An Inspired Chat with Jarvis ‘Jeb’ Barnes of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Jarvis ‘Jeb’ Barnes and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jarvis ‘Jeb’, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Intelligence can be rented, taught, or sharpened over time.
Energy comes and goes, anybody can be fired up for a season.

But integrity? That’s the spine. When nobody’s watching. When money’s on the line. When it would be easier to cut a corner and no one would know.

I’ve learned that if someone has integrity, you can build intelligence around them and aim their energy in the right direction. Without it, the smartest, most driven person will eventually cost you more than they’re worth.

Old rule I live by:
Skill gets you in the room. Integrity decides how long you stay.

That’s how you build something that lasts.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jarvis “Jeb” Barnes. I’m a professional touring drummer, social media personality, and playback engineer, but at my core I’m a builder.

I come from a background where you learn by doing, by showing up early, staying late, and letting your work speak before you do. That mindset shaped everything I’ve built onstage and off. I’ve toured the world with major artists, but my real focus now is creating systems, education, and culture around the live-entertainment world that most people never see.

My brand, Drumming With Jarvis, isn’t just about drums. It’s about professionalism, discipline, and longevity in an industry that doesn’t hand out manuals. I help musicians and live-show professionals understand how to operate at a high level technically, mentally, and ethically, so they can sustain real careers, not just moments.

What makes it different is the code behind it. I don’t sell shortcuts. I don’t glamorize chaos. I teach structure, preparedness, and respect for the music, the team, and yourself. Whether it’s education, content, touring, or the projects I’m building now, everything is aimed at one thing: helping people play the long game and win it the right way.

I’m not chasing noise. I’m building something that lasts.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Ego breaks bonds. Silence breaks bonds. And unspoken expectations break bonds.

Most relationships don’t fall apart because of one big betrayal. They erode because people stop telling the truth early, stop listening fully, or start keeping score. Pride makes people protect their image instead of the relationship, and that’s usually the beginning of the end.

What restores bonds is accountability and respect. Honest conversations, even when they’re uncomfortable. Owning your part without needing to win. Consistency over time, showing up the same way on good days and bad ones.

Trust isn’t rebuilt with words. It’s rebuilt with patterns.

When people feel safe, respected, and seen, when actions line up with intent, bonds don’t just come back. They come back stronger.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me humility, patience, and precision.

Success is loud! It can convince you that you’re special. Suffering is quiet. It strips you down and shows you what actually works when nothing’s going your way. It taught me how to listen, how to wait, and how to move with intention instead of emotion.

When you’re hurting, every decision costs something. You learn not to waste effort, not to waste words, and not to waste people. You learn who’s real, who’s temporary, and who you can trust when there’s nothing to gain.

Success rewards outcomes. Suffering builds character.

And character is what keeps you standing when the applause fades.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
A few truths guide everything I do, even though I don’t talk about them often.

Time is the most honest currency there is. How people spend it tells you everything you need to know about their values, priorities, and respect.

Consistency beats intensity every time. Small, disciplined actions done daily quietly outperform big moments of motivation.

Character shows up under pressure, not comfort. When things are easy, anyone can look solid. When things are hard, the real person steps forward.

And lastly, nothing meaningful is built alone. You move further when you treat people well, keep your word, and understand that reputation is earned slowly and lost quickly.

Those ideas don’t need to be spoken much. They show up in how I work, how I choose people, and how I live.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
People may think my legacy is about success, visibility, or the artists I’ve worked with.

What they might miss is that it’s really about standards.

I’ve never been interested in being the loudest or the fastest. I care about doing things the right way when it would be easier to cut corners, about showing younger people that discipline and preparation are forms of respect, and about building systems that outlast any single moment or tour.

The work onstage is just the proof.
The legacy is in the habits, the code, and the people who carry those standards forward long after I’m gone.

If they misunderstand that, I’m fine with it. The people that are ready to receive the message will feel it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drummingwithjarvis.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarvisjeb/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeofDrummingWithJarvis

Image Credits
Beth Saravo (@baeth)
Alex Kluft (@alexkluftphotography)