Meet Jonathan Cernanec

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Cernanec.

Hi Jonathan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ah, the epic of Beer Darts, a game cherished and played with gusto by Ryan and myself for years, through countless adventures and escapades! Throwing darts at beer cans had become a favorite tradition, an integral part of our lives.

Yet, it was a game still in its larval stage, an unpolished gem waiting to be crafted.

Then came the frozen standstill of Covid, a time of reflection and creativity that provided the impetus for invention! The game that we had enjoyed in its lesser form for so long was ready to metamorphose. From the workshop, with the tinkering of an engineering inventor and the passion of a man driven to share, arose a gadget that could only be described as overengineered beauty.

Together, we crafted a cacophony of wildly varied prototypes and inventions that celebrated the delightful chaos of flying darts striking canned bevs. Awards like the “coolest gift in Colorado” were bestowed, friends and enthusiasts were enchanted, and the ceremony in Denver, filled with Amazon and Boeing execs found themselves beguiled by our self-produced drinking game. What goons. We are goons.

We danced and stumbled, and faced setbacks, but never lost sight of our journey’s purpose… to pay rent. Staying humble was easy, for the path was filled with long hours, exhaustion, and questions. But oh, the fans, those connoisseurs of joy and merriment, they kept us going!

So here we stand, on the brink of even greater adventures with our beloved Beer Darts. A tale that began with friendship, a simple game, and the desire to create, now blossoms into an ongoing odyssey filled with wonder, laughter, and an insatiable thirst for fun. Stay tuned, dear friends, the grand escapade is only beginning!

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Inception’s challenges: Turning an idea into reality isn’t just flipping a switch. There were countless nights sketching, brainstorming, and, most importantly, failing. Many a prototype was tossed aside, only to be replaced by something more grand and efficient. The evolution of the gadget from a mere concept to a working piece was a task worthy of Tolkien’s tales!

Finding the right materials: Crafting a piece of art that’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing meant seeking the right materials. We were not merely making a product; we were creating an experience. The impressions we had about what made a good product were filled with notions of integrity and ethics such as “Let’s make it from recycled materials” and “Let’s make it in America, support our country!” but we often felt punished by the market for a high price point. Believing in your product and trying to make it magical is awesome, but not a potential price of closing your doors.

Funding the dream: Ah, bootstrapping, a romantic notion, but not without its trials. Pockets were not endlessly deep, and the financial whirlwind brought many sleepless nights. Yet, our belief in the product, paired with our resilience, proved more potent than any economic hiccup.

Marketing misadventures: How does one take a drinking game to the masses? Marketing such an eccentric product required creativity that rivaled the invention itself. Traditional methods fell short; we had to think outside the box, or rather, outside the can! Social media is such a powerful tool, but it often comes at a huge emotional cost. People can be so negative and seek to bring you down. All you are trying to do is get a little ahead, or pay rent, and “the internet” seems to punish you for simple marketing attempts so often.

Navigating the market: A product as unique as ours has no roadmap. Navigating the market, finding the right audience, and breaking through the noise were challenges that required finesse and savvy. We still struggle with this every single day.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
After college, I worked as a design engineer in automobile exteriors. Being in a cubicle didn’t last. My work there, however, has influenced my work on beer darts greatly. I love to create. To be honest, Beer Darts is just one of dozens of solutions to more mundane problems all over our house.

Ryan and I are both avid board gamers and our love of Beer Darts was born from a general disdain for the mundane nature of so many lawn games. Their either overly simple or convoluted rules as well as the complexity of their required equipment, just didn’t excite us.

Cornhole holds no surprises in gameplay, croquet requires a perfectly manicured lawn. Bocce? Is a game of just throwing a rock closer to the other rocks better than your opponent. What are we cavemen? Board games can be so beautifully balanced and varied. They have randomness and surprise but are not suited for the outdoors or a more raucous mood. A pair of goofballs on late nights? Let’s invent a game of debauchery and wholesome destruction that can go with us anywhere.

Nothing is perfect and no game is suited for every situation, but nothing exists that you can fit in your pocket, play in a single parking spot, and bring your friends to tears laughing while playing. Well, nothing until Beer Darts.

What matters most to you? Why?
I believe in integrity.

Being honest and straightforward. Showing the people you care about that love is more than words, but is acts of meaningful kindness. I believe that cleaning your room is how you start a day with a clean mind and a clean mind helps you approach life’s challenges with patience and empathy.

I bring this to Beer Darts. Yes, we are here to make a buck and try and get ahead, but we aren’t some huge company selling and marketing crap that you will use once and throw away due to poor quality. Our THING, Beer Darts, is meant to be quality that you can enjoy hundreds of times.

What matters to me? Meaning what you say and saying what you mean.

Pricing:

• Beer Darts Set $45
• Beer Darts with 4 extra darts and skinny can adapters $55
• Glow in the Dark Beer Darts $65

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beerdarts.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beer_darts/

Image Credits
Olivia Reed