S6 E2 Gettin' Jiggy with Viggy

Podcast Discussion
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Mahalo for your latest podcast interview with Viggy. I had the pleasure of taking a workshop with her at the Los Angeles International 'Ukulele Festival in 2024. She was doing her “Percussive Uke” class and it was a very interesting and unique take on the method. I’ve seen James Hill do the percussive thing while playing Billy Jean, but Viggy has given it her own very personal flavor. Watching anyone multitask on an instrument is hypnotic and captivating. I hope that you were on a zoom call or face time during your interview so that you could watch her while she played.

I would love to see you at more of the 'ukulele festivals other than Uncle George’s on Maui. I imagine that could increase your exposure to the general uke public, as well as your recent commitment to posting more frequent YouTube videos, which are always a pleasure to see. Though, I can’t imagine Viggy’s commitment to posting a video every other day, no matter what the platform. However, I’m curious if the festivals pay for artists travel expenses. If not I would see how that would be very expensive for the performers to pay for their own travel, meals and hotels for a workshop.

But back to the topic of Podcasts. I would love for you to interview luthier, Kawai Carvalho of Coast 'Ukulele. He has an interesting story and I have seen a few of his 'ukulele featured on the 'Ukulele Review Podcast with Kalei Gamiao and Corey Fujimoto. He has been building some very beautiful custom 'ukulele and I feel that he would be an interesting interview to put into your pipeline.

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Hey Bob! It would be good for business to make more festival appearances, but if I travel I want to do it for fun. I really hate sitting on planes and it seems to get more and more oppressive every year. So you probably won’t see me anywhere outside of Hawaiʻi unless I have a major change of heart. I’m pretty committed to hiding out in the jungle. It’s a lot more eco friendly to visit folks via the web (and I can mostly stay in my pajamas)!

I put Kawai on my big list of podcast ideas. Mahalo! I’ve got this year covered, but will look into it for the future.

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I totally understand your desire to remain on the “rock”. When Hawai’i is your backyard, there is much less of a desire to travel. It seems that you were born at the right time, since the internet allows you the ability to connect with others around the globe without the necessity or expense of travel and being able to maintain an extremely small carbon footprint. Personally, I’m just glad that I found you and happy that you are content in doing what you do. :call_me_hand: