Q&A With Sal Khan (Dose Of Shisha)

Ever wondered how it is like to be an Instagram hookah blogger or wanted some insight? Well I got a Q&A with Sal Khan. Khan runs a hookah blog style on Instagram, accumilating over 11k followers. His Instagram is @DoseOfShisha. Here is my Q&A with Sal.

Why the name DoseOfShisha?

I came up with the name Dose of Shisha when I was sick. I was joking that I needed a dose of shisha to feel better and that’s when I decided to make an instagram with that name.

How do you differentiate yourself from most Instagram hookah influencers?

 I differentiate myself with my own personality and lifestyle instead of doing reviews. I also don’t follow a specific color scheme for my grid. I focus on each post individually and have a mixed grid.

Do you think hookah hashtags actually work?

Hashtags actually work if you use them correctly. There is an algorithm for hashtags and you can get shadow banned for abusing them. Don’t repeat a group of the same hashtags within 24 hours. Also don’t post 30 hashtags on every single post.

What advice would you give someone trying to start a hookah Instagram?

Find your niche when it comes to the style of content you post. Follow pages that are doing well for good sources of inspiration, but don’t copy them. Plan your post from ahead and post daily. Engage with your audience and don’t let the haters get you down.

How do you promote your work since Instagram and Facebook doesn’t allow sponsored posts?

I don’t promote my page. Instead I focus on my lifestyle and Creative Content. Creating content for brands and getting your content reposted is a great opportunity to get exposed to new groups of followers relevant to your page.

What is your favorite pipe to smoke out of?

One of my favorite pipe is the DSH Heavy that I use on a daily basis.

What is your favorite flavor?

I have a couple of different favorite flavors from different brands that ranges between blonde and dark leaf but Trifecta Peppermint Shake has been my favorite lately.

Where do you see your Instagram in 5 years?

I want my page to be just more than something I work on during my free time. I would like to increase my following and engagement. I want to attend more Hookah Expos and events around the world and to expand my content. I would also like to collaborate with more brands.

How would you compare DoseOfShisha to what it was to now?

When I first started, I used to update my page once every couple of weeks. I never dedicated the time to create content. Now I’m more active on the page and I have a time scheduled every week to create content.

How did you first get involved with hookah?

Hookah has been in our culture since the beginning. My grandfather used to smoke and growing up in queens, where we have many lounges including 24/7 ones, so I started smoking pretty early on.

What do you like to do on your free time?

In my spare time I mostly watch shows and smoke hookah to relax at the end of a long day. I also love to travel couple times a year.

That concludes our Q&A with Sal Khan from Dose Of Shisha.

Q&A With Jake Jacobson

Hey guys, today we did a Q&A with Jake Jacobson aka Hookah Rev. Let’s get to it shall we?

Can you introduce yourself to the viewers?

Sure thing! I’m Jake Jacobson aka Jake from State Farm. Kidding obviously, but there’s the ice breaker.

How did you first get involved with hookah?

I became an enthusiast somewhere around 2005 when my eyes were opened up to how diverse this culture really was. Everything from the literal social aspect to how the inner business functioned. The world of hookah at the time was in a fairly infantile stage meaning there was so much to explore getting into it, yet so much more room for it to grow. Discovering that was when I really got hooked.

Why the name Hookah Rev?

This may forever be a mystery but it seemed like a good idea at the time and it also seems to have worked!

What is your biggest accomplishment whether it be hookah or business?

In regards to accomplishments in the hookah industry, it’s very hard for me to say. My interpretation of accomplishing means starting something and finishing it. Everything I’ve started throughout the years continues to be ever evolving to some degree or another. That being said, what I’m most proud of was taking my first leap in 2008 to become self-employed and managed to make a living for myself as well as for the numerous employee families throughout the years. This was far from easy so I’ll take my moment to be proud of that.

What made you get into hookah reviews?

There was an undeniable thirst for content at the time so I decided to take it into my own hands. Thankfully I had taste buds that seemed easy to relate to which made content creation possible. I wanted a way to give back to this industry in some capacity and HookahRev was a great starting point.

Will we see a new Youtube video anytime soon?

*crickets*

How did you get involved with the Hookah Expo Worldwide?

What’s funny is that just like everything else in my life, it just kind of happened. John and I have mentioned the concept for years but where I commend him is he took the leap on his own in 2017. Despite how it looks, putting together an event of this magnitude is insanely difficult and I now know why most events fail. When we partnered up in 2018 everything just started to unfold. Our skill sets and experiences complemented each others to make HEW what it is today.

What is your favorite flavor to smoke?

Lately I’ve been stuck on either double apple or lemon mint.

What is your favorite pipe to smoke out of?

Anything that’s “just right”. Not too restricted and not to open for airflow.

What advice would you give to someone trying to get into reviews?

Do it with the right intentions, whatever those may be. Viewers are smart and appreciate genuine, consistent, and well-produced content.

What do you like to do on your free time?

With whatever time I can get my hands on, I make sure to try and spend that time with my wife and son. It’s not always easy to do but I try not to forget what it is that I’m working so hard for.

That concludes to our interview with Jake Jacobson.

Behind The Scenes Of The Hookah Battle With Stanislav Medkov

Hey everyone welcome to special blog post today. Today we will be talking to Stanislav Medkov from Hookah Battle. This is was fun for me to write because last year I competed in the Hookah Battle last year in Las Vegas, Nevada at Hookah Expo Worldwide 2. Let’s get to it shall we?

How did the concept of Hookah Battle begin?

The first Hookah Battle we made in Russia, St. Petersburg in 2011. It was just an experiment. We’ve been one of the pioneers of industry in our country and did many events (hookah tobacco degustations, hookah meet ups e.t.c.), but Hookah Battle was something special – people been crazy about it. And we start to do it regularly. Picture from the first hookah battle:

Many big bosses in Russian hookah industry participated in Hookah Battle long time ago. For example, the winner of this first Hookah Battle -Kirill Glushenko created youtube channel “Hookah Boss” and now he is a co-owner of Art Hookah Family (chain of shisha lounges in Russia and exclusive distributor of Tangiers tobacco)

Can you tell the readers a short brief bio of you?

My name is Stan Medkov, I am from Saint Petersburg, Russia and I am the CEO of Hookah Battle. I work with a whole team who help me manage all the events. I also have another business which is Nargilia Lounges, a franchise network in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. I have been in this business for more than ten years, but before that, I studied finance and banking. I worked at City Bank in Russia for three years. In 2008, because of the financial crisis, my workmates and I were fired. I spent the whole summer jobless, and one day, my friends called me to join them in some restaurant that have just bought new hookahs. They needed a guy who would show them how to manage all those accessories and so on. And this is how I ended up creating a company with hookah catering service ! After a few years (in 2010-11), we have had around 50 places where we provided hookah services with our hookah master and our products. In 2013 we opened own first hookah lounge with concept “smoke like a boss” (The Office Nargilia Lounge) and at the moment we have more than 100 (franchise) venues in 4 countries.

How many events have you hosted so far?

Hard to say. I never tried to calculate it. For 8 years history, I think more than 150. At the moment we have 2 leagues: Senior League (we make it personally on the territory of leading hookah expos)

And Junior League (organize our friends with our support in clubs, restaurants, regional festivals e.t.c.)

What was the most interesting hookah made in the battle so far you have seen?

Also hard to say, it was many interesting concepts. Maybe flying hookah? (Hookah Battle CIS CUP, Russia, St Petersburg 2016)

What is the major difference from the battle since the beginning compared to now?

Well, in the first we make it more complicated with rules than now. First battles goes in different parts (where hookah master need to prepare first – simple classic hookah, in second part – fruit hookah). But it was bad idea, too complicated for masters and too boring for people. Now we have simple rule – 1 hookah for Jury. And thats it. (and its can be any kind of hookah simple or crazy doesn’t matter)

Where do you see the Battle progressing in the next 10 years?

I think we are in 1 step to fit our maximum. Not sure that we can handle with more events than now. We are working on the online platform which will connect all hookah master from all over the world. So its will be not only hookah battle.

Where are the events usually hosted?

Usually in next countries: Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, Brazil, USA. And sometimes in other countries.

What do you like about working the hookah battle?

Travel of course! Me and my team visited many many countries with hookah battle. And we want other hookah guys give opportunity to travel with us. Best teams of Hookah Battle have possibility to take sponsor contracts: https://halloffame.hookahbattle.com/en/teams-rating/

If you didn’t create the Hookah Battle what would you be doing?

Hard to say, maybe would get back to banking / finance career. Its my education, when I was young I wanted to work in this sphere.

What is your greatest achievement so far?

Born of my son for sure!

What is the biggest challenge of this job?

Very hard to make something in another country. Many people don’t understand what do you want from them. Plus also language problems of course. Especially very difficult when we do hookah battle somewhere for the very first time. People just don’t understand what is this. Somebody telling that our championships is just a freak show. Its not true. You can check any winner of hookah battle (90% of them work as shisha masters in lounges) and be sure to get one of the best hookah in your life. Where to smoke hookahs from hookah battle masters:

https://halloffame.hookahbattle.com/en/

The Hookah Battle will be at Hookah Expo Worldwide3 and I encourage everyone to compete it will be a fun expierence to enjoy, and a thank you to Stanislav Medkov from the HookahBattle