WEBVTT
00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:04.639
Hey everybody, welcome.
00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:05.759
I'm Trevor Kelly.
00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:08.960
Welcome to the Tiny Tiki Talk Show presented by Tiki A Gogo.
00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:10.880
Uh let's not waste any time.
00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:11.679
Let's get right to it.
00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:18.480
I'm gonna take a sip of this delightful Planterie Rumm-mm-m and bring in our very first guest.
00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:20.879
Our guest today is a tiki legend.
00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:23.359
You can't spell tiki without Tony.
00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:24.719
Tiki Tony.
00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:30.960
Hello.
00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:33.039
Hold on one sec, Tony.
00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:37.759
Well, if you hadn't attacked the TV last time, I wouldn't have to mongoose it, okay?
00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:40.000
Gotta go all Ricky Tiki Tavi on you.
00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:41.200
Welcome to the show, Tony.
00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:41.759
Cheers.
00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:42.560
Very nice.
00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:43.679
Coca-Cola.
00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:45.039
Yeah, well, yeah.
00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:46.399
I just got finished carving.
00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:47.119
I'm a little tired.
00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:48.079
I needed some caffeine.
00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:49.359
Well, I'll tell you what.
00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:53.039
Uh, booze and carving go hand in hand.
00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:57.920
I mean, not a full hand, but yeah.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:01.679
Chainsaw uh and a booze do go not hand in hand.
00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:02.479
You're right.
00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:06.239
Now you're in your beachcomer uh workshop right now.
00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:08.159
This is the tiki trailer.
00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:09.599
This is like a satellite.
00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:10.000
Yeah.
00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:16.640
I my the the beachcomer shack in the back part does not get great uh Wi-Fi receptions.
00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:17.200
Okay.
00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:17.519
Yeah.
00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:19.680
The Adventureland Rover is right next to me.
00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:22.079
Um the famous Adventureland Rover.
00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:23.680
We'll get a little picture of that.
00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:27.120
Yeah, we we turned the driveway into a parking lot.
00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:29.040
I mean, we're we're a shack on the beach, yeah.
00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:29.920
That's where we are.
00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:30.640
Exactly.
00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:32.719
I'll I'll tell you what, though, you're living the dream.
00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:34.000
I will I will say this.
00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:39.920
Uh every time I see a video of you in the uh the beachcomer workshop, I'm worried for your health.
00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:41.040
That is a lot of dust.
00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:42.239
It's a lot of dust.
00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:42.560
I know.
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:47.599
I'm I'm always, I mean, it uh when I'm working in there, I'm always wearing the dust mask and everything.
00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:49.120
Ah, okay, good.
00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:52.640
So out the gate, you have been doing this a hot minute.
00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:57.760
Uh, you are a uh a pleasure and a treasure uh at every marketplace you show up in.
00:01:57.920 --> 00:01:58.560
Oh, thanks.
00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:01.599
About how long have you been doing this for in total?
00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:02.879
Gosh, you know what?
00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.400
Uh like uh the year 2000 or so.
00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:14.000
I a little before then I started carving little tiki necklaces and then found some driftwood on the beach, was carving that.
00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:21.840
Um, and then I found some palm logs at a palm tree farm that was like right across from my favorite um cove in Ventura.
00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:23.120
So I would surf there.
00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:24.000
I found these logs.
00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:25.759
I'm like, this is so cool.
00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:29.680
And so my dad at the time, he was buying and selling vintage stuff.
00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:31.840
So he would sell the Ventura Swap Meat.
00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:33.520
He's like, Why don't you bring them out?
00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:39.199
And at the time I was making like minimum wage, I can't remember, I think I was working at an ice cream shop back then.
00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:40.080
Really?
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:51.680
But I was still making about five bucks an hour, and so I went out and I sold, I brought all my tikis, I didn't know what I was doing, and I remember making like I think 300 bucks in a day.
00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:58.960
And I was like, oh my, it would take me so long, five bucks an hour to make$300 at the ice cream shop or whatever.
00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.280
We're quitting our jobs, I'm rich.
00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.719
I felt so happy that people liked what I was doing, and I just love doing it.
00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:08.319
I would I'd be doing it anyway.
00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:15.039
Yeah, the fact that like there was a group of people excited about it, and they were all kind of crafting and doing stuff on their own anyway.
00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:17.599
I mean, I'll bet.
00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:20.639
Uh, it's it's such a gratifying thing.
00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:26.400
Um, I I love when I I chat with uh fantastic artists who have a very distinct style.
00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:32.879
How long were you going at it, or how did it come about where you found like your style was emerging?
00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:47.680
There was a summer when I was teaching uh surfing in that time, and I remember my girlfriend at the time, now she's my wife, she went away for like it was a vacation with her family, and I had to stay home and I remember just drawing obsessively.
00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:54.560
And I think that week I was home alone um and like you know, working during the day and drawing at night.
00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:00.719
I really developed like my drawing style, like simplified, kind of like people have said it kind of looks like Dr.
00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:04.080
Seuss um like vintage illustration style.
00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:05.120
Okay, yeah.
00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:11.199
But it was like I wasn't trying to do it, I was just like passing time and like doing stuff that I liked.
00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:17.920
So I I uh I and then I I I figured out what my style was from other people telling me.
00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:20.240
See, suddenly you had a style.
00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:24.399
Yeah, I was like, I just did what I liked, and that's that's kind of what I continue to do.
00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:26.639
Just do what I like and work it out.
00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:31.040
I I don't bother like trying to I don't know, figure out what I'm doing.
00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:36.800
But that's the way to do it though, because I mean if you're doing something you like, uh other people are gonna like it.
00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:43.120
But if you're like chasing what in your head you think uh other people are gonna enjoy, uh that you that leads to madness.
00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:44.000
Yeah, yeah.
00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:47.040
And the few times I'm like, oh, this is the best idea.
00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:48.879
I thought of this, people are gonna love it.
00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:51.439
It's like that's right.
00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:54.480
I know what everybody's gonna get for Christmas now this year.
00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:56.720
Yeah, and I've done it.
00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:58.319
I did want to bring this up.
00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:10.399
Uh, I saw you post about it, and to to people our age, especially, uh who grew up adoring Pee-Wee Herman, what was that like and how did that come about?
00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:14.240
Where you got to do something for that Netflix Pee-Wee special?
00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:17.360
That was um like a dream come true.
00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:18.639
Uh oh, no doubt.
00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.040
15, 20 years ago or so.
00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:26.319
Um, my friends Michael and Alan, they were building their home tiki bar, they built it.
00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:29.439
They were like within the first year, they had a party.
00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:37.279
We were at their home tiki bar in LA, and Charles Phoenix was like, We got the buzz, like Charles Phoenix is gonna bring over Pee Wee Herman.
00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:38.639
He's they like become friends with him.
00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:39.680
We're like, no way.
00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:40.560
Oh my god.
00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:41.920
And he was, you know, my hero.
00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:47.120
Like, I I uh dressed up as Pee-wee when I was nine or ten for Halloween.
00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:52.000
Um, so he comes and like I like I like I was so nervous.
00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:54.160
I there's no way I would have even talked to him.
00:05:54.319 --> 00:06:01.279
And so I'm like sitting at the bar, Alan's making drinks, and no, like I no j like I turned to my left and he was there.
00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:06.480
He was just right, he sat right next to me, and he he's like real calm and like cool.
00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:10.000
He's like, So I heard you carve some of the things in this bar.
00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:11.439
I'm like, I would die, yeah.
00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:12.720
And then we hit it off.
00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:24.000
We got he exchanged emails or something, and he emailed me, and this was like beginning of Facebook, so then we became Facebook friends, and then he would like text on birthday, and then it turned out we had the same birthday.
00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:24.800
Oh my gosh.
00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:27.360
So you got the the famous Paul Rubin birthday text.
00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:32.079
Yeah, we got the birthday text, and um, so that that was an honor.
00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:34.639
And over the years, like he would just call randomly.
00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:36.480
And when Pee-wee calls, you pick up.
00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:37.279
That's right.
00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:38.399
Paging Mr.
00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:38.879
Herman.
00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:45.279
That was pretty cool, and uh one of the things I regret, I he I we wanted to do a project together.
00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:50.639
Oh wow, and this was like over the pandemic, and I was busy with a lot of carving orders back then.
00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:54.000
Uh, and I just missed the opportunity to do something with him.
00:06:54.160 --> 00:07:04.160
Um yeah, uh, I don't want to get too choked up, but it just it hurt to not do something with him, and then he passed, and I'm like, I I lost my opportunity.
00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:16.639
Uh and then through a friend of a friend uh for this Netflix is a joke show, they contacted me and they're like, uh, we don't have the tiki from the Pee Wee Playhouse show, the one that was right next to the door.
00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:17.680
Can you carve it?
00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:20.879
I'm like, oh my God, like I've always wanted to carve that one.
00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:21.920
I never did.
00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:36.720
Um, Paul and I exchanged emails over that tiki was in an auction uh when they were like um liquidating a warehouse, and this was like when I was teaching, so that was 2007 or 2008.
00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:39.680
Um, and we both missed the auction.
00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:40.399
We were busy.
00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:45.519
The the tiki that was a replica of the tiki that was in his show sold for like 300 bucks.
00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:47.680
Uh, we both missed the opportunity.
00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:49.519
But anyway, so this came up.
00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:52.079
I carved it and was like, I did the same.
00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:53.600
I didn't think about it too much.
00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:55.680
I carved the first one, it wasn't right.
00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.759
And then the third one, uh, my wife was like, I think it needs to be wider.
00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:07.360
So I put two logs together, made it work, and then like it was like a week before the show, delivered it to them.
00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:13.360
Um, it was on stage, like all the you know, people on the show, like Mark Mothersbaugh was next to it.
00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.160
Uh Danny Elfman, it was it was pretty remarkable.
00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:19.120
It was like dream come true, like watching it from the stands.
00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:20.639
I mean, that's gotta be surreal.
00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:25.839
Seeing the playhouse and you uh eventually got to work with Paul Rubens.
00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:26.399
Yeah, yeah.
00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:28.079
That's uh that's a beautiful thing.
00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.959
You're gonna make me tear up like oh, I'm sorry.
00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:33.519
I'm not I don't mean to make you uh emotional.
00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:34.559
This is an Oprah.
00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:36.960
Uh, we're gonna do uh a hard pivot.
00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:37.919
How about this?
00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.840
Uh and you won't get emotional.
00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:41.440
Well, maybe you will get emotional about this.
00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:42.159
I don't know.
00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:46.240
Speaking of peewees, what can you tell me about Dongoroa?
00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:52.879
Oh my god, I can't believe you saw Dongoroa.
00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.919
That uh that's funny.
00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:59.679
So that like that like years ago that came about as a joke.
00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:06.240
Like Tongaroa Cook Island Fisherman God always had like the the third leg that was very prominent.
00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:19.519
And like we we always joked and called it Dongoroa, and then uh I I don't like I've made tiki fountains over the years, and people have said, like, oh, you should make one so it's got like you know a wiener in it, peas out.
00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:20.480
And I'm like, all right.
00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:32.559
And I I don't even know what like why I made this last one, dongoro, with like it was and it was supposed to be like you put a shot in it, but it was used other ways.
00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:37.279
It it might be my favorite thing you've ever made.
00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:44.720
I used to be a school teacher, and I was so like always like you gotta make sure what goes out there into the world, like it's with you forever.
00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:47.039
So, anyway, the gig is up.
00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:48.000
There you go.
00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:48.960
That's right.
00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:56.960
Uh, despite your best efforts, it's at your funeral, it's going to be touching tributes and dongoroa shots.
00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:00.159
It's all in good fun.
00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:03.519
It is, and I was thrilled the bits to see that you made that.
00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:07.039
It brought me uh probably too much joy.
00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:08.320
Wow, okay.
00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:10.320
Well, I guess I gotta make you one now.
00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:13.600
Don't don't tempt me with a good time, Tony.
00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:19.919
Uh, I'll tell you what, you make me a dongaroa, I will take a shot out of it to kick off Tiki A Gogo next year.
00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:20.480
How about that?
00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:21.759
I can't believe we saw that.
00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:22.320
That's funny.
00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.399
You know, I was that's actually my next question.
00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.960
What was your uh favorite part about Tiki Gogo?
00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.240
What did you dig about it?
00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.600
Yeah, my first one.
00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:30.639
I was blown away.
00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.279
Uh the the people they brought the energy.
00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:36.000
Um, like I I couldn't believe how excited they were.
00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:39.679
I've never felt such excitement just from being at an event.
00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:42.159
Right, it had such a nice vibe.
00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:50.559
I I think because a lot of the people from California came, they were like they they were shocked to see us on the wet uh the east coast, so maybe that's part of it.
00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:55.600
But yeah, it was super cool, like well organized, bands were playing, vending was awesome.
00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:00.879
All the the symposiums I liked, like I just got to go meander in and watch one of the symposiums.
00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:04.799
Yeah, no, it was such a it was such a treat and such a special thing.
00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:06.159
I'm excited to go back.
00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:11.200
You're coming back again next year, and a little uh show exclusive here.
00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:16.720
Uh, you are carving a special treat exclusively for the jet setter pass.
00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.159
Yes, I am.
00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.320
Yeah, yeah, good, I guess.
00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:23.679
Speaking of which, I gotta get working on that now that you mention it.
00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:24.480
That's right.
00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.320
I could have just come in an email.
00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.000
You didn't need to make it in the interview.
00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:32.639
This whole thing was a ruse to remind you to start carving something for the jet setters.
00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:33.759
This will never air.
00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:35.200
I'm not even recording.
00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:38.000
Nothing like a deadline to get an artist going.
00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:40.240
Well, that is a good as place as any.
00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:47.600
I'm gonna leave you to it, get uh carve in for those jet setters, and uh I'll see you when you go go to Tiki a go-go.
00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.960
Tiki Tony, everybody.
00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.159
Am I gonna drop now?
00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:51.679
Yeah, we're gonna drop.
00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:53.600
No, we're gonna fling you into the volcano.
00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.399
That's right.
00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:55.440
Here we go.
00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:57.279
Bye, Tiki Tony.
00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.679
There he goes, he died doing what he loves, falling into a volcano.
00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.519
Uh, thank you, Tiki Tony.
00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:16.320
Uh, and so until next time, for more info and all the good stuff coming your way next year at Tiki Agogo, check out tikiagogoevent.com.
00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:21.200
I'm Trevor Kelly, and we'll see you next time on the tiny Tiki Talk Show.
00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:04.639
Hey everybody, welcome.
00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:05.759
I'm Trevor Kelly.
00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:08.960
Welcome to the Tiny Tiki Talk Show presented by Tiki A Gogo.
00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:10.880
Uh let's not waste any time.
00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:11.679
Let's get right to it.
00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:18.480
I'm gonna take a sip of this delightful Planterie Rumm-mm-m and bring in our very first guest.
00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:20.879
Our guest today is a tiki legend.
00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:23.359
You can't spell tiki without Tony.
00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:24.719
Tiki Tony.
00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:30.960
Hello.
00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:33.039
Hold on one sec, Tony.
00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:37.759
Well, if you hadn't attacked the TV last time, I wouldn't have to mongoose it, okay?
00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:40.000
Gotta go all Ricky Tiki Tavi on you.
00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:41.200
Welcome to the show, Tony.
00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:41.759
Cheers.
00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:42.560
Very nice.
00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:43.679
Coca-Cola.
00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:45.039
Yeah, well, yeah.
00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:46.399
I just got finished carving.
00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:47.119
I'm a little tired.
00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:48.079
I needed some caffeine.
00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:49.359
Well, I'll tell you what.
00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:53.039
Uh, booze and carving go hand in hand.
00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:57.920
I mean, not a full hand, but yeah.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:01.679
Chainsaw uh and a booze do go not hand in hand.
00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:02.479
You're right.
00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:06.239
Now you're in your beachcomer uh workshop right now.
00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:08.159
This is the tiki trailer.
00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:09.599
This is like a satellite.
00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:10.000
Yeah.
00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:16.640
I my the the beachcomer shack in the back part does not get great uh Wi-Fi receptions.
00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:17.200
Okay.
00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:17.519
Yeah.
00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:19.680
The Adventureland Rover is right next to me.
00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:22.079
Um the famous Adventureland Rover.
00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:23.680
We'll get a little picture of that.
00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:27.120
Yeah, we we turned the driveway into a parking lot.
00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:29.040
I mean, we're we're a shack on the beach, yeah.
00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:29.920
That's where we are.
00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:30.640
Exactly.
00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:32.719
I'll I'll tell you what, though, you're living the dream.
00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:34.000
I will I will say this.
00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:39.920
Uh every time I see a video of you in the uh the beachcomer workshop, I'm worried for your health.
00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:41.040
That is a lot of dust.
00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:42.239
It's a lot of dust.
00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:42.560
I know.
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:47.599
I'm I'm always, I mean, it uh when I'm working in there, I'm always wearing the dust mask and everything.
00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:49.120
Ah, okay, good.
00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:52.640
So out the gate, you have been doing this a hot minute.
00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:57.760
Uh, you are a uh a pleasure and a treasure uh at every marketplace you show up in.
00:01:57.920 --> 00:01:58.560
Oh, thanks.
00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:01.599
About how long have you been doing this for in total?
00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:02.879
Gosh, you know what?
00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.400
Uh like uh the year 2000 or so.
00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:14.000
I a little before then I started carving little tiki necklaces and then found some driftwood on the beach, was carving that.
00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:21.840
Um, and then I found some palm logs at a palm tree farm that was like right across from my favorite um cove in Ventura.
00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:23.120
So I would surf there.
00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:24.000
I found these logs.
00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:25.759
I'm like, this is so cool.
00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:29.680
And so my dad at the time, he was buying and selling vintage stuff.
00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:31.840
So he would sell the Ventura Swap Meat.
00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:33.520
He's like, Why don't you bring them out?
00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:39.199
And at the time I was making like minimum wage, I can't remember, I think I was working at an ice cream shop back then.
00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:40.080
Really?
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:51.680
But I was still making about five bucks an hour, and so I went out and I sold, I brought all my tikis, I didn't know what I was doing, and I remember making like I think 300 bucks in a day.
00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:58.960
And I was like, oh my, it would take me so long, five bucks an hour to make$300 at the ice cream shop or whatever.
00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.280
We're quitting our jobs, I'm rich.
00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.719
I felt so happy that people liked what I was doing, and I just love doing it.
00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:08.319
I would I'd be doing it anyway.
00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:15.039
Yeah, the fact that like there was a group of people excited about it, and they were all kind of crafting and doing stuff on their own anyway.
00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:17.599
I mean, I'll bet.
00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:20.639
Uh, it's it's such a gratifying thing.
00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:26.400
Um, I I love when I I chat with uh fantastic artists who have a very distinct style.
00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:32.879
How long were you going at it, or how did it come about where you found like your style was emerging?
00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:47.680
There was a summer when I was teaching uh surfing in that time, and I remember my girlfriend at the time, now she's my wife, she went away for like it was a vacation with her family, and I had to stay home and I remember just drawing obsessively.
00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:54.560
And I think that week I was home alone um and like you know, working during the day and drawing at night.
00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:00.719
I really developed like my drawing style, like simplified, kind of like people have said it kind of looks like Dr.
00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:04.080
Seuss um like vintage illustration style.
00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:05.120
Okay, yeah.
00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:11.199
But it was like I wasn't trying to do it, I was just like passing time and like doing stuff that I liked.
00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:17.920
So I I uh I and then I I I figured out what my style was from other people telling me.
00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:20.240
See, suddenly you had a style.
00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:24.399
Yeah, I was like, I just did what I liked, and that's that's kind of what I continue to do.
00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:26.639
Just do what I like and work it out.
00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:31.040
I I don't bother like trying to I don't know, figure out what I'm doing.
00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:36.800
But that's the way to do it though, because I mean if you're doing something you like, uh other people are gonna like it.
00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:43.120
But if you're like chasing what in your head you think uh other people are gonna enjoy, uh that you that leads to madness.
00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:44.000
Yeah, yeah.
00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:47.040
And the few times I'm like, oh, this is the best idea.
00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:48.879
I thought of this, people are gonna love it.
00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:51.439
It's like that's right.
00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:54.480
I know what everybody's gonna get for Christmas now this year.
00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:56.720
Yeah, and I've done it.
00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:58.319
I did want to bring this up.
00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:10.399
Uh, I saw you post about it, and to to people our age, especially, uh who grew up adoring Pee-Wee Herman, what was that like and how did that come about?
00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:14.240
Where you got to do something for that Netflix Pee-Wee special?
00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:17.360
That was um like a dream come true.
00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:18.639
Uh oh, no doubt.
00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.040
15, 20 years ago or so.
00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:26.319
Um, my friends Michael and Alan, they were building their home tiki bar, they built it.
00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:29.439
They were like within the first year, they had a party.
00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:37.279
We were at their home tiki bar in LA, and Charles Phoenix was like, We got the buzz, like Charles Phoenix is gonna bring over Pee Wee Herman.
00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:38.639
He's they like become friends with him.
00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:39.680
We're like, no way.
00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:40.560
Oh my god.
00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:41.920
And he was, you know, my hero.
00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:47.120
Like, I I uh dressed up as Pee-wee when I was nine or ten for Halloween.
00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:52.000
Um, so he comes and like I like I like I was so nervous.
00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:54.160
I there's no way I would have even talked to him.
00:05:54.319 --> 00:06:01.279
And so I'm like sitting at the bar, Alan's making drinks, and no, like I no j like I turned to my left and he was there.
00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:06.480
He was just right, he sat right next to me, and he he's like real calm and like cool.
00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:10.000
He's like, So I heard you carve some of the things in this bar.
00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:11.439
I'm like, I would die, yeah.
00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:12.720
And then we hit it off.
00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:24.000
We got he exchanged emails or something, and he emailed me, and this was like beginning of Facebook, so then we became Facebook friends, and then he would like text on birthday, and then it turned out we had the same birthday.
00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:24.800
Oh my gosh.
00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:27.360
So you got the the famous Paul Rubin birthday text.
00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:32.079
Yeah, we got the birthday text, and um, so that that was an honor.
00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:34.639
And over the years, like he would just call randomly.
00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:36.480
And when Pee-wee calls, you pick up.
00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:37.279
That's right.
00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:38.399
Paging Mr.
00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:38.879
Herman.
00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:45.279
That was pretty cool, and uh one of the things I regret, I he I we wanted to do a project together.
00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:50.639
Oh wow, and this was like over the pandemic, and I was busy with a lot of carving orders back then.
00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:54.000
Uh, and I just missed the opportunity to do something with him.
00:06:54.160 --> 00:07:04.160
Um yeah, uh, I don't want to get too choked up, but it just it hurt to not do something with him, and then he passed, and I'm like, I I lost my opportunity.
00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:16.639
Uh and then through a friend of a friend uh for this Netflix is a joke show, they contacted me and they're like, uh, we don't have the tiki from the Pee Wee Playhouse show, the one that was right next to the door.
00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:17.680
Can you carve it?
00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:20.879
I'm like, oh my God, like I've always wanted to carve that one.
00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:21.920
I never did.
00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:36.720
Um, Paul and I exchanged emails over that tiki was in an auction uh when they were like um liquidating a warehouse, and this was like when I was teaching, so that was 2007 or 2008.
00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:39.680
Um, and we both missed the auction.
00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:40.399
We were busy.
00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:45.519
The the tiki that was a replica of the tiki that was in his show sold for like 300 bucks.
00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:47.680
Uh, we both missed the opportunity.
00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:49.519
But anyway, so this came up.
00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:52.079
I carved it and was like, I did the same.
00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:53.600
I didn't think about it too much.
00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:55.680
I carved the first one, it wasn't right.
00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.759
And then the third one, uh, my wife was like, I think it needs to be wider.
00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:07.360
So I put two logs together, made it work, and then like it was like a week before the show, delivered it to them.
00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:13.360
Um, it was on stage, like all the you know, people on the show, like Mark Mothersbaugh was next to it.
00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.160
Uh Danny Elfman, it was it was pretty remarkable.
00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:19.120
It was like dream come true, like watching it from the stands.
00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:20.639
I mean, that's gotta be surreal.
00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:25.839
Seeing the playhouse and you uh eventually got to work with Paul Rubens.
00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:26.399
Yeah, yeah.
00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:28.079
That's uh that's a beautiful thing.
00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.959
You're gonna make me tear up like oh, I'm sorry.
00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:33.519
I'm not I don't mean to make you uh emotional.
00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:34.559
This is an Oprah.
00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:36.960
Uh, we're gonna do uh a hard pivot.
00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:37.919
How about this?
00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.840
Uh and you won't get emotional.
00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:41.440
Well, maybe you will get emotional about this.
00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:42.159
I don't know.
00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:46.240
Speaking of peewees, what can you tell me about Dongoroa?
00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:52.879
Oh my god, I can't believe you saw Dongoroa.
00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.919
That uh that's funny.
00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:59.679
So that like that like years ago that came about as a joke.
00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:06.240
Like Tongaroa Cook Island Fisherman God always had like the the third leg that was very prominent.
00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:19.519
And like we we always joked and called it Dongoroa, and then uh I I don't like I've made tiki fountains over the years, and people have said, like, oh, you should make one so it's got like you know a wiener in it, peas out.
00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:20.480
And I'm like, all right.
00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:32.559
And I I don't even know what like why I made this last one, dongoro, with like it was and it was supposed to be like you put a shot in it, but it was used other ways.
00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:37.279
It it might be my favorite thing you've ever made.
00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:44.720
I used to be a school teacher, and I was so like always like you gotta make sure what goes out there into the world, like it's with you forever.
00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:47.039
So, anyway, the gig is up.
00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:48.000
There you go.
00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:48.960
That's right.
00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:56.960
Uh, despite your best efforts, it's at your funeral, it's going to be touching tributes and dongoroa shots.
00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:00.159
It's all in good fun.
00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:03.519
It is, and I was thrilled the bits to see that you made that.
00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:07.039
It brought me uh probably too much joy.
00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:08.320
Wow, okay.
00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:10.320
Well, I guess I gotta make you one now.
00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:13.600
Don't don't tempt me with a good time, Tony.
00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:19.919
Uh, I'll tell you what, you make me a dongaroa, I will take a shot out of it to kick off Tiki A Gogo next year.
00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:20.480
How about that?
00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:21.759
I can't believe we saw that.
00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:22.320
That's funny.
00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.399
You know, I was that's actually my next question.
00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.960
What was your uh favorite part about Tiki Gogo?
00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.240
What did you dig about it?
00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.600
Yeah, my first one.
00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:30.639
I was blown away.
00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.279
Uh the the people they brought the energy.
00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:36.000
Um, like I I couldn't believe how excited they were.
00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:39.679
I've never felt such excitement just from being at an event.
00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:42.159
Right, it had such a nice vibe.
00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:50.559
I I think because a lot of the people from California came, they were like they they were shocked to see us on the wet uh the east coast, so maybe that's part of it.
00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:55.600
But yeah, it was super cool, like well organized, bands were playing, vending was awesome.
00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:00.879
All the the symposiums I liked, like I just got to go meander in and watch one of the symposiums.
00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:04.799
Yeah, no, it was such a it was such a treat and such a special thing.
00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:06.159
I'm excited to go back.
00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:11.200
You're coming back again next year, and a little uh show exclusive here.
00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:16.720
Uh, you are carving a special treat exclusively for the jet setter pass.
00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.159
Yes, I am.
00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.320
Yeah, yeah, good, I guess.
00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:23.679
Speaking of which, I gotta get working on that now that you mention it.
00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:24.480
That's right.
00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.320
I could have just come in an email.
00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.000
You didn't need to make it in the interview.
00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:32.639
This whole thing was a ruse to remind you to start carving something for the jet setters.
00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:33.759
This will never air.
00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:35.200
I'm not even recording.
00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:38.000
Nothing like a deadline to get an artist going.
00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:40.240
Well, that is a good as place as any.
00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:47.600
I'm gonna leave you to it, get uh carve in for those jet setters, and uh I'll see you when you go go to Tiki a go-go.
00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.960
Tiki Tony, everybody.
00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.159
Am I gonna drop now?
00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:51.679
Yeah, we're gonna drop.
00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:53.600
No, we're gonna fling you into the volcano.
00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.399
That's right.
00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:55.440
Here we go.
00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:57.279
Bye, Tiki Tony.
00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.679
There he goes, he died doing what he loves, falling into a volcano.
00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.519
Uh, thank you, Tiki Tony.
00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:16.320
Uh, and so until next time, for more info and all the good stuff coming your way next year at Tiki Agogo, check out tikiagogoevent.com.
00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:21.200
I'm Trevor Kelly, and we'll see you next time on the tiny Tiki Talk Show.
