Did you know that Taylor Studios was founded by Betty Brennan and Joe Taylor?  What’s the story on Joe, the man behind the name?

Betty and Joe started Taylor Studios in 1991. Joe played a large part in developing the products, methods, and processes that we still utilize as a company today. He was the “art” side of the “business meets art”. Several years ago, Betty took sole ownership over Taylor Studios, and Joe went on to open a winery, which he has since sold in order to pursue new adventures in Mexico. Through all these years he’s always kept in touch and in stayed involved with TSI in some regard. Today, we get a behind-the-scenes from the often illusive cofounder.

Joe, on newfound adventures in Mexico

TSI: Joe, what gets you out of bed in the morning?

Joe: The dog, having to pee. Sometimes it’s not morning.

TSI: What did you gain or lose by selling TSI ?

Joe: In selling TSI, I missed working with a team, solving problems, the unique coworkers, and team collaboration. As far as gains, I gained a plethora a new life experience–I opened a winery.

TSI: What inspired you to start TSI?

Joe: Well, I make for a pretty crappy employee. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur. History is cool, nature is cool. TSI is the ideal company.

The museum business is so diverse. You get to learn about the coolest things. It’s a lot like college, but only learning about the select cool stuff, and not the rest of the boring stuff.

TSI: What was your biggest victory in the early days?

Joe: Really the fact that we were able to start without any money in a garage is a victory. We actually got payment checks in the mail for two-dollars for some of our early mail-order artifacts. Having started from scratch is victorious. Our first really “big job” was for Dixon Mounds.

TSI: What was your biggest mistake in the early days?

Joe: Very early on we were hired for a high profile job for some mannequins. We worked all hours of the night to get the figures ready to go and when it came time to load them, we put them on a truck and accidentally snapped off the arm and hand on one of them! Woops!

TSI: Excuse the morbid overtone of this question, but how do you want to be remembered ?

Joe: I’m just happy to have played a role in the beginning. I like to see that TSI is flourishing now. I also love that I was able to leave a legacy in many museums. And it’s pretty awesome that TSI still uses many of the methods that I implemented.

TSI: Were there any similarities to starting TSI & a winery?

Joe: I suppose creating something from nothing and making it work is the common thread. I’m a day dreamer, I like the vision and planning of what things could be, then making them actually happen.

TSI: Any words of wisdom for start-ups?

Joe: Don’t let fear keep you from doing things.

TSI: What do you think most people would be surprised to find out about you?

Joe: That’s tough. Let’s see; I was in the military when I was young – an Army Officer. Some may find it surprising that for being a winery founder I actually don’t really drink much. Also, people may not know that I build and fly planes.

TSI: Who would you let punch you directly in the face?

Joe: Only Dawn, she’s earned it.  (Dawn is Joe’s wife)

TSI: Have you ever found the image of a biblical figure on a piece of toast?

Joe: Yes–I’d rather not explain.

On a side note, I also dressed up as Larry Bud Melman from the David Letterman Show, circa 1985, and sold toast on a stick to drunk people for Halloween one year.

TSI: What do you think cats dream about?

Joe: Hunting, a lot.

TSI: What’s next?

Joe: Good question. I think I’m going to try to be an artist. I’m not really sure what that means yet. I’ve always done artistic things, but now I want to actually explore what it is to be an artist.

TSI: Anything we should have asked that we didn’t?

Joe: I don’t think so. Just keep making awesome stuff!