You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take... right?
If it wasn’t for Wayne Gretzky and his motivating quote that seems to fuel every crazy idea of mine or an ingrained aspiration to conquer whatever I (Steen Jones) set my mind to, our Deathproof pop-up bar may never have hit the road or opened it’s doors.
Again, looking back, I don’t know what I was thinking when I decided that co-running 2 consecutive pop up bars [whilst also organising and running a stall for my own brand Few and Far Collective] at Australia’s biggest tattoo convention in another state before I had even opened our first bar was a good idea… but I’m glad I did it.
If it wasn’t for my good friends and absolute legends, Hugo and Henry (owners/operators of rad watering hole The Fat Controller in Adelaide), there was no way that we could have had our custom timber fit out, or have both bars running as professionally and seamlessly as they did all weekend.
And it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as fun if our friends and fam Sailor Jerry, Bacardi, 42 Below, Jameson or Young Henrys hadn’t supported the venture like they did.
With everything in place and the Melbourne crowd bringing the party, Rites of Passage was easily one of the best weekends had in a long time and I think of it as the coolest, most fun and memorable way to kick off Deathproof life and shenanigans on the road!
Photography: Jai Morrow | Videography: Jai Morrow
If you want to attend future Rites of Passage festivals, check out to their Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or website for details.