Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Jones.
Hi Jason, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The story of The Red Piano really begins with a simple belief: that live music has the power to bring people together in a way that almost nothing else can.
My business partner, Colin Campbell, and I have spent most of our adult lives in hospitality. Long before The Red Piano existed, we were fascinated by the idea of creating places where strangers could become friends, where celebrations happened naturally, and where people could leave happier than when they arrived.
Our first Red Piano opened in St. Maarten nearly two decades ago. We weren’t backed by a large corporation or private equity group. We were simply two hospitality professionals with a vision, a lot of determination, and probably more optimism than experience. What started as a small piano bar eventually became one of the island’s most beloved nightlife destinations, attracting visitors from around the world while becoming a gathering place for locals as well.
That success gave us the confidence to dream bigger.
In 2015, we began building what would become The Red Piano Santa Barbara. We opened our doors in July 2016 on the first day of Fiesta, one of the city’s most celebrated traditions. Ready or not, we knew we had to open. It was a leap of faith, but the community embraced us from the very beginning.
Over the years, The Red Piano has grown into far more than a music venue. It has become a place where birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, first dates, wedding after-parties, charity fundraisers, and countless unforgettable nights have taken place. What we’re most proud of isn’t the number of guests we’ve served, it’s the relationships we’ve built. Many of our customers have become lifelong friends.
The secret has never really changed. We focus on creating an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. The music is interactive, the audience becomes part of the show, and every night takes on a personality of its own. No two evenings are ever exactly alike.
Today, nearly a decade after opening in Santa Barbara, we’re preparing to bring that same spirit to Traverse City, Michigan. It’s an exciting new chapter, but our mission remains exactly what it was when we started: create a place where people can gather, connect, celebrate, and make memories together.
At its heart, The Red Piano has never been about pianos, cocktails, or nightlife. It’s about community. Everything else is simply the backdrop.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. If entrepreneurship teaches you anything, it’s that there is no such thing as a smooth road.
When we opened our first location in St. Maarten, we were learning as we went. We faced hurricanes, economic downturns, and all the challenges that come with operating on an island. Then came the Santa Barbara project, which required us to take everything we’d learned and bet on ourselves again in a completely different market.
Like many businesses, one of our biggest tests came during the pandemic. Overnight, the hospitality industry found itself in uncharted territory. We had to adapt quickly, make difficult decisions, and find ways to keep our team together while navigating enormous uncertainty. There were moments when the future felt anything but guaranteed.
But every challenge forced us to become better operators and better leaders. It taught us the importance of flexibility, persistence, and never losing sight of the people who make a business possible, our employees, our guests, and the communities that support us.
Looking back, the struggles are actually part of what makes the journey meaningful. The successes are wonderful, but it’s the obstacles that shape you. Every challenge we’ve faced has reinforced the same lesson: if you genuinely care about people, work hard, and refuse to give up, you can weather almost anything.
We’re certainly proud of what we’ve built, but we’re even more grateful for the people who helped us build it along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Red Piano?
The Red Piano is a live music venue built around one simple idea: create a place where people can genuinely connect.
While we’re often described as a piano bar, we’re really in the business of creating experiences. Every night is built around live, interactive entertainment where the audience becomes part of the show. Requests are encouraged, celebrations are embraced, and strangers often leave as friends. No two nights are ever exactly the same.
What sets us apart is that we’ve never tried to be the trendiest place in town. Instead, we’ve focused on creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable, whether they’re celebrating a birthday, attending a fundraiser, visiting from out of town, or simply looking for a great night out with friends. We want people to feel like they’ve discovered a place where they belong.
Over the years, that philosophy has helped us build lasting relationships within the communities we serve. We’ve hosted countless charitable events, partnered with local nonprofits, celebrated major life milestones with our guests, and watched generations of families return year after year. Some of our customers have been with us for nearly two decades.
From a brand perspective, what I’m most proud of is that The Red Piano has remained independently owned and personally operated. My business partner Colin Campbell, my wife Paola, and I are deeply involved in the day-to-day experience. We’re not a corporate chain following a playbook created in a boardroom. Every location reflects the personality of the community it serves while staying true to the same core values of hospitality, entertainment, and connection.
At the end of the day, we’re not trying to be the biggest venue. We’re trying to be the place people remember. The place where anniversaries are celebrated, friendships are formed, songs become memories, and visitors leave with a story they’ll tell for years.
That’s what The Red Piano has always been about, and that’s what we hope it will continue to be for many years to come.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that mentors don’t usually appear when you’re looking for them. Most of the important people in my life started as customers, coworkers, business associates, or friends.
My advice is to focus less on networking and more on building genuine relationships. Be curious. Ask questions. Listen more than you talk. Show up consistently. Over time, people begin to trust you, and that’s when opportunities and mentorship tend to appear.
Some of the best advice I’ve ever received came from people sitting across a bar, sharing a meal, or simply telling stories about their own experiences. If you’re paying attention, almost everyone has something valuable to teach you.
I also think it’s important not to be afraid of asking for help. Most successful people remember what it was like when they were starting out and are often more willing to share their knowledge than you might expect.
Looking back, the relationships I’ve built have been far more valuable than any business plan or marketing strategy. Businesses grow, markets change, and trends come and go, but strong relationships have a way of opening doors throughout your entire career.
My business partner Colin and I have worked together for more than 20 years, and many of our closest friendships began through hospitality. That’s one of the things I love most about this industry, it brings people together. If you approach people with authenticity and genuinely care about them, networking stops feeling like networking and starts feeling like building a community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theredpiano.com
- Instagram: @theredpianosb
- Facebook: The Red Piano Santa Barbara, The Red Piano Traverse City
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-jones-b9a5b713a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9619GRV31Sk
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-red-piano-santa-barbara
