Join host Erika Audrey on this charming episode of Clover Club as she sits down with Melissa and Bethany from Mahjong Social ATL. Dive into the fascinating world of mahjong, exploring its history, strategies, and the joy it brings to communities. Discover how these friends turned their passion into a successful small business and learn about the unique bond formed through the game. Tune in for a delightful conversation about mahjong, friendship, and the magic of turning shared interests into thriving enterprises.

Welcome to Clover club, a podcast

about curious conversations and stories

2

intended to make you laugh and learn.

3

I'm your host, Erica.

4

And today I am joined by two out of the

four members of Mahjong, social ATL.

5

I've got Bethany and Melissa ladies.

6

Hello?

7

Hi.

8

Hi, how are you?

9

Doing well, how are you doing so well?

10

So I really appreciate you taking

some time out of your very

11

busy schedules to sit down and

come and Clover club and chat.

12

All things Mahjong.

13

Thanks for having us.

14

Oh, it's my pleasure.

15

So I was telling the ladies

before we started recording that

16

I started to do research for this

episode and my start was to Google.

17

What is Mahjong?

18

And then I stopped because I thought

probably a lot of people listening

19

have heard of Mahjong and know

that it's a game, but probably

20

don't know a whole lot past that.

21

So I wanted to chat with you guys

and learn about it sort of live.

22

And I think people listening will

probably be in a similar space as I am so.

23

Tell me everything, how

did this get started?

24

Tell us what you're doing.

25

Yeah.

26

So, , this got started a

little over a year ago.

27

I guess we should go back when.

28

My mom who's been playing

Mahjong since, before I was

29

born, which is over 40 years ago.

30

, Taught me, Molly, Val, and

Bethany, all how to play Mahjong.

31

I already knew how.

32

Yes.

33

I was going to say that.

34

Bethany.

35

Already knew how to play.

36

She had been in I'll let her tell her

a little piece, if she would like.

37

Yeah.

38

So my grandma taught me.

39

Oh, Years ago probably.

40

I don't, I don't know.

41

I was trying to talk to

my mom about this early.

42

I ran into my mom at Drybar and.

43

Yeah.

44

I was asking I'm like, mom,

when did Nina teach us?

45

But it was, it was a long time ago.

46

It was, I don't know, maybe

like eight ish years ago or so

47

it was definitely pre COVID.

48

And then my grandma used to play all

the time, multiple times a week with

49

her friends and then COVID happened.

50

And because they were older, they

were nervous to be around each other.

51

And so their games kind

of just came to a stop.

52

And so my mom and my sister, and I would

go over and my aunt sometimes and my

53

cousins and we put our masks on and we

would just play Mahjong with my grandma.

54

And it was so fun.

55

, but yeah, that's how I learned.

56

That's adorable.

57

And so backing up to when we started

playing together, I can't even remember

58

the impetus for it or how we decided to,

but three of the four of us who formed

59

Mahjong, social, our neighbors like

literally houses down from each other.

60

So part of it is that we were all.

61

Friends anyway, and convenience and

our kids all play together, but somehow

62

we all decided we wanted to learn.

63

So my mom taught us Bethany, as we just

learned, I already knew how to play.

64

And Bethany's mom came and

helped teach a little bit also.

65

And within a few weeks we were playing,

we were playing slowly, but we were

66

playing, , and we, despite busy schedules

managed to have a pretty regular game.

67

And sometimes that looked like once a

week actually having scheduled games.

68

And we started out ambitious with

rotating who would host and we would have.

69

I like a dinner or a heavier spread

and then it kind of turned into, okay,

70

well, can we just get together quickly?

71

When can we do it?

72

The kids are down.

73

Let's go.

74

Or can we trick the husbands and to

all getting together and watching the

75

kids while we kind of back into the

corner and play Mahjong at this table.

76

And so we've really maintained

our regular game for over a year.

77

And, , it's been a whole lot of fun.

78

That's awesome.

79

And so the way this all started,

I would say in September or

80

October Bethany, had a dream of

opening up a parlor, if you will.

81

W what.

82

Was it

83

like

84

brick and mortar.

85

Social club.

86

If you will.

87

To host events, but then also

to double as like a Mahjong

88

space, but to also be used for.

89

Whatever.

90

I don't know.

91

Yeah.

92

But that was your original idea.

93

Yeah.

94

Yeah.

95

Okay.

96

I'm super into that.

97

So, But nice.

98

Still happen.

99

So it could, but brick and mortar

space in Brookhaven where we

100

live is not easy to come by.

101

, and certainly not inexpensive.

102

So we kind of.

103

Pivoted a little bit and

said, well, what if we taught.

104

Mahjong lessons and all three

of us besides Bethany, we're all

105

kind of like, well, when are we

going to have time to do that?

106

How's that?

107

How's that going to work?

108

You know, whatever, but Bethany.

109

, was persistent and, uh, And she

is persistent and a go getter

110

and is excellent with the

checklists and the follow-up.

111

And we got it together and started.

112

We had a bunch of meetings and

Bethany has a, has an, had a ton

113

of ideas that she has executed on.

114

And, , we've built this,

this little business.

115

We started live with our lessons

in December and the interest I

116

would say in lessons has been

greater than we ever anticipated.

117

Yeah.

118

Much bigger than we ever imagined.

119

It seems like this has just skyrocketed,

like you were in Atlanta magazine, right?

120

Yeah.

121

, how did that come about?

122

That came about.

123

I was at, Ansley and I had just

played tennis and I was in the locker

124

room and I saw this girl and she

was wearing this pickleball outfit.

125

And I saw her like out on the

pickleball court and I told her,

126

I was like, I love your outfit.

127

You look so cute.

128

And I don't even know.

129

We started talking about match on.

130

And she is also a member of Ansley

and she happens to be a freelance

131

writer and writes currently in a

magazine and writes for Southern living

132

and all these great publications.

133

And.

134

Said she's like, actually I, and

I told her that we were thinking

135

about starting this business, but

it was like very, very early on.

136

And we were just kind of in the beginning

process of even just like getting ideas

137

out there and she's like, well, if it

really happens, let me know because I'm

138

actually writing an article about modules.

139

And I was like, okay, so.

140

We, I reached back out here

and I said, we're doing it.

141

So she interviewed us and

that's how we did that.

142

That's amazing.

143

And I find that when you're onto

something, like when you're on the right

144

path and let me know if this resonates

with you, it seems like things really

145

click into place to support that journey.

146

And it sounds like this is

the perfect example of that.

147

I agree with that.

148

There are things that I'd never would

have thought could happen that seem

149

like they're going to happen, or,

you know, Opportunities that we've,

150

we've been approached with where

I'm just like, I can't believe that.

151

Like this is happening

that we get to do this.

152

This is awesome.

153

So exciting.

154

Do you all of you have kids.

155

Almost.

156

So half of you.

157

Yes.

158

So, , I have three kids.

159

Bethany has two kids.

160

Val has two kids and Molly

is due with her first.

161

And, uh, Any day now.

162

Oh my goodness.

163

Okay.

164

So that is like some serious, the

fact that all of you can maintain

165

scheduling with each other.

166

And I mean, that alone seems

like it would be such a.

167

Uh, mountain to climb.

168

It's.

169

A lot of whiteout and highlighters

and my paper calendar.

170

That is like it's.

171

A mess, but it's, it works.

172

I guess.

173

So far it works.

174

Bethany.

175

What's your sign.

176

I'm a Virgo.

177

I was literally about to

be like, are you ever go?

178

Cause I am too.

179

And I'm like, I do have a paper

calendar and the obsessive about

180

scheduling and making shit happen.

181

My husband and I ever get divorced.

182

It's going to be because

of the paper calendar.

183

Oh, really?

184

Yeah.

185

It's not on the calendar.

186

If the Mahjong social ever

breaks up, it might also be

187

because of your paper calendar.

188

Bethany.

189

We're taking the Enneagram test.

190

No.

191

Ooh.

192

I feel like you should.

193

I know.

194

I feel like I'd probably find

out some stuff I might not want.

195

No.

196

No, it's the best.

197

The have you taken it, Melissa?

198

I have, but I can't remember what I am.

199

Okay.

200

, You should take it again or

like pull up your results.

201

But , it is to me, the most fascinating

of all of the personality tests.

202

Um, but I'm curious, I'm a Virgo and

I'm an eight week seven, which people

203

listening are like that fucking trucks.

204

Um, but I'm real curious.

205

I'm real curious.

206

Um, report back.

207

Yes, please.

208

, okay, so we've got Bethany, the

planner, , Melissa, you're a lawyer.

209

Yes.

210

Do any of your law skills

transfer to this endeavor?

211

I don't know how much of my law

skills translate to the endeavor other

212

than my ability to think logically.

213

And I think that can translate

into planning or it did translate

214

into planning the lesson.

215

And how we were going to teach

the lesson, although to be clear.

216

My mom, I think is shocked that

I am decent at teaching because

217

she's seen the level of patients.

218

I have trying to teach my children

things and she's like, thank

219

God you were never a teacher.

220

So, I don't know, but my ability to

like, think through the steps of how

221

you get from point a to point, you know,

E or F for whatever, playing the game.

222

I think, I think some of

those skills translate.

223

And then from the business running

aspect, this is nerdy, but I

224

really enjoy personal finance.

225

So I like to manage the finance side

of the business or track the budget

226

and the spending and all of that.

227

So that's not really.

228

Law per se, but yeah, it does intersect

a little bit with my law job that I have.

229

So.

230

Look at a very analytical mind.

231

So it makes sense to me that those

things would kind of overlap.

232

Yeah.

233

Yeah.

234

So, , Melissa, Molly and

valor, all attorneys.

235

Oh, okay.

236

Okay.

237

Yeah.

238

Free legal advice.

239

They have done a great job of

really just like breaking it all

240

down because it's a confusing game.

241

There's lots of rules.

242

There's lots of nuances and it's,

there's always these exceptions to.

243

You can do this, but you can't

do it here and you can't do that.

244

And, but, and when I feel like

when your mom taught y'all, it was

245

kind of just like, let's just play

and y'all figure it out and okay.

246

It's.

247

It works, but we really wanted to

be able to have like a concrete

248

lesson plan to really break it

down and make it make sense.

249

And they did a great job at that.

250

I can't, that's not my forte.

251

So that's awesome.

252

So let me put a pin in the personality

stuff, cause I do want to swing back

253

to that, but will you share with

people what the fuck even is module?

254

So Mahjong is a tile game.

255

It's played with tiles.

256

We actually brought us up to show

you and I left it in the car.

257

Oh, that's okay.

258

Because I don't know if you've ever even

seen a set, not in real life in real.

259

Okay.

260

Well, we have one to

show you as soon as a.

261

The rain stopped.

262

And if you hear rain in the

background, I apologize.

263

It is what it is.

264

Um, so it's a tile game that

originated in China and there's

265

several different forums, , even

other than American, which is what

266

we teach and what we can talk about.

267

, most there's Japanese

Mahjong and, , others.

268

And so China Mahjong came over to the

269

thirties and, , Jewish women actually

up in the Northeast, standardize the

270

game, , and formed the national Mahjong

league, which still exists to this day.

271

, and they are the ones that

every year put out the, um card

272

of hands that you play with.

273

, and back to your question, Erica,

what is the game of Mahjong?

274

So basically there is a card of

hands that have put out by the

275

national Mahjong league every year.

276

Okay.

277

, and this is to play American

Mahjong, , and each card has

278

like 60 plus hands on it.

279

And by hand, we mean a row of.

280

, 14 tiles.

281

Oh, wow.

282

Okay.

283

And so on the card, there are 60 plus rows

of symbols that indicate 14 tiles that

284

you have to collect over the course of

the game in order to achieve a Mahjong.

285

And the first step of the game is.

286

There's a shuffling of the

tiles, and then you arrange your

287

tiles into what's called walls.

288

, and there are four walls you play

typically with four people, the

289

game can be played with less.

290

Okay.

291

, and then there's the dealing of the tiles.

292

And then there's something called

the Charleston where you pass

293

tiles to all the people at the

table in a very specific order.

294

Okay.

295

And then once all of that is

done, , you have your tiles.

296

Everyone has 13, except for the

dealer has 14 and then it begins.

297

, discard and picking up of tiles from

the wall, sort of like a card game

298

where you would discard cards and pick

up cards until you have all of the

299

tiles that you need to form a hand.

300

That is a module.

301

Okay.

302

Is this a quickly paced game or

is it like slamming methodical?

303

Yeah.

304

At first, it takes a long time

because it's just, you're learning.

305

So when.

306

I feel like that's a question.

307

We get asked a lot in classes, like in our

1 0 1 class people ask, like, when y'all

308

get together, how many games do you play?

309

Or like how long does it

game typically take you?

310

And I think when we first

started, there would be games.

311

It would take us an hour.

312

Yep.

313

Okay.

314

Sure.

315

And that that would be a long time.

316

Yeah.

317

Okay.

318

Now I would say like 10, 15 minutes.

319

If we're, if we're chit-chatting maybe

20, but like, If I'm playing with my

320

mom, the game, she is not talking.

321

She won't play unless

she's playing for money.

322

And that game better be

done in like 15 minutes.

323

Then you can get very, very fast.

324

, but it takes a lot of practice and time.

325

So when we, you know, host the

lessons or do guided play, , you

326

know, that our guided plays are

like two hours long and maybe.

327

The players are playing three games, max.

328

It's really clicking for people.

329

Yeah.

330

Interesting.

331

, okay.

332

So you mentioned the dealer has 14 tiles.

333

, is the dealer one of the four people

or is that an external person?

334

The dealer is one of the four

people and it's also, the

335

dealers also referred to as east.

336

Okay.

337

The direction east.

338

Okay.

339

And, , the way you determine who the

dealer is, well, there's two ways really.

340

, either there's a pair of dice that

you play with and you can all roll

341

and whoever rolls, the highest

is east, which is how we play.

342

Or if you have a regular game

where you're rotating houses

343

or locations among the four.

344

People that are playing the host

might be east and in tournaments.

345

, There are these Mahjong

tournament's seen at Mazda.

346

It's like a whole thing.

347

Yeah.

348

And there are tournaments.

349

And I think at the tournament, , each

table has a host and the host starts as

350

east and brings the set that they play

with at the table and that sort of stuff.

351

But that's basically the extent

of my knowledge on Mahjong.

352

Tournament's cause.

353

And then it rotates, like.

354

Taste rotates.

355

To the right east to west or until.

356

, so you mentioned playing for money.

357

Do y'all play for money to you?

358

Yeah, what's the most you've

ever won in a game of Mahjong.

359

So it's funny because.

360

My grandma used to call me and

she'd be like, I won so big today.

361

I was the big winner and I'm

like, oh, what'd you win?

362

And she was like $2 and 30 cents.

363

It's not a lot.

364

I mean, But it makes it fun.

365

So yeah, hands on the card has a certain

value associated with it and they range

366

from anywhere from 25 to 75 cents.

367

Okay.

368

Um, so this is like a structured.

369

Yeah.

370

So like, depending on the hand,

you're playing, that's how much

371

money you may win, but then also

there's different rules around.

372

Who pays what?

373

So like if we're playing a game

and Melissa, through the tile

374

that I picked up to win, then

she would have to pay me double.

375

Oh, Yeah.

376

And then like my grandma, like

people have their house rules.

377

Like it's people have our table

rules, whatever you want to call it.

378

But my grandma used to play,

like if you rolled a double,

379

the whole card was doubled.

380

Ooh.

381

Interesting.

382

So there's ways to spice it up,

but the, the values on the card.

383

And I was just looking to see if I had

a card with me to show you and I don't.

384

Okay.

385

Um, but the, the, each, each hand

has a value and the values are in

386

sense a as we play it, not dollars.

387

Although I suppose if you wanted

to, you could play for dollars.

388

Are there ever fights or tension

or , does this get heated?

389

So not in our game and our game

with the four of us and anyone

390

else I've ever played with.

391

It's a friendly game of Mahjong.

392

Okay.

393

That said.

394

There are Facebook groups online and I

kind of have poked around in some of them

395

both when we were starting the business.

396

, to, you know, kind of

strategize on how best to teach.

397

, but also sometimes, , to answer questions

that we might have because these

398

groups are a bunch of typically women,

but not always, there are men too.

399

, playing the game and they'll come to

the Facebook group and they'll post.

400

And they'll say I was playing

today and player X did Y.

401

And is that okay?

402

Why or why not?

403

And people get into it.

404

I mean, people are in tents and.

405

And low and Facebook groups,

people always get intense.

406

I think.

407

Uh, you know, in the comments.

408

But also the games sound intense and

there's a lot of discussion in these

409

groups about, well, those don't sound like

the people that you want to play with.

410

Like you maybe need to be playing.

411

Uh, friendlier game.

412

And so it's, you know, it can,

I think be intense and I'm sure

413

at the tournament's, it, it is.

414

, and the national Mahjong league has their

rules and, and those are their rules.

415

And, you know, we teach by the

rules because we want people

416

to know how to play correctly.

417

Right, but you know, we're there also too.

418

Part of the beauty of the game is that

it gives you an outlet to socialize

419

and have fun with your friends too.

420

So we're not, we're not too intense

about it when we play ourselves.

421

Hence the social and Mahjong social.

422

Exactly.

423

Okay.

424

So I want to circle back to.

425

A lot of people have things in their

life that bring them joy and pleasure

426

that they share with their friends.

427

And I think it's natural for that to lead

to conversations about like, could this

428

be a thing, could this be a business?

429

Like, should we pursue this?

430

But I feel like maybe 99% of

the time that never happens.

431

But.

432

Taking that step and actually

creating this is a huge deal.

433

So how, like, how does that feel?

434

It's exciting.

435

I mean, It was kind of just like

a, oh yeah, this would be fun.

436

We could teach a few people here and

there and it's just, I mean, This

437

is supposed to be our side hustle.

438

And it is.

439

Taking over.

440

It's like, yeah, no, I mean,

my, my real job has kind of.

441

Is bad.

442

So, , hope hopefully no one from

your real job is listening now.

443

Um, but now it's.

444

It's I dunno.

445

It's crazy.

446

It's cool.

447

I mean, it's just, it's exciting.

448

So, yeah.

449

What is it like going from being

friends to business partners?

450

And I know there's only a half of

you here, but I think that that's,

451

to me sounds horrible because

I don't play well with others.

452

And so I'm sure that there are kind

of boundaries being pushed and you're

453

learning about each other in ways

that you wouldn't have a reason

454

to prior to something like this.

455

Like, is that an interesting

part of this process for you?

456

Yeah, it's been interesting.

457

I think that it's funny

because I mean, we all.

458

With the accepted a Molly now

just like comes to our house and

459

walks right in and all of that.

460

And that's great, but

like, we live on the same.

461

St.

462

We do a nanny share

between our three families.

463

Our husbands go out to

dinner way too often.

464

And like, you know, it's all three of

our houses on our streets, kind of just

465

like a revolving door, I feel like.

466

And so like, we typically set up

at my house and so I won't even be

467

home and they'll just come in and

set up and be there and then leave.

468

And, you know, it's.

469

I don't know.

470

It's so far, it's worried.

471

It has, but I think, , We

all, , went into this and.

472

Still feel that it's friendship

first, , over, over the business.

473

So I think we're all conscious

of that and we wouldn't let.

474

Anything blow up, , the friendship

just because of the business.

475

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

476

Yeah.

477

Okay.

478

But that part is more important to me.

479

Yeah, absolutely.

480

And how long have all of

you, so you're all neighbors.

481

Did you meet because your neighbors

or did you become neighbors?

482

Cause you were friends.

483

Um, no, we, we knew each other.

484

So Bethany.

485

Grew up with my brother.

486

She's my brother's age.

487

My younger brother.

488

So w I've always kind of like

known who she was and we, you know,

489

grew up in Jewish Atlanta as well.

490

And it's just a small community

and everyone knows everyone.

491

We went to the same summer camp.

492

So she and I were never

friends because there's a.

493

Decent age gap between the two of

us, but she already lived on the

494

street when we moved onto the street

and our daughters are the same age.

495

So it's like through our kids

and just through shared history

496

and then Val and Bethany friends.

497

Yeah.

498

So then Val and I met before

my husband and I met oh, wow.

499

That my husband and her

husband sounds very incestual.

500

Pledge brothers like at Georgia together.

501

I was at Alabama and I was dating

somebody at Georgia at the time.

502

And so I'm new Val through that.

503

Okay.

504

So.

505

So I knew her.

506

And then when I started dating my

husband, I was like, wait a second.

507

I met this girl.

508

And so, yeah, and then she moved across

the street and so it's been awesome.

509

And then, and then valley.

510

Val.

511

She's edit Val and Molly

went to law school together.

512

Ah, okay.

513

Okay.

514

I love this.

515

Yeah.

516

This is so great.

517

, is there a level that this could get to

where this becomes the full-time thing?

518

I know with three lawyers,

that's a huge, like a huge bar.

519

No pun intended.

520

Yeah.

521

I don't know.

522

I need health insurance.

523

Yeah for me.

524

No, for me, the federal

government benefits are.

525

Uh, I call it the bronze handcuffs.

526

I can never.

527

You know, it's not like I'm getting

paid tremendous amounts of money, but

528

the benefits are, uh, keeping me there.

529

I'm probably will for life that

said, you know, to your question

530

earlier of what does it feel like

to go from an idea to a business?

531

For me, I'm such a box checker

and not an entrepreneur.

532

At least I don't think of myself that way.

533

Some people say that, but look at you now.

534

And it's, I mean, it's exciting

for me because it feels

535

very out of the box for me.

536

That said, I don't think I would ever

take the leap to leave my day job.

537

And I also think it would be difficult.

538

To scale.

539

Okay.

540

, Without.

541

A whole lot of effort that I

don't know, I haven't made to.

542

To put into it.

543

I totally get that.

544

I totally get that.

545

So, okay.

546

This is maybe an appropriate time to segue

into a topic that I wanted to bring up.

547

So we talk about scaling.

548

So to me immediately, I think of like

retail and having like a product, because

549

there's only four of you and there's

only so many classes that you can teach.

550

Right.

551

, so , there's another group

of women in Texas, Dallas.

552

In Dallas who created some tiles and

there was a controversy with that.

553

, is that something that you could

share with people about why and what

554

kind of the aftermath of that is.

555

Yeah, so modular, like you

said, it originated in China.

556

I'm so traditionally Mahjong tiles have.

557

Chinese characters on them.

558

, and.

559

This another company out of Dallas

makes gorgeous, beautiful tiles.

560

Yeah, they're not traditional.

561

, and so I think that they did

get a little bit of backlash for

562

kind of white washing Mahjong.

563

Is that PC?

564

I don't know.

565

Yeah, no.

566

, just.

567

Cause they were, I mean, they're gorgeous.

568

They're very beautiful.

569

, but they don't really necessarily

represent that traditional characters.

570

That came from the game from China.

571

Okay.

572

And there's a lot of history.

573

, In the Chinese characters tied to Chinese.

574

Culture, I think that are represented

on the suits and the tiles and in other

575

ways, and I'm not an expert by any

means, and I'm not even going to try

576

and say what, what those things are.

577

Yeah.

578

But changing the tiles completely

kind of disregards that the history.

579

It goes with the characters

on the tiles to be fair.

580

I think they were just kind of

the first ones that did that.

581

And now there are a lot of other

companies that are also making

582

tiles that are not traditional.

583

And so I think that, and now Mahjong

has like all of a sudden had this

584

like huge resurgence it's crazy.

585

And so.

586

I think that the traditional

towels are really, really cool.

587

, and I love the history of them.

588

I like the other ones as well.

589

I think that just people

knowing about the game is fun.

590

Well, that's kind of what I was going to

say is I kind of like to skirt the line

591

with some of these conversations because.

592

To me, what, what I would extrapolate

to the story you just shared is that

593

these are people who are passionate

about a game and wanted to make it , I

594

would assume accessible for people.

595

And I think intent is so important

when it comes to that type of thing.

596

And I mean, how are they doing now?

597

Like where they canceled

or they're doing great.

598

They're doing fabulous.

599

And they, I mean their website,

their branding, it's all beautiful.

600

And they have.

601

You know, tiles and mats

and bags and collaboration.

602

And all kinds of all kinds of stuff.

603

There's an art center program.

604

Wow, you know, Okay.

605

They're doing really well.

606

There's an online platform.

607

, that you can play Mahjong on

and their tiles are featured on.

608

That platform like you can choose

to play with their tile faces.

609

, and I really, you know, I

think it was Mahjong Molly.

610

There's like a, there's like

a whole, like, you know,

611

Mahjong world on Instagram.

612

But I think it was Mahjong Molly,

who sort of said a few weeks

613

ago or months ago that really.

614

All these teachers like us who are

benefiting so much from the resurgence

615

of myalgia and kind of owe it to the

Mahjong line for kind of reinvigorating.

616

Yeah.

617

Something that most people associate with.

618

Frankly like old ladies.

619

Totally.

620

Totally.

621

And, , you know, the other,

I guess, way that people are

622

familiar with Mahjong now and.

623

Uh, and are intrigued by it, us

by watching crazy rich , Asians.

624

That's what, that's, what most people

who, who come to take our class and we

625

say, so what's your connection to Mahjong?

626

How do you know about it?

627

And they say crazy rich agents.

628

Okay.

629

Fair enough.

630

And then there's a huge crossover.

631

We we've found between

Mahjong and needle pointing.

632

What?

633

Yes.

634

Yes.

635

So all these women we've had so many women

come take our class and they have heard

636

about us through like their stitch club.

637

Or.

638

Yeah.

639

So there's a, yeah, the Atlanta

stitch club, we're actually doing a,

640

uh, Collaboration, what they rated.

641

We taught one of their, , code co-chairs.

642

Uh, we taught one of their co-chairs

a couple of weeks ago and actually

643

the other co-chairs coming to

the Hawkins and Clover lesson.

644

Cause she was sick for that lesson.

645

And she reached out to us and

said, could we do an event?

646

What do you think would work?

647

And I said, there's so many, I'm

looking through your members.

648

There's so many names I recognize

from our lessons that so many

649

of you already know how to play.

650

We could do like a guided

play just for the stitch club.

651

And so we're doing that in April.

652

Oh, that's so cool.

653

How it just all is clicking together.

654

Like so seamlessly.

655

Yeah.

656

And she said, I think she said the Venn

diagram is a perfect circle or something.

657

Between stitch club and Mahjong.

658

Oh, so.

659

, do your husbands play?

660

Mine does so mine, I, we, I kinda

just made him learn because we would

661

put it on the calendar and he hadn't.

662

Yeah.

663

I wrote it in pen.

664

Um,

665

we were down at the beach, like.

666

Just vacationing with like, it was

me and my mom, my dad, my sister, and

667

my husband, and we needed a fourth.

668

And my dad refuses to learn to

play, which is frustrating, but, so

669

I was like, you can do this, like.

670

You'll figure it out.

671

He did.

672

Like annoyingly fast.

673

I feel like men, you know, like

just pick these things up and

674

he's really good at it and it's

annoying, but, , it is fun to play.

675

That's awesome.

676

That's really fun and we're all going on

spring break together, and we're going to

677

try to get our husbands to play with us.

678

We'll see.

679

And husbands do learn, or men do

learn kind of annoyingly fast.

680

And I think because there

is a lot of overlap between

681

kind of card games and this.

682

Yeah, poker and gin Rummy, and the

way that , the hands come together and

683

Mahjong, and we actually, we hosted

an event on Valentine's day and we

684

didn't want to limit it to women.

685

So we said, yeah, Don't go out

to a super expensive dinner where

686

the restaurant is packed, come

play Mahjong, bring your husband.

687

And so a bunch of women did

and we had a great time.

688

It was a lot of fun.

689

I think the men really enjoyed it.

690

So are your weekends just

totally jammed up with this?

691

We try to balance the need between,

you know, we all have our kids'

692

activities and our own stuff.

693

And.

694

This.

695

And so we've kind of said like,

okay, we got to cap it somewhere

696

because I think we could yeah.

697

Have it jam packed.

698

Like I think we could teach five

nights a week and we would fill

699

the classes because awesome.

700

They're all filling up.

701

It's crazy.

702

I mean, we're very, very, very lucky.

703

Yeah, but you've, I always say like, it's

a combination of luck and preparedness.

704

Because you wouldn't be so smooth

sailing, if you didn't know what

705

you were doing and you didn't.

706

You know, it's crazy though.

707

When we launched our first class

in December, I remember saying we

708

advertise that there were eight spots.

709

And I remember saying I'd be thrilled

if we just felt four of them.

710

As long as somebody shows up and we have a

full table to play with, I will be happy.

711

Yeah.

712

And we filled the whole class.

713

We're teaching a class tomorrow for 20

people like, wow, we're going to them.

714

Like.

715

They.

716

Yeah, it's crazy.

717

Oh, this is exciting.

718

Well, when I hear Mahjong.

719

I I'm like, that'd be cool to play, but

it feels intimidating just because there's

720

obviously a lot to understand about it.

721

So it makes sense to me that this

is a space that needed to be filled

722

in the Atlanta Mahjong scene.

723

, Would you ever do like, Mahjong

social pop-up in New York

724

city are like, hell yeah.

725

Let's go.

726

I'm thinking business expense,

vacation kind of hybrid.

727

Having the attorneys.

728

Here is not helpful because I keep

saying like, well, can't we just

729

write that off as a business expense.

730

And they keep telling us like,

Schitt's Creek it's a write-off.

731

That's a write off.

732

What does that mean?

733

What the government pays for it.

734

No.

735

Keep me in line.

736

But no, we've had a one request

to travel to Dublin, Georgia.

737

Oh, which.

738

Oh, yeah.

739

That'd be amazing.

740

Val is actually from Dublin.

741

So we thought about maybe.

742

And then one request to it

asking if we'd come to Athens.

743

And we said, absolutely three of the four

of us went to UGA, but that one hasn't

744

panned out yet, but we would, we would be

open to going, you know, Bethany's got.

745

Her parents have a beach

house on 38 and we're like, we

746

should, we should go down there.

747

I was down there.

748

What was it?

749

Over new year's.

750

And we would just like, it was me

and like two other girlfriends.

751

And we just like brought our

Mahjong stuff to the pool because

752

they both know how to play.

753

And we were just playing and these women

were like, oh my gosh, I'm so jealous.

754

And like we just met people and they just

like, come up and start playing with us.

755

So Mike, we could just go

down there and fill it class.

756

Yeah, this is delightful.

757

, so, okay.

758

, , we're hosting a class here

on Sunday, March 24th.

759

There's only one spot left, I think.

760

Right.

761

That's right.

762

It would be filled by the

time this podcast airs.

763

But if not, you can try it and Hey,

maybe we'll have you back if it's a

764

success, but what can people expect?

765

So they sign up for a class.

766

They come in.

767

Tell me about the structure of the

class and what they can expect to take

768

away after taking just one class.

769

So, , the first class that we offer,

if you're a brand new beginner

770

or you've never seen a Mahjong

card or a Mahjong tile before.

771

Is our 1 0 1 class, it is two

and a half to three hours long.

772

Typically we host in Bethany's

basement, which is perfect for Mahjong.

773

Looks like a speakeasy great vibes.

774

Um, but we also host, as Erica just

mentioned in shops or private parties

775

in people's homes or whatever works.

776

So when you arrive for the class,

we have, , as Bethany likes to

777

say, light bites and libations.

778

Uh, which vary depending

on the time of day.

779

, and we host, , I think the most

we've taught to date is 16.

780

Okay, so we have tables of four,

but we make sure to have one

781

instructor per table of four.

782

Okay.

783

The ratio is important to us.

784

Yeah.

785

Um, and then the, the structure of

the class is basically, , we learned

786

the suits of the tiles of which there

are three, and then there are some

787

suited tiles, which we also learn.

788

, we do a little hands-on exercise there.

789

, we learn how to read the Mahjong

card so that you know what all

790

the symbols and numbers mean.

791

, and we do a few hands on

exercises to kind of solidify

792

that aspect of Mahjong as well.

793

Okay.

794

And then we move into how to set

up the game, how to deal, how to

795

do the Charleston, which I think

we talked about earlier is kind of

796

a series of passing of, of tiles.

797

And then we move into the actual game

play and we play a very slow coached game.

798

, kind of walking each player through,

, which hand they might want to try and

799

play on their card and why they would pass

certain tiles and why they might want to.

800

I pick up a tile.

801

, or not, and moving towards, trying to

achieve Mahjong with all the little

802

nuances explained along the way.

803

Um, so that's, that's the class.

804

And after the class we have like a little.

805

Tips and tricks booklet that we pass

out at the beginning of the class, and

806

that is every participants to keep.

807

, and then, , we have a new

structure now where you also

808

get to keep your module on card.

809

So you leave the class with your

imagine card and your little

810

booklet and that's, that's the day.

811

That's awesome.

812

Yeah.

813

Do you find that people are like

when's Mahjong one or two, like, and

814

they're like ready for the next step.

815

They are.

816

So we do, we have Mazda.

817

We have math 1 0 2 as well.

818

So we do recommend that for like, after,

you know, 1 0 1, if people enjoy it,

819

which we've, I mean, Everyone we've

really had most people come back,

820

not everyone, but most people do.

821

Yeah.

822

At 1 0 2, we just do a quick

recap of what we learned in 1 0 1.

823

It's a two hour class.

824

And, , it's a little bit.

825

The pricing is a little different.

826

And then we, after that recap, we

do a partner game where you partner

827

up with somebody and you're sitting

around the table and you all play.

828

And then we do everyone breaks

up and plays their own hand.

829

Okay.

830

And then we also do guided play.

831

So guided play is a lot

more just like casual.

832

You just come and it's kind of, for

those people that already know how to

833

play, but maybe don't have their own

set yet or don't have a regular game.

834

Have.

835

I have like the four people to

play with necessarily, like we've

836

had a lot of people meet in our

classes, which has been fun.

837

And then they'll come back

for guided play together.

838

, and then we also provide like

all the food and drinks and we

839

do all the setup and breakdown.

840

So you just have to show up.

841

That sounds awesome.

842

So fun.

843

It sounds like tennis.

844

Like I play tennis, but I don't have

a lot of people to play tennis with.

845

So it's like when you meet somebody that

plays, it's like, can we be friends?

846

Like play tennis.

847

Obviously this with you anytime.

848

I am not very good.

849

Oh, perfect.

850

In that case.

851

Um, we're going to follow up on that.

852

I feel like I always say I peaked with my

tennis career last spring when I was the

853

captain of my tennis team and I hated it.

854

And haven't picked up a

racket literally in a year.

855

It'd be in captain hated being

captain for the team I was captain of.

856

Okay.

857

Because I'm so competitive.

858

And I had one of those people on my team.

859

Who's like, every time she would

fuck up, she's like, it's okay.

860

We're just here for fun.

861

Right.

862

And I'm like, no.

863

I wouldn't want to hang with me.

864

I'm not competitive to a.

865

Really?

866

Yeah.

867

I'm shocked to hear that.

868

And your calendar actually.

869

Yeah, it seems like a tight AAA.

870

I am not competitive.

871

Really?

872

Okay.

873

We can't play.

874

No.

875

After that might be for the best for me.

876

My skill doesn't back up my mouth.

877

That's my problem in life.

878

, Well, ladies, thank you

so, so much for your time.

879

, I appreciate the kind of verbal

intro to module and got hearing

880

about the inspiration of this

buddying awesome business.

881

And hopefully if you're listening,

you've enjoyed this episode and you know,

882

if you have some sort of little side

passion like this, I hope that you've

883

gotten some inspiration from today.

884

And maybe you can, you can start

your own thing and end up in Atlanta

885

magazine and sold out all over town.

886

, ladies we're can we find you.

887

Most of our stuff is all

on Instagram right now.

888

So we are at Mahjong social ATL.

889

Perfect.

890

And so when you have a

class it's on Instagram.

891

So if you guys follow them at Mahjong,

social ATL, you can see upcoming

892

classes, including the one at Hawkins

and Clover and play for yourself.

893

, all right, cool.

894

As always listeners get 10%

off@hawkinsonclover.com with

895

promo code Clover, Cub Kluver

club, all caps and Bethany.

896

Melissa.

897

Thank you so, so much for your time.

898

Truly appreciate it.

899

, and we'll hear you all next week.

900

Thank you ladies.

901

Thanks for having us.

902

Bye.

903

Perfect.

904

That wasn't so bad.