Meet Jim Burleson | Event Promoter and Film Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jim Burleson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jim, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In school I was a straight C student. I worked harder to not do my work than to just breeze through. I knew college wasn’t for me. I wanted adventure. I joined the military but was injured in training. I wasn’t gonna be able to jump from airplanes or infiltrate enemy lines. So I joined that regular guy job grind. I worked fast food, retail, and even taking side hustles to earn money. I was able to make good money but I was not a “busy work” kinda guy. I don’t rush to push a broom when I see the boss walk in. And I could never respect a boss who would expect that. So I knew I wasn’t cut out for that. So I went looking into my hobbies to see if anything could be done to expand my career options. I started a distribution company and started working in the comics and gaming industry. I found it to be my thing. I took some profits and started promoting cage fighting events. Using those mixed martial arts relationships I got involved in casting movies. After 10 years of cage fighting I converted my promotions company to host comic book conventions. So now I’m living the dream of hosting comic cons and producing and directing movies. And I never pick up a broom to look busy.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Promoting events is a great social release. I have social anxiety so hosting events with 30,000 fans seems like a silly career but it acts as all the “hanging out” I need to do all year long. I get to meet actors and creators from film and tv that give me some insight into who I might want to work with in my film career. It’s gotten pretty well known that i have direct access to many of these actors so other directors and producers call me asking if I’m willing to recommend them. I also find out pretty quickly if I’d never work with them. I love the transient living aspect of both my convention events and the carnival life of shooting movies. It fits my need for personal interactions and my need for isolation equally.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
While in Albuquerque there is no place but Sadie’s. It’s the greatest restaurant and atmosphere in the city. However if you are feeling like a scenic drive down to Socorro there are a number of food places that are literally the best food spots on the planet. Desert Diamond, Jackson’s Ranch Steak House, Sophia’s, and down a few more miles, San Antonio Crane and the Owl Bar.
I don’t have a night life recommendation though. I’m a home body. If I’m not working I’m home with my kiddos.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Terry Trebilcock Jr of King of the Cage, Michael Dell of Dell Computers and Phil Goldfine of Hollywood Media Bridge are the biggest influences on how I run my business. The One Minute Manager and Book of Five Rings are the literary references to how I run my business. Captain America written during Jim Shooter’s era as editor in chief is how I want to live my life. My wife Myriah is actually my greatest gage of success. If she sees something I’m doing as great she tells me. If it’s not that great she smiles at me, hands me a snack, and asks what is there to watch on tv. I know her cues pretty well.
Website: AlbuquerqueComicCon.com
Other: Www.tinytowntinyhomes.com
Image Credits
Megan Kamauoha (film set photos) Alex Wolfe (photo op with white back drop)