Page 17 - MidWeek - Nov 16, 2022

Gen-Z Entrepreneur Follows His Passions
FROM PAGE 16
When it came time for Tumbaga to graduate from high school in 2020, he al- ready had a booming biz un- der his belt. Unlike his class- mates, who were thinking about what college they want- ed to go to, he was planning his next business venture.
ly anywhere. But where Tum- baga really shines is when he turns his passions into proj- ects. Such is the case for his latest undertaking: concert promotion.
you want to listen to.” Tumbaga has accom-
“I always told myself that I was never going to work for anyone,” he says. “ A lot of the older people in my life say, ‘I can’t wait till reality hits you and you have to go get a job. There’s no more flying first class and doing all this stuff’ — and that enraged me. I was like, ‘Why are these people telling me that I can’t have this? That I have to go to
“It was a kind of a no-brain- er,” he says. “I have all these connections in entertainment because I would go to these concerts and I would go to Rolling Loud and Coachella and do shoe transitions there. I met a lot of managers, tal- ent, promoters and agencies, and to put on a show like that really excited me. I was at a Justin Bieber show in Atlanta and I leaned over to Justin’s manager, Scooter, and I said tohim,‘Iwanttodoashow like this. I want to put this on.’ We’re in a room with 50,000 people all singing his songs.
His first show — taking place this Friday (Nov. 18) — features rapper Tory Lanez, who will perform songs from his recent album Sorry 4 What, which quickly rose to No. 1 on Apple Music’s Hip- hop/Rap chart.
“My team and I were un- sure if Tory was going to be able to attend and perform the Nov. 18 scheduled con- cert date,” says Tumbaga. “Luckily, after a lot of calls and dealing with legal teams, we were able to confirm Tory Lanez will be attending and performing.
Coming up, Kodak Black is set to perform on Dec. 10, and although Tumbaga’s lips are sealed about future performers, he promises that music fans have a lot to look forward to in 2023. He lists Dominic Fike, The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber, Harry Styles, Frank Ocean, Lil Baby and Giveon as his
“I think the only drawback to being young is that some- times I can’t get into certain events and meetings because they’re serving alcohol and I’m under 21. I don’t drink, I don’t do drugs, I don’t do any of that stuff — I just want to get into the meeting to network with people,” he says, laughing.
nspiration for his next en- trepreneurial enterprise could come from virtual-
“From that moment, I went home and I was talking to my girlfriend at the time and was saying, ‘This is what I want to do,’ and I never felt myself so passionate about some- thing — ever. There was a huge, huge need in Hawai‘i for music that our generation listens to.”
At the show, which takes place at a new concert ven- ue that Tumbaga invested in called The Warehouse (2020 Auiki St.), attendees can expect an experience unlike any other.
Tumbaga’s skills as a showrunner were put to the test when it was announced that Lanez was sentenced to house arrest for an ongoing criminal investigation.
“We’re building out a space called The Warehouse, which is literally what it is — it was a warehouse and (we) basically turned it into a large, 3,500 capacity concert venue with state-of-the-art technology, lighting and vid- eo screen monitors, and stage production.”
plished a lot in the years since his math-tutee days — and all before he’s turned 21, too.
NOVEMBER 16, 2022 MIDWEEK 17
TikTok influencer Bryce Hall was his first celebrity sale. “I did that and continued to do that and then got picked up by some serious celebrities — like real celebrities with a real cult following — and it kind of took off. The celebrities told their friends and so on and so forth.”
college and get a “real” job ... ISo, I literally made it my mis- sion to fly first class and that I would never get a ‘real’ job.”
This is magical. If I can’t be the talent singing up there, I want to put this show on.
album, he’s not signed to any record label, he’s indepen- dent, he doesn’t have much restriction and he can do whatever he wants with his music. He’s a super creative guy. I’ve been in the studio with him many, many times, and (I knew) what he’s cook- ing up was going to be No. 1.”
to change can be a great chal- lenge. Learning how to adapt and successfully navigate through change is key.”
dream artists to bring out. “When you hear that Con- nor Tumbaga is going to do a show in Hawai‘i, you know it’s going to be high-end, you know it’s going to be sophis- ticated and you know that it’s going to be somebody that
“When I was looking at the pool of artists to bring as my first artist, I wanted to make a big boom in Hawai‘i — a guy that everybody, or most peo- ple in my generation, knew, and somebody who was on the come up to releasing an- other album,” says Tumbaga. “Tory was about to release an
“One lesson that I’ve learned through all of this is life is all about change,” he continues. “Change is the one constant in life and adapting
“I’m counting down the days,” Tumbaga adds about his highly anticipated 21st birthday in January. “I’m not even going to drink on my birthday. I’m not going to Ve- gas. I’m going to a nice net- working event that’s 21-plus.”
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Twenty-year-old Tumbaga got his start in the business realm by selling limited-edition sneakers.
Always on the go, Connor Tumbaga frequents Honolulu, Los Angeles and Tokyo.
PHOTO COURTESY CONNOR TUMBAGA
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