Homecoming Season with Josh Mercer | Art of the Party Podcast
Welcome to Season 2 of The Art of the Party Podcast hosted by Jeff Osuji, Eventnoire CEO. In this episode, Jeff sits down with longtime friend and business partner Josh Mercer, Howard University alum, event producer, and founder of The Movemakers and Black Homecomings Matter. Together, they explore the culture, legacy, and excitement behind Black Homecomings, the rise of Eventnoire, and how partnerships built on loyalty and integrity create long-term success. From the origins of Movemakers and the evolution of event culture, to the magic of Howard University Homecoming, this episode celebrates Black excellence, entrepreneurship, and the power of community. Tune in, subscribe, and drop your favorite Homecoming memory with us below. 00:00 – Welcome to The Art of the Party Podcast 00:45 – Guest Josh Mercer, Howard alum & event creator 03:20 – How Movemakers got started in Chicago 06:10 – The evolution from physical tickets to Eventnoire 08:30 – Why Howard University is a hub for Black excellence 11:00 – Inside the culture of Howard Homecoming 14:30 – The lineup: Bar crawls, block parties & R&B nights 18:45 – The Black Homecomings Matter movement 22:00 – Giving back to HBCUs & scholarship initiatives 25:15 – Partnerships, business lessons & longevity 30:00 – Event Noir’s growth into 50+ markets 33:15 – Shoutouts to Pronghorn & Black-owned spirits 35:00 – Closing thoughts: Celebrate, give back, and keep building 🔗 Connect & Support: • Black Homecomings Matter → @blkhomecomingsmatter & blackhomecomingsmatter.com • Follow Josh on Instagram → @themovemakers & @howardalumni • Follow Jeff on Instagram → @eventnoire • Events → eventnoire.com & themovemakerevents.com • Insurance → joshuamercerinsurance.com • Howard University Homecoming info → homecomingathoward.com Sponsored by Pronghorn Spirits - celebrating smooth vibes with over 30 portfolio spirits to sip on. See them all at pronghorn.co #howardhomecoming #blackhomecomingsmatter #hbcu #eventnoire #artofthepartypodcast #blackexcellence #homecomingseason #movemakers #Pronghorn #blackculture #entrepreneurship #hbculife #eventmarketing
Video Chapters
- 0:00 Kicking off Season 2 of the Art of the Party Podcast!
- 0:50 The origin story: How The Move Makers began crafting unforgettable events
- 2:10 Unveiling Howard University: A vibrant hub of Black excellence
- 3:25 Why Howard Homecoming is truly a legendary, must-attend experience
- 4:30 Get ready! Howard Homecoming's incredible lineup, from yacht parties to bar crawls
- 6:30 Reliving iconic Yardfest performances: Jay-Z, DMX, Drake, and more!
- 8:10 Beyond the celebration: Homecoming as a vital community check-in
- 10:40 Black Homecomings Matter: A powerful celebration of vibrant culture
- 12:20 The secret to success: Unpacking the power of true business partnerships
- 15:30 Embrace the spirit: Create your own unforgettable homecoming memories
Original Output
0:00 Kicking off Season 2 of the Art of the Party Podcast! 0:50 The origin story: How The Move Makers began crafting unforgettable events 2:10 Unveiling Howard University: A vibrant hub of Black excellence 3:25 Why Howard Homecoming is truly a legendary, must-attend experience 4:30 Get ready! Howard Homecoming's incredible lineup, from yacht parties to bar crawls 6:30 Reliving iconic Yardfest performances: Jay-Z, DMX, Drake, and more! 8:10 Beyond the celebration: Homecoming as a vital community check-in 10:40 Black Homecomings Matter: A powerful celebration of vibrant culture 12:20 The secret to success: Unpacking the power of true business partnerships 15:30 Embrace the spirit: Create your own unforgettable homecoming memories Timestamps by StampBot 🤖
Unprocessed Timestamp Content
0:00 Welcome to the Art of the Party Podcast Season 2 0:12 Celebrating 19 years of partnership and official new studio vibes 0:35 Diving into the magic of Homecoming season is finally here 0:50 Joshua Mercer shares The Move Makers event promotion origin story 1:16 Post-college party scene woes led to creating better events 1:44 Remembering the good old days of physical tickets vs apps 2:10 Howard University: a melting pot of black excellence and diverse minds 2:52 Howard's rich history and famous alumni are truly inspiring 3:25 Howard Homecoming is a legendary, unforgettable, must-attend experience 3:50 Joshua explains why Howard's Homecoming is #1 for many 4:30 From yacht parties to bar crawls: Howard Homecoming's incredible lineup 5:00 Howard Homecoming welcomes everyone who embraces black culture 5:30 Give back to campus students to keep the community spirit strong 6:00 Get ready for a week of electrifying events and karaoke brunches 6:30 Jay-Z, DMX, Drake, and more performing at iconic Yardfest 7:00 Sip responsibly with Black-owned spirits from Pronghorn, cheers! 7:35 That nostalgic "Lean On Me" feeling when everyone connects again 8:10 Homecoming: more than a party, it's a vital community check-in 8:49 Don't miss Howard Homecoming October 23-26, mark your calendars! 9:25 Eventnoire's mission: empowering organizers to scale their visions nationally 10:00 Howard Homecoming is an unmissable cultural experience for all 10:40 Black Homecomings Matter: celebrating and owning our vibrant culture 11:10 The indescribable energy and joy of Black Homecoming, you feel it 11:50 Support your university's students, helping them thrive beyond campus 12:20 The power of business partnerships: integrity, loyalty, and success 13:00 Dame Dash's wisdom: true partnership means putting in the resources 13:40 Win-win situations and transparency build lasting business relationships 14:10 Focus on longevity and creating shared value over immediate gains 14:50 Our journey from parties to owning an insurance agency together 15:30 Embrace the spirit of homecoming and create unforgettable memories 15:50 Find Joshua Mercer and The Move Makers for amazing events Timestamps by StampBot 🤖