A Rockstar Lifestyle & A Warren Buffett Mindset With Dre Hair!

Brock Goldberg:   0:06
from the land of mystery with dreams become reality Always listening to stories from the past, the present and the future. This is back. I'm happy to be here. I know where he's man. Thank you so much for coming on. I remember just hitting you up and you're just fucking totally down for it. And like, I was just share with you. Ah, it's been really cool going through this experience, reaching out to, you know, some really influential people in my life. I mean, I remember the first time even kind of connecting with you is over the Bitcoin stuff on a crypto currency. And, uh, you were just super chill. And, uh, we did that class, and it was just Ah, it was a great experience, but most importantly, it was, uh, you know, just kind of the way that you treated me, re barely even fucking knew each other, and you're so open about it. It's Ah, it's a testament to

spk_1:   1:19
your character. Thank you. Thank you. Well, I mean, you know, it's like, oh, about your vibe, and I feel like revived really well. And, you know, there was nothing. Nothing more to say that I just the truth.

Brock Goldberg:   1:29
Yeah, Absolutely. Absolutely. Um So what's been going on with you, man? We're ah, you know, people listening for the first time. Um, if they don't know much about you where it is Ah, Dre originate from where did

spk_1:   1:43
it all start? Well, I'm originally from a little town called Yuba City in Northern California. Born raised. Tell us about 20 years old and then So they started making my way down. Ah, Southern California.

Brock Goldberg:   1:56
Nice. So there we go. Nice. I little town. A little town. Little time, but time to fucking ah, break out. How old were you when you moved to So, Cal?

spk_1:   2:05
Um, I just, like, turned 21. I should know. No, I take that back because I was in your house and I'm just actually removed a Sacramento first where I went to her school, and then I went to Orange County. Excuse me? No, no, a little white class right now, but yeah, I moved down to Orange County when I was about I think it was, like, 22. I know about 10. 11 Ms. 11 years ago now.

Brock Goldberg:   2:30
Fucking L man getting old, general. Nobody, really. 30 30 30 23 3 this year. Nice. Happy birthday. I just turned 33 myself. It's it's so crazy Because I know we're not old, right. But we're We're at this point in our life where we're not we're not kids anymore. We're not young. And it's for me, like it's this realization of life, you know, we only have, Ah, finite amount of time. Yeah, and a clock is ticking, and there's just a lot of shit to do. Um, So you said that you went to cosmetology school up in Sacramento? Yep. Federico's Federico's Nice Federico. Adam, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's fucking cool. What was the influence banner? Why did you get in here school?

spk_1:   3:12
Uh, well, ever since I was like, you know, young, we fuck you. Hey, was young with, like, you know, being in, like, the most famous scene and, you know, punk rock and all that kind of stuff, like doing your hair and getting it done was always, like, kind of Ah, you know, you put on your clothes. You kind of completed your old your whole, like, look, So ever since I was like, five, you know, I always want to do my own hair. My my my bat in my bathroom in the mirrors up like that. And as I got a little older, I was able to, like, start coloring it like stuff, and I didn't really think much of it. I just sort of, you know, sex and something that, like, I, like, enjoy doing. And then, um, you know, I was about 18 years old and, you know, it was really getting into tattoos and stuff like that. So I start working in a tattoo shop, Um, in ah little town, extorted mine called Marysville Nice. And, ah, I did cross my mind like I remember it was in here. I was I was actually in ah, in our class and this girl, I was like playing with her hair one day, and she's like, You should go to hair school. And I was like, Why the hell would I do that? Well, you're really good with girls and like I did it on, it's like, you know, it's like another our farm. And I'm like, All right, I don't like that sound appealing to me at all. But after we get the tattoo shop for a while, I realized, you know, like, the only way I'm gonna be able to move out of my little city was to, like, do something else and ll asks college was, like, Not not an option, which I kind of knew early on that, like, there was nothing really there, that I mean, I didn't really want to be a doctor, a lawyer, and everything else. I kind of felt like I could have learned for sure by other sources and stuff. So I was just like, you know what? Maybe I should check out that hair thing, and I kind of looked into it. And, you know, I didn't done, like, 12 haircuts for, like, girls. Actually, when I start, actually doing here was like helping girlfriends and fuck. Yeah, like coloring their hair like, you know, the blonde half on the bottom. That's black and shit like that. Really? Super fucker had 2000 to us. Look, so I kind of got interested in doing then and then I don't know, something just was like, you know, let's just check this out, went there and, you know, like a lot of things that just kind of like, all kind of fell into places like, you know, like, working the hands. That girl was right. I do like working, like, around girls, and some of it's comfortable. I'm comfortable in that space. So it's like, Fuck it. Let's just try this.

Brock Goldberg:   5:25
That's so fucking cool, man. I mean, um, I remember growing up before I even ever gotten with the hair industry. It was like, I don't know, He just thought it was a chick thing, you know? Aah! And once you start to just kind of put your ego aside and all the bullshit that you hear the stereotypical stuff, you start to realize that the hair industry has so much more to offer than just this one sided view. I think that Ah, just the what people say from the

spk_1:   5:54
outside, you know, now, more than ever, industry just exploded. And, you know, with the help of the social media, Yes, it's a gram and Snapchat absolutely talk and all the other things, like it's literally bigger than I ever expected it to be.

Brock Goldberg:   6:09
Yeah, it's incredible. I mean, what social media has brought, you know, for the creative industry. But for the hair industry especially, it's ah, it's been fantastic just to kind of watch. And I remember when it just started exploding When I first got in the industry almost 10 years ago, Um, it was just kind of this the smaller thing. But then it just it was like a snowball. It just started any bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger. And with, you know, social media in general, you're able to connect with so many different people.

spk_1:   6:35
Yeah, that was the one cool thing I've realized over the time was like, You know, you gotta meet all these people and you never would have, Like, I don't even know how people like in the eighties and nineties the way that people are now. I mean, there's so many people you can just learn from and Duke Labs with and gets, you know, do hosting classes at different places. And it's like I feel like it's just getting exponential each year.

Brock Goldberg:   6:57
Oh, my gosh. Absolutely. Absolutely. You kind of like a really good point. Looking back when you were younger, You like I don't wanna be a doctor. I don't be a lawyer. I don't want to do this. So it's like, you know, fuck college like that's That's not for me. And, um, that's just kind of like a big thing right now. And more and more people are starting to realize that It's like unless you're gonna go to school to become a doctor scientist things of that nature. Um, why do you want to stack up all of this debt? I mean, what's your thought philosophy on that?

spk_1:   7:24
I mean, yeah, it's kind of what I thought at the very beginning. I mean, when I was 18 I remember seeing an e con class, and it was like three months before he graduated. Everybody's getting these packets in the mail, bring him to school. And I was like, What the hell is this? They're like, Oh, yeah, I would sign up for college and I was like, Oh, shit, we're supposed to teach that both my parents or teachers, but they never really like push me to do it. And I don't know, I was just kind of always interested in just, you know, other stuff. Um, and I don't know. I think my parents knew I'd figure it out, and I I saw like I kind of you know, I had an older brother and I saw that he was going to school and the con didn't really know what he wanted to do. And I was like, You know, I'm like, so young. I mean, you could even be like in your mid twenties now, Lily, not like spend from the Great day graduate toe 25 7 years and not literally do anything and still started 25. And you could still figure it out. It's never really been too late and, you know, it just That's why I like going to college and stuff like that, not not under knock anybody that's like on that path, right? There's just so many ways to learn stuff now. It's so much quicker to when you find a mentor or someone that you can really just engage with and like, learn their day to day and how they work and how you know and especially like actually one of my clients. He's actually really good social media marketing, like Guru. He's like top guy and Forbes and, like 2017. But he always said, like, Why would you go to like a college toe? Learn how to do social media and advertising from like a professor. Yes, if they don't know howto work like Instagram, you know, like they don't but actually doing it when? Yes. And then it's like you could just go, you know, to someone like, maybe you could go. You could go to his class or by his class, like $1000. And, you know, you look at his Instagram like, Okay, he's got three million followers. He's selling millions of dollars of, like content. So maybe this guy knows what he's doing rather than opening a book and China, like, figure it out from somebody who hasn't not really done it.

Brock Goldberg:   9:19
Absolutely, absolutely finding that mentor, finding someone that can, you know, pass down their knowledge. Someone that you can work with side by side, even remotely. I mean, today's in today's day and age. You can do all of that, you know, via Skype Zoom. Obviously, it would be, ah, lot better to be with that individual. You know, for me, I didn't get into the head to ST Thomas, 24 years old. I didn't get my license until I was 25. And this industry has brought me so much. It's what connected us. That's what's connected me with so many other people. And it's changed my entire life. And I get to see all the people in front of me to their lives changing. And, uh, it's just it's this industry that you know can take you down so many different rabbit holes, which is awesome. Um, you know, looking back at your life when you were younger, did your parents cause you said your parents didn't, like, push you to go to college. Uh, that really wasn't a big thing in your family, especially with them both being teachers. I

spk_1:   10:15
know. That's what I got. Still kind of puzzled me. Um, I think it's just cause, like, they saw that I was just kind of a little bit, I guess, creative in a way. And but I don't know, to this day, I like I never because it's still ask them about that. And it didn't really have a definitive answer on why. Because they just knew I was gonna figure it out. I mean, I and you know, it's like it's it's actually a topic. I kind of want to bring up that we're kind of just talking about a parent to stuff is that they were just really, really supportive. And actually, I think it's very interesting now how you know, if there's parents out there listening and it's what I've learned is that the way that my parents helped me grow as a child and what they influenced me to D'oh is what shaped me in the person I am. And you know, I mean in a way such that I've been able to, um, very work with other humans in a certain way, connect with certain people and just really build relationships and being aware of my surroundings. And you just, you know, learning these these principles and values early on and through my parents, his woods got me to like all the things that I have in my life today, and it's now it's I don't know. It's been insane. How, like I never thought like a lot of these things would happen so soon. You know what everyone says? The typical thing, like I'm just a kid for small town may convicting seven ball. Well, it kind of stopped, but, you know, it's just goes to show that like anybody can do it. And if yet if you're like a side of your apparent listening, it's like, you know, having your kids being, you know, in involved in a lot of different things, finding out like what they like and what they don't like is I did so many things as a kid growing up any from, you know, I remember my first job was actually like, uh, being like a soccer referee when I was, like, 13 years ago. And then I worked on, like, you know, motorcycles at like a plagiarist like bike shop and got a tattoo shop and every, you know, zoom, ease and pack, son and no one to be a vet in area and then do fire fighting. You know, I did all these different things, and it just like my parents were like, Well, we didn't. Okay, these are all the things that you didn't like. So there's gotta be something out there he's gonna like, Yes, it's good to test out all these things and they kind of just, you know, pushed me to do whatever was cool at the time for me to check out.

Brock Goldberg:   12:20
Absolutely. Absolutely. I I find that. Really? Um, fascinating, because, uh, you know, I've had the privilege now, once I started this podcast is really talking to people on finding out their stories, really getting back to their story. It's gonna whole premise of this. Ah, this podcast back to your story and some of the most influential people from the middle me rephrase that some of the people that are sitting exactly in your chair, um, the ones that have had parents, uh, that are one of the most influential people in their life. Um, it just fascinates me how they have been able to grow and prosper to the human beings that they are today. Um, you know, because there are a lot of parents out there and especially, like, for me growing up. You know, my dad lead with an iron fist, and it was, like, really pushy and demanding. And when you do that, especially toe anyone but such when you're at a young age, instead of doing what your parents says, you fucking running do the opposite, right? And so I was a fuck off for a little kid. I was definitely a misfit, and, um and then, you know sitting here hearing you, and obviously you went through your shit and you've gone through, You know, a lot of stuff in your life, but your parents being supportive to the fact where they let you figure it out almost on your own, but at the same time still guiding you. At least that's what it sounds like. It definitely shows, um, today who you are, almost 33 years old and at the point that you are in your life and to be able to hit these goals and and and and succeed Azaz an individual entrepreneur above all, it's just It's fucking remarkable, man. Thank you. Had shot out to the folks, man. Yeah,

spk_1:   14:00
it's definitely It's definitely came down on them. I actually I call with him every day. Now. It took a long time because I know like, you know, you know, as I was younger there, you know, kind of like the bumpers and course a bowling alley. When you're younger, the bowling alley isn't so wide. And as you get older and older, they get you, you know, and then after a while, you kind of realized, such when you get older enough and you're kind of like, Look back. You're like, Wow, they just They were just, like, making sure. Did I hit gutter balls? Exactly. Exactly. That I was like, Damn! And that's what I like to actually talk about parents every single day. Now my patients with them has changed locks I know. Used as a kid, I was with last hole, just like course, always trying to, you know, just get really frustrated with them, trying to tell me what to do with this and that. But, you know, they're just looking at your best interests. Absolutely athletic. A parent does. Yeah, for now, looking back on it, it's like all my friends having kids and stuff like that, you know, or have kids. I'm like, you know, do these things is my head of these things. You mean like I turned out? Okay.

Brock Goldberg:   14:56
Hey, man, you totally talking did. So it's Ah, it's It's it's really fascinating to hear. Um, So you went to cosmetology school? What was the next step after

spk_1:   15:09
that? Um, yeah. So I finished. And then I worked in Sacramento for, like, six months and then just quickly realized their two year I was like, I've always been a quick Thio. If I don't like something, I'm like, it's time to pull the ripcord and get out. It is the longer and long you wait. It's just it's just harder to pull away, and it's just you got to make that decision. You're like, If this doesn't feel right and it doesn't sit true in your heart, it's time to go. So I kind of had that feeling when I was in Sacramento cause there wasn't a lot of culture, of the things that I liked, what I feel like there was more to discover and I was like, You know, I got I had been down L a couple times and I watched a lot of Ah, like, I guess reality TV shows like Oh, man, like Orange County seems cool. There's a lot of hot girls that hang on the beach, you know, it's a lot of blondes and all this kind of stuff and do their hair and stuff. So I was like, Man, maybe you should go. I wasn't quite ready to move to L. A yet because I remember going and driving down Sunset Boulevard when I was like 18 and looking up at the buildings and being like, How'm I ever gonna meet? Like like, how do you meet people here? I didn't You know, back then it's like on MySpace. But, you know, it's like, where do you meet like a mentor? Someone like that? Because everyone you know, it's everyone's like, kind of like in your same lane Wasn't anybody that was like, All right, who who and where do I start? And, you know, it started like walking around of salons. But, you know, they're like, you're just some kid just like any other kid that's like, walked off the street, Try to find a job here. You gotta have some sort of introductions. I've gotten like it kind of some sort of introduction in a mood. Orange County and I started there in a salon. Ah, a couple different ones. But then I start working. This one called Song Gregory's okay in Newport Beach and I was really cool, you know, figure out some experience work there for, like, about a year, and then once again, just kindly, I kind of got this ah, feeling of wanting more. That's when I kind of geared up and admit some relationships in L. A. And I was like, All right, maybe I should try this city out and then, you know, going there, you just felt comfortable. Yes, it's It was really natural, um, to go there. I mean, it's not for everyone, but it's definitely, like, good to, like just experiment and just ask get your feet wet and different and so many different things because the morning, like it says, the more stuff you try and figure out what you don't like and then observe Find that lane of the things you do you do like. And if you try a lot of stuff quickly, early on in life, you can start on that thing that you love way earlier. I have something more time into it and, you know, but everyone you know, everyone together, different speeds. Everyone tries different things. You know, I feel like I got, like, somewhat lucky to, like, kind of figured out that I would I really loved to do was doing hair, um, kind of early on, but, you know, like I said, it was just like I tried a lot of different things.

Brock Goldberg:   17:43
Yeah, Man trial trial by Air Man trial by fire. At the end of the day, me and you have to be able, you have to be willing to try. You have to be willing to put yourself out there, uh,

spk_1:   17:54
in being open minded to everything. Yes, I was. That's not your issue that I kind of have. Whenever I go back home, I kind of just look around and like, you know, I have a lot of friends. It moved away and did a lot of stuff. But, you know, they see like a lot of people that you know, it's high school where they're just old friends, and it's like the thought processes like they're not necessarily open minded to things. And and I'm not sure if that's its trust, just the way that they're designed and whatnot. But it's like if you really want to do something or find your purpose and like, really make a difference. And if that's like your true calling or if you enjoy, you know, helping other people to like it's it's really important. Thio see both sides of the coin and, of course, like really understand those things because that's actually what's helped me get Thio a lot of things, you know, I'm really I really try to stay adaptive and try to put myself in everyone else's shoes to understand what they're going through, what they need and, like how we can all improve together.

Brock Goldberg:   18:53
Oh, for sure, absolutely. You know, we we live in this culture now where it's like, kind of like, one way or the other. It's like black or white, and in life, that's not how things really are. Man, you have to be open minded. You do have to be able to see both sides of the coin just like you said. You have to be able to adapt, and that allows you to grow and take these, you know, chances so that you can get to these next level's within your own life. Um, looking back when you were starting out, what was some of the like, the best networking tactics that you used? Was it just going out to meetings? Was it, uh, people upon fucking my space

spk_1:   19:33
odyssey? Um, I kind of like, Yeah, The thing is, I remember like being in high school and stuff like that to your even being young. I was just I enjoyed being everyone's friend, you know that that was okay. That is about there was, like, a values that my parents to Tommy when I was a kid. It's treat everyone the way that you want to be treated. So I was like, Okay, so if I treat everyone like, like their king or a queen Yeah, then I'll get that back. Fuck, yes. That's not necessarily true with everything. No, no, no. But but but But But you will find people out there friends, And that's where you kind of start figuring out who's in your top eight. Ah, you know, figure out these people that are your friends because, you know, sometimes everyone has friends, but they're not like sometimes you don't realize that the friends that you might may or may have may or may not have could be just the toxic ones. Yeah, and the ones that aren't gonna be looking out for you, the ones that aren't gonna push you to the next level so kind of accident. Sorry. Get lost. Is, you know, I kind of just realized that I like being friends. Everyone always have been going to high school. Was friends with everybody on the soccer team, everybody on the football team and then all the cheerleaders. And then, you know, the people that, like, like like the anime stuff our science can And, you know, I just kind of relationships everyone, cause I was like, You know what? Like it's good to be friends with everybody in Yes, you know, that's kind of where I was able to, you know, Hala go wide. I would say in the beginning was a network of like friends. So, you know, I would always have different things to be involved in. Not just, you know, I don't like those people because of this. It's that's kind of, you know, not saying it's a very positive way to think. Yes, you get a better way to think is maybe, like, What do I like about them? I don't like everything about them are, But there's something some common ground that maybe, you know, I could help them and they could help me, and we can help each other. And that's something. No, it's That's how long, like the biggest word that everyone in the hair and she knows about right now is a collaboration. Yes. So it's, you know, whether your hair cut her hair colors and all that kind of stuff. It's like you're working together. The people when I first, you're gonna have that mentality early on. But so, yeah, when I moved out of Well, um, out of, ah, even see where I grew up, You know, my space was like, a big thing because, you know, everybody in my space And, you know, I just randomly just was like, Okay, that person is cool and starts chatting them up ever since school. Then, you know, I kind of was like, Okay, well, I want to move down to Orange County and l A and stuff like that. So maybe adding some random people that live in those areas I like, never looks cool. Let's see if they like the same things I do. And then, you know, that's kind of like the age when you met people online. And, yes, I was like, All right, minds will take advantage of this. It's right in front of me and then actually met, um, a handful of people through social media, like back then my space, and has had a lot of friends, um, that I met in L. A in Orange County, and I would just feel like, you know, like I'm driving down in my car. I don't have money for a hotel. Can I, like, sleep on your couch or your floor? A couple of random girls, sometimes in a couple of random dudes and, you know, built relationships and, you know, it would have a great time. I bring us some booze. We Yeah, yeah, I'm like, Do you think it's so much, You know, like, you know, I just brought positive vibes that me, it wasn't like anything is, like, more so, like they knew they were helping me out. Um, and I think, you know, I talked to some of them nowadays. I mean, that was like, almost 14 years ago, but you know it And it kind of just grew from there and there and then, you know, Facebook came out and same thing. It's just you kind of like a look at the things that you enjoy to do and see how you can the word network for sure, with other people. And, you know, it's like, what can you bring and that was. The thing is, I I could be like, Okay, I can bring this to the table, then. You know, like, how can we work together? And they were kind of how it just grew. Yeah, man, I love that, you know, open minded and reaching out to people because you don't get it. You don't get if you don't ask. Absolutely, what you have to lose. Fuck. Yeah, that's exactly it. Right? Uh, e I was talking about this yesterday. Um, Gary v wrote that book. Jab, jab, jab. You know, right hook or puncher over the fuck it is, right? It's like, you know, give give, give

Brock Goldberg:   23:21
and then ask and yeah, and to be able to just, you know, create these friendships, which then allowed you to then, you know, kind of piggyback off of that. That's how your network It wasn't like going toe like these formal meetings and things like that. It was just too reaching out to people party events and and then just kind of grew to where you're at today. A lot of steps off. Yeah. Remember will definitely get to that growing up in a small city, Gramp, in a small town. Did you always know that You want

spk_1:   23:50
to get the fuck out? Um, I think eventually. Yeah, because I remember. And that was the thing, too. Is like, I I think I learned early on. Um, remember, just growing up in thinking like, you know, this world's big you watch it on TV. That's kind of what influenced me. A lot was dreaming in learning how to dream and watching movies and watching the reality shows and be, like, Okay, that those people live there and they have that life, like their parents had to get there somehow. So, Mike, like to be apparent, one day, I got to go there who wasn't obtainable, wasn't It wasn't necessarily unattainable in, you know, it was kind of weird, because I know everyone thinks oh, from a small town. I can't do big things or I don't know the right people. This is that. But I'm like, you just got to try, you know? And I know even the first time ever came down to L. A. Before I met a lot of people. I slept in my car for, like, two weeks. Just because it was just convenient. Um, it was free and I didn't really know anybody yet. And I was, You know, he's going to like different rock shows. And I mean, I kind of am, um, like a lone wolf so I could go to a show by myself and feel completely comfortable and just like, you know, you Hey, Mr some booze and you get drunk and you just kind of like, let things loose. Yes, you know, just started. Networking is talking to people and strike up conversations. And you know, either revivals in people you don't. And then it's just like whatever. And there's 3000 people show. We're going to make friends with somebody. Absolutely. How's things you like, even going to raves when I was like, you know, 1920 years old Francisco. I'd go with one other buddy and there'd be times that we look at each other and be like man, like, let's just go by ourselves and meet back here in three hours were like, All right, cool. Fuck, yeah, let's go around. You're, like, bounce around. And I think if you were like showing that you were like independent had a good time, you kind of just created this weird energy to people like gravitating toward you, especially if you're in your element and you're dancing. And, you know, it was just kind of cool to be ableto do that, um, but yeah,

Brock Goldberg:   25:46
for sure. But that's that's fantastic because, you know, um, not a lot of people out there would feel comfortable enough to go to a rave or our concert by themselves, you know? So you know, you being the lone wolf early shows, you know, and people do gravitate towards energy. There is really something about this this energy that we, uh, that we put out as individuals. You know, That's why we can walk into a room and we can feel that energy of that individual if they're in a good mood. They're in a bad mood on whatever, whatever it is, without even having to say anything. So when you go to these when you go, when you're able to go to these events and you know you go by yourself, you go with someone you split up and you have that positive vibe out and you put it out there. People just gravitate towards a man and, you know, I kind of go back to that story of, uh, you know, me hitting you up about the crypto currency. You didn't know me from fucking shit. Very knew each

spk_1:   26:36
other. We had a common interest,

Brock Goldberg:   26:37
but we did. We did. We had a common interest, and you opened up your doors on and and I just I remember that. So kudos to you and thank you very much for holding Hodel bitch. Um, so I you you left So Lawn Gregory, right? Yeah. Um and then you came down to Los Angeles. Now, do you remember the moment when you actually moved to L. A like what that felt like, was it like Fuck, yes. I mean,

spk_1:   27:04
it was honestly a trip, because I remember, like, I'd met this dude, except I got a job as a retail store for Star. Forget that song. I worked in both spots at the same time, And, um, you know, the owners of that sort of really cool guys and they had a big network, and I know that they were kind of like my mentors. They were teaching me about fashion. They're teaching me, and I was learning from all the vendors and all the guys that ran on these brands. And, you know, I just talked to these dudes and e That's how you level up. That's how you grow. And if you're busy doing other stuff, that's like if you and you sit there and you're like asking yourself like I'll never have this or why don't I have this? It's because you're you have to, like, make sure that your thought process is in line with what your intentions are, and it's like, if you wanna have you know, back then it was like, Man, I just want to get hooked up with three closed and then it's like, Okay, cool, make friends with the managers, vendors of these guys coming in and bring all the clothes and they're like, OK, and then, you know, the owners of our shop would be like, you know, uh, what do you think we should buy? And I might do. We gotta buy that. We're going by this guy, got sick, and then these guys like, wow, these, these these kids like to have some good taste, really ships with the owners and, you know, then they're like, Oh, yeah, do you date injury? we know this dude in l A named Jerry. Ah, he owns a salon. And you know your hair too. And it's like he could probably You guys should meet somehow. And I was, like, that Be dope. So hit him up on Facebook, and I was like, Yo, like, I'd love to come check up at your shop and eyes this shop called Bear Cuda on Melrose, like Melrose and Fairfax. And I drove up there, Um, like I forgot it was once, Just like one day I drove up there, met the dude for, like, 30 minutes and, you know, I felt like I was just really, like, always hungry, And I'd already kind of felt like I just finished up what I had to do in Orange County. There wasn't really much left for me to do that. Once again, I was still searching for more creative people in fashion and stuff like that. Just you know, Orange County was fun, and I learned a lot there, but I just felt like it was it was kind of holding me back from figuring out what else could be out there in the world. Fucking so met this dude and, you know, within 30 minutes he's like, All right, come back every Wednesday, Friday and Mondays like all

Brock Goldberg:   29:10
right, well, we should.

spk_1:   29:12
So then I would start driving back and forth, and that was Dude, I was, like, an hour, hour and 1/2 depending on the time of the day from, you know, from Orange County. And it's like, you know, I was driving this beat up Honda Civic that had driven for, like, you know, like, ahead of, like, seven or eight years. But, you know, I was just like it was the same thing. I'm like, man, I hope my my car's a fall far This that. Yeah, but, you know, it's not do it. I woke up early, you know, and I knew I was onto something big because I was like, traveling from Orange County to L a three nights a week or three days a week and spending 10 hours there and then driving home and getting on the 10 o'clock. You know, I was just pushing my pushing it, you know, And I was making like, dog shit. I was making, like, $30 a day, but I didn't care because I knew that when I was working for my boss and washing out all of his clients like I'm like, That guy's that deejay that guy's, you know, owns this. Like, I like they're all dope people. And I'm like, these are the type of people that I want to like, work on these type of people I know I need to learn from um But then, yeah, I did that for, like, six months. And then one day, he's like, Dude, we're moving into this house in the hills with, like, six people. Do you want to be the sixth? Uh, sure. Like, how much is rent? Ranch was like, you know, like I think, like, 30% more than when I was playing. And I was already, you know, I was like, damn on a woman before this. Like it was it was kind of like, kind of scary, But I was like, Dude, like, you just gotta figure it out. I just gotta take jump, take the leap, cause, like, on the other side of fear is bliss. Yes, And I knew that day that, like I said, Yeah, like, you know, I sold a bunch of shit and moved up there. And I actually had the It was kind of like it was probably the most like crazy. Like you said that a feeling It was one of the craziest feeling moving up there when I was like, I remember I moved up there in June, and my birthday was a couple months after that. When I moved up there, right in middle of summer in our house was this, like, four level house. It was an older house, but it was like four levels. Six bedrooms had a Olympic size pool on the top floor in my bedroom yet was the pool room overlooking the pool overlooking the entire valley. It was unreal, like coming up from which county, but

Brock Goldberg:   31:20
like do This is where you folks live. No, I

spk_1:   31:24
couldn't even believe it. You know, It was it was It was literally, like, the most surreal thing ever. I was like, This is it didn't feel really like a joke. Like, you know, I'd wake up and I had these two, like, huge sliding glass windows that opened up to the pool. And I was wake up every morning, dive in the pool, then be like. All right, well, let's go to work now. That feeling in the first couple of times it was like when I would the route that would take would go down like it was off Bahram, like, near Universal Studios, and I would go down the one no. One. And then I would you know, I could take it all the way down to Melrose, but I just I just did, you know, because I was just like, Oh, my God, I live in Hollywood. I would drive down Hollywood Boulevard every single day, Take me an extra 15 minutes, but I'm just sitting there looking up at, like, Hollywood Boulevard Logan. Oh, there's the Chinese Theatre Hotel, you know? Then just like I'm like, Dude, how is this? And then I drove like, you know, it takes, like, 15 20 minutes to get to work. And I was just like, this is like, 22 years old, like I had, like, a job. I had a place to stay like it was the most like, unbelievable thing that I've ever could have happened. And it was like when the best decisions every day because Al you know, 10 years later, it's I'm still living in 1/4 mile of where I started and I don't have, like any. It's just it's one of my friends always said. She's like She's like it felt like, really comfortable once I got there and she's like, Man, you wear like L A. Like a comfy T

Brock Goldberg:   32:42
shirt. Yeah, I love that. I was that How

spk_1:   32:45
is weird, but, like, I guess she was right. But, um, you know, I just get it fits my personality.

Brock Goldberg:   32:49
Oh, absolutely, Absolutely. I mean, l a definitely fits your personality at 22 years old, taking that leap, making that decision. Um, it would be very, very difficult for most people to even fathom, right. But I just I see. I see the look on your face right now. It's like, Oh, shit. And and even, like, reflecting back on that time, and I mean, just just just even imagine if you did not make that decision where your life would be. I mean, I'm sure you'd be doing something very successful either way. But this this point in your life, really, you know, starts to define who Dre is today. It almost 33 years old. You know, it's it's it's it's incredible. So at 22 years old, you move into this fucking house in the hills. What was that experience, like Just a big

spk_1:   33:36
party saying like, Yeah, I mean, I moved in the house with, like, the's five other kids that were all I was like, 22. Everybody was like, 28 29 years old. And they had been living in L. A since they were, like, 2122. So they were already dialed. So I moved in this house with all these veterans, you know, everybody else had, like, five other people have their networks of like, you know, everybody they already known in the city. You know, we had fashion designers and other hairdressers and, you know, music producers. And this girl was an interior designer. And another one of my my roommates was like, um, wardrobe style after he was doing what he was doing. A lot of celebrities. I mean, he driver, he's matte black Range Rover, Riko, like, you know, 89 years ago and I was just like, you know, you just look like he had a maid. I was like, Damn, this is crazy. These are my roommates. He's like my older brothers and stuff, and they would just be like every single night since it was so many people that lived there in L. A is obviously notorious for like, there's something to do every single night of the week. So I could be like Monday get home from work around seven or eight or whatever. There's four people in the kitchen like pre drinking. Oh, yeah, We're gonna go to this heart show. We're gonna go this store opening Oh, my friends doing this thing or my friends doing this thing at this bar. So it's like every single night there was anywhere between five and 10 people always congregating at our house. And then the weekend would come and, you know, we'd set up DJ decks next. This pool cool deejay would come over because we had the sickest pool and my friends had such a huge network of people, so, like, it just never stopped. And I mean, and that was like, kind of like another thing I realized, you know, is you meet a lot of people in that party world and, like I mean that's not for everyone. But I would say what? That's kind of what escalated me very quickly to the network of people that I've met because brother, whether you party or not, everyone goes to a party a certain time. And I enjoyed, you know, that whole that hold flashy like, you know, like it was like a production. You go to a nightclub, you walk in, and so I go to this person's table and there's all these girls and it was just the lights and music and all the stuff going on. And it was like a movie for sure. It was just like almost addicting to do that all the time, because you're like, Wow, this is just like a fabulous like, unbelievable like this, the shit you see in the movies, but unlikely happening down the street every week. So 22 What else would I be doing? You know,

Brock Goldberg:   35:53
I mean, so it's It's just so fucking cool, man. I mean, how was the trip? I

spk_1:   35:58
still blows my mind like actually, it's funny that we're talking about this because I'm like, I'm like, thinking back all these nights and just like, you know, we in that thing was like we had so many people, the house, every party all the time. But, you know, in that time period, I was able to meet hundreds and hundreds of people. I mean, like, now, even when I look in my instagram, um, I look at it and I see, like, you know, there's, You know, sometimes I get between 12 and 1500 people viewing my story. Yeah, and I look back and I'll scroll through And I'm like, Dude, I know, like, 60 or 70. If he 70% of the people in this shit, Tim at one point or another in another country, I've worked with them. We've, you know, had a heart to heart one night in Paris or something like that, you know? But, you know, we still talk and this and that, and it's like, really crazy to see, like, these physical connections I've had with these people over, like the last 10 years all around the world. Um and that's what's built such a foundation into, you know, And that's something to even with my career, like there's a lot of people would be like you. I sent my friend to you and I don't even do that person's hair. They're like, Oh, yeah? Then they would just tell their fat Oh, yeah, Dre does my hair like they would like. It would just love to say they did, of course. And then, you know that. Get all these recommendations And now it's like, You know, I built that network where people just kind of, like are like Oh, yeah, my friend said to come to you like I cut their hair like, one time like six years ago. And then, you know, most people just wanted this thing to you is like in the hair industry. People don't let's say, when a cheat on their person that's been going on for five years until that person is unavailable or something like that. Absolutely, absolutely. It's all good, but it is just funny how those people, always like, recommended me and just like, kind of always thought of me to do that. And it's like, you know, it's building those friendship relationships because, especially now building a career building a clientele, it's it's a lot. It's a lot different, and I should've conversation well, then investors because back in the day When I first worked at that moto shot, it was, you know, before this was before Instagram, it wasn't a bit Instagram wasn't pop. And we didn't really take pictures and put him up on your MySpace Facebook. Got it like that. Like maybe ever so often. But other than that, you'd meet clients events, you make physical form, or you'd walk up and down Melrose and try to spark up a conversation with what he called retail experience. You know, he's icebreakers, you know, people nominated. Come, people come in your store in your life. Do cool. Sure. Beulah elevator pitch, right? Yeah. So you'd see people walking up and down? No. Is that guy looks pretty cool to cut his hair. And, oh, you have a client of things. All right, But you just kind of have to persuade them to come in and cut their hair for free.

Brock Goldberg:   38:19
Such a different atmosphere. I remember even just starting out, um, as as an assistant. And we had to bring in models every single Wednesday. At first, I'm like, What the fuck? I don't even live out here like Studio City is 30 minutes, 40 minutes away from How the fuck am I gonna do this? Right? And Instagram was just starting to take off. But I could barely fucking do hair at that point. And they're like, just go talk to people. Just go talk to people. And I'm like, uh all right, fuck it. And so that's exactly what I did. I walked up and down up and I'll do your hair for free. I'll do your hair for free and then allowed me to really build a clientele and, you know, and do all that. But now it's so different. Looking at how it was back in the day to now someone starting out, what would you say to them like, What's the best

spk_1:   39:03
way to do it? I think I mean, learning back to basics is always good. Spit Definitely cause let's anything to actually have a conversation with the hair stylist that where I work now. And, um, the nine Amick now is a lot of people are meeting off the Internet. Yeah, they're meeting off Instagram. You can build. I mean, you know, you could build a big instagram following just from that, you could be like, OK, come and see me but which is what they're people are missing now is they're not learning the social skills of, ah, like an actual conversation with somebody at Trader Joe's. So when that person comes in, they meet them for the first time, not every time. But I've just seen it, you know, in the last few years is that their social skills aren't quite up to up to par, where that person might not come back exactly there. They haven't honed in on having that communicate, because if you're an intern, extra an introvert is a hair styles. Yeah, good luck. It's really hard. That's like you're so damn good that you're like, That's what you're your stick is. Then you've got to be because you were gonna work on somebody for an hour, two hours, three hours for color, crackers and the like. If your conversations boring and you're that person just like you don't have anything to say that energy man, you're not gonna be ableto like retain that person. They want to go like I have a lot of clients. I'd say about 50% of my clients come in just like talk, hang out and, like it, get feedback off of like, people are like So what's going on Drake's world these days? Or, like, you know, like a lot of them will help me And then, like the other day, actually that this dude he was like, you know, he always gives me inside on, like, he's really, really successful guy. And he always gives me insight on how to grow my business and do this and try the ice. And then the first time I was able to help him. He's like, dude. So, like, I gotta ask you something about your girlfriend. Like Like he's like Aziz. I just I'm having issues with my girlfriend. I was, like, the first time in, like, 17. Okay, you know, because he'd seen my relationship kind of how things were going down the last couple of years, and he's like, What should I do? And I was like, Wow, I got some. Yes, you now, Eh? So it was kind of cool, but, you know, just being ableto have those conversations with your clients, cause otherwise I mean otherwise. You you gotta be a Picasso on behind the chair, which I mean, I'm you know, everyone's very talented But I mean, especially now, since Instagram is shed light on those who are the cream of the crop. Yeah, there's, you know, handfuls of people that there's a lot of other a lot of the industry that looks at them as the trendsetters, as ones that are creating these new like techniques and new styles and knew all these things that like And if you're striving to be that person, yeah, you got a long, long way to go because now we've seen all of them inside. Yes, Thio Just to start in the industry. No festivities in hair school right now, huh? If you're starting the hearing this right now and you're not like like to get up to 200,000 followers of 300,000 followers to get sponsored to create all these things, that boat's kind of missed. Yeah. I mean, it's possible, of course, but it is way, way harder. If you want a little tip, start on tick tock. There we go. Right, because that's the only thing. But still, that's only gonna you know that's gonna get you, you know, social media famous in this and that. But that doesn't mean he's gonna bet you clients and

Brock Goldberg:   42:25
no knowing those social skills, man. It's It's so important. Role quirk about tic tac. I remember I was doing this chicks hair for a photo shoot, like, three years ago, Maybe two years ago. Um, and and she was telling me she has got to get on tic tac. Gotta get on Tic tac. And I had a fucking stupid like, Fuck that, right? And now it's, like, the biggest thing. And it's just so funny, right? Thio here, uh, the the evolution of it, But getting to the point, it is the social skills, right? You could be fucking awesome online, right? You could be awesome. But once that person says the new chair, that whole dynamic changes and people feel your energy because they're not just with you for a minute or two. You are there an hour, two hours, three hours, depending on what you're doing. And so you have to be ableto have those social skills. And if you don't, you gotta practice. And you know, that's a whole nother conversation. But it's time to get back to the story. You know, you went through that house. How long were you living there

spk_1:   43:22
for? Only like she lived there for, like, a year. Okay, um, you know, had a little bit of a falling out with the my boss at the Thai. Okay, We're all good now. Actually, I actually ran into him when I was in Bali about a month ago. Fuckin balling, man. Yeah, I was so random. He's been here's believe me, living out there for a while. So we're reconnecting and, you know, everything is all goods under the bridge bridge now, but yeah, I lived there for about a year. And, um, you know, I was going through these transitions, cause, like, once again, I was, like, trying to grow and figure out more things in, You know, I think get the time what we were doing that was really popular in what she kind of like, like, uh, kind of got me on into the thing into It was we did these things called pop ups, great pop up salons. And this was 10 years ago when there was no MySpace. And where there is no story, there's no instagram. There was nothing like Facebook was going to been out for a couple of years and we would go to locations and we would do hair. And not just like, I don't know, not just like random locations. I mean, we're going to like Vegas for this change. Clothing trade shows called Project An Agenda, Capsule and Liberty and all these huge trade shows where there's like, literally like 1000 vendors. Like everything from John Varvatos to guest All the street where bands you could ever imagine They fall, set up their booths. And then there's me and two other dudes and a girl Baracoa hair in front of thousands of people. Thousands of vendors 1000. So we're just like sitting there doing I was doing like I mean 15 20 haircuts a day, like and, you know, just busting through milk wig. And there's like, Oh, you work for John Marbury says. You're like, you're like, Yeah, cool. Come by the booth will give you a shirt, and then you just go this dude Oh, yeah, cool combined, you know, looking for some clothes. You walk out there and I'm like, Dude, I spent like I spent a weekend there and, you know, like 50 60 people got a bunch of clothes and I was like, Wow, this isn't saying like Fox. Yes. So we would do the clothing. One's busted some in L A, um called Ah, yes, our agenda. And then, um, may know, because of the party thing in music and all that kind of stuff, we go out to Ultra Ultra Music Festival in Miami back in like, 2011 the first time we met. Wait, I was there. Do My boss rented this house on the islands. We spent, like 10 grand Red Bull like help it AA sponsor it. Silent cars sponsored it in like, you know, it was what it was. It was a gifting suite for all the fuck up. So I had, like, diplo, Skrillex, Rusko, Jess Every dude that was playing old show come through the house were like, Yo, we want a haircut, get some clothes, hang out all this stuff. And this is like like I said, P instagram. So, like like all this content and seven, all this content, like a wash eyes stuff so long ago that now when there's all these, like, you know, everyone's doing these things down makes me laugh because I'm just like Damn. I did all this shit like that before, before anybody what It was, it was it helped build my credibility. A cz Well is, like, you know, building relationships. And I kind of gave my name out there, which was fine by me. I don't think I could care less about what? You know anything now, but, um, yeah, I was just wild just to be ableto kind of be a part of that movement. And then, you know, then I got to a point where, like, my boss said, kind of slowing down. He's getting a little older, and he was just kind of figure out his own thing. We're doing here for 10 years, and he's like, I want to do some other stuff. Yes, cells like dude, I wantto you start, keep doing this. So I would start doing the pool parties, The Roosevelt Hotel. Fuck. Yeah. So you know, we do the pool parties. I do hair. Then that's kind of how lookbook was created

Brock Goldberg:   46:56
on Lee shit. All right, we're gonna work it out. We'll get we'll get to that. So at this point, you moved out when you were 23 years old.

spk_1:   47:03
Yeah, I moved out when it's 20

Brock Goldberg:   47:04
23 years old. You had an established clientele at that point? No,

spk_1:   47:08
no, because it was a lot more difficult, because, ah, Macy, I started working at another spot because it was still tough because I never worked at a spot that, like, just, you know, I never worked like a Floyd Zahra Rudy's or anything like that. We're, like, literally any. Do you know that? Because I'd be in the line of dudes waiting to come, and I don't ever want to work in a spot like that. And I kind of actually, this is back on hair school is another reason why I wanted to hear, because I was always, like, Damn, I know, shit. Ton of people. Yeah, and I know a shit ton of people would trust me to cut their hair. That was like, All right, well, you know, if I can meet a lot of people meet more of their friends, come to me. I think I could have a good shot at building all this stuff up, so I kind of did it very independently, and I start working for this other company on still on Melrose called Black Bandits. Okay. And I worked there for, like, two years of manage the shop. When I was, like, 23 you had, like, 20 employees, three assistance. It was a big operation. And, um, you know, and I still kind of, like, you know, everybody. The brand itself helped bring a lot of clients to me and stuff. But, I mean, like, you know, the very 1st 6 months I was seeing, like, you know, three or four people a week. Okay? Which was, you know, yeah, took time. Because, like I said, like a lot of those people that I would meet at the party or whatever. Like, you know, they really have their guy. Yes, but all he's doing is like I always just knew is a hair dresser. It's only a matter of time. Yes. It's only a matter of time till, like that person that they normally go to. Is that a town? They're sick. They can't come in today. They're disappeared. They did something, and then they're like, Oh, yeah. I'm gonna go to that one. Dude. I met that one time at that party. Exactly. Works that spot they'll call the shop. You know, I'm available because I didn't have any client. I you know, Then I'd be like, All right, cool. Let's do this. But it took a while, so I mean, out of those two years, you know, that shop that one fell by its Did I hear it after a while and then by, like, probably your three, maybe fours When I was, like, kind of, like, very got my roots in Okay, I started figuring out instagrams. I remember. I remember the day Instagram came out that I was lucky to get gray hairs because nobody had out. And I have a client came in was like, Do you gotta download this new picture out? What the hell is that? A picture wrap. And you get the pictures? There was no d ems. Mostly I was like, You know, you get there now, Mike, Okay? And I I guess I'll just be Dre here because my boss named J Hair, so like, Okay, I'll, I'll be Dreyer. Whatever. And then you may be made my account. I was like, Do this is this is cool, but, like, how the hell do you like get, like likes are like where, like there was the hashtags hadn't really been developed. Yes, And then people are liking you too. Hashtag stuff. But then I knew I was like, Man, I want more friends, you know? So I'm going to be like, Oh, yeah, Here's my instagram. Yeah, hard stuff like that. And that's when I remember I everybody was like, Do you know, how do you have, like, 40 followers? Because I met these people and realized I was like, Here's my phone. Follow me on Instagram If all you do for a dollar Yeah, hell ever. Yeah, And it kind of just helped grow it. And then, um yeah, dude, it just slowly slowly group. And then And there wasn't that many people that had was doing The similar ship that I was doing to like this far is like the type of hair that I wanted to do our unique, you know, like a lot of, um you know, like that. Hold. I guess I I saw actually in that. Actually, that's when I started seeing like, the trend of how hair was changing a lot. I remember when I first moved away. My I think my hair was like all like I can't remember. It was like like, um, it was all along, I guess, And, like, had, like, blonde streak down the middle of this and that. And that was shortly after I moved Orange County. I shaved the sides okay and starts licking it back. And then I finally got to the point where I shaved off the back. And I have you know, that the that like that, you know, short on side, long on top, but, like, very, very aggressive. Like you. No one on the side. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So disturbing. But it was like it was like, that trend and, you know, and then I kind of stopped doing women's hair a little bit because I was like, Dude, this is all these guys want. Yes, quick, easy. Little fade on the sides. And that was becoming the trends. Always kind of got good at that. And then, you know, just slow the girls, so that started doing that a lot of shit. Ton of fades. I wasn't planning on becoming like a barber s

Brock Goldberg:   51:15
type of person That is grooming special

spk_1:   51:17
gotta. Exactly. And you just had to adapt

Brock Goldberg:   51:19
No, you have to. Absolutely. Absolutely. On DSO. So you left that house? Did you go and you left the salon? Where did you go after that?

spk_1:   51:27
Well, that's why it's a black bandit. Okay, that was a black man. It's afterward. And then I was living at this place on, like, on sunset and lost. Thomas

Brock Goldberg:   51:36
was that was that you moved into a place by yourself. I

spk_1:   51:39
moved in with a friend for, like, six months and in that house got broken into, like, three times in six months. So I was like, call the landlord 19 No, Ziggy, we're moving out. Like what? This car? It was leaving his Hollywood crimes three times in six months. It was insane the last time. It was pretty, pretty devastating. What happened? What the fuck happened? Well, is this art? Now have some guy broke in and was, like, butt naked and basically try to take advantage of my room mate with a female. Shut the fuck on. I was across the street. I was actually coming home from a club with another friend and we're, like, all drunk, just like standing there. I was like looking up at the sky. I was like, Wow, there's a ghetto bird up there. It's gotten close to our house And then that's weird. And then, like getting ready to cross the street. And then two cop cars on both sides will roll up and were like, What the hell they're like Still, that's on the street way expiry like, you know, a little and try to figure out what the hell is going on. And the chopper was just going around like, kind of my building. And I was like, Dude, this isn't look good. So I called my roommate. She didn't answer. And then you called again. She an answer. And following the third time she answer, and she's like, Trey, there's some naked due to my room right now. I was like, uh what? And right when I heard that ran across the street and like, went to the back entrance of our spot and that this time I saw, like six cops and guns drawn, ready to walk in my house, and I know I was just on one. Sounds like hug. You fucking push some of the cops out a way to walk towards the house and like I wasn't afraid. I was, like, fucking know

Brock Goldberg:   53:15
you. And I'm like, I got six cops like you got my back. I

spk_1:   53:18
mean, the guy's naked is obviously doesn't have a weapon on. So I kick open the door and I had a puppy of the time, and he walks out and then she runs out crying. And apparently the guide ran off just before the cops had arrived. Eso right then, like, three in the morning called Lamb. Smells like Do we gotta get out?

Brock Goldberg:   53:35
No, no. Holy shit. Dude, this is a good time for me to smoke a fucking joints. Where? God, dude, going through that experience, man. Like, fuck this. I'm getting the fuck out. Um oh, shit.

spk_1:   53:47
Yeah, that And then after that, yeah, I was, like, this time to go send it moving note by myself, You know, another hurdle because, you know, that's just like,

Brock Goldberg:   53:54
was that your first time moving about you?

spk_1:   53:56
Well, um, with with one other person. But the following time after that was that was the first time I live by myself. And that was like, you know, I think the rent increased. Like I think I was paying like it the time, Like, 13 50 or something. A little bedroom in a duplex in like West Hollywood. Can't get that anymore. No, The same spots. $2000. Now, I found out what this party nine years is crazy, I But it just kind of like I'm That was, like, another herd. Oi! Eight money, rent, anything increased, like an extra like $450. And I was like, Damn, how am I gonna make this work once it's like, you just you just got to take that leap. And I mean, yeah, was eaten fucking Rahman and Cuban, a peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a while. But it was like the risk. I was willing to take that, like, you know, I just knew I need to work harder. That's actually one of the things that another friend of mine and I kind of came up with is that should never tell yourself that you can't afford something. It just means that you gotta hustle that much harder to obtain it. Fuck, yeah, and that's sort of what I did. I was just like, you know, like, yeah, this is, like, kind of out of my price range. But I'm like, dude, like, if I'm gonna be successful and get more clients and, you know, figure out other ways to make money and, you know, do all this just like anybody else has ever moved. L. A Thank you, sir. Welcome. Anybody that's moved to L A. To make it happen. Like, you know, that's what you just have to do. And it's like it kind of like puts that fire under your ass that, like, it's either you sink or swim. Yeah, I didn't like I always felt, like, kind of like my My attitude toward things was like, You know, I'll jump in the deep end and figure out how to swim like now because, you know, it's it's a she forgot who said it. I think you I forgot which guy was like. You will only succeed if is bad. It's like if you were drowning as bad as you want air basically

Brock Goldberg:   55:41
fucking Oh, man, that Yeah, that's that's such a great point, man. And it just, you know, as I'm starting to hear your story, there is this progression, man. You just keep on taking these risks. You're willing to put your head out there, Um, to make yourself work harder pushes you, man, getting these rent increases going through these ups and downs, ups and downs, it just fucking pushes you. And there's this fire inside of you that I'm just really starting to realize that Robbie said I've always realized that about you, but it's really incredible to hear. Um, So So So at that point, right? Um, you get out of the place with the butt naked, dude. Fucking, huh? That's crazy fucking nuts, man.

spk_1:   56:24
Yeah, it was pretty scary.

Brock Goldberg:   56:25
I don't doubt that. I don't like going through something that in your in your friend, too. Seriously. Very traumatizing. May I mean, she

spk_1:   56:34
was devastated. Get PTSD off of that. She was your I mean, especially living in Hollywood. I mean, like, crazy shit happens all the time. I mean, an f digital. I mean, even on the way over here, I think I'm telling you, there was Ah, there was a car flipped over. Yeah, in the middle of the street on sunset. Looks like it's not even a highway, right? No. Well, but like that happens all the time. It's just, you know, he's got a roll with it. It's

Brock Goldberg:   56:56
a fucking zoo out here, man. It's It really is crazy Shit happens all the time s o. So at this point, you moving your own place. What is your, um uh, your your your group of people that you've built up your clientele? Where is it now?

spk_1:   57:11
Yes. So I kind of started building. Ah, so that's it Seems like since I goto goto the nightclubs, I was kind of like my angle was because I wanted to work on, you know, the cool kids don't want to work on, you know, artists and, you know, DJs and just cool people. When you kind of just figure out what cool people do after you go to a nightclub and you're like, What do you do? And just everyone's doing different creative ship. So in the beginning, um, one of the owners of that shop that I worked at, he was a promoter. And remember the first night I went to the first club I went to he, um he's like, Yeah, I just come, you know, come to this thing is called my studio, like, Okay. And, you know, and that was The thing is, being broke was like never like, I just kind of adjusted to. It was like and I got this. I really I'm really a big on numbers and a lot of people, you know, they have their strength and stuff like that. I really like numbers, like spreadsheets and budgeting and just is good because I came from a very conservative family. My parents would have, like, a lot of money growing up in stuff like that. So I kind of just had to learn how to budget correctly because, you know, money doesn't grow on trees. Now you run out. I never want to be like, Oh, like I never needed one to ask for help. So I was like, What if I just, you know, maneuver correctly? I will never have to, like, absolute really be in a tight

Brock Goldberg:   58:27
spot. No, no, for sure, for sure. Now, was this something that you learned on your own? Was it, uh, you know, talk to you

spk_1:   58:33
about your parents, I think kind of talk about my parents. Um just goes like I had to work for my shit. Like I said, I was like, one of my first jobs was like I was, ah, soccer referee with 13 $14.14 years old, and I was getting paid, like, $8 a game for, like, an hour, like, you know, in exactly check. And you're like, OK, I made 40 bucks in two weeks and, like, I was never like the kid that wanted to go blow it on like the next cool shit or whatever, because I just don't really care about that kind of stuff. I mean, I like cool, nice things. But, you know, I was gonna always want to invest in stuff that, like what? Like really important. Like not just you know, I didn't want to buy dumb stuff. You know, I also learned vicariously through other people like you. That's one that's two extra what Warren Buffett says. Like you know, you could learn from other people's mistakes or you could learn from your mistakes are learned by other people's mistakes. It's like if you find somebody, if you watch, like okay, if all these things happened, let's not do the same shit that they're doing. Let's cut. Let's cut all that time out Exactly, you know, And that was like a huge thing that I kind of just realized. I realized a lot of these things early on in my life. Just kind of just how my parents and, you know, a lot of places I worked out a lot of, like mentors and bosses like working like the cycle shop in the tattoo shop. These each of these dudes had a specific way about running their businesses, which when I was, um, working at Black Bandits, I, uh, had learned all these skills of how to manage the shop. And I worked in a tattoo shop and work this song. So I managed to tattoo. It was a tattoo shop here. Sliders. Okay, the first ones way back in the day, we had, like, four chairs for Studio Cherif us Ah, tattoo chairs and four salon chairs. So I was like a pretty cranking busy spot. And I mean, I was Everybody was, like, fucking 56 years older than me. And they're looking at me like was this kid's like our follows my will in the holding one who can write a schedule and actually bring the till And all this shit for ours. You guys are nuts. like they didn't know how to handle it. Yeah. So, um, I don't know What was I really bad that I make some notes? A man.

Brock Goldberg:   1:0:33
That's how good I keep on bringing you back. We're all good things is fantastic. Uh, we were just talking about numbers,

spk_1:   1:0:39
and you know, where you were able to hone in on those wheels. So then we have been declined telling thing. So yes, going on the nightclub stuff, I I am. I So this dude, he he invited me to come out of the club one night. Now I'm gonna go make a He was like it was like I remember because that was back in the day with taxis. There wasn't even a fucking go like you call taxi and a waitress I'd like And I was always like, Man, I hope this dude shows up, you know? So I was, like, seven or eight bucks to get out of the club and I walk up and there's lines on both sides is the is the G A. And there's a V i p people, wine bottles, and then my friends, like, just come to the middle. Okay. Kind of like What? All right, walk up securities like what you're doing around. Then my buddy just blocks out walks like he owns the place and I'm like Like, this is how this works. You just come in like all right, and walked in. You walk in and it's like the first time. Like going on like a full on like Hollywood. You know, it was a Monday night, too. I think it's a Monday or something like that. And it was like Holly full on Hollywood, like, you know what you would imagine, like just the most beautiful women you could ever imagine. That every you know, like I think that someone or that's a wrap. That's this dude. And you know what? Go to my homies table, and there's like only like four guys there. There's, like three promoters and one do about the table, and there's, like, 20 girls stand behind you and you're like, What, did I just walk? And this is where I need to be hanging exactly. Then that's kind of what I realized that I was. I do. If I like, you know, like a lot of these people will go the nightclub and stuff like that, especially, You know, Hollywood doesn't actually matter where it is. But if you have learned that on here in L. A is that you know, these people care about their image. They care about getting their hair done. They care about looking good. They were in nice clothes. You're wearing jewelry, all that kind of stuff. So I was like, Dude, this is where I'm gonna This is my Trader Joe's e. I gotta find my client. So it was really important to me. And I'm like, Okay, I got a stack 25 cars in my pocket. I need to give all of these out because I need to book three haircuts tomorrow so that I can eat and put gas in my car and put and then get a taxi and come back here and do it again. So do that. Six nights a week for, like, four years. Holy. She is going out and going at washy. Different two years. And then on the third year I ended up doing, I ended up starting. I worked as a promoter at my own club. Okay? I was working at this club called Sound, and it was more like a techno underground kind of stuff. And that's, you know, after, you know, doing it. Two years, um, you know, working with these promoters and my Boston on the shop. He, um you know, it introduced me all these people, and after a while, it's like, Okay, then I meet the door guy that I meet the V i p host here and then the general manager at this club. And it was six nights a week, six different clubs. So every single time, there's different. You know, there's different bottle girls. There's different this girl, and then you just gotta meet all this network of people when he was, you know, good, you know, large amount of time. And then you got your club kids that are, like the consistent people that come in on these ones. And that was like with kids. I started practicing on site was horrible hair like anybody is when they started. Um, but I didn't have I didn't really learn. Like a lot of men's cutting are fading. I didn't even know I didn't even use clippers. When I started fading, I was doing well, scissors. It was taking too long. and all that kind of stuff. So I was like, Okay, I need to learn clippers. And I didn't even know how did any of the stuff I practice on a couple kids? But, you know, once you start doing all the managers and stuff, that's when it really got interesting. Because, you know, that's when I would go to the clubs without those my promoter friends and this and that. And then, you know, those those. Those are my friends. Now those like my clients. And then we have my network started building and building. And then once you start working at sound, and I I I was promoted. I have my own table of my own And at this point instead of me, like, you know, having to hit up my promoter friends like everybody was hitting me up. Yeah, my club. Yeah. And then, you know, I mean good relationships with our booking agent and the general manager there. And, you know, they all knew I do hair. And then after a while, they're like, you know, like a seven only matter of time. Yep. We know we're at our meetings and stuff, and I do a couple of promoter guys that worked with and then the you know, our bosses were like, Oh, that's dope. And then one day, like, hey, Dre. Oh, did you cut this deejay that's flying in from Israel's here? Definitely explain it. Sound the first night. And I'm like, uh, yeah, fuck, yeah comes in and I'm like, Oh, do I know this guy's music? This fucking dope in like I think I am? Guy Gerber. Okay. Later on, I ended up being his tour manager. That was like a really interesting Yeah, yeah, that was a crazy, crazy experience, but that was actually a bucket list thing for me to do. It is like I wanted, you know, I worked is going not just going as a club kid, but then I was, like, actually, promoter to be able to because it's cool. You're gonna host your own table and you buy on your friends, you like I do coming on my table when you could drink for free. Fuck, yes, I'm like, I'm gonna and I get paid to d'oh! So I was able to do all this shit and then, like, you know, after a week after week You know, we have different DJs coming every week, so that at a certain point, like every week, whatever deejay was playing with, you know, either them and their manager, somebody would come in and get a haircut. You know, Michio getting, you know, such and such fitted up before the show tonight and I could use that is like market material on my instagram default. More people to come to the party. And it just created this cycle of like, well, like, have it And then, you know, it was That was a long time. I don't really

Brock Goldberg:   1:5:41
remember what was there. You were there, you know? That's so funny. It's just to get back t the initial story. Oh, so so you You were You were working at that tattoo shop, uh, hair salon. Um, after that one. What was that next leap?

spk_1:   1:6:01
That was actually Yeah. So we worked another. It's so we moved from Melrose the sunset. That's like, you know, you kind of want to start moving up the hill. Well, yeah. We had this spot cross street from this nightclub called One Oak. Okay. Yeah, I was pretty pretty, pretty popular spot and our you know, our salon was right next door. Right next to that was this other spot called Shamrock Tattoo inside a legendary mark. You know, tattoos like Brad Pitt. Angelina Jolie. Yeah, I remember standing out there one day and like fucking Kendall Jenner is just like standing on sunset, like, right next to me. And I'm like, Whoa, that's you. This is so random. Yeah. So, you know, just kind of started building more credibility of like Like who I was is an artist. And, like, you know, this hairdresser, like in L. A. That you know, everyone if you want you. That's why they call them clubs. You frequent them. It's a part of the community. And you go them enough. You know, after a while is going to every every venue, every club, every hotel, whatnot and people I wouldn't know who I was. And would you recommend people I'd go the concierge and be like, yo, when he was Dre. You know, I've been doing hair down the street from you guys, but what if you ever have anybody tell me you know? So I started, you know, kind of juvenile barking and put myself out there a lot, well, that spot for about two years. And then what's you know, that's when I definitely like it. That's when I kind of felt like I had made it. And as far as like booking a clientele, because I remember waking up on like, you know, a Monday and looking at my books and not having to worry that that whole week would fill up whether it was booked out halfway or 75% because I knew I would do like the amount that I would physically be able to do, like a week after week after week. And that's when I was, like, damn like this is now I have a clientele. I know making this amount of money like this is like it's I think I finally got to look like a secure place for sure And then after that, that's when I, um you know, figured out that I but you didn't figure out how much money How about making this much? I can afford my own studio because that's what I wanted. I want to be ableto play my own music. Congo is I wanted, you know, in keep 50 or 60% more of my money because I built it was yours. It was all my clientele, like, nobody There wasn't like the salon that, you know, that people weren't calling the salon being like, Hey, can I get a haircut from whoever's available? They were calling

Brock Goldberg:   1:8:15
for you. For you. That's so fucking cool, man. And so at this point, um, how old were you? And how long were you into your

spk_1:   1:8:24
career? I was, um, after, Like what? I think it was like, See, that must been 2014. We think 23. 24 I was thinking was, like 25 25 26. Yeah, that story I was, like, 20 foot between 25 27. Those two years. Okay. Around there on dhe. That's kind of I kind of figured I was gonna be like that. I was in my career about 43 and 1/2 since they want a county, like, four years, four years for you. But I think mainly in l. A. About three years, three and 1/2 years. It was like, kind of like the l a career kickoff, but, I mean, I just kind of always knew is it? It was just an instinctual feeling. That's why would you even I have a couple of systems now that, um I kind of just tell a little bit about this story to them, Like, you know, you may see my life now. Yeah, after being in this injury for almost 11 years, you know, And I have, you know, the clients that I have and I'm, you know, I literally, you know, flew to New York couple of weeks ago to go see a client for, like, 24 hours to do his haired come back. And, you know, it's that that didn't really just happen overnight. And I'm trying to say, like, you know, you need to trust the process. It took me, like, four or five years to get to a strong, you know, clientele where I could afford all those things and then once again, moving, doing more expensive house and live down the street and all this kind of stuff, and it takes time to dust. But you just can't feel like you need to rush it. And I can't feel like you got to get from. There's 10 levels. You can't There's No way. You learn one and two and then be like I'm There you go. It's like, you know, it's like playing Zelda. You don't just get even If you could buy all the weapons, it's your experience levels. Absolutely. So

Brock Goldberg:   1:10:06
it's so fucking true, man. But you know that the hardest thing for anyone starting out in a new career is it's It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But it is the individuals that put their head down but the nose to the fucking grindstone and put that hard work in that it will pay off. You just have to stick with it. But so many people give up. So many people think that they are owed something So many people think, looking at even looking at you. And they're like, Oh, well, fucking dres there, right? Like, why can't I be with the fuck like if you're listening to the story? There's a lot of steps that have gotten you to this spot where your your your your career is about the fucking explode. And then there comes the evolution of craft, right? How did that start? One. How did you come up with the fucking name on. And just how did that start?

spk_1:   1:10:57
Okay, said yes. So I just figured out that I was able to afford having that studio. I mean, the this deal was like, I think I was, like, foreigner and some bucks a week. Okay, Um and, uh, you know, in the also too. I was kind of bad raising my prices on a continual basis. So, like, I think I raised it like, 30% each time in the last, Like, four or five years to kind of catch up with, You know, the economics amount of clients and taking me how many clients I want to take in the type of people I'm taking. So, you know, if you're looking for a quick haircut, I'm not your dude. Yeah. I mean, like, I'm coming in there. We're talking about this. I'm putting expertise and world class knowledge into this stuff. So when I figure all that those those things out with the money stuff, whatever, moving into this spot, um, I didn't know what I want to call it because I wanted to not like, call it Dre Salon. Yes. Yeah. You know, I did and I knew what I was gonna do with it was gonna be Jim more than just doing, you know, a salon that was two people did hair. I was You know, I knew I was gonna want to create an event cause I was still, like, obviously doing parties and stuff like that. I still hadn't quite done something very like hair driven quite yet. And And, um, you know, I thought of the name, just something that was kind of like a broad nature I wanted it to be. You know, you couldn't really identify what it was specifically so And then Ah, yeah. Obviously it's built the same way. Is the America Corporation? Yep. But after making tea Yeah, exactly. But it's, you know, my dynamic is completely different. It's it's events in Salon. It's like an agency, if you will. I mean, it is what it is, but ah, yes, or use that. And then I changed jobs to the K. And then, you know, it's it was born then, and I was working there for a moment by myself for a few months and then done another chair in there and hired some other girls I worked with in the past and design are about two years. Yeah, yeah, no school, cause like since I was only doing my mentor like I was able to refer them all the girls that are girls that I knew

Brock Goldberg:   1:13:05
girlfriends or your U S.

spk_1:   1:13:07
O. Ever. It was great because then everybody even now it's even to this day. People are like, Hey, can you color my hair and Michael if you don't color? But I mean, I do. But it's not like it's not something I might try to push. So now that I have five or six other people that are colors that my slogan Aiken able to give them the clients and that helps share the wealth And you know, all that kind of stuff that I keep it in house and it's really stoked about that kind of cool thing. It's weird when you're like ableto help four feed feed people. Yeah, and tail and stuff like that. Um, it's a

Brock Goldberg:   1:13:39
beautiful thing, man. I mean, it really is to be able to spread the wall, shared the wealth, you know, to be able to pass along what you have to other individuals in tow watch and see them grow. It's a fucking beautiful thing, man. I mean, education. Is it XKE? It's It's freaking key. And so now Kraft is born. You got two chairs in there? Um, how old are you at this point?

spk_1:   1:14:06
I was part like 27. 26 20. Actually think I was, like, 27? Yeah. Yeah, I was 27. I worked in there for, like, two, maybe three years out of the Z Zorro. I was actually I was working on a bio and the other thing the other day. And I need to get diesel years kind of. But it's been it's been a long time and a lot of lot of things have happened. So it's kind of hard to keep up with which, when When one started, one ended kind of a thing, but it was like around 27. 28 to think. And ah, I worked there, had the spot for two years, and I kept at other friend in the industry and I was like, you know, a Now, on the days that I wasn't working in the days the other people weren't working on the other chair, I would keep filtering new people and and then finally got to a point where is, like, fucking I needed, like, knock down the wall and had two more chairs. Um, so I did fuck and, um, you know, and and then hired a couple more people. And, you know, that's like going through on the hardest things to Is building a salon in Los Angeles? Yeah, And it wasn't and that was the weird thing. It wasn't even my plan to do that. It's just I honestly wanted more space. And it's cool to work around other people that were inspiring and doing different things than I was. But it wasn't my initial thought toe like build a salon and then eventually, like, where we are today were, you know, 10 11 people that work there. Yeah. Couple assistance and having to educate all that kind of stuff was e don't know. It just happened. Everything feels like it happened so fast that, like I mean, did took a long time. But like sometimes I wake up and I'm like, How did I get here? Yeah, I like it like it's Yeah, just It's incredible, Man. Were

Brock Goldberg:   1:15:38
No, no. Here but it's ah, It's a testament to your character, man. I mean, it is weird because you put in the work, though, you know? And then and then life goes by a blink like a blink of a fucking I. You know, as

spk_1:   1:15:53
we get older, it gets quick. Everything get older, everything goes by quick history of seven more responsible course, of course. More responsibilities. Just, you know,

Brock Goldberg:   1:16:00
just stacks up really, really fast. Um, uh, So then, you know, you knock down the wall and all that shit, How? How? Actually, let me take a step back. Man. This is a question I didn't want to ask you, um, growing, not growing. But, you know, going to Los Angeles at a young age, going through all of that. The fucking party, the pizza parties, the people that you're around. Um Did you manage Thio? You know that the girls, the women Did you have a girlfriend? Was that

spk_1:   1:16:30
horror? Oh, yeah. Did you see that was the thing to you is like being being in the party world like it was really hard. Especially being a promoter. Stuff like that, you kind of just understand the program and if you're coming to L. A. To, like, start a family and stuff like that, this point, not the place. Doesn't that mean I like? I know a lot of people between the age 30 and 40 and I'd say probably maybe 10 or 15% have kids, or some of them are married, But it's really not say it's hard relationship, but it's definitely just it's a little bit more challenging because you go out six nights a week and meet 50 different girls in 50 different dudes. Yeah, that air in there that are different, that are all in different scenes, too, because, like, that's the thing you do remember. It's like if you just because we're at this club on a Wednesday night doesn't mean the club that were that means that that, like the club, we were out last night. There's another Wednesday night group of promoters and their friends and their girls, and it starts. He starts. You start to see how many layers there are in this city. I mean, there's like, I don't know if I can remember, like, three or four million people live in that concentration of lives to fucking so You know, you put that on top of all the people that air in transient travelers coming from all over the world. First for work and for play. And then everyone in surrounding areas, like, you know, Riverside, Orange County, Northern wherever, San Diego, that a drive in on the weekends. You need a lot of people, so I really don't have it. I wasn't the date I mean dating here and there. But for, like, seven years, I was pretty much single For the most part, I mean, nothing that I've dated longer than, like, three months of like that. But, um, yeah, but also to the whole party and everything like that definitely was challenging because, you know, you'd be hungover and this and that, but you just gotta be able to lie. I just had to sit myself down on you, like Dre, like we gotta pull it back. Like if you draw an imaginary line in the sand, it's like you take five steps forward. Yeah. Take three back, maybe take 10 4 You take some more back, and yeah, I don't want to go 30 steps away and then forget, You know, they say one more, just one more, just one more. And then you realize you're so far away from the imaginary line that you might to start lose yourself cause that's what happens. A lot of people in L. A. I mean, it's easy. A lot of people get caught up in it and don't really keep their eye on the prize of money. Like I said at the beginning of my eye on the prize is like, You know, I need I want to have a big network of people clients and like, the last thing you want to do is just be the guy. It's like two fucked up all the time. That's not getting shit done. That's not reliable. That's not, you know, a boss in a sense that, like I can get the things done. And that would be doing hair and showing up on time and not canceling. I mean, I'm guilty of that From the record, I'm human, But, um, you know, I realized that I had something to is that if if I wasn't the part, if I if I wasn't willing to go and do what I did, someone else that saw that window of people would have gone and done it before. Just like that. You know, I feel like I have one of the biggest. I think networks of D J clientele that I would see from people all over the world have traveled all over and done hair and all over, You know, a lot of different countries in all over America. I'm seeing a lot of these clients that, you know, playing music. And, ah, where do you meet him? At the club. That's most of time recommendations, stuff like that. So, um, you know, I'm really proud of that, because it was not easy. You know, I definitely lost myself a couple times, um, in those years, but ah, I just had to

Brock Goldberg:   1:19:52
check myself out of your direct myself. You gotta bring it back. So So? So you went seven years and then did you find, ah, you know, relationship a lady friend? Yeah.

spk_1:   1:20:03
Yeah. So, um after, like when I had was breaking down that wall, actually, too, to build the new spot or the second spot, I met this girl, Um, who I'm with today. All right. Her name is baby. All right. I met her. She wasn't named Bambi. Fact that she was named Brianna. Okay. And always, Ah. Telling her I was like, Yeah, he's changer it. I'm like your tiny You're cute. You gotta have, like, a catchy name. And she changed her is to be happy here is cool. Kind of give her like an identity for sure in this whole instagram kind of social networking world. Yes, I met her actually at the salon that work at that sexual collection studios called Slow in public in West Hollywood. And, uh, it's really dope spot. But it was It was really nice because I was able to play my own music in there. Come and go as I want. And I I have a studio that looks out up in the Hollywood Hills, right on Sunset Boulevard on second floor. It's parking and, you know, 24 access. It's it's beautiful, it's turnkey. They have towel service. And yeah, it's really it is so easy. Yeah, and it's been it's big enough that every of space and there's, you know, enough bodies in there and people that are cool. Not too much, you know, once, once you lose what you have bigger than a crowd that it's, you know, there's a lot of personalities going on.

Brock Goldberg:   1:21:21
Huge dynamic. But what was she working there?

spk_1:   1:21:24
Which not? Not quite yet. So she had. We'd met me, hung out. She's really cool, and I really like There's, like, specific things that I really liked about her, and I feel like I was getting into a point where and where I was taking my career a lot more seriously. That was when I, um, actually built craft the first time I even went on a eight month sobriety night. Yeah, because I was like, you know, the only women gonna actually be able to physically build this place is not being hung over if there's no way. So I have to come in early work on the building, the salon building, you know, furniture, what, not putting up speakers, all that kind of stuff, and then do my client's later and then work on this on at night, and there's no way I could do that parting every night. So I had to really, like, dial back, dial back the nights I was going out and really focus

Brock Goldberg:   1:22:04
on what was important. Bring yourself back to that imaginary line. Hard

spk_1:   1:22:11
court, Unlike so sobriety for, like, eight months just to get my shit straight because, you know, like I wanted t o be there I wanted. And I wanted it to stick kids like, um, you know, over the years with different people have worked with, you know, they give me you know, what the everyone has their story of, like, who told them that they couldn't do something or, of course, what was unobtainable and I'd had, you know, bosses and people had worked with that. They were say things, you know, to kind of bring me down. And that was like my tackling fuel toe, you know, really push myself because I would hear those voices of what they said that I couldn't do. Or you know, how I would just disappear after a while or different things like that where I gotta prove them wrong?

Brock Goldberg:   1:22:55
No, I get that. I get that, like, hard

spk_1:   1:22:57
Accord, and, you know, I just never I want and I still to this day, I still want to be that you know, that hair dresser, that gray hair guy that started this brand that does this party that You know, I'm, you know, been in West Hollywood Hollywood area of the last 10 years, and I want it to be, you know, as long as a

Brock Goldberg:   1:23:18
fucking rocket and say no, no, I trust me. I get it. Um, but but getting back to Bambi, What have that have next? Yeah. So she

spk_1:   1:23:27
was She was working down the hall, and then she started helping me, like, do some random stuff at our spot. And she was actually going through a transition of her own. Yeah, with her boss about, um, you know, uh, just different things. She was about to remodel the salon, and I was, like, trying to explain their issues. Like, I think she's like, 21 at the time. Okay. And I was like, You don't own this place. So, like, why would you put your money into it? So someone else, like, like, this guy's tricking you like this is not a good move. So, you know, I was like you. She was just getting ready to jump ship. She could feel the energy was off so that she did. And how you can come work in my spot. Yeah, And she didn't have that many clients cause she was doing our bosses clients at the time. But I started kind of giving her advice, and resource is on howto utilized. Instagrams have been using it for four or five years at that point and even longer, like six years, I think. And I was like, you know, they do these things and once you start come out to parties with me and like at that at that point, there was me Even to this day, I have not so much to this day. But I get that point. Like I guess when I was in like this that, like, uh, when I was still kind of promoting actually think I'd quit by then. But around that time, I still had his network of people. We're going in like, you know, some of us on these nightclubs and no, like 70 80% of people in the club or just or they would know me from, you know, coming to the party once or twice. And a collection of 100 couple people over the course of two years. They're like carrots. That's in any given time. Ah, lot of those people. You know me and Oh, yeah, get a haircut. I think at that point, I named care business cards anymore, cause you just had built I built this, like, visual social vehicle, whereas everyone knew Kind of was it was awareness thing. So I take her out with me and, like, this is that girl Is this Jake This daddy J Move on, then. Oh, do you do hair too? Yeah, very. Do you hear Some time? Boom. And she And that's the thing that's a little bit just a little different about her. The way she built her her her clientele is she was able to build all these relationships through my relationships, and it really excelled her clientele. And then after she'd done a certain amount of people, their friends would see her. Sure, that recommendation. But it happened so quickly because she did. Mitt made so many friends going out with me and, ah, you know, her instagram blew up way faster than minded. And she does, you know, same. I would say same, like, caliber of people, but in different industries. That's awesome, man. It's been created.

Brock Goldberg:   1:26:00
She's lucky to have you, brother. I like, um how is it cause now you guys obviously work together? How long has been together now? Shit, like three and 1/2 years. Okay. How is that working with her day after day? Um, you

spk_1:   1:26:15
know, everyone always ask that because it's it's It's not as hard as people think because of that. And then they were both, like, back to back. And we're working all day. Um, you know, obviously just the dynamics are slightly different cause I see her. But I've always been just kind of an easy going person to an extent to an extent. But I would just, you know, we're in it. We're in a we're in a environment and she's doing her thing. She's working on another human being, exactly the kind of the human being There was not really any issues because it's just she knew how to be like professional professional. They just like Okay, cool. I see you like not like we do B. We just like, you know, we'll kiss like, Hey, what's up and stuff like that. But it's not like we're doing anything out of the norm, and I don't know, there wasn't really that money, and we actually we did when we met. We started dating for, like, a month, and then she actually moved into my house. Damn. Yeah, it's Ah, pretty, um, very crazy story. I don't know if we'll get into that. Maybe a little later. It was a crazy story about how it all went down and, um, just ah, yeah, she moved in and we were together like 24 hours a day 20 Yet for, like, three years non stop. And that was it was it was challenging. But I knew that, you know, our relationship was just very strong because we had a lot of the similar values because she's from Northern California. Also very similar. Kind of like similar, like, situation in life shoot, you know, just she had her issues with people in this and that was searching for more. One to come here. I want to prove everyone wrong, and, you know, we're both working together, and I kind of have this whole likes energy going in this little space. And it's awesome. Yeah, it's It's It's cool. I mean, it's it's different, but we we make it work, you

Brock Goldberg:   1:28:02
know? You just have to you for sure. and you also, you know, when a CZ you know, and anyone that you know that's listening, that does hair anything in the beauty industry behind the chair, you have to give your your energy and your attention to that individual that sit in your chair. It's very important to have that relationship. So it's completely different if you guys were both working in a retail space where there's all this dead time or up time downtime right where you're not giving your undivided attention at these moments. So it's not like you guys were working together. You guys were working in the same spot, so it does make the dynamic difference. Yeah, thank you from

spk_1:   1:28:38
no. Yeah, no, totally. That's it definitely does it. It's still fun because, like, you know, I could look over and see, and that's why I did it. I didn't. She's like one of my best friends. We have that. No, but she's We have a lot in common on a lot of things, and then there's a lot of things we don't have in common. So that's that's the good dynamic for us, because then she has her friends, and I have my friends that I could kick you with. And, um, but, like, our common ground is that being here, it's kind of focus. And we get to Collab on different things and work right next to each other. So should color. And then I'll do the cutter.

Brock Goldberg:   1:29:09
Yeah, man. And you just from talking to you, Like watching to see her succeed.

spk_1:   1:29:14
Oh, God, Yeah. It's the coolest thing. Um, it's really cool just to see someone who wants it. You know, she she has a very great work, that work ethic to She works really hard and short. You know, when we start first are working together. Should she said she didn't have a lot of clients. She would assist me and help me. Okay. Throughout the day, and I I told her from the get go, like like, this isn't a 9 to 5. This isn't like us showing up. Clients are fed to us. We get done and we just go in hand. We'll get down at five. Or whatever. And just fun time. Yeah, like there's I'm gonna come in early, and I won't, actually. When I started first started dating, I told her I was working for this client? Um, I work for I work for the first year, and she had 16 for, like, every single day from 3 to 5 from 2 to 5. Well, every single day, I would be at his house because he's like a social media influencer type of guy. You say his name? Um, no. I rather not. Totally skating. Yeah. Yeah. His name's high. All right. Ty Lopez shot out. Yeah. Chow Tai. He's a He's a really amazing human being. I'm absolutely blessed that I was been able to be his personal men's groomer for the last four years. That's so fucking, Um, yeah, it's it was it was amazing. I had a friend actually refer him to me nice and that I went there a couple times and they're like, Can you come back every day because he would shoot stuff on film? It's almost like, no different from like a newscaster going every day, morning, five days a week in their hair makeup. Then they grow up. So it was kind of like a similar type of vibe, 100% on social media, so it's a little different, but I would be there from 2 to 5, and I remember the time I was sobering there and it would take me, you know, 2030 bucks. See, it's his house in Beverly Hills and then you were back and it wasn't making sense. Actually bought a motorcycle for the specific reason to more. We'll be able to have derived his house, get there in five or 10 minutes and then basically tell them it like it is a house manager. Whatever is like, you know, like it's for 45. Like, I have to leave in the next five minutes to do my clients back at the salon because his window of working he just, you know, it's doing with these days things. And I'm just waiting there like, Okay, Is he ready? Okay, cool. And that's like a call time. I'm gonna send sense, but, like for sure, a very small window. But then I would do my work in five minutes. Blow dries hair like make sure looks good. And then I bounced. Get on my bike, fly back down sunset going like eighties splitting lanes. You almost died like three or four years ago. But it was fun because it was a great year, and that's kind of like, you know, that's why I can't explain Thio. Bambi At the time I was like, Look, I work for this guy and it's a really important client to me. I really enjoy. I learned a lot from him and, like, you know, it's It's it's It's an amazing experience. I've been able to do some pretty crazy things that I don't think any other people I know have been able to do with a certain client as far as like you been traveling or just kind of some of the experiences. I've got experience with him. No men. I am learning, mainly.

Brock Goldberg:   1:32:16
Fuck yeah, man, I have to say when I said, that's Ah, that's fucking awesome. I mean that Because before, like you and I even started talking, I had taken a couple of his courses. And what I like about him is he just fucking he puts it out there. He shares ah with the viewer when he got what he has and and what he's gone through in his experiences. And, um, you know how to take your life to the next level. And, um and I appreciate that you know, So percent for you, You know, getting out there, putting the hustling. I mean, you had a job to do. But then you've created these relationships, um, and getting that motorcycle even though you almost hired, right? Yeah. Um, it made sense, and it shows the type of person that you are that you're you're going to take that fucking risk. You're going to take that chance to make sure it's done right. So then you can come back to your clients, your other clients, right? And then, you know, finish your fucking day.

spk_1:   1:33:12
Yeah. You had to get it done on time. And I was like, the issue is just getting there on time. But it was It was fun, and it worked out. Um, that's awesome. Yeah, do a trip. When I think about that too, I was like, Damn, I forgot that I did that. It was like so crazy is not that many people like no or like. Like what? Like if I explain what that day would consist if I was, you know, like, three clients in the morning, then go to his house and then wait there and do whatever needed to be done because not only at that time was I'm just doing hair like sometimes they'd be like, Hey, can you film him like playing basketball or something? Or can you do this or that? There was at one point we were doing photo shoots, like every couple of weeks at his house or in San Diego in Palm Springs. In he'd be like, Can you, like, set up like a cool environment. And I'm like, Yeah, so I called my production friends and we set up deejay booth and we had a hair makeup and have, like, a little party, you know, it's like I was, like, doing many like photo shoots for private client. Yeah, it's just like a weird it was cool is like one of the funniest things ever got to do is be ableto like organize and do that for sure. One of the thing

Brock Goldberg:   1:34:20
you went above and beyond, right? It wasn't just about doing there. You're willing to, uh, you know, a lot of people just want to you know that 9 to 5 Every time I go in, get the job done, walk out, right? Um but no Fucking take that extra step, right?

spk_1:   1:34:35
Yeah, that's that's what that's what got me too, Like a lot of some of their friends here. Just as I would tell them about, like, this type of stuff that would do or just, like, how above and beyond. And they're like, Man, I could never do that. But that's this. This this is the type of human eye exam, and I enjoy that stuff. And, you know, the first day, um, for the first time, like I was able to go, like on ah, traveling trip? Yeah, like, you know, they hit me up. Like, what's your day rate? I'm like, I've never even had a dairy. Like What is that? So I like It was like, I don't know, like, and, you know, I threw number. And they're like, OK, well, maybe like this. And, you know, we go back there like, Okay, cool. So, uh, we're gonna fly. Got Thio, Norway. My cover five days now is I wholly share.

Brock Goldberg:   1:35:22
You have no idea.

spk_1:   1:35:22
Now? Well, not really. They're just That's what they just ask me that those What's your day? Right? And I was like, All right. And then they're like, Yeah, it says we're doing a lot of this photo shoes at the time. Um uh, they're like, ah, maybe can come, too. So So she came with And we ended up because, you know, we would travel with a lot of people, so we would do I would do a couple of people on the team and bring anyone to look up the bowling team. And, you know, if you'd be out there for a month, like it was just kind of cool to have, like, your peeps out there. So it was a crazy experience. It was It was, honestly, one the best experiences I've ever had in my life. And I'm just so blessed that he would think of us to take us to do that. Something like that. Um, you know, job type. Because he's the man. Yeah, he and I really appreciate everything he's done for me and Brianna. And, um, you trusted me with all these years and build that relation because you know it. Like you'll have a client's that you have for, like, a couple of years, and you have kind eyes. You've ever 10 years. Then you just build these relations with them. and at this point, now of like 11 say about 60 to 70% of my clientele have had for over, like, eight years. And I'm there's their past clients. Another. Yeah, their friends, their family. Like we hang out, it's they support me. And that's why I like, at this point, I've had I've increased. My price is in a way where I don't take as many clients now, but this way I can be totally available to all my high profile on booze. You clients that Are you okay? I just flew in from, you know, touring all year like Southern Europe. I'm only in here for like a day. Can you come in on Monday? Uh, like I would only come in for that one person. There's nothing, and then they then you know, a lot of they would fly out to New York or go to Miami or something like that. Just cause, you know, like said, is a lot of clients I have, like, travel, are working on either their managers, agents, tour managers, DJs and stuff like that. So they're above they're in and out all the time, So I just kind of had to be able to cater to them. Yes, which that's like my service that I offer. Because I love to go above beyond, like, Thio treat people the way I would like to be treated

Brock Goldberg:   1:37:26
Absolutely. At the end of the day, that is so important. You want to treat people the way that you want to be treated? Um, and I I would love for my sister's dogs or shut the fuck up. Uh, I didn't know they were gonna bark this loud, but hopefully I can get that out. That being said so, so So craft. Bambi, How did ah look? Book. I mean, for anyone listening just kind of explain what Lookbook is and that whole process.

spk_1:   1:37:52
So, um, s O book book actually had been created organically by accident. We done some of the pool parties at the rose of a hotel in the past, and we would do I did a couple papa bear events there, and, uh, I wanted to do one where I was doing them kind of on myself in, like a few people in our salon. It was It was the reason why we're doing it is so that we could build a clientele service the public that were the partygoers at this event already. And so doing it like a nightclub. We had enough space to do it outside. Next, the pool. So we would do, you know, where were people that were going to pool or friends or whatever. So the following year, I was like, You know what? I want to invite all my friends I've been friends with for, like, three or four years on Instagram to come do this now, Um, and it was like I think I'd like invited, like, eight guys to come do here and there. Like what? Like what are we going to do? And I'm like, I don't know, just I guess we'll just do haircuts for, like, whoever wants care how much we charge. And I'd like you to keep all like the money and this now, Like, how is this working like, I don't know. I'm like, making this up to you. Like you want to come here that do hair. There's a pool party. Yeah. Hollywood. Yeah. You know, it's a fucking pull part. All they would pull party like you guys lived everyone at the time. I kind of lived. Some of them like the half I'm living in l. A. And the other half live like 30 or 40 miles or even 50 miles away from L. A. So my Gil come, let's all like how this collaboration cool like event and quickly through halfway that first event in 2016 I realize that half the people that were at the party were hairdressers fuck, man to watch the other hair dresses that I invited. Yeah, and I was like, Dude, this isn't even like and everybody ended up doing only a couple haircuts and then I was like, This isn't even about doing the public anymore. This is about other hairdressers becoming getting to be able to watch these other dudes and girls. It's, ah, a little girls do color stuff like that was it was their way to, like, watch. And like I'd did that first event and all those dudes, we either done meet ups before, like someone salon or like their house. And there's only like, 56 of us. But wasn't I could open to the public type of thing, and I was like, Damn, if I have like these are all my friends and, like, you know, I like to support, likes to build things and bring community. Actually had a conversation with this guy last night about it is like building a community is like such an important thing. And I was like, Okay, this is this is kind of crazy. So the following year, and I invited, um, two guys, one from Ireland, my buddy Ryan. Right. And he'd been blowing up with his iconic trending type of styles, the Irish style that everybody knew. And if you fucking you don't see everybody bringing these photos And I think you know, his thing was world renowned, this certain technique. And he was able to come to do look book as well as, ah, another guy from Pennsylvania named Mikey. It was really popping off, had his own styles. It was like all of us. And we all kind of do this event again, and more more hairdressers would show up. And at this time, I think we had, like, 340 people show up. I think there are only about 200 of them were like hairstylist, maybe a little less, but but it just kind of kept growing, and it was cool because I knew. And it's doing all these meetings with all these dudes and that, you know, at this point everybody charges for their education and whatnot. But I wanted to be able to kind of facilitate this like as if it was like a live like a lot of people like you like shadowing it. If you're watching this unit here says, You know what? Shadowing is our neediness any sort of interesting comment? Or should we gotta watch somebody do whatever they're doing? So I wanted to do this event based off of like as if you were at their soul on shadowing, and I wanted to make sure that the music was loud. I wanted them to be the hairdresser that was performing our featured. They were in their salon mode. They were just doing the hair. And then everyone got the sneak peek while the music's blasting and you're, you know, rubbing shoulders with some other dude you wanted to meet on Instagram years, and you're just like watching this other dude bust out. But they're not like Nestle teaching you there. You just It's like you get this glimpse of like what I do, It's it's a pee and then yes, and then you walk him down, you know, another chair and this other dude, it's doing us damn like this. Is Instagram come to life? Absolutely. That's kind of what I wanted to create was that whole like environment. And now we're about to do our 5th 1 this year Here was like, you know, it was just so insane Just to see, like, so many different people finally show up to these things and just kind of giving people these experienced I like because I could be in L. A like a lot of amazing hairdressers live really, really close by. So and you know my buddy, this guy Philip Wolf. I talked to him, you know, every so often throughout the week, just, you know, keep in touch. And he's like, you know, like, my big bro is a mentor. Ease his fuck. I know who he was before even Seagram popped up. Obviously, I was like, you know, just figuring out, like, who were the dope people like fuck with, You know, they were who were really doing in ICU are the same vibe. And, you know, you meet all these people throughout the course of time and okay with him about with him, and I'm not. But I figure it out like I was at the Apple store and I saw Phil up there, and I was like, Holy shit, that's it at the time is doing. Kim Kardashian said before she was like the Kim Kardashian and stuff. So, like, you know, I walked up and I was like, Yo, dude, like you're filled. Wolfe, he's like, Yeah, that's all You super nice, just like you do. This is so sick. And this was like, Oh, man, this is Mr Bean. Oh, yeah, I was the second or third year, not even living in l. A. We kept in touch, and it was kind of hard because the instagram wasn't really white where it was. So you didn't know I didn't have a phone? I mean, has phone number. It was like, you know, really, like texting her, like, you know, he's busy doing his thing. So, like, now, with Instagram really like, we're able to keep in contact, you know, kind of money on this visual. Fuck your platform now. but, ah, yeah, he came to a couple of them, and now I would like this past year. He's he's done a couple of them with me and

Brock Goldberg:   1:44:01
just fucking growing and growing and growing. And it's just so cool to be able to create this experience. This look into what the reality is, you know, when that individual has the client in their chair, what it looks like because so many people have questions they want to know they want to be able to see on. And there's one thing like to go to a class on, like, you know, teach someone, you know, pull the hair here, do this, do that, do this. But to be up, to be able to actually get a look inside what reality is for them on a day to day basis. It's fucking amazing. And I thought it was brilliant. Do you think I am so excited for the next one will

spk_1:   1:44:36
be, Yeah, you got to come in. Yeah, it was It was just kind of crazy to see. Like what? It's a ball to now. Now that now that we have Officer the event, I think we're doing off, see like a Sunday again. And But this past year we introduced these classes. So now it's a two day event. So we do. Classes were going to those on the Monday So it's like you experienced this whole salon like networking, like, kind of like big vibe like Blowout. And then the following day, Now we're gonna be like, All right, let's take what we just saw and break it down. Yes, yeah. We shut off the music and its classroom time and everyone that's you get a little bit more value out of this whole weekend. It's more traditional. Yeah, for sure. I wanted to add that, and I didn't really want to do it. But like, it makes sense, though, but I had it just organically had it kind of had the happened. Otherwise, the event kind of wouldn't keep growing toe what it is. Yes, yes. So

Brock Goldberg:   1:45:27
it just It just kind of brings it full circle, you know? And it's the 5th 1 You're evolving everything I and your life definitely seems to evolving S O S o. So as we wrap this up, man, what is What's up next for you? What the fuck else is going on.

spk_1:   1:45:40
So I recently actually just partnered on this other new company called s a Style Artist Academy with, uh, social media and just everything kind of in general, moving to this online video. I mean, a YouTube is done a great job as faras facilitating a lot of people pushing out contact wth end of the day. Um, their platform is billions and billions of videos and not all the stuff that's on there is the top quality of content. Fuck Mel. So, yeah, it's going. You might not be finding the thing that you want and you may want to learn from certain people. And now that we've seen Instagram just blow up the monster, it is over the last 12 years, you know who is done? Certain things that you like. Okay, that President Building Academy, that person's made a trend. That person does that person's hair, and I want to learn from those people. So what we're trying to do with this online education company called Style Artists Academy is billed a basic Aleka Netflix type of ah, platform where we have all these artists that we break down their classes from, you know, between an hour and three our classes and they're very, very detailed. There's a lot of good there's, like four different camera angles that we're doing in Ah, uh, kind of putting the artists that we believe have something to really offer That's our very, very They've done the certain kind of things and being, you know, in this tree Now, for the last 10 11 years, I've been able to gather all this information and really decide on who's made a statement since the beginning. There's a lot of people. They're really good instagram that are like that. I have taken off in the last few years, and there's a lot of people that suck it instagram that are really talented, but they may or may not. So we're doing a mixture of both of those types of people, but mainly a lot of the people that are really good on Instagram because at the end of the day, having an online presence, not mystical website, but the day and age of immune you walking up and down Melrose or ever going to get like clients and, you know, like being able. It's only mostly by word of mouth it's It's if you have a big Instagram falling or you have some sort of following, Um, it's it's gonna benefit you in more ways than just building a clientele. It's about us being able to connect anything. You're looking for something, and someone posted you consent to somebody like you building this network. And, um actually, uh, there's, Ah, book. I forgot who is by. But it's in this and this other company called Mentor Box and one that authors talks about how you become a slut like a networker, right? And then after you build enough of a Web, you become super networker. Yes, where you necessarily like. I'm at this point now where my career, like I still like, go out and I make relationships with people in this and that. But it's turned around where now more people come to me. Yeah, for my resource is yes, or there were for me to meet. Their resource is and whatnot, so it's It's I would say it's easier, but it's It's gotten to a point where it's people just know I have a network of people that just it's this plain and simple, whether it be through music or fashion, or the hair industry or hospitality, all of it like there's a lot of different avenues in there. So it zits, and that's what's kind of like helped those last year. So now when we've opened up this new company, it's like I have all these lies ships to do, even like lookbook. I mean, having ah lot of D J friends and production friends and video friends and e even having relationships with some of the venues that I've hosted these events at, like that alone is one of the hardest things is the reason why I got the spot because I've been partying there for the last six years. I know the manager because he's always watching me, like would leave like drunk and just like Atlanta Brow s. Oh, it's It's a lot of lot of lot of combination combination of these things that kind of like had a have to happen before it got to a place where I meant now being able to facilitate this this, uh, this website style artists and, uh, yeah, it's gonna be big and also gonna be ableto it's gonna help hairstylists be able to make a residual income. All right, in a way that not a lot of companies have been able to do fucking in the way that we fi we see fit best for the stylist because I'm a stylist, and I know what it's like to do a job. And, you know, most of us know it's like you want to make money the time that you're buying that chair. Unless you're sponsored by a brand, which we all know, brands don't pay that much. You couldn't just live off with just one brands, not salary. And even if you did you they own your between man, and you got to do other things. This supplement your income. What? Not. So, um, when we when we start this Ah, this this project, you know, we're gonna have, ah, a certain way that we're doing. It's that the artist is able to make a monthly check off their education rather than just getting paid one.

Brock Goldberg:   1:50:47
Yes. Yes. And that's key, man. That's fucking key. Dude, I I love that. I love everything that we've we've talked about tonight or today. Tonight. Where the fuck time it is. You know, the whole entire process of who Dre has become. And I know there's so many other pieces in there. Right, But just kind of this broad overview. This this macro view this bird's eye view of of who you are, man, It's just it's it's fascinating. And I really do believe in thanks for having it all my fun. Fuck, Yeah, dude. Absolutely. And this won't be the last time I I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart, man. Um, yeah. Once again, man, Thank you so fucking much. Do I love you, brother? I look forward Thio to the future. If people wanna look up your shit and find you where can they do

spk_1:   1:51:34
that? I'm some basically almost doing instagram. I'm actually just started my tick talk Your talk I want that came but was he was actually musically before that, But now it's tic tac. But I made it a point to ah, grab all the instagram handles Snapchat handles. It's all gray hair. I got lucky with that, but also to its when you see things you just have to talk with them and go above and beyond Go all in on it And if you guys are out there. And you're just on your instagram is picking name and stick with it. Make sure you get all the channels so that your brand is consistent

Brock Goldberg:   1:52:08
throughout. Consistency is key. Man system seize key. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! Alright, man. Thank you again. All right, everyone, have a great evening. Thank you so much. Thanks for listening to back your story. Peace out.