR code that links to whatever you’re trying to promote we get that ordered on a bundle size we agree on and then we pass them out with our food from the food trailer.
9 times out 10 people have their phone, get their food, sit to enjoy it, scan the QR code.
We only charge $50+cost of napkins bundles.
Basically, music is apart of my everyday life and has been for 35 years.
Other honorable mentions, I ran a successful construction company for 4 years (2020-2024), a blog for drummers, a few podcasts (The Sofa King Awesome Show) Cafe piazza, Benton parkade, & stl toy co are all sponsors of the show! Tim, that owns cafe piazza and the cobblestone is a great guy!. I’m brand ambassador for a few clothing lines. .bruh clothing, reaper apparel co, & a few others.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Without getting too personal, grew up shopping at 2nd hand stores & stuff like that.
So I just work hard as heck so my kids don’t have to ever worry about anything. I love my kids and they’re great kids. So that’s what keeps me motivated.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m super proud to be a dad and positive role model for my kids and others.
I’m proud of my production and filming festivals. It’s led me to meet some of my favorite musicians and bands.
I’m proud to be filming a tv pilot episode and diving into short films.
I’m proud my gourmet peanut butter & jelly company is debuting after 2 years of taste tests and recipe trials.
Overall I’m proud to just be a good person and try to do my best in every aspect of life.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Just always remember people have feelings too.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/thatsmyjamsandwich
- Youtube: https://Youtube.com/@brookkraushaar
- Other: https://Facebook.com/bkprotv
