Above the bridge
Above the bridge
Episode 149 HANSON NGUYEN ( Level H, Hawaii Events Unlimited )
What happens when the thing you've done for twenty years suddenly doesn't align with your soul anymore? In this deeply personal conversation, Thaddeus welcomes back his longtime friend and business partner Hanson to discuss his surprising decision to walk away from nightlife promotion after finding renewed faith.
Hanson, co-owner of Hawaii Events Unlimited and Level H Promotion, shares the remarkable story of their new nightclub event "Aura" at Eve nightclub. Just as everything aligned perfectly—record-breaking attendance, supportive venue staff, and all the markers of success—Hanson felt an undeniable spiritual pull in another direction. Standing in the middle of what should have been a triumphant moment, he realized his heart was elsewhere.
The conversation explores the challenging intersection of identity and occupation that both men faced during the pandemic. "I realized that my core friends still hit me up... The people that I love still loved me because they loved Thaddeus. They didn't love Thaddeus, the promoter," the host reflects. Meanwhile, Hanson reveals how his return to church transformed his understanding of purpose: "When I started going back to church, my purpose changed. God is the ultimate purpose for me now."
Beyond clearing up swirling rumors about their departure from Eve nightclub, this episode offers profound insights about authenticity, friendship that transcends business partnerships, and the courage required to walk away from external validation. As Hanson puts it, "Club life is people trying to be happy momentarily... what I'm trying to do now is give a permanent version of that for people."
Whether you're contemplating a major life change or simply interested in how careers evolve with spiritual growth, this raw discussion about finding new direction while honoring past experiences will leave you reflecting on your own purpose journey. Subscribe now and join the conversation about what happens when God calls you to something new.
okay, welcome to another edition of the above the bridge podcast. I'm your host, thaddeus park, and if you're new to the podcast, you can find us anywhere where you can get your podcast or on pretty much every single platform or all the important platforms. We're also on YouTube. If you check us out on YouTube, please like, subscribe, leave a comment, it matters and you can also find us on atbpodcom. First thing I want to do is shout out our sponsors. First, we have Defend Hawaii. They've been my sponsor from the get-go the day one. They've been supporting me since I started this podcast. But if you check them out at their website, defendhawaiicom, go to their store, winter Mall, no one. They got some new drops for spring, but go check them out. Defendhawaiicom. If you use promo code ATBPODUPON pod upon checkout, you'll get 15 percent off your first purchase order. So go check them out. Next, we have IREP Detail Supply and they're your one stop shop superstore for everything you need to detail your vehicle, truck, car, whatever you're driving around, go check them out. They have a store in Temple valley shopping center. They also have one in las vegas. If not, go check them out at irepdetailsupplycom. If you use promo code atbpodapon, check out, you'll also get 15% off your entire purchase order.
Speaker 2:Next, we have our medicinal mushroom company and there are locally based medicinal mushroom companies medicinal mushrooms hawaii and they're a locally based medicinal mushroom company. It's medicinal mushrooms hawaii and they're locally based out of hawaii. They have four extracted mushroom tinctures. We have lion's mane, chaga, turkey tail and red reishi. If you don't know the properties of what these mushrooms do to, each one of these mushrooms have a different health value to it. I take all of these religiously every single day. I'll take the first three in the morning and I will also take the red reishi at night because it helps me sleep like a champ. But go check them out at med mushroom highcom. If you use promo code atBPOTAPON, check out, you'll receive 45% off your first tincture of whatever mushrooms you want. So go check them out. Aloha, all right. Well, this week on my show I'm bringing back a returning guest, one of my closest friends. He owns Level H Promotion Company as well as Hawaii Events Unlimited. One of the owners for Hawaii Events Unlimited, hanson. What's up, brother?
Speaker 1:What's up, brother? How are you doing?
Speaker 2:I'm doing great and I appreciate you taking time. I know you're out in Maryland right now. I know the time difference is pretty crazy, but I appreciate you taking time to come on my show and let's clear the air about a few things. But before we get into that, how's business been? Is getting prom season done? Already I was graduating.
Speaker 1:Just finished, yeah, just finished, and graduation is about to kick into gear. So, but yeah, business-wise, yeah, it's been busy. All events a little bit. It's been on the up, we're doing some bigger, crazier, you know things that we didn't think we've been doing. You know huge events, so, um, as well, as you know, taking care of maintaining all the smaller events, so it's definitely been really good. We're trying to hire new people just because we're we're turning gigs away now, so it's just really good oh wow, oh wow.
Speaker 2:Well that's a good situation that you're turning gigs away.
Speaker 1:No, true, true, true, true. It's a good problem to have, you know, and we still got to figure out how to. We want to take more, but we don't want to, you know, downgrade the quality that we're doing. So we only want to take this much. So we're trying to add crew, you know, train up our crew and learn from them and have them teach each other. And, you know, try to raise everybody up.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:For anybody who doesn't know what exactly is Hawaii Events Unlimited yeah, so, hawaii Events Unlimited. We're a local production company based here in Oahu, and then we do, you know, sound, lighting, special effects. We have a roster of DJs, mcs, so anything you want for audiovisual things for your event. They call us everything from weddings, first birthdays to galas. We've done stage things, we've done conferences with different companies, with live streaming. Actually, we do over 100 different products and services that we offer. So it's kind of extensive. But anything you want to do, if you have an event coming up, just hit us up and we can see how you can utilize this.
Speaker 2:And it's cool because I've seen your company grow as well as you grow with the company and you guys do some crazy stuff and fortunately I'm using you guys for our wedding, so I'll definitely be um a customer as well. But I think that watching you build this company has been, as a friend, like something super cool for me to to notice and like you guys, you guys pretty much got all the innovative stuff on locket I. I can't believe some of the stuff you guys do and it's been a trip man like seeing the stuff projection mapping and all that stuff you guys do on these big buildings. I'm like, bro, that's handsome guys doing that. That's nuts yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it's up to my, my business partner, marvin. He's kind of like the, the, the brains behind a lot of those technical things, and he's a, he's a. He's a person that likes to like. This is his thing, this is his passion. So he likes to try new things, which is good for Hawaii. A lot of times we always get things late or we'll just copy what the mainland does six months down the line. But we get a chance to send our guys out into the mainland to do these different conferences lighting conferences, photo booth conferences, getting these things as soon as the mainland gets it, we get it and we kind of want to. I always hate to have things later on and we're always like behind the step from the mainland.
Speaker 2:But you know he's definitely an innovator, we and we also get to send our guys to these things to bring these tech and these new ideas to um, to wahu, just just like the mainland that's super cool man and I think, like you said, he's not afraid to to pull the trigger on some of this stuff, which is I mean as business owners, especially if you're partners, it can get tricky. It's like one guy wants to buy some new stuff and other guys are like wait, wait, but you guys have been just pulling triggers and doing crazy stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah yeah, definitely, we're a good balance. The company has so many moving parts as well, as we were liking working for a company because we just have events that we have to manage, but then trying to look forward to events coming up and marketing schemes coming up as well as, you know, new tech that we're trying to look into and taking care of the details now. Like, yeah, we work really well together about how to see things and we talk well with each other, so that's why it's been working so far. Usually business partnerships, it's really hard to work with.
Speaker 2:But, um, I like it because marvin and I get along and it means a lot, yeah, and I'm fortunate enough to got to meet him and talk to him and stuff, and yeah he's he's very cool, very, very quiet, very humble, and yeah he's he's definitely good yin yang between both of you. You're good, you're good at speaking to people and he's good at doing all that stuff.
Speaker 1:We're getting him behind the camera now. Yeah, I love it. It's hilarious. He's not as forte, but he knows what he's talking about, which is a good thing. About the technical stuff, but getting him behind the camera, I think it's good. People see his face and he's getting used to it now, but getting him on the camera.
Speaker 2:I think it's good people see his face and he's getting used to it.
Speaker 2:Now that's one thing I was gonna touch on is you guys social media presence is building and you guys are, yeah, like you're putting him in front of the camera, and I think it's cool, because the way marketing and advertisement is, if your social media presence is kind of low, then it doesn't work as well. But you guys are putting yourself out there and it's fun to watch and it's funny. You guys do some cool stuff too, and people can see behind the scenes and see exactly how much work goes into some of these events no, definitely we have.
Speaker 1:We have a pretty good um not pretty good. We have a really good um social media crew. The bring ups to kristen and makayla um, we have some young people, you know, handling our social media and they're following the trends, they're coming up with ideas and right now, like, yeah, social media is probably one of the top-ranked things to market for your company and you know, for us to like figure out the TikTok trends and the Instagram trends is really difficult, man. Yeah, I don't even understand what they're talking about half the time, but you know, they know what's popular and you know we're getting older, but our brides are still the same age, you know. So we have to make sure we're talking to the right demographics and they're definitely helping with that, and me and Marvin aren't trying to get in front of the camera and look stupid a little bit, you know, just so we can connect with. It's been really, really good and they've been doing a great job.
Speaker 2:Bro, I haven't even thought about that. You're totally right. As old or as age you guys get or your company builds, the clientele, age demographic is going to be the same. That's that demo, except my wedding. But yeah, the demo is pretty much like between what?
Speaker 1:late 20s to about mid 30s, though yeah, yeah, 25 to 35, that's the sweet spot oh, that's super cool, yeah, but there's plenty outliers. There's plenty.
Speaker 2:Get plenty outliers yeah and you guys do so many events and you guys been picking up a lot of corporate events. I always wanted to ask you this, because I always ask hopper like because he djs from a lot of events what events do you like doing the most, like when you got to do a wedding or a corporate event, or like as production, which one is the most gratifying for you and which one do you like doing the most? I know some are gratifying but a lot of work, but which ones you're like? Oh yup, I can't wait for this one.
Speaker 1:It's been changing over the years. When we first started, I think we were looking forward to proms the most, just because we could flex on all our lighting, the lasers, you know. It's like we got to bring like concert promotion and effects down to like the wedding and prom level and we were kind of going off. The kids loved it, you know, because we could do all these special effects and the djs had the big sound system and it felt like a event for them.
Speaker 1:Now I like these corporate events that have an unlimited budget and it kind of just hands us the reins. So now it's like we're not constrained, um, to what their vision is and try to fit it to what we have, like they're saying, hey, this is the feel we want, this is our budget, let you know, make it happen, you know. And we just check off the boxes saying that you know they have speakers, they have this amount of guests, our sound system covers that amount of people, but they give us the frames to like come up with the decor schemes, lighting schemes, things like that, and it's fun, definitely fun.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's cool. And then, which would be the ones you dread the most?
Speaker 1:I don't say dread, I just think sometimes when it comes to weddings, it's like their day. They have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make sure we get it right. So I don't think it's dreading, it's just a little more stressful. Whereas if we start at 7.05, not at 7 o'clock a corporate gig they can push back five minutes 7 o'clock to 7.05. If the bride has a vision, it's 7.05. It talk to 705. If the bride has a division, it's 705. It might ruin her whole day. You know, and I you know, it's a little more stressful. So, um, I like, um, I like the corporate kings because a lot more less stress. But also I still like the weddings. It's just a lot more. A lot more stressful, I guess you could say.
Speaker 2:But I don't mind either yeah, well, I I'm sure you made a lot of people's dream weddings come true, and once you're breaking down, then that's when it feels the best right heck yeah, heck yeah, when everything is said and done, heck yeah I definitely uh feel that way too, doing concerts and stuff, especially when we're doing it together, um yeah well, let's get into it. Man, this last two months been super crazy for not just you, but both of us as well as our companies and we've definitely did some shit.
Speaker 2:Um was the beginning of march. We took on a um another project. Yeah, it was march. That was like two months ago, seems crazy yeah, but we did. We took on another project and we did another event at eve nightclub and it was called allure and aura, aura, aura. That's right, damn it.
Speaker 1:It's called aura gonna have to edit that part out yeah and shoot now.
Speaker 2:For one thing, it was a level h artist group network, golden child promotion, kind of similar to what we've been doing at district. We've done it together at shoot with ryan golden child at different events, but the core of of level h and artist group been together for at least over a decade uh, like we've been doing events at least 10 years, yeah, over 10 years.
Speaker 2:Now 15, close, close to 15 yep, yeah, right, when my daughter was born, we started partnering up doing events, and Level H and Artist Groove Network are companies that were in the nightclub industry for years, at least 20 years and fortunately we found cross paths and we got to work together and um brah. So our last event eve, um, how did that whole thing even start? Because it's I kind of know and I kind of we kind of did it together half of the time.
Speaker 2:I was in new york right before it started yeah, or I was somewhere where was I snowboarding too right before it started. Yeah, or I was somewhere where was I snowboarding too right before we started yeah yeah, but how did that even come to fruition? Because we weren't really um, yeah, we weren't sure if we're gonna do another one.
Speaker 1:Huh yeah, we we left district and then, um, I mean we were thinking about, I mean regardless, we we left just because we were there for nine years and almost 10, you know, and we've never stayed at a promotion that long. Normally, and good or bad, you usually just leave just because it kind of ran its course, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And yeah, by the time you know, we stepped away and it felt good to step away from district at that time. And then, yeah, we had other things possibly lined up, but I know you were looking more towards retirement at that time already.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:And I mean, even before we left you were already talking about you leaving, you know, and I think you left for like a week and then you came back and then I knew you kind of just, you know, stick sticking around, um, just to kind of just be with the boys and hang out and, you know, see each other. But I think after that break break, it was like a good two or three month break from district um, um, eve opened up, you know, and um, I really like the venue because yeah it's up, it's upscale for one.
Speaker 1:You know, when you first walk in, you know the place is automatically different than most places in hawaii. It felt like the mainland, which I really, really loved. Um, the bones are all there, the staff was great, the ownership was great, and then it just all those pieces start to click. I was like, hey, man, we should just we should try it out over here, and I think, um, we were thinking about reaching out and right when I was we're thinking about, they reached out to us and it was just a perfect timing for that situation to happen yeah, and it was cool.
Speaker 2:The I'm have the same opinion. I really like the venue. I liked it when it was Vintage Cave. I went there with my family a few times and what they did to it was pretty cool and it felt like a nightclub. It also felt somewhere where it wasn't. We were in the parking lot at Alamuana. It was underneath but once you got in there it didn't feel like Alamuana or didn't feel like what it seemed like in the parking lot. But the venue was awesome and I really like the staff. Their staff over there was super awesome, from the bartenders to the management to the even the security, and they were all supportive of our event. They were all personable and it seemed like they were all on the same page with us trying to grow the event.
Speaker 2:And brah, I had a few boxes to check off and I explained this to you many times before we started.
Speaker 2:I agreed to do this event because there were a few things I wanted to do before I called it a career.
Speaker 2:I did say when I reached a certain age I wanted to stop at least the weekly nightclub stuff, because I didn't want to be that guy and I'm finding it more difficult to kind of relate to these 21 year olds and always say they're learning stuff you and I are trying to forget.
Speaker 2:But a couple of the boxes where I I definitely wanted I didn't want district to be our last event together, and not because that's something as district, I just wanted to to do something again from scratch and to um, see if we still got it. You know, I mean like see if, see if our older promotion companies still could pull a crowd and to get people and and to to see if we still got it. Basically, the second one was to definitely do another event with you and make sure that it was locked in like level eight and artist group network together as well as golden child. And then the last event, the last thing I wanted to check off was to do another club event with hoppa as our dj. Unfortunately, towards the ending of district he had to leave. He uh couldn't play at district anymore and I didn't want my last event to not be with him.
Speaker 2:So, starting Eve those boxes were going to be checked and the beginning was exciting. It started to feel like our old school ambitions and excitement was starting. Oh, we're going to start a new event. How did you feel starting that thing? Cause I mean, I was a little bit afraid, to be honest.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, you know it was nine years since we started anything brand new from the scratch, you know, and I mean that's your first reason why to go back was it was pretty much the driving force, I think, to know if we still had it, because was our marketing tactics, like how we did back in the day, still applicable to a 10-year generational gap? You know so, um, definitely, I was, um definitely nervous, you know, because, you know, do we still have that pool? Do we still have? But it was exciting because it was brand new again, you know, and always that new is exciting.
Speaker 1:You can come up with an, even just coming up with a name, that builds excitement because you're trying to figure out, oh, what's the name going to be about. Sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's not, sometimes it just comes and picking the day of the week, picking what kind of DJ lineup you want, the feel for the place, you know what the different factors you like, coming up with all those different ideas, is that exciting. And then we haven't felt that in nine years, you know, I think I think that's why I love district, but we know how, how everything worked out. But coming with something new from scratch, that feeling can't be replaced. I think that's what it was that we were chasing. So, um, I think I was just definitely excited to start something new and coming with ideas and sitting with the boys on a Zoom call, you know, at the coffee shops, like just trying to come up with ideas to you know how we're going to do this again, how we're going to make it different, our different marketing schemes yeah, it was just fun, definitely fun and exciting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we dropped the first night. It was the first week of March, correct?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And yeah, I was definitely nervous, I was definitely excited, I was definitely scared. I was thinking like oh man, if we don't got it then nobody's coming.
Speaker 2:It's going to be kind of embarrassing and I know there's a lot of like people negatively talking about our companies and I wanted to to prove everybody wrong not really prove everybody wrong, but I wanted to prove us right, you know, I mean, and um, I think the whole nightlife industry was kind of looking to see how it was going to be in and how things were going to play out and I was to the moon that it raged bro. That first night, that the first night of aura was one of one of the funnest nights I had in in the nightclub in years.
Speaker 1:Brad, that was so much fun yeah, I mean the turnout was more than perfect. You know, when it first launched, like, I was worried about how many likes the flyers had, how many shares of the fly, like, and I was just looking into the metrics and all that and I was definitely worried. You know like, you know you just that's how it is. With every promotion, though. There's promotions where you can spend hundreds of hours trying to put this event together and market it and then no one show up, and there's also events where you just do minimal marketing and then everybody comes out. You just kind of never know. So with this one, we kind of wanted to make sure it went off well, so we were doing all we can, but then I was definitely worried going in, but once the night, once the night kid and people started rolling in and didn't stop all night. Man, I knew we had it. Definitely it was a record-breaking night that night.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I noticed for the of students I taught taekwondo to hitting me up, to come in and like that's like a couple gens down and I'm thinking like they're telling go call uncle thada, go get you into the club and I'm thinking like that's my like, those are my for real. I like held those kids as babies and I'm thinking like, wow, they're coming to our club now and it's. It was a little bit surreal, a little bit kind of feeling the, the age.
Speaker 2:But yeah, right it was good fun man like those and and watching hoppa play for our crowd again and that energy he brings is it's just that's one of my favorite things to do is just have a drink with you and watch him dj to our crowd.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean and it was awesome yeah, that was a major plus for that event because now we could have hoppa back and it was kind of like you know he's, he's been part of our promotion since the beginning, really like having him involved. So you know, once we got him back, djing for us, oh it was just, everything was unlocked, everything matched. You know, I think our older clientele loved the venue because it felt welcoming, like an upscale venue, and then the newer crowd, younger crowd liked it because it was a packed place in a brand new spot they'd never seen before, instead of going to the same place over and over and over again in hawaii. So it was perfect, definitely perfect blend what I enjoyed was their staff.
Speaker 2:they immediately any ideas we had or any situations we wanted changed. They did it within seconds and I mean that was refreshing. There were some instances where it was like pulling teeth to get anybody to do something during our event, and for this new one it was like, oh, we want to change how the people enter the club. We want to bring them through here, like, good, put up the stanchions, let's do it now. And I'm like what, we don't have to sit down and have a meeting about this.
Speaker 2:It was like they did it like anything we wanted, it was immediate. They did it like anything we wanted, it was immediate. And it was refreshing to feel that aloha and to feel that everybody was on the same page and being appreciated. I felt so appreciated there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely the staff made it for me. You know, like when we sat down with the meetings and stuff like that, we got to that Even when we came in as customers right before even open, everyone was super gracious, everyone was super thankful, everyone is nightclub done right. You know, in Hawaii that's what it felt like.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So we kind of raised that thing out for about a month and we only had a month contract, so we did a weekly friday night event at eve for that month and at the end of the month our contract was up and we had the option to continue or to not continue. And this is where things got a little interesting, uh, and a lot of rumors been swirling around, but unfortunately or fortunately, depending on what side of the coin you're on uh, we stopped. We didn't continue doing aura at eve. We're actually didn't. We're not doing any events now. And I think for me personally, I was disappointed at the at the time that we weren't gonna continue, but I also was relieved and I was feeling it. Man, I I didn't know if how long I could be that excited on a weekly club event, because I mean, like you said, we had about three or four months off and I started enjoying my Fridays and not having to be obligated to be at a club or anything like that.
Speaker 2:But yeah primarily, you made it clear that you didn't want to continue and, like I said earlier, there have been a lot of rumors surrounding the decisions and why you left and why you're not promoting anymore, and now I want you to give the reason why we are done at Eve and promoting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is the part you clip and use as a trailer. Yeah, exactly. Man, you know? I mean, I didn't know there was all that rumors going on. I want to know what they're about.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm going to tell you after this what they're about.
Speaker 1:But, yeah, I'm gonna tell you after this. Yeah, um, you know. So, taking it back, after that first event, we raged it out right and, um, we were we do like every event we're outside the parking lot just shooting the breeze, you know, we're just talking how everything went, this and this and this, and I know everyone was excited and, honestly, at during that time, I wasn't. You know, it was cool to see that, um, it was packed. You know, yes, this was off the chain. People are calling to get in, people want. You know, there's a new spot. It was happening.
Speaker 1:Um, up until that point, you know, I started going back to church, you know, and I've been going ever since christmas, really december, and I've been going weekly, weekly, and I just felt like, um, for that time being, actually, for that whole time, I felt like god was telling me to my life path was easy to change and, um, he was calling me to do something else and you know, I was trying to hear, trying to listen to it, and I'm like you know, at the, at the most at the night, that it should have been the most exciting, right, because we haven't done something new in 10 years, really, and it was brand new, it was packed, and I looked around and I was like, yeah, this is not for me anymore. And I remember coming outside to you and trying to explain to you that I wasn't into it. I was like I think I'm going to stop all of this. I don't, I don't want to continue on anymore. And I was trying to give every excuse possible except what was in my heart and I was like, ah, you know, I just, I just thought I, that feeling wasn't there anymore. I didn't, I'm not into it anymore. This and this, and I think I this and this, and I think I know you're getting upset a little bit because we just started this brand new promotion. You know, we just spent months trying to build it, get it here, you know, and it raged. It raged rage. You know, everyone was happy, everything was all. I mean, everything was all in a row.
Speaker 1:And then, uh, I just felt the pull and I felt god was telling me, like you know, it's time to move on. And, um, everything in my life was working out because I've been listening to whatever god was telling me, inspiring me to do. I've been listening. My life has been getting better and better, and I just felt he was asking me hey, you know what, there's something you can do with your time better than this and um, but when I, when I told you, I was like, uh, yeah, you're getting mad.
Speaker 1:When I was trying to give you every excuse. You're like, hanson, what is going on? And I was like you know what? Yeah, god's asking me to, calling me to do something else. And you're like and I thought you were going to be like crazy, you know, you know you came from a heart of understanding and it changed me. You're like you know what, if God's telling you to do this, then you got to do it and at that point, like, everything kind of made sense and I'm, um, yeah, I just it was time for me to step away from the nightlife, which I never thought I would do, to be honest yeah, I've never thought you were gonna do and, to be honest, I was honestly worried, especially years in the past and especially before you guys started hoy events unlimited.
Speaker 2:I was thinking you don't ever want to give this up. Even when we left district, you tried another weekly spot on a thursday and I felt like you definitely personally, for hansen didn't want to stop, like you. That was who you was and this is what you're gonna ride down forever. And I was thinking like bro, you gotta, you gotta stop doing this for me. I was over it. I, I could do it, I could not do it. I I was kind of not liking it.
Speaker 2:And my mentors and people I worked with before who started artist group network peter and ronnie I remember them like leaving. I remember peter especially was the way he was doing our events. I could see in his face he didn't want to be there. He didn't like it. He'd be in the parking lot half the time or he'd be asleep in his car while our events are going on. And I always told myself, if I started feeling like that, then I gotta stop, because I'm not gonna hang on to this anymore. Um, so I wasn't sure if you would ever stop, because it didn't seem like it yeah, and you were.
Speaker 2:You still loved it. And I think for me, because of covid and I don't know if if you were feeling this too but for me as a promoter prior to covid, I didn't know my own identity. I had the same kind of fork in the road when I stopped doing martial arts and competing. I thought that was my identity, like that is this person and this is who I am. But I realized, as promoting, I started to feel that I was thinking like I'm this promoter, I'm popular, I this is my life. Without this, then I'm nothing.
Speaker 2:And and covid got me to realize that that wasn't true. And because of covid, we had to stop doing nightclubs. Everything was shut down and I realized that my core friends still hit me up. We still talked all the time. The people that mattered still mattered. The people that I love still love me because they love thaddeus. They didn't love thaddeus, the promoter. And it made me realize, like I am not a promoter, that's what I did, that's not who I am. And the more I felt that and when we restarted and started doing it again, I I was able to detach myself from the fear of losing my own identity by stopping. I was wondering if that's the same reason why you were wanting to keep continuing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 100%, you know. I'm looking back at it now. I mean there's a definite fear. It validated me. You know, the cold, hard truth is sometimes, you know, these outside things make you feel who you thought you were. You know, and I. I felt like it was who I was, not what I did, you know, I felt like the, the respect, the clout, the, the um.
Speaker 1:I've been doing it for so long that I just thought if I stopped, I would lose part of who I, who I was, you know, I, I thought that was my purpose, my driving force, you know, and I kind of, you know, I didn't see it at the time, I just I could stop anytime, but you know, I thought that was my purpose, my driving force, you know, and I kind of, you know, I didn't see it at the time, I could stop anytime, but you know, that's what most people say when they're, you know, stuck in something. And I think, as soon as I mean I was holding on to the district, I was holding on to all these promotions afterwards, and I was just, you know, validating, you know, the feeling of who I was, and I thought I would lose all of that once I stopped, you know, and I think that's what helped me. When I started going back to church, my purpose changed. You know, god is the ultimate purpose for me now.
Speaker 1:So it's like all the other stuff, honestly, everyone's like, well, it must've been a hard decision. I was like, you know, once I, once I made the realization, honestly, it was the easiest decision in my life, you know, cause that purpose is clear at that point and then I didn't need that validation anymore and but at the time, yeah, it was everything, it was everything promoting was everything I did. That's everyone knew me. For, you know, people would see me out, they would, you know, restaurants, anywhere you go, you know like, hey, what's that level H? You know you know. But I realize, um, yes, no longer needed that anymore. And that's honestly freeing, 100% free. Yeah, I no longer needed that anymore.
Speaker 2:And that's honestly freeing, 100% freeing, yeah, and I realize also by stopping, is like you know who your real friends are. Nobody's there your best friend because you can hook them up in the club or get them free drinks or through the VIP line or whatever. Hook them up with whatever it's like they now. Now you find out like who keeps calling or who's there for you or who wants to be around you because they enjoy your company, not just because you're the guy in the club that got the hookups. You know I mean.
Speaker 1:And yeah like you said, it's freeing, yeah, definitely, yeah, puts things into perspective and, yeah, it's definitely freeing because, yeah, you know, um, we, we always keep a close circle of friends, you know, really close, and everyone else is just everyone else, you know, because you, you realize, when you can't do anything for them, who's who's around, you know, yeah, so, um, that that's exactly true. That's exactly true.
Speaker 2:I did at the time. I was pissed, but not. I was like pissed off at you but not like I understood. And I, having that conversation with you outside of Eve the first night, I seen the sincerity in your face and, being someone who was brought up around God and I had my own relationship with God, I understand and I just seen the sincerity in your face. I definitely knew that it was hard for you to tell me and that took a lot of guts. I think the realization of where your life direction was going to go, to honestly accept it and understand it and make a move, must have been super hard. Like you said, the decision was easy to make, but everything after that decision must have been hard.
Speaker 1:You know, I mean yeah, yeah, no, definitely, you know, um have been hard. You know. I mean, yeah, yeah, no, definitely, you know, um, yeah, I would. I say it's easy, just because I realize the purpose of why I'm doing it and things like that.
Speaker 1:You know, I think, um, that whole, that whole feeling, how we set up, you know, people calling us, um, only on fridays, really, like, you know, your, your so-called friends, say, hey, what you doing? You know, try to have a small conversation with you. Hey, by the way, it's Friday, can you get me in? Like, we do this every Friday. Like, you know, the charades just keep on going. You know, and you know, people come up to the guest list line and ask, you know, like, oh, hanson said, let me in and who you are, you know, and like, um, it's funny, that's kind of the realization I got when I was going to sunday service. It was like, you know, like when you're up standing at the gate of heaven, is god gonna be? Like, oh, I'm sorry, who are you again? Like, oh, you hit me up that one time. You know you need something. Like, I just didn't want to be like that with god, you know, and I just realized that's what I was doing.
Speaker 1:What irritating me at the club is what I was doing to him. You know, I'm like I only call him when I need him or I don't talk to him for 10 years, but when I need something I'll ask for something and that's not the relationship I wanted to have. So when I say it was an easy decision now that I wanted to connect with him that way, all the other stuff was easy to decide at that point, to be honest. But, man, the ramifications of just walking out, you know people that took off their job to work for us on a friday, you know, or, um, our other partners or whatever that you know, budget out their, their, their income because of how these, these events are going to go. And me walking away was easy, but the logistics was definitely, definitely difficult and also, people are upset. I know people are upset because it's we just rage this thing out, like why are you stopping? Like it doesn't, it doesn't make sense to most people, you know yeah, yeah, that's kind of cool.
Speaker 2:Like what you just said. How, like getting into heaven is god gonna treat you? Like how, how we were treated at the club and I always said that, like my phone, I'm the most popular guy on friday, but saturday my phone doesn't ring at all for people to thank me that we got them in on friday night but yeah, that that one of that first sunday services I went to talked about that and I've just hit me home because we're in that situation all the time, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Once you made that decision. How hard was it? I know for me it must have been hard. I mean explaining to me and for one thing I don't sugarcoat anything, I kind of tell you how I feel. And I was split. Half of me was like you fucking guy, we just started this thing. You got me out of like my comfy friday nights to to do this again and now you want to stop. And then half of me was like, oh, hansen's finally done with this shit, like hansen has a purpose that he believes in and it's not the nightclubs. And so half of me was mad. Half of me was happy that oh, hanson is going to do this. I thought for sure, the hardest thing probably would be to tell his hopper, because he can be very outspoken. And even Golden Child must have been hard, because I don't know how close their relationships are with God to where they would understand the reason why your thought process pulled you in that way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think with you it's easier. I think I knew you had a relationship with God, but at the same time, we talk everything out and even if you yell at me, it's coming from a good place, I think, with everybody else. I have no idea if they thought it was crazy, using it as an excuse. I have no idea what they were thinking. So that's what made it difficult. But I knew I told myself, no matter what what they were thinking. So that's what made it difficult, you know. But I knew I told myself, no matter what, like when we came out there down the line, I was like you know, if I need to be the reason why I, we can always have to just let everybody know. You know, like, if I I found god and I kind of just I'm stepping away, and if I was going to be mad that they don't have a job or this or this, just let me, let's tell it's handsome, you know, come talk to me. You know, and thankfully everyone understood, yeah, the ones that we, you know, we, we got to talk to.
Speaker 1:I. I think, um, yeah, I was worried about our business, like our partners and our friends, like you know, going and shouting and hopping, because I know they, they, they took this gig in this job knowing that we were going to be there for, honestly, probably, for we were going to be there for honestly, probably, for we're going to be there for a long time. The way it started off like that, if we, if we kept on rolling out, it would have been another nine or 10 years. I don't, I don't, I don't see it as implausible that we could have, you know, but everything happens for a reason and I think, um, take that kind of deal we never take, it's always a at least a 12-month contract, one year or.
Speaker 2:We both got to write it out, and the way that it happened that way, I think it was, um, you know, perfect timing and kind of part of god's plan yeah, it was I felt meant to be and hindsight I'm happy, I'm glad we're not promoting and, like I said at the beginning of this show, like I was happy to check off all those boxes, regardless of how long, we still checked off every single one of those boxes that we wanted to check off, uh, at the beginning, before we started, and that was gratifying for me.
Speaker 1:Um, how hard was it to tell Hanson and Ryan like you know, I think I knew Hopko would be pissed, to be honest, because we've been waiting for a perfect storm like this in the nightlife, where we have owners that backed us up, we have staff that back this up, you have staff that back this up in a brand new place, 2 am I. I just thought all the things were lined up and I I was worried that he would be pissed. Um, I felt bad about, I felt bad for ryan, just because, um, we set this whole deal up too and we we you know I've been through with him through straights when we were at straights, and then a couple of deals that we try to set up with multiple means that failed, that that that didn't go our way, or they changed their mind last minute and we finally got locked in. You know, we got to go, we raged it out and I'm like, oh man, I'm going to tell us we'm just going to stop, I'm going to pull out.
Speaker 1:At first I didn't know if the event was going to stop. I was just going to pull out. That was my initial in my head when I said, oh yeah, I'm just going to. I feel the inspiration, I'm just going to do it, and I thought the event was going to happen. I was just going to bow out and everything was going to be tidied up. Nice and neat. Definitely did it happen that way, yeah?
Speaker 2:yeah, I think, ryan I. I don't know if he understood the the god aspect of it, but I think he understood that that was your decision and I think hopper understands the god aspect as much as I do, but I think the first initial blow was rough. They were like kind of confused and like I mean Hoppo was like God. I'm pretty sure God doesn't want you to fuck over your friends.
Speaker 2:It was uh yeah, it was fun knowing every I mean it's. It's cool now and for me I'm happy we're done and I'm like at that age where I told myself I'm not going to do a weekly nightclub thing anymore and I, so I'm technically keeping that promise to myself and for me I'm very happy that you're done, because the future didn't look like you were going to be done and you know some of the rumors I had heard for the last month, since we got, tell me, tell me, tell me.
Speaker 2:One was I heard that you and I got into it and we stopped. Oh me and you were like what I heard, that one I heard.
Speaker 1:That's so weird.
Speaker 2:I heard you were too old. I heard I was too old. I heard we don't have it anymore. What else did I hear? I heard you and Hoppa got into it. Oh what, I heard that one interesting.
Speaker 1:Oh man, how did things get twisted like that?
Speaker 2:that's so crazy I heard that you retired, but like nobody knew why, oh, that's crazy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's yeah.
Speaker 2:I heard the club tried to rip us off, which we had a little conflict but that got resolved. It wasn't because of that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, those guys are stand-up guys. You know, I think things got testy at some point, but when it came down to it, they were willing to work with us above and beyond, you know, to take care of us. So that definitely was in it and I applied out those guys over at E because they're standup people A hundred percent.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:What else?
Speaker 1:did. I hear that's funny.
Speaker 2:Shoot. There was one more. That was like what?
Speaker 1:That's funny?
Speaker 2:Oh, because you because you had a girlfriend and she didn't want you to promote anymore that one probably. Uh, yeah, I think me and hopper came up with that one, but, um, it's funny. Oh yeah, it was a, but until yesterday somebody asked me, or a lot of people asked me, and I kind of defer like, oh, hansen is doing other stuff now and I kind of wanted to give you this platform so you can tell people why, as well as next time somebody asks, I'm just going to send a freaking link to the show watch this.
Speaker 1:Here's the answer yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah, yeah, I think there the the decision was easy at the time, you know, um, to to walk away. I think there was a lot of prayer that I went involved to, solving the relationships, to how to leave, you know, and making sure for one, we didn't want to just walk away from the nightclub. I, I didn't, we didn't want to walk away from the nightclub with with our reputation is tarnished because for the last 20, 20 years we in the nightclub industry we led a clean promotion. We didn't screw anybody over. We didn't, you know, dick anybody over. Like, we were honest and it's very rare to get that in our business and I get it and I want to continue that.
Speaker 1:Always, at the end, both you and I, you know, and I think there was a lot of prayer going on to figure out how we could walk away blamelessly and without screwing anybody over. And, um, I was, that was the part that tore me a lot and I, I. I think maybe people were mad initially because they just didn't understand why, but that's funny to hear because, like me, you hop, I mean, we're boy, boys like, like freaking, we're homies, homies, you know that's funny I think like that, yeah, and I think that, because of us being able to to do what we did for so long, I've I watched this I don't know if you know anthony smith, the ufc fighter.
Speaker 2:He, he retired, yeah, he retired, and his whole thing. At the end chel sun and told him I want you to think about this when you retire, like, don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened. And the more I I thought about it, I'm blessed to have had that life for that long and we forged a lot of cool moments and friendships and we done a lot of cool things that 99.9 of people on earth never got to experience and we did a lot of fun stuff with a lot of cool people and, uh, for me, that was the most memorable stuff that I taken away from being promoting. I can't remember each night, but I can remember awesome moments that I have had throughout the last two decades promoting and, uh, with you guys, it's been awesome and I think we're gonna be those old guys reminiscing about back in our day. But why not?
Speaker 2:you know I mean, like that's what life is, is creating those moments so you can remember them and I'm, I'm down to be those old guys reminiscing I, we, we were at um oh restaurant, roll at, at the roll bar with nicki satello, and the three of us were reminiscing and it was like fuck, I could do that all day.
Speaker 2:And I mean that those, those, are cool because it brings back those fun memories and I don't care if I'm the old guy reminiscing what we used to do, because what we used to do was pretty fun and cool, you know, I mean yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1:I mean, yeah, we got to do some highlight moments on a regular that people have highlight moments for their lifetime really. You know, I mean party with thousands throwing some huge concerts, the celebrities we got to meet, you know, traveling for the parties. Yeah, it's definitely some memories. We we got to meet and I think we can definitely look back and reminisce some of the good times we had definitely so the biggest question I have, and I'm sure a lot of people have, are you completely done?
Speaker 2:Is level H done? I always get that.
Speaker 1:When it's left. That's probably the next question I always ask Are you done, done?
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I'm like, yeah, I'm done, I am definitely walking away and staying away. I'm happy with the memories and the opportunities that I got and the people that I met and my friends that became family through it. But yeah, I mean I'm done, done, yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, there you have it For me. I'm not sure if I'm done done. I might do a one-off. I'm definitely done doing a weekly. I'm not doing a weekly party. I may do a one-off. I'm definitely done doing a weekly. I'm not doing a weekly party. I may do a one-off or even a retirement party, but I definitely. What about concerts? Would you be down to do concerts? Christian concert okay, I don't know any christian yeah, possible.
Speaker 1:Uh, we could probably figure that out, but the thing is that, um, uh, production wise, my company's still doing production stuff for concerts anyway, so, um, that's one way I can that. I definitely have my company involved in those kind of things.
Speaker 2:So yeah, well, I think it's, it's awesome and I think you had an awesome career. I think I'm very happy where I'm at and I'm glad we're not, and for us we went out what last week or two weeks ago and it was like that's part of like hanging out, having a couple drinks and just talking story and cruising together. Having a couple drinks and just talking story and cruising together like that, for me, was the basis of why I like promoting hanging out with you guys and and creating something, and we still can do that on the rig.
Speaker 1:no, definitely it was like an automatic excuse to hang out with a friend, because right now, you know life, life gets lifing sometimes. You know you have kids, you got school, you got you know job, you got things, and sometimes those moments pass so like it's like a weekly reminder hey, you know what, go hang out with your friend. It's something that we were forced to do because it worked, but it's all by choice. We can do it all the time anyway.
Speaker 2:So we definitely make that on a regular yeah, so what my question is does level h exist or like? What about that? Like, is that, are you going to use the name, or is that just something etched in in time already?
Speaker 1:oh, yeah, I didn't even think about that. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, uh, I mean, it's a marketing company, didn't have to be for nightclub, you know. So I mean, we've done marketing for products and concerts and things like that. So we'll see, uh, we'll see what it turns into. But as of now, yeah, the nightlife portion is done.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't know.
Speaker 1:I just got hit Pretty here first yeah.
Speaker 2:I just got hit up about a couple of days ago to do a pool party.
Speaker 1:Honestly right, when we stopped is when all the flooded invites came in. They asked us to re-go back to places. Then eve asked us to come back again. There's other spots that we were asking for to do. That said no, that came back and I said yes. So yeah, it definitely. There was a floodgates that opened up once. We weren't doing eve, so I mean to know that we still have it. That wasn't why I left. You know, we, if it was rage, if it was, if we didn't, if, because we didn't have it, it would have been easy to walk away a long time ago. But you know, the harder part was it. The hardest part was that, um, when you look at it from the outside in, is that, yeah, it was raging. We could have just kept that running for a long, long time, but I definitely made. I think I made the right decision for myself and what god wanted me to do.
Speaker 2:100 that's awesome and we definitely did put the other venues on notice once we opened. They everybody was feeling that oh shit, they're still doing it like we were a threat. We were a threat. I'm sure people were happy that we stopped, but I think both you and I are the happiest.
Speaker 1:True, 100%, I am.
Speaker 2:So, future-wise, where do you think you're going to be taking your path with God and your production company?
Speaker 1:Yeah, right now I mean production-wise we're hiring people because it's getting busy. So the good thing is that the the gigs are coming in. We just need to build infrastructure to more and more events. We're doing over 300 events a year, so we're busy, we're trying to stay busy, so, uh, that that's has a whole whole life of its own. Um, on the church side, I'm just getting more rooted, more involved. Um, over at pearl sites. If anyone's looking for a church to go to, it helps you get closer to God, so come on down. But it's, yeah, just, whatever my recent thing, whatever God inspires me to do, I'm just going to keep on saying yes to. And it's been working out and my life has been changing leaps and bounds, and for the better, ever since I've been doing that. So if I knew God's plan, I would tell you. But as it comes it, it has developed, it has been smooth.
Speaker 2:So, um, whatever and the inspiration comes, I'm gonna do definitely oh, that's good, and I think that's a good way to live life, man. That way you're doing what is right and where you're gonna be where you're supposed to be. Where you're supposed to be. I could see you being a pastor or a youth group minister or something like that. I don't know, I think we'll see, we'll see.
Speaker 2:I think your ability in life is to bring people together, regardless of whatever it is. So God might use that, use you as the vessel for that. It's not going to be getting people drunk and hammered in a nightclub. It might be get people together and celebrate God and His love.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely. Yeah, I mean people don't know this, but you know, before all the nightclub stuff, I was heavily into church. I was doing youth pastoring and Bible studies and worship leading and you know pioneering churches back in the day, you know. And so when I went the opposite direction, I definitely went the opposite direction and you know I had a great career out of it, you know. But me coming back it just feels like I'm coming back home and it feels right and yeah, whatever he calls me to do, I have a, I have a. When I say I have like a two belt full of tools that I've accumulated in the last 20 years and however he wants to use me, I'm ready to go for him.
Speaker 2:That's awesome, I think. Yeah, I think I always joked and now that we're done is not as serious of a joke, but I always said that oh yeah, we're in the nightlife industry selling sin every friday, but technically we kind of was.
Speaker 1:But I think the positive things that we've done in promoting is what we've we can lay our hat on not selling sin no, no, definitely, I know that, like like club, like life, or just anything in that genre of things, it's like, um, people are trying to be happy, you know, and yeah, whether it be momentarily, for that moment, while they're out drinking, hanging out, dancing, having fun with their friends, you know, and we provided that relief, you know, sometimes, you know, and you know we got to make closer friendships because of this and that I just realized, like, what I'm trying to do now is give a permanent version of that for people.
Speaker 2:Yep, and yeah, we may have people may have sinned at our event, but we didn't like we weren't selling it. Yeah, I'm sure both of us sinned at our own events too work in progress. Work in progress yep, but hey, to be old and wise you got to be young and crazy.
Speaker 2:So we're at that old and wise stage now thank goodness well, for me, I'm looking forward to spending friday nights hanging out with you whenever we can, and to me that those are way more valuable than trying to rage out a club now, and yep like anthony and like anthony smith was told we should be not sad that it it's over, but super happy that it happened and I couldn't be more happier with the life I had the last 20 years.
Speaker 2:And yeah, it puts into perspective and it went by fast and I think that business and job title is kind of a dying thing, especially here in Hawaii.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Everywhere, everywhere. There are no promoters anymore.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, well, yeah, everywhere, everywhere. There are no promoters anymore. Yeah, yeah, well, um, that's pretty much it, man. I think we hit everything on the head. Social media wise. Where can people find you on your social media, also your company's social media?
Speaker 1:yep, yep. So personally I'm at at level h H for my events company, at Y Events Unlimited, and at ProSite main campus is the church I go to.
Speaker 2:Right on and for me. You can find us on Above the Bridge podcast, on Instagram, youtube and our website is atbpodcom, and my personal Instagram is thaddydaddyhi. Well, man, once you get back from Maryland, we can have some fun. We can do some cool stuff. Now that we're, you know what's fun is hanging out with you when we're off is. We can do whatever, so we can jump around and, yeah, like for me those nights yeah, we're not super valid.
Speaker 2:Like okay, you gotta go back to work yeah or like oh shit, we're gone, or yeah and no true that, true that we definitely gotta gotta stick to that and and do that, and like I'm gonna be getting married in a few, oh, in a couple months, yeah, a few months excited for you yeah, and that's gonna be for me.
Speaker 2:I'm looking forward to the wedding most, to be around friends and family and and that that's gonna be super important and it'll be a fun time. I'm excited for it and, yeah, for me and sasha is gonna be business as normal, like I feel like we're married already, so it's just, it's just a celebration of that. So, um, yeah, we just gotta make sure we make time for for us to hang out and like taylor and all of us, because those moments are important and these friendships are important and I'm happy to see that you're happy and and the direction your life is going away from the nightclub because, out of everybody now, I'm thinking ryan god, I don't know when he's gonna be done.
Speaker 1:He's next on the worry list.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. Well, I appreciate you, man, love you brother, and I think that following your heart and God's path for you was not an easy choice to do, but I think you've seen it clearly and, yeah, I think you're making the right decision, or made the right decision.
Speaker 1:I appreciate it. I love you too, brother, and thank you for your support, for real Good friends are hard to find, so when you find a boat onto them guarantee.
Speaker 2:Well, shakas for the cameras, we're out. Shout out to the Artist groove network aloha, thank you.
