Tandem Axe Throwing

www.TANDEMAXE.com THROW, LIVE, TOGETHER

story and photography by Erin Daniel

A born and raised Florence native has decided to give his hometown community and surrounding areas an exciting new business! Thomas Brown has always aspired to be a small business owner and build his own brand while having fun along the way. One night he dreamt about owning an axe-throwing business, but making it mobile rather than a brick and mortar location. After some deep thought and intense planning, Thomas and his wife, Janet, decided to open Tandem Mobile Axe Throwing and turn this dream into a reality! While starting the business was the easy part, the Browns found that the hardest part of it all was trying to come up with a name! They wanted a name that represented community and togetherness. After thinking long and hard, they came up with Tandem Mobile Axe Throwing. To begin, the two targets are set up on a tandem axle trailer. Thomas worked with Trail Maker Trailers in Johnsonville to design and build the frame. Once the foundation was in place, he finished the trailer himself by adding two targets side-by-side on a motorized, wooden board that can be lowered for transporting and raised when it’s time to use. Since two people are able to throw axes “in tandem”, they thought the final business name was rather appropriate. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been practicing social distancing, while in turn missing out on fun activities with friends and family. Thomas had one mission that he set out to accomplish when starting his business: to bring people back together in a fun way! He and his wife were able to do this successfully since the business operates in open-air space on the trailer! The next item of business to consider was everybody’s safety while having a good time. Prior to throwing, every thrower must have on closed-toe shoes and be at least 12 years of age with parents’ consent. The consent form is made easily accessible via a QR code on the back of the trailer that can be scanned and downloaded to your phone. Before stepping up on

"Tandem is about togetherness. COVID has been hard on us all. I envision Tandem being a mechanism to bring people together."

-Thomas Brown (right)

the trailer, there is a list of rules that must be followed, one of the requirements being that you must have fun! Thomas will coach users on how to throw the axes overhanded and ensure that the axe sticks to the board once it makes contact with the target. He’s also built a metal fence around the top and sides of the trailer to make sure blades don’t ricochet or hurt anyone. Being that Tandem Mobile Axe Throwing can come to you, they make the perfect addition to any corporate event, party, family gathering and so much more! You can even hire them for gender reveals or bachelor/ bachelorette parties and weddings! An average game is ten throws per person and takes about five to seven minutes to complete. They’ve also created points within the target where you have the opportunity to score more points on certain throws, which definitely adds to the competition! You may be wondering how other guests at your gathering remain occupied while waiting their turn to throw. The Browns have everybody covered, including those who may not feel comfortable throwing axes. Included in your rental are cornhole boards and a giant Jenga game. They even have a smaller target they can set up with foam axes for younger attendees! There is a two-hour minimum rental time and they currently serve the 35-mile radius surrounding Florence but are willing to travel for special events. Tandem has only been in service for about a month now, but they’ve stayed busy each weekend with new events. Thomas says he has big dreams for growing the business! Ideas include the addition of lights and music on the trailer so that you can continue to throw even after the sun goes down! He wants to encourage anybody who may be interested in customizing their experience by adding their brand’s logo or name to their board, to reach out with any ideas! Future ideas also include holiday-themed target boards, such as Halloween and Valentine’s Day. What’s more romantic than some friendly competition between you and your Valentine? It’s also the perfect game to add to your college rival football parties! The future of Tandem Mobile Axe Throwing is exciting! This business is such a great concept and will be widely received by our community! If you are interested in booking them for your next unforgettable party or event, you can contact them via the website: tandemaxe.com. Tandem Mobile Axe Throwing can support your event and cater to your specific needs any day or time. They can best serve you when contacted at least 48 hours before your planned event and they look forward to working with you!