Meet Jae Davis of Uscout

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jae Davis.

Jae, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a lifelong Creative with an entrepreneurial spirit. Growing up I was a ballerina who loved art, photography and film.

When I arrived in Los Angeles via California’s Central Valley by way of rural Tennessee I had already started and run a small successful event planning business. I tried my hand at acting when I first moved to L.A. I landed a few extra roles but shortly after I decided acting was not for me. But the experience proved to be invaluable as it gave me a behind the scenes look at Hollywood and all the moving parts that go into producing a great film, including the location.

Looking for something a bit more structured I joined a real estate acquisitions company. I was tasked with coming up with a way to create cash flow to help offset holding costs of our properties. I developed and launched a successful campaign for the short-term use of our properties by renting to filmmakers and photographers. And, this is how the idea of Uscout was born.

I quickly developed a rapport and trust within the entertainment industry. Studios and independent Creatives alike know they can count on Uscout for unparalleled service and discretion. Uscout has worked with many established companies including Netflix, CBS, Vogue, E! Channel, Warner Brothers.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Taking the entrepreneurial path is rarely a smooth road. It is more like a roller coast ride, constant ups and downs. It’s like you make a slow ascend up, you’re at the top for a few minutes then you rapidly descend, screaming and holding on for dear life. But, if you focus and hold on tightly, you can make it through that tumultuous ride. That’s pretty much how it has gone for me anyway.

I have a very pragmatic attitude when it comes to mistakes. You cant change what you can’t change but you can learn from your mistakes. And, I have made my fair share. Admit them, learn from them and move on. Failure breeds success.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Uscout is a two-sided marketplace to list and discover unique spaces for creative projects, events, and various other functions.

Uscout allows renters to choose from a variety of unique locations, from the glamorous and the historic, to the eccentric. Our ethos is that if you can imagine it, we can connect you to it.

For property hosts, Uscout provides a convenient way to showcase and monetize their space through hourly or daily rentals. Our commitment to the property host is to connect them with a vast network of consumers looking to fulfill their location needs.

The global entertainment industry generates about $2.2 trillion yearly. The shared economy of short-term vacation rentals produces around $10 billion every year. These numbers are projected to dramatically increase in the future. Uscout combines these two economies to provide a platform much needed for anyone needing to rent a space for a film or photo shoot, birthday party, tech event, conference, art openings and endless other possibilities.

As short-term vacation rentals are outlawed in more and more cities across the country homeowners and hosts are looking for a new way to earn extra income. On average hosts will earn twice as much revenue for half the amount of time with Uscout versus a traditional vacation rental site.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up in rural Tennessee. Dance and art were a big part of my life. I remember begging my parents to let me audition for the Russian ballet. That didn’t go over so well. I grew up on a 100 acres which meant I spent a lot of time outside. That instilled in me a great love of the outdoors.

I have been a vegetarian and animal-rights activist since I was 12. It was pretty unheard of during that time, especially in rural Tennessee. I somehow convinced my mom to buy reusable bags and cruelty-free products. We ordered from a store called The Body Shop- not online but from a catalog.

I sent boycott letters to Gillette and took petitions to school to be signed. In a town full of hunters I was surprised how many signatures I received. But still, some of my classmates teased me relentlessly. This all sounds normal now, especially in California, but back then in the rural South, no one was talking about cruelty-free products.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://uscout.com
• Email: info@uscout.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uscout/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uscout/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/uscout_com   https://twitter.com/jae__davis

Photography by Fro Rojas at Uscout locations


Owen Wilson photos by  Brian Bowen Smith, Taraji P Henson photos by Dennis Leupold. All shot at Uscout locations

Black and White Photos by Ger Ger, Finn Wolfhard photos by Graham Dunn for Lined Magazine. All shot at Uscout locations

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.