[Applause] hello everyone uh my name is Kent
hello everyone uh my name is Kent
hello everyone uh my name is Kent Jenkins but I do go by snubby J on
Jenkins but I do go by snubby J on
Jenkins but I do go by snubby J on YouTube and today I’m here to share with
YouTube and today I’m here to share with
YouTube and today I’m here to share with you unique
you unique
you unique homemade instruments as well as my story
homemade instruments as well as my story
homemade instruments as well as my story so I grew up in Portland Oregon I was a
so I grew up in Portland Oregon I was a
so I grew up in Portland Oregon I was a very weird kid and when I was growing up
very weird kid and when I was growing up
very weird kid and when I was growing up I was trying to have a lot of things
I was trying to have a lot of things
I was trying to have a lot of things when I was 5 years old I started playing
when I was 5 years old I started playing
when I was 5 years old I started playing piano when I was 8 years old I started
piano when I was 8 years old I started
piano when I was 8 years old I started dancing and by the time I was 12 I
dancing and by the time I was 12 I
dancing and by the time I was 12 I started picking up filmmaking making
started picking up filmmaking making
started picking up filmmaking making little Lego innovations with my my
little Lego innovations with my my
little Lego innovations with my my family camera I by freshman year of high
family camera I by freshman year of high
family camera I by freshman year of high school though I was doing all these
school though I was doing all these
school though I was doing all these thing I had no idea what I wanted to do
thing I had no idea what I wanted to do
thing I had no idea what I wanted to do probably most like everyone else in high
probably most like everyone else in high
probably most like everyone else in high school and I realized though when I saw
school and I realized though when I saw
school and I realized though when I saw this unique show I had a calling I saw
this unique show I had a calling I saw
this unique show I had a calling I saw this group called the Blue Man Group in
this group called the Blue Man Group in
this group called the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas and I when I saw the show it I
Las Vegas and I when I saw the show it I
Las Vegas and I when I saw the show it I just my mind was blown I there this kind
just my mind was blown I there this kind
just my mind was blown I there this kind of comedy theater music rock concert
of comedy theater music rock concert
of comedy theater music rock concert dance party all fused into one kind of a
dance party all fused into one kind of a
dance party all fused into one kind of a show and I was really inspired because
show and I was really inspired because
show and I was really inspired because they have this part of their show where
they have this part of their show where
they have this part of their show where they play this PVC pipe instrument and
they play this PVC pipe instrument and
they play this PVC pipe instrument and the way they play is very blue man style
the way they play is very blue man style
the way they play is very blue man style but I was really intrigued by this one
but I was really intrigued by this one
but I was really intrigued by this one part of their show that was a tribute to
part of their show that was a tribute to
part of their show that was a tribute to all the rock songs that came before them
all the rock songs that came before them
all the rock songs that came before them this is like Lady Gaga Madonna Ozzy
this is like Lady Gaga Madonna Ozzy
this is like Lady Gaga Madonna Ozzy Osbourne and I just really loved how you
Osbourne and I just really loved how you
Osbourne and I just really loved how you could hear all this recognizable music
could hear all this recognizable music
could hear all this recognizable music on such a unique instrument and so I
on such a unique instrument and so I
on such a unique instrument and so I went home with my dad I was like that I
went home with my dad I was like that I
went home with my dad I was like that I really really want to build this
really really want to build this
really really want to build this instrument
instrument
instrument there my parents are very supportive but
there my parents are very supportive but
there my parents are very supportive but it’s that thing of like you know parents
it’s that thing of like you know parents
it’s that thing of like you know parents they have just a face he’ll get over it
they have just a face he’ll get over it
they have just a face he’ll get over it kind of thing but I I was really
kind of thing but I I was really
kind of thing but I I was really persistent I researched online I got
persistent I researched online I got
persistent I researched online I got some ideas of what I wanted to do and
some ideas of what I wanted to do and
some ideas of what I wanted to do and eventually I was able to convince my dad
eventually I was able to convince my dad
eventually I was able to convince my dad and we built my own PVC instruments and
and we built my own PVC instruments and
and we built my own PVC instruments and so actually that there’s a picture of my
so actually that there’s a picture of my
so actually that there’s a picture of my first TBC engine this is the second one
first TBC engine this is the second one
first TBC engine this is the second one I built and essentially what we do
I built and essentially what we do
I built and essentially what we do though is we just went to Home Depot
though is we just went to Home Depot
though is we just went to Home Depot bought out over 150 feet of ABS plumbing
bought out over 150 feet of ABS plumbing
bought out over 150 feet of ABS plumbing pipe and just went to town on it there
pipe and just went to town on it there
pipe and just went to town on it there are ways to calculate the right length
are ways to calculate the right length
are ways to calculate the right length but it ultimately comes down to how it
but it ultimately comes down to how it
but it ultimately comes down to how it sounds so I had a little electronic
sounds so I had a little electronic
sounds so I had a little electronic chromatic tuner and what I would do is I
chromatic tuner and what I would do is I
chromatic tuner and what I would do is I would tap the pipe and see where it was
would tap the pipe and see where it was
would tap the pipe and see where it was on the spectrum and it was a little flat
on the spectrum and it was a little flat
on the spectrum and it was a little flat what would we do is cut off a little bit
what would we do is cut off a little bit
what would we do is cut off a little bit until it was just right and we would cut
until it was just right and we would cut
until it was just right and we would cut off like thousand of the tiniest little
off like thousand of the tiniest little
off like thousand of the tiniest little slivers to get it just right it’s not
slivers to get it just right it’s not
slivers to get it just right it’s not quite like a guitar right where you can
quite like a guitar right where you can
quite like a guitar right where you can easily just tuning peg that way
easily just tuning peg that way
easily just tuning peg that way you really have to go one pipe at that
you really have to go one pipe at that
you really have to go one pipe at that time to make sure that they all sound
time to make sure that they all sound
time to make sure that they all sound the right note and yeah there it’s based
the right note and yeah there it’s based
the right note and yeah there it’s based on sit though you know the longer the
on sit though you know the longer the
on sit though you know the longer the pipe the lower the note yeah and then
pipe the lower the note yeah and then
pipe the lower the note yeah and then the higher the pipe the shorter the the
the higher the pipe the shorter the the
the higher the pipe the shorter the the shortened fight to hire the down and so
shortened fight to hire the down and so
shortened fight to hire the down and so the combination of all these notes
the combination of all these notes
the combination of all these notes allow me to have a full spectrum and on
allow me to have a full spectrum and on
allow me to have a full spectrum and on this instrument is where I took it a
this instrument is where I took it a
this instrument is where I took it a step further than the Blue Man Group
step further than the Blue Man Group
step further than the Blue Man Group Isis it up like a cat
so grab all the white cheese and all the
so grab all the white cheese and all the black keys and the combination of all
black keys and the combination of all
black keys and the combination of all these guys allow me to take songs I grew
these guys allow me to take songs I grew
these guys allow me to take songs I grew up playing on piano and put it right
up playing on piano and put it right
up playing on piano and put it right onto this
onto this
onto this [Music]
so now rewind oh yeah and so these are
so now rewind oh yeah and so these are the paddles as well was part of the kind
the paddles as well was part of the kind
the paddles as well was part of the kind of experimentation with this instrument
of experimentation with this instrument
of experimentation with this instrument I started out originally with these
I started out originally with these
I started out originally with these plastic painters and gardening and EPAct
plastic painters and gardening and EPAct
plastic painters and gardening and EPAct cushions and eventually over time and
cushions and eventually over time and
cushions and eventually over time and has evolved to these this foam and
has evolved to these this foam and
has evolved to these this foam and corrugated plastic with two rods the
corrugated plastic with two rods the
corrugated plastic with two rods the hand with more foaming tape but it’s
hand with more foaming tape but it’s
hand with more foaming tape but it’s it’s ideas it’s a nice sturdy kind of
it’s ideas it’s a nice sturdy kind of
it’s ideas it’s a nice sturdy kind of like a drumstick for me but you get a
like a drumstick for me but you get a
like a drumstick for me but you get a good sound out of it because the foam is
good sound out of it because the foam is
good sound out of it because the foam is pushing the air through the place so now
pushing the air through the place so now
pushing the air through the place so now rewind to ten years ago this is when I
rewind to ten years ago this is when I
rewind to ten years ago this is when I was in high school and I first just
was in high school and I first just
was in high school and I first just built my Instagram’s telling to all my
built my Instagram’s telling to all my
built my Instagram’s telling to all my friends I got this cool instrument I
friends I got this cool instrument I
friends I got this cool instrument I like I don’t know what I could do to the
like I don’t know what I could do to the
like I don’t know what I could do to the end but my friends were like okay that’s
end but my friends were like okay that’s
end but my friends were like okay that’s kind of interesting we really they know
kind of interesting we really they know
kind of interesting we really they know I didn’t use it they knew I danced but
I didn’t use it they knew I danced but
I didn’t use it they knew I danced but they really know what I was trying to do
they really know what I was trying to do
they really know what I was trying to do this and so what I did was actually I
this and so what I did was actually I
this and so what I did was actually I decided to go full out I went to my high
decided to go full out I went to my high
decided to go full out I went to my high school’s talent show and I performed
school’s talent show and I performed
school’s talent show and I performed bald and blue as a blue man and
bald and blue as a blue man and
bald and blue as a blue man and basically played a whole medley of songs
basically played a whole medley of songs
basically played a whole medley of songs for my entire school and they went nuts
for my entire school and they went nuts
for my entire school and they went nuts for it it was the kind of thing where my
for it it was the kind of thing where my
for it it was the kind of thing where my weirdness was kind of getting accepted
weirdness was kind of getting accepted
weirdness was kind of getting accepted within my community for the first time
within my community for the first time
within my community for the first time just like this fullest extent and I got
just like this fullest extent and I got
just like this fullest extent and I got invited to play at you know other
invited to play at you know other
invited to play at you know other concerts around town more school events
concerts around town more school events
concerts around town more school events and this is boosting my confidence and
and this is boosting my confidence and
and this is boosting my confidence and that’s when I first clicked me that I
that’s when I first clicked me that I
that’s when I first clicked me that I really want to become a blue man like
really want to become a blue man like
really want to become a blue man like that I was like this this would be my
that I was like this this would be my
that I was like this this would be my dream right like doing the music doing
dream right like doing the music doing
dream right like doing the music doing the theater like it was everything
the theater like it was everything
the theater like it was everything that I’d love to do all-in-one and so by
that I’d love to do all-in-one and so by
that I’d love to do all-in-one and so by the time of the talent show I actually
the time of the talent show I actually
the time of the talent show I actually started uploading YouTube videos as well
started uploading YouTube videos as well
started uploading YouTube videos as well and that video you know put it up there
and that video you know put it up there
and that video you know put it up there and it kind of caught on with the Blue
and it kind of caught on with the Blue
and it kind of caught on with the Blue Man fan community as well as my own
Man fan community as well as my own
Man fan community as well as my own community up in Oregon and I ended up
community up in Oregon and I ended up
community up in Oregon and I ended up actually getting an email from a stage
actually getting an email from a stage
actually getting an email from a stage manager from the Blue Man Group in New
manager from the Blue Man Group in New
manager from the Blue Man Group in New York City saying hey we all love your
York City saying hey we all love your
York City saying hey we all love your video and we think you guys just keep at
video and we think you guys just keep at
video and we think you guys just keep at it you could probably audition for us
it you could probably audition for us
it you could probably audition for us one day like yeah thank you my god that
one day like yeah thank you my god that
one day like yeah thank you my god that made the world to me like the my heroes
made the world to me like the my heroes
made the world to me like the my heroes were acknowledging my existence and it
were acknowledging my existence and it
were acknowledging my existence and it was like a possibility that my dream
was like a possibility that my dream
was like a possibility that my dream could come true
could come true
could come true so come high school graduation I learned
so come high school graduation I learned
so come high school graduation I learned that they had this open call in Chicago
that they had this open call in Chicago
that they had this open call in Chicago to audition to be a blue man and so my
to audition to be a blue man and so my
to audition to be a blue man and so my mom I flew out there and I did the whole
mom I flew out there and I did the whole
mom I flew out there and I did the whole like charming audition I did the acting
like charming audition I did the acting
like charming audition I did the acting and I was told no and I really killed me
and I was told no and I really killed me
and I was told no and I really killed me I was like I’m just really really
I was like I’m just really really
I was like I’m just really really passionate about this and this is my
passionate about this and this is my
passionate about this and this is my dream job and it just it wasn’t the
dream job and it just it wasn’t the
dream job and it just it wasn’t the right fit and I figured okay that’s okay
right fit and I figured okay that’s okay
right fit and I figured okay that’s okay I just need to get more life experience
I just need to get more life experience
I just need to get more life experience that’s what they told me so I went to
that’s what they told me so I went to
that’s what they told me so I went to college I went to Loyola Marymount
college I went to Loyola Marymount
college I went to Loyola Marymount University and for that actually built
University and for that actually built
University and for that actually built this Rimba two instruments and that’s
this Rimba two instruments and that’s
this Rimba two instruments and that’s where I just built into my garage with
where I just built into my garage with
where I just built into my garage with my dad and we figured have the old set
my dad and we figured have the old set
my dad and we figured have the old set of home and then this one down in Los
of home and then this one down in Los
of home and then this one down in Los Angeles and I went to school and ended
Angeles and I went to school and ended
Angeles and I went to school and ended up you know starting to play around
up you know starting to play around
up you know starting to play around my stool and I was playing for a
my stool and I was playing for a
my stool and I was playing for a dorm-room
dorm-room
dorm-room talent show and I took that video and
talent show and I took that video and
talent show and I took that video and uploaded it to YouTube just like any
uploaded it to YouTube just like any
uploaded it to YouTube just like any other video of mine and for some reason
other video of mine and for some reason
other video of mine and for some reason this video was super viral within a week
this video was super viral within a week
this video was super viral within a week it got over a million views and then now
it got over a million views and then now
it got over a million views and then now it’s got almost 10 million views and
it’s got almost 10 million views and
it’s got almost 10 million views and just unfathomable and that also started
just unfathomable and that also started
just unfathomable and that also started to boost my comments because then people
to boost my comments because then people
to boost my comments because then people all over the world we’re saying wow like
all over the world we’re saying wow like
all over the world we’re saying wow like you’ve got this great talent you’d be a
you’ve got this great talent you’d be a
you’ve got this great talent you’d be a great blue man all these things I’m like
great blue man all these things I’m like
great blue man all these things I’m like yeah that’s what I want to do and so I
yeah that’s what I want to do and so I
yeah that’s what I want to do and so I at the end of my freshman year they had
at the end of my freshman year they had
at the end of my freshman year they had an open call in Los Angeles heard so I
an open call in Los Angeles heard so I
an open call in Los Angeles heard so I went to that audition did the whole
went to that audition did the whole
went to that audition did the whole thing again and was told no yet again
thing again and was told no yet again
thing again and was told no yet again and I was a little heartbroken but at
and I was a little heartbroken but at
and I was a little heartbroken but at this point I was starting to find my
this point I was starting to find my
this point I was starting to find my community
community
community astral I was starting to get appreciated
astral I was starting to get appreciated
astral I was starting to get appreciated from what I’d love to do and so I
from what I’d love to do and so I
from what I’d love to do and so I continued following these other dreams
continued following these other dreams
continued following these other dreams of my nose you know useful directing I
of my nose you know useful directing I
of my nose you know useful directing I was creating my own theatre I was I got
was creating my own theatre I was I got
was creating my own theatre I was I got to study abroad all these experiences
to study abroad all these experiences
to study abroad all these experiences were starting to like multiply on
were starting to like multiply on
were starting to like multiply on themselves that by my senior year I was
themselves that by my senior year I was
themselves that by my senior year I was really getting involved on YouTube and
really getting involved on YouTube and
really getting involved on YouTube and started uploading more videos that I
started uploading more videos that I
started uploading more videos that I started to experiment with like special
started to experiment with like special
started to experiment with like special effects where I cloned myself like five
effects where I cloned myself like five
effects where I cloned myself like five times and played a Daft Punk medley and
times and played a Daft Punk medley and
times and played a Daft Punk medley and I started collaborating with more people
I started collaborating with more people
I started collaborating with more people and starting to find my own voice
and starting to find my own voice
and starting to find my own voice therefore but by the end of my senior
therefore but by the end of my senior
therefore but by the end of my senior year I was still intrigued by this idea
year I was still intrigued by this idea
year I was still intrigued by this idea of being part of meg and so I reached
of being part of meg and so I reached
of being part of meg and so I reached out again saying hey I see her in
out again saying hey I see her in
out again saying hey I see her in have an open politicians in Los Angeles
have an open politicians in Los Angeles
have an open politicians in Los Angeles and so I literally literally my
and so I literally literally my
and so I literally literally my graduation week and I was like doing my
graduation week and I was like doing my
graduation week and I was like doing my own show I was getting ready for
own show I was getting ready for
own show I was getting ready for graduation finals ah and like I pulled
graduation finals ah and like I pulled
graduation finals ah and like I pulled some strings with my professors and I
some strings with my professors and I
some strings with my professors and I gotta go audition for blue man again and
gotta go audition for blue man again and
gotta go audition for blue man again and this time they invited me back to the
this time they invited me back to the
this time they invited me back to the callback and then after that they were
callback and then after that they were
callback and then after that they were like we need you to go to New York and
like we need you to go to New York and
like we need you to go to New York and be a just learn opportunity to do it in
be a just learn opportunity to do it in
be a just learn opportunity to do it in front of the entire board of directors
front of the entire board of directors
front of the entire board of directors and so they put me on a plane they put
and so they put me on a plane they put
and so they put me on a plane they put me out of the hotel I got to be in New
me out of the hotel I got to be in New
me out of the hotel I got to be in New York for two days training in the
York for two days training in the
York for two days training in the training center try out a routine get
training center try out a routine get
training center try out a routine get into a vault and blow the official
into a vault and blow the official
into a vault and blow the official makeup and perform in front of basically
makeup and perform in front of basically
makeup and perform in front of basically my heroes yeah very cool but it here was
my heroes yeah very cool but it here was
my heroes yeah very cool but it here was third time’s the charm and I would still
third time’s the charm and I would still
third time’s the charm and I would still know and I always really I was crushed
know and I always really I was crushed
know and I always really I was crushed but also at this point I’m starting to
but also at this point I’m starting to
but also at this point I’m starting to find my own voice I was feeling like
find my own voice I was feeling like
find my own voice I was feeling like this is what I want to do and it’s in my
this is what I want to do and it’s in my
this is what I want to do and it’s in my own way that like I almost don’t need
own way that like I almost don’t need
own way that like I almost don’t need the Blue Man Group I was kind of
the Blue Man Group I was kind of
the Blue Man Group I was kind of fighting my own my own path and from
fighting my own my own path and from
fighting my own my own path and from this this is over the next two years so
this this is over the next two years so
this this is over the next two years so now I’ve done all these crazy things I
now I’ve done all these crazy things I
now I’ve done all these crazy things I got to perform in Germany on das
got to perform in Germany on das
got to perform in Germany on das super-talent I was performing with some
super-talent I was performing with some
super-talent I was performing with some friends that I met at the Third Street
friends that I met at the Third Street
friends that I met at the Third Street Promenade while street performing I’ve
Promenade while street performing I’ve
Promenade while street performing I’ve done you know uploading more YouTube
done you know uploading more YouTube
done you know uploading more YouTube videos but mainly just starting to print
videos but mainly just starting to print
videos but mainly just starting to print my own theater
my own theater
my own theater music and feeling really inspired by
music and feeling really inspired by
music and feeling really inspired by just a community around me who love me
just a community around me who love me
just a community around me who love me and respect me for what I was wanting to
and respect me for what I was wanting to
and respect me for what I was wanting to do and I even to this day I still have
do and I even to this day I still have
do and I even to this day I still have the stream of like becoming a blue man
the stream of like becoming a blue man
the stream of like becoming a blue man but it’s just each time I’m starting to
but it’s just each time I’m starting to
but it’s just each time I’m starting to find my own thing and what’s cool too is
find my own thing and what’s cool too is
find my own thing and what’s cool too is that I’ve got now fans all over the
that I’ve got now fans all over the
that I’ve got now fans all over the world who’ve gone off to build their own
world who’ve gone off to build their own
world who’ve gone off to build their own versions of the rim Batu’s there’s you
versions of the rim Batu’s there’s you
versions of the rim Batu’s there’s you can tell because it’s like set up the
can tell because it’s like set up the
can tell because it’s like set up the same way with an a to an e for both all
same way with an a to an e for both all
same way with an a to an e for both all those all those instruments and this is
those all those instruments and this is
those all those instruments and this is how I even got to perform abroad I was
how I even got to perform abroad I was
how I even got to perform abroad I was like I just called up a friend okay can
like I just called up a friend okay can
like I just called up a friend okay can I marry a stripper weekend
I marry a stripper weekend
I marry a stripper weekend yeah I’m like up that I can see tomorrow
yeah I’m like up that I can see tomorrow
yeah I’m like up that I can see tomorrow for a show everybody and I’m just I’m so
for a show everybody and I’m just I’m so
for a show everybody and I’m just I’m so grateful for that community that’s come
grateful for that community that’s come
grateful for that community that’s come about because again it’s kind of helping
about because again it’s kind of helping
about because again it’s kind of helping me find my own passions my own way I did
me find my own passions my own way I did
me find my own passions my own way I did it and from only committing fully to
it and from only committing fully to
it and from only committing fully to this idea of becoming a blue man and
this idea of becoming a blue man and
this idea of becoming a blue man and stopped me grown and still to this day
stopped me grown and still to this day
stopped me grown and still to this day even if I like I always say like oh you
even if I like I always say like oh you
even if I like I always say like oh you know I’ve moved on from Blue Man Group
know I’ve moved on from Blue Man Group
know I’ve moved on from Blue Man Group this is not what I need to do anymore
this is not what I need to do anymore
this is not what I need to do anymore but even this past summer I reached out
but even this past summer I reached out
but even this past summer I reached out again to save the cast is back I was
again to save the cast is back I was
again to save the cast is back I was like hey can I mention again and I was
like hey can I mention again and I was
like hey can I mention again and I was told no just over you know it was just
told no just over you know it was just
told no just over you know it was just like a it’s so soon we decided recently
like a it’s so soon we decided recently
like a it’s so soon we decided recently to
to
to and we after all the auditions we don’t
and we after all the auditions we don’t
and we after all the auditions we don’t think it’s the right fit and so it’s
think it’s the right fit and so it’s
think it’s the right fit and so it’s like if I were to I asked my 14 year
like if I were to I asked my 14 year
like if I were to I asked my 14 year olds like tell my 14 year enough 14 your
olds like tell my 14 year enough 14 your
olds like tell my 14 year enough 14 your ownself something is that you are going
ownself something is that you are going
ownself something is that you are going to fail but it’s ok like just like
to fail but it’s ok like just like
to fail but it’s ok like just like committing fully you’re going to learn
committing fully you’re going to learn
committing fully you’re going to learn so much grow so much and find people
so much grow so much and find people
so much grow so much and find people that love you and support you for what
that love you and support you for what
that love you and support you for what you really love to do and for me I will
you really love to do and for me I will
you really love to do and for me I will still always have this dream of becoming
still always have this dream of becoming
still always have this dream of becoming a blue man but that that rejection will
a blue man but that that rejection will
a blue man but that that rejection will constantly help me try to go further as
constantly help me try to go further as
constantly help me try to go further as I can and really become the performer
I can and really become the performer
I can and really become the performer and artists that I am today
and artists that I am today
and artists that I am today and by being your own weird self you
and by being your own weird self you
and by being your own weird self you will find your own calling that way so
will find your own calling that way so
will find your own calling that way so thank you and I want to close out today
thank you and I want to close out today
thank you and I want to close out today with on a little song I don’t know if I
with on a little song I don’t know if I
with on a little song I don’t know if I have time for it can I get it is it cool
have time for it can I get it is it cool
have time for it can I get it is it cool thank you hi I’m gonna play original
thank you hi I’m gonna play original
thank you hi I’m gonna play original song of mine first I it’s just uh I give
song of mine first I it’s just uh I give
song of mine first I it’s just uh I give you a sample of how this instrument
you a sample of how this instrument
you a sample of how this instrument sounds it starts up appearances pop it
sounds it starts up appearances pop it
sounds it starts up appearances pop it gets really really rockin by the
”
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