Only Cool on Social
The Start, Creative Journeys: Behind the Scenes with Innovative Entrepreneurs and Artists
Have you ever wondered what fuels the creative fire behind your favorite podcasts and entrepreneurial endeavors? Take a seat at our table as I, your host, joined by the dynamic duo of Manny with his innovative Bars on Wheels and Dame, the artist behind the lens in wedding photography, peel back the curtain on the highs and lows of our creative exploits. This stroll down memory lane reveals not just the laughs and growing pains of our ventures, but also the camaraderie that has been the backbone of our success.
In this audio tapestry, we share candid tales of viral triumphs and the hard-earned lessons of content creation. Manny lifts the veil on the thrills of cultivating an authentic following, while Dame opens up about the artistry of capturing life's pivotal moments through his camera. I'll give you a front-row seat to the balancing act we perform daily, as we juggle the demands of our audience with our personal lives, and the struggle to stay grounded while our passions take flight.
As we wrap up our conversation, we cast our gazes to the horizon, considering how our creative pursuits might evolve alongside the milestones yet to come. We delve into the delicate art of sharing our personal journeys as part of our brand stories, and the laugh-out-loud moments as we debate the best local eats with a taste of Vatos Tacos food and dream up future collaborations. This episode isn't just about looking back—it's a toast to the forward momentum of inspiration, the relentless pursuit of balance, and the hearty embrace of life's flavors, in every sense. Join us for a hearty dose of reality, seasoned with the dreams and wisdom that keep our creative hearts beating.
Only Cool on Social 2024
Have you ever wondered what fuels the creative fire behind your favorite podcasts and entrepreneurial endeavors? Take a seat at our table as I, your host, joined by the dynamic duo of Manny with his innovative Bars on Wheels and Dame, the artist behind the lens in wedding photography, peel back the curtain on the highs and lows of our creative exploits. This stroll down memory lane reveals not just the laughs and growing pains of our ventures, but also the camaraderie that has been the backbone of our success.
In this audio tapestry, we share candid tales of viral triumphs and the hard-earned lessons of content creation. Manny lifts the veil on the thrills of cultivating an authentic following, while Dame opens up about the artistry of capturing life's pivotal moments through his camera. I'll give you a front-row seat to the balancing act we perform daily, as we juggle the demands of our audience with our personal lives, and the struggle to stay grounded while our passions take flight.
As we wrap up our conversation, we cast our gazes to the horizon, considering how our creative pursuits might evolve alongside the milestones yet to come. We delve into the delicate art of sharing our personal journeys as part of our brand stories, and the laugh-out-loud moments as we debate the best local eats with a taste of Vatos Tacos food and dream up future collaborations. This episode isn't just about looking back—it's a toast to the forward momentum of inspiration, the relentless pursuit of balance, and the hearty embrace of life's flavors, in every sense. Join us for a hearty dose of reality, seasoned with the dreams and wisdom that keep our creative hearts beating.
Only Cool on Social 2024
Three, two and one. All right, what's up y'all? This is the first episode of Only Cool on Social. We have Dane, let's go. We got Manny. Yes, sir, these are the two people that I've been wanting to have on the podcast as my first guest since I've known I was going to do this 2007. Honored, I didn't even know you then, and there's a big reason why. But before I get into that, I'm going to let both you guys introduce yourself. First I'll let Manny introduce himself and then I'll let you.
Manny Flores:My name is Manny guys. I'm a content creator, a social media person. I'm also the creator and owner of Bars on Wheels the first ever freestyling show on wheels.
Dame :I'm Dame. Most people know me by Shot by Dame. I pretty much do photography. Some video I run, I would say photography for weddings. I'm more on like portraits, engagements, elopement stuff like that.
Eric Rivera:My name is Eric Rivera. I'm the owner and founder of Bakersfield Bike Rentals the creative crew also. One of the first things I started was reaching our goals for kids and the schools as well as a long time in the making Only Cool and Social.
Eric Rivera:Yes, sir, so you guys are going to learn a little bit more about it and then anybody watching. But to get into it, I wanted you both on here, first because it goes into a lot of the things I'm doing now, whether it's this podcast and then also the creative crew, with you being connected to that and you. So, for the people that don't know, I reached out to Manny and I reached out to Dame kind of within the same vicinity of time when I started Bakersfield Bike Runners, and so it's funny like now, like I'm, obviously I have a friendship with you guys. But like I hit up Dame kind like I'm, obviously I have a friendship with you guys. But like I hit up Dane, kind of like I seen I was watching his stuff for a little bit, like I was like all this dude seems cool, seen his podcast stuff for a little bit and some of his work, and I was like man, I need someone to do like I want someone to do some photo stuff.
Eric Rivera:I just kind of called and interviewed him. We had a little FaceTime interview.
Manny Flores:Oh, you got FaceTime. I didn't get FaceTime. Yeah, yeah.
Eric Rivera:And he was like I've been doing this this long and he was cool, the vibe was cool, the energy was good and I was like Dame's, a genuine guy, and he kind of came and helped out Because at that time I had put everything into Bigger Show, bike Run. I was like I just need someone that can help me push some stuff that I know I could connect with and be part of what I'm doing, Correct?
Eric Rivera:yeah, you know until, like, something turned into what I wanted to. So same thing with Manny hit him up. Kind of the same story, but within those lines, like you guys only knew me, like starting Bigger Show, bike Run, yeah, and no one knew technically my creative side, which was always since I was a kid. This goes into Manny, actually, and Dame too.
Eric Rivera:It goes to both of you guys Again this is why I was always doing little reels. They were popular like transitions and stuff and like he's a bro whenever you could do like behind the scenes correct, but then, uh, you were the actual first one. I'm like yo bro, can you come?
Manny Flores:behind the scenes.
Eric Rivera:I was that big or so viking, I was running it and I was like I want to go do this for my boy real quick and I did it for you and it was actually cool that was my first ever reel really on my page.
Manny Flores:Yeah, it was by him.
Eric Rivera:Yeah so so he I already knew I was good at stuff and like creative. But like when you have other creatives like yo, can you? Do it for me, yeah it's um, it's motivating and it kind of sparks a lot of things with me like all right, like this, and it's just a cell phone, so, and, and, to take that and then transition into something with quality, like a camera a camera, something, whatever it is that's where Dame come in.
Eric Rivera:So Dame is you were the start of like I could do. Like this is something I've always enjoyed.
Manny Flores:I do it for free, whatever, like it's a hobby, but then Dame one time like one time like hey bro, can you help me do a?
Eric Rivera:shoot like an actual shoot shoot. Yeah, like just he wanted me to come like just hold the camera. Yeah, they got it. And uh, he's like just come help and like I started doing stuff like I'm just used to in my head I'm like, hey, bro, like walk like this, and I'm like I'm putting the camera like in there and, um, that was the start of of really being like all right, I'm, I'm actually gonna.
Eric Rivera:Finally, even though he edited that a lot of people don't know he edited that but, a lot of what he did and I was like I would have done something very similar to this. Yeah, so I took it as my own I'm just kidding.
Dame :No, no, no. I feel like the stuff he shot for a person who's never used an actual camera outside of a phone. Yeah, yeah, I'm like actually, no, no, I have used a camera, oh, okay.
Eric Rivera:The T5i. It's actually in there. It's the first camera.
Dame :I have, oh, that's dope.
Eric Rivera:But I've never had a quality camera like that. So I've shot weddings, I've shot these things, but it was always I'm the entrepreneur, not this side of things. So now that I have everything I'm doing now it kind of took off, but there was always something behind it, correct, correct. So that was YouTube links for that within the creative crew. I'm like I'm going to. This is I'm going to the creative crew. I'm like I'm going to. This is I'm going to. The creative crew is originally like a business consulting thing, but it turned into like you know, like I have fun doing this, I'm just going to. Social media is where it's at Correct.
Eric Rivera:So I'm going to do that, but then, dame, had me on the podcast. So the podcast is what really sparked the action of like yo, I could do the podcast that I've been thinking about and wanting to do, and essentially that's where you two come piece this together. I'm like I'm going to have Manny, I'm going to have Dane, because you guys were these behind the scenes, influential pieces of really guiding me to be like yo. I'm going to do these little things.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's the small things that turn into really big things for me the big things, yeah, for sure, yeah so big thank you to you. Big thank you to you because again, it's the things we do for people. That means a lot that we don't really know we're doing for someone. So did I ever give you a hat?
Manny Flores:No.
Eric Rivera:I know you haven't so so sorry hat. No, I know you so so bad, because I wanted to see if you were gonna react like you didn't get one either but I'm assuming you did get one. You finally get one, bro. These are, those are the exclusive ones, bro oh, okay, nice and roto.
Manny Flores:I like that with the faded look to it. And you don't, do you?
Eric Rivera:have that color.
Manny Flores:I think you I think you have every color, I think you literally do you have?
Dame :yeah, I have one of every.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, okay, then this one's yours too.
Dame :Oh shit, you know what's pretty dope, though, about him bringing up how everybody like everything kind of started.
Manny Flores:I even remember Jake, jake was there.
Dame :Yeah, like I forgot that he was actually. I remember him running the drone. It was you. That's where I met you, right.
Manny Flores:Yeah, that's where we met for the first time. I actually for your lens, for your 35. For real, yeah, that was the first time I asked. I looked at your user now. Yeah, oh, okay, I was like.
Eric Rivera:I remember that yeah, yeah, you did.
Dame :But it was dope because I feel like me and him are pretty cool now like compared to like everybody. I felt I met that like I'm cool with Jake cool with you, DJ. Dj and now it's like kind of like some of like the closest people I talk to.
Eric Rivera:Even though we don't like hang out and stuff, I feel like we're still pretty connected we all compliment each other's circles, yeah, and support each other, so like everything's still like in your direction. A lot of people compliment Dane for being like hey, bro, thanks for bringing me on this like DJing all them on the podcast you know, bars on Wheels. Bars on Wheels, yeah, they did it, yeah, so letting everyone kind of work these spaces to showcase themselves and also your stuff you know, Because we all have our own unique skill set or following and we let everyone share that space.
Eric Rivera:So I've always thought that was cool. Dame has the same background of people feeling like yo. Dame helps out when he can or when he can't. I try to thought that was cool. Dame has the same background of people feeling like yo Dame helps out when he can or when he can't.
Eric Rivera:I try to do that. We've all connected through similar people. But to focus on Manny, real quick, like we've always talked about behind the scenes, bro, like you're young and like you're doing like some dope stuff. Thank you, bro and I think the biggest thing was always us being like, doing like some dope stuff. Thank you, bro, and I think the biggest thing was always us being like yo, make sure you.
Dame :Like you, keep this kid like in his head.
Eric Rivera:Like yo, bro you're good like don't, don't stop. You know what I'm saying? Because most people don't get to find this little passion spot, uh, in their early 20s it's more so like, try this, try this, try this, who knows?
Manny Flores:this might not even be your thing.
Eric Rivera:This might not be the thing but, but it's, it's all the stepping stones to like get into.
Dame :You know where you're gonna want to be at, so no, I think it's dope too, because I feel like I want to. I've talked to you a lot. I don't know if I said a lot of stuff too, so I don't know if you remember stuff I've said. Yeah, I know there's a lot of stuff I have told you. I don't know exactly words, but one thing I always told him before, or I thought I told you and like me, wishing I could have started that young with the same passion you did.
Dame :Because I feel like if you talk to a lot of older people, I'm not saying we're like super old, but like that are you know, hitting their 30s and stuff People when they look back like I wish I had that dedication or I wish I would have started, you know, at the age you are, and we probably did start certain things, but we never followed through with it, you know we weren't as serious or we didn't take it, you know, and we didn't probably didn't grow up in the same area either, but it's like there's a lot of people your age that still aren't doing stuff that they want to do.
Dame :Yeah, and to me it's like it's dope to like be your age and have that focus, point to where you're like.
Manny Flores:I'm gonna continue doing something.
Eric Rivera:I love because a lot of people don't have that.
Dame :Especially at that age, there's so much stuff going on in your head that you're just like is this the most important thing.
Eric Rivera:And even an example of it. Like I started like with a camera. Honestly, again, like when I was 19, I had been using a camera.
Manny Flores:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Eric Rivera:Just as fun bro, like friends getting married.
Dame :I'm like hey, bro, I'll shoot your wedding for you. I'll do a video for you.
Eric Rivera:All right, cool bro, please. And so now that's what. I'm 32 now. I didn't even start start like making money with a camera until literally like this year. Wow, like I've never charged for anything. Yeah, with a camera until now. So like you're already doing it, you know what I'm saying?
Eric Rivera:like you're actually like making money with a camera, bro, so it's dope, but you gotta jump into the. This is my passion. I'm having fun with this, I can do it and like, let me actually like you've already solved, like the, the, the problem, like, uh, I like this, I'm making money. How can I sustain? Myself, yeah, exactly and you can, because this is like what you do, right?
Eric Rivera:yeah, this is what I do exactly so so, um, uh, real quick, I wanted to go into it because I know we talked about before you came. How's it feel being back on a podcast?
Manny Flores:Good question.
Eric Rivera:Good question Because you're always on podcasts. Now bro.
Manny Flores:You're like a podcast.
Eric Rivera:Not really.
Manny Flores:Calm down, relax.
Dame :I feel like podcasts are dope. I mean, obviously that was the reason I started one. My intentions, I guess, were different. I just thought it was dope to like talk to other people who do kind of the same stuff I do, people who started like a business or you know, doing something small or trying to get it to get bigger. So I think the purpose of the podcast was dope.
Dame :I feel like running the podcast to me got burnt out. Just one, you know the editing and everything it takes to do it, getting all the people in the same room at the same time, obviously like it's hard for everybody, you know, um, I think it's dope. I think the conversations that come from it are really dope. Um, I don't do it anymore just for the fact that it just took up a lot of my time, um, and then like a lot of my times elsewhere right now, you know, and it's uh, but it's it's really dope thing. I feel like I started early on the podcasting and didn't really know how to do anything Like how to like, you know, I was just pretty much it was like a learn as you go type of thing and like everything was kind of just raw.
Dame :We edited it, obviously, but it was like like there was times where we were texting people and like asking questions that we had no idea. You know, it wasn't like everything was scripted.
Eric Rivera:It's the best, though honestly like learning that way, like you've done it I'm still, we're doing that today Like, like you just do it, you have to just do it to learn and like go through it. But you, you like, were bringing on a lot of people. And then I'm like, hey, although you know, I'm like nah, it's not that cool, I brought him on.
Eric Rivera:I'm like oh like those are those are people I would actually like invite on here Cause I know them. I'm cool, but on the other side, how does it feel being on like podcast? You've been on the radio now, yeah, yeah, you've done a lot of stuff.
Dame :But in like talking about both one when you hit me up for your first podcast with him.
Manny Flores:I'm nervous. I'm nervous, Like, what do I do? I did.
Eric Rivera:And then to now being on podcast and then like going to actually talking about Bars on Wheels, Like what's bars on wheels? How to get started, and like what's the direction for it now?
Manny Flores:um, bars on wheels. Well, I think, going back to like the trial and error, I think I'm still learning what bars on wheels uh will be. I have ideas of like what I wanted to be, but obviously there's no certainty, um to this point. Uh, you know, we're starting to dabble into like events, right, and that's something new that I've never done before. So, like this Saturday, we're going to have our first Proud to Pay event.
Eric Rivera:Where's that?
Manny Flores:at. It's going to be in LA, and I've never done one Like. The last pop-up we did was in an alley, like it was little preparation, what a dope guys, and it was like four days of promo. So I'm still learning, just like you guys and I'm, so it's still part of the process, but creatively, I think I've handled and I found out what the sauce is Like, what the sauce behind, like creating the you know those content pieces right, because I think that's what people lack just that sauce.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, but you're creative bro, yeah, like you're creative bro. Like, yeah, like you're, like you see it, but when, bro, like you, you do, you do the stuff that you're supposed to be doing, like that last one. You're like, oh, you trip on the sidewalk bro, like bars off, but it's, it's fun stuff. That's crazy. You have entertaining clickbait. Where you'll be like watch me fall. You never fall, bro, like on the bike or whatever.
Eric Rivera:I see it, but you're doing it the right way, bro, and especially what's in line with what's in today's social media crowd. How they take it, how they take it in, yeah, so you started Bars on Wheels and it went from, say, the first month of following to how many you have now.
Manny Flores:So when we were two months in, that's when we got our first offer someone to buy the show. At that point I was less than 500. So I was like a 470 something. Um, after four months, in november, that's when we blew up. Uh, november, I think at the thanksgiving morning, that's, when we blew up and, like my phone just started ding, ding, ding, ding, but it was an old post, right like. So I was confused on why this post is like, you know, getting that engagement, uh. So we went from 1,000. At that point we were at 1,000. Then we went to 1,500. And then 2,000, 4,000. And then the views just kept on going to 20K, 40k. I was like, oh, it's probably going to stop at 50K, but the next morning is 100K, and it just kept on going how much do you, how much does something like that cost to get those kind of views?
Eric Rivera:nah bro nah bro, no, that's cool, that's dope.
Manny Flores:I don't think I would've at that early point. I wouldn't. I wouldn't have invested the money. I wouldn't have no money. You wanna keep it organic?
Eric Rivera:keep it organic, correct, yeah that's cool and want to keep it. Keep it organic, correct, correct. Yeah, um, that's cool, uh and uh I think you've talked about this on some of us, but for people that probably have never seen that or even know who, you are uh, talk about like the ups and downs you went through one and then also some of the crazy experiences you went to yeah, like with.
Manny Flores:Well, you know what I'm talking about yeah, I'm trying to threaten you, threaten me and stuff. Uh, I've had several experiences with that. So, uh, I had several dms where people didn't get accepted or I sent them a, basically, uh, when season one or season two well, we'll go into the process so people understand like, why would someone even be like yo bro?
Eric Rivera:yeah, what would they be upset?
Manny Flores:yeah um, so the first time. So that that uh6,000 offer, so that business person, he wanted to buy the show initially, right, but when we had that meeting I told him no and I just wasn't interested and I basically said Bars on Wheels doesn't need a person like you, just because he had like a more snaky and business vibe to it and he didn't have that creative spirit that I had and he wanted to forget all that. So I told him straight up we don't need you. So I probably head out basically. He basically insulted me and said because of my age and because of my lack of knowledge and because of this and that. And he ended our conversation saying bars on wheels will fail because of you. That was the final sentence and I was like it's unfortunate man and I just walked out. So that was like the first major, like holy shit what did I do?
Dame :What did I do to this guy?
Manny Flores:But at that time we were at 500 followers, but now we're at 50 something K and he called me up last week.
Eric Rivera:I was going to say, hey, do you have a message for that guy?
Manny Flores:We're working on a diss track for Bars on Wheels. I'm going to have a bunch of artists basically tell my story and basically talk for me, so they're going to rap for me, dissing the guy.
Eric Rivera:Wait, hold on, but this guy contacted you last week.
Manny Flores:He has contacted me several times Every morning he calls me To apologize. No, to tell me that he wants Bars and Wheels to be the entertainment for this new event. But I'm not going to do it.
Dame :He just keeps on calling me.
Eric Rivera:He keeps on texting me. Is he from here in town? He is from here. Is he a scary guy?
Manny Flores:Nah, nah, nah, not at all, it's just. I'll send you his info later, bro. He's scary bro, I believe you, yeah, I believe you, yeah, but that was like the first major, like what the heck?
Eric Rivera:And then go through what happens when people submit submissions, because I haven't heard this part of people. But now that you say it, it makes sense. I'm like okay like yo. Bro, what do you think? I suck yeah, you suck yeah, yeah.
Manny Flores:So the music, I mean especially the rap game, the hip-hop industry, it's. There's a lot of egos, right?
Eric Rivera:So that's, just unavoidable, right.
Manny Flores:But the community we're trying to build is, you know, filled with people who don't have egos, right, who can present themselves, show off their skills, but in a way that doesn't sound egotistical and doesn't have to put somebody else down in order for them to shine, right. Um, so the community and the artists that we have, they all, they all mess with each other, they all love each other and they all support each other. Uh, but the people who dm me saying like yo, your shit is ass. Or um, y'all, y'all messed out. I was to get some viral numbers or things like that. I get five messages a day like that, and some of them are voice messages. Basically just yo, what are you doing?
Manny Flores:bro Do you open all of them? Some of them, I do Just to look through.
Eric Rivera:Get an idea of what the crowd is. Does it hurt your feelings, though? Has anything ever hurt your feelings?
Manny Flores:In the beginning it did bro. Uh, in the beginning, in the beginning it did bro. I took it very personal.
Eric Rivera:I was like damn bro, like they're unhappy because I see it as like uh, you want to make everyone happy exactly, yeah, yeah, just like a business and like customer service.
Manny Flores:That's how I see it, uh. But when they started like attacking me personally, like saying like, like, very, like random things, that's what I was like.
Eric Rivera:Hate your long hair, bro.
Manny Flores:Yeah, it's like yeah, that's why you look like this. I was like bro, it's like bro why are you so childish? So, things like that. So I just started using them as comedy and recently we did a major one where somebody who had like 300,000 followers he got really upset because I wasn't treating him as the celebrity that he thinks he is.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, exactly, he was like.
Manny Flores:He basically said I've been around the world. I should be treated as such. I should. I should just cut the line. I don't need to go through the application process and I basically use that piece of content and it is like one of my most successful like story posts, like 12 000 people saw that story because of that drama piece, right? So it's stories like that, those moments, I just use them as content and they're hilarious.
Eric Rivera:I think they're so funny well, and it goes into the concept of uh, if you have haters, you're doing something right something right? Yes, so so but but also as being young and entrepreneur, to be able to handle those things that's what shows one, your ambition, and two that you'll be able to like, have the intestinal fortitude to keep pushing forward through anything and it's such like a good lesson to learn now. It's like super dope, but everything you're doing is there's no right way. There's no right way.
Eric Rivera:There is no right way, especially when you're learning, and especially when you're going through the roller coaster of creating something. So kudos, man, how do? Where can people follow Bars on Wheels?
Manny Flores:And how can they watch it? On Instagram, tiktok, youtube, just Bars on Wheels, bars with a Z, and then you'll find us everywhere. There's a lot of content. You search up just regular Bars on Wheels. We'll probably pop up on the internet. Yeah.
Eric Rivera:I want to switch it back over to Dame real quick, before we get there.
Dame :You know what's pretty dope, though, when I had him on my podcast. Was you mentioned Bars on Wheels before? It was even started. Shut up really, yeah, if you go back and listen to it. You ask me like, hey, I'm doing something, and you're like what's the? Then you say what the title is and we're actually guessing, like what the title was. You were like when you told me bars on wheels. I didn't understand it at all.
Manny Flores:You didn't know what it was. I didn't know it was going to be a rap show, Because you were just saying, oh it's going to be in a van and stuff like that and I was just like I don't understand it Because I was like you're not a rapper.
Dame :I was like what?
Manny Flores:You're like bars on wheels.
Eric Rivera:I was like what stuff?
Dame :because I've talked about this podcast on his stuff.
Eric Rivera:I talked about some other business I've talked about. We both probably talked about some things where it's like, if you look back, go back and see it.
Dame :It's on there it's like, oh crap, I hope to be that famous where people find those clips by themselves, yeah that would be cool, like, really like hunting them is dope because we had um, we had just talked, we had, right before that happened, we had sat down for sat down for lunch and talked about it and I was telling, like, like, bro, like you're on the right direction, this is before it blew up before it did this thing a week or something.
Dame :I don't know what it was, but it was like, right before it blew up, I was like um, I was telling him like, oh, like, if he ever gets distracted or feels like, oh, it's not enough, like he's not getting enough attention from it. And I remember I was just like, oh, like, bro, like just as long as you keep doing it, it's not like don't expect it to happen overnight.
Manny Flores:Overnight, yes, exactly.
Dame :And then, like a week later, it was just like boom, it was gone bro, and I was like there it is Yo shout out D. I was like such, but it was crazy, the internet is so wild, bro, like you just.
Manny Flores:It's just so funny how, like what you know, videos go viral and like what doesn't. Yeah, but yeah, it's just yeah, you called it, bro, you called it. That was crazy.
Eric Rivera:No, you got it's and that's exactly why, like I think it's dope having both of you.
Eric Rivera:Because, like, it's not just for me, it's kind of full circle, even with you when it comes to me. And dame, yeah, like like I've always supported your stuff, I've always tried to push your stuff. Regard, like so my thing was like these two guys helped me out. It was like did a favor for me and I'm like how? And my thing is and you guys didn't know me at the time it's always like how can I give back, how can I get?
Eric Rivera:back and like dame is always the one giving back to people. So like when he's like, hey, bro, can you help me shoot with this? I'm like, yeah, bro. He's like let me know how much correct yeah I'm on all, bro, like don't worry about it, like just just do it. You know, and dave's been that way, and like you've helped out in that way, so that's why, like my appreciation goes like really far with you guys.
Manny Flores:Yeah I think it's cool because we, when I did uh, when I shot for the uh bike rentals, big show, bike rentals, I didn't expect anything. Yeah, like it was simply just hey, this is cool, and at the time I was obviously younger, right, yeah, yeah, so I was a little bit more open to these opportunities you just came from san francisco.
Eric Rivera:I think, yeah, yeah, it was, yeah, yeah so I was there, my girlfriend was already.
Manny Flores:I brought my girlfriend, uh, there too, so she was just waiting and uh, yeah, I just went. I had no expectations. I wasn't like yo, this guy getting traction, yo, let me run it up his pockets.
Eric Rivera:And the cool thing is is that part of that's what it's for, because I knew like it was going to gain attention, because it was the only thing being done like that.
Manny Flores:It's original yeah.
Eric Rivera:So I was like, if these people are on board and they can find some type of gratitude in it too and want to be a part of it. Like take whatever it does, you know.
Manny Flores:Mm-hmm.
Eric Rivera:So, like even with Dame like he blew up not because of me but Dame, similar to what you're doing with Bars and Wheels he did for his brand and he did it the right way, like whether it was the podcast, and it started giving focus to Shot by Dane. It started giving focus to like who is this dude? Then they see his work.
Manny Flores:His weddings and stuff His work.
Eric Rivera:And then that was I think it was when you somewhat finally made a transition. You're like yo, I'm leaving my job.
Manny Flores:I left my job. That post is amazing. I read it all the way.
Eric Rivera:It was great traction and he left his job and like a lot of like for him to do that and then still give his like energy and free time, like I'm not getting anything out of this like monetary wise and I'm gonna still do this for people it was. It shows like who dame is as a person you know, and then a lot of people that speak on him doing those things with people. So it seemed like Dame kind of been ghost for a while because he stopped the podcast essentially.
Eric Rivera:But the reality is he still has his life. So, for people that I know, you talked about stopping the podcast, but what have you been up to now? What are you doing now? What's your direction to?
Dame :Yeah, it's kind of a good question, because one one is I feel like I always have like I think, none of us creators and like us we never have like uh we're never satisfied yeah.
Dame :So, regardless of where you get, you're like I want to do this next or this is what's coming up for next, and um, um, I see myself stepping back as far as um, as far as everything, as far as my business, as far as my lifestyle, as far as, like, how I'm living. Um, I feel like the last past year kind of showed me a lot of stuff going on in my life that like made me take a step back and be like what am I enjoying and what I'm not, and like what do I want to put all my energy into and what don't I, regardless if it is my business, because like this is like I said I quit my job, like this is all I have. You know, I can't. There's no going back, there's no, you know. And obviously I love my business and I want to go forward and keep, like you know, and there is goals. I have coming up, you know, with different things, but as far as right now going forward, it's kind of like more of a slow motion of like I'm getting somewhere.
Dame :I mentioned to you too, um, a goal I don't know when, it was supposed to be sooner than later, but um is opening a wedding venue. Um, I'm in the wedding industry, so that's something I know, that's all my my you know. And a goal for me is opening a wedding venue because you know, as a photographer, you're gonna get old eventually. You're not gonna want to shoot all day, 10 hours a day, whatever it is and whatever it is, and that's kind of like a backup plan. Right, you run a wedding venue. It's kind of like you know, it's like another business for you to run without having to actually be the person doing the photos and stuff.
Dame :So that's a goal for me, one of those things One I'm still building it's not really my brand, but my company as far as training other photographers and videographers to go under me. I get a lot of weddings where I have to turn them down because I'm booked the days of. So I want to have people that I could trust that could shoot exactly either like me or something kind of the same, similar to where it's like we can outsource those weddings instead of, you know, just turning them down Because a lot of people come to me for you know certain dates and I'm like I'm not available. But I have someone who is available If you guys are interested. You know you can trust us with the kind of work we're going to give you. So that's kind of like the main focus right now is kind of getting those both things like slowly but off the ground to where it's like kind of fluent and where I'm going.
Eric Rivera:Yeah.
Dame :So not too much outside of that.
Eric Rivera:But what you're saying is true though. Like, because we're a little bit older than Manny and it gets to a point where you're like and the difference is you have a family. It's like sometimes we both know this, because I know you focus a lot on photo and you do video too, but video editing gets tedious sometimes, bro.
Manny Flores:Yeah, it does.
Eric Rivera:A lot of people don't know this about you either. You do a lot of stuff that you don't post. You're doing stuff with influencers I know like.
Manny Flores:I see it, I've never posted it. Yeah, yeah, you don't.
Eric Rivera:I'm seeing the posts of the other people that are there.
Manny Flores:And I'm like yo. This was on the camera. Where's the content, man? Yeah, but.
Eric Rivera:I understand why, though, too. Yeah, it does get to like man, like it would be dope to shoot this and not have to do that you know, but it's there you have to do it. Especially like pulling back, like, so you talk about like the last year.
Dame :What's been like the biggest change in your life you feel like over like the last year. There's a bunch right. Yeah, obviously I mean most people who follow me I'm divorced. Um, that's like a huge change. Um, another huge change is my son getting acclimated to being with two different parents at two different times right yeah, I'm very fortunate to have him every single day though you know um we have a good, a good uh parenting co-parenting um to where I'm able to see him every day.
Dame :No issues between us, just I get my son. I gotta take him to school every day. I gotta pick him up every day. He's growing fast as hell yeah, he's getting into sports. Um, so that's, uh, that's a huge change like just keep, you know, trying to make sure that he's comfortable with the style that he's living, because he's not used to that also he was young, so he probably didn't really understand too much but it's like now he, you know he's gonna get to a point where he's gonna start asking questions like what's going on and what you know, um, that's a that's a huge change.
Dame :Um, I'm in a different relationship now, uh, with my girlfriend and like super happy I'm super happy.
Manny Flores:She's cool, by the way.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, that's cool yeah she is shout out to my girlfriend.
Dame :Um, but it's um, I'm super happy and I feel like, uh, certain people bring out the best in you as far as like with her. She's like she's very uh how she is with her son and stuff like shows me how much I want to be more with my son yeah, I didn't really realize how much like I was like a tough father, like you're good, you know, hit him with a bat, you're fine.
Dame :No, nothing like that, but like it just meant I feel like she uh kind of like softened me as far as a father and really showed, like how much I could be like potentially myself and I think like to that point, though.
Eric Rivera:Like, because, like, people don't and and this is like the basis of like this only cool and social thing is like and we've talked about it even when you're on this podcast. There's like a part in there where you're like oh bro, you have it all, you know you know, yeah, I told her I envy his, um, yeah, yeah. At that moment I said I envied like his situation, like his house, his family and and the truth is, the reality is it's because we base that off of what we see on surface level the surface, yeah, and and the truth is, because a lot of people don't, a lot of people know, a lot of people don't.
Eric Rivera:I've been married and divorced too, and on the surface, like yo, you got, like dang, everything's like perfect, yeah, like or he has this, or like his house, or a good relationship, whatever it is.
Eric Rivera:And the reality is, what really is going on in your life is something that we deal with on ourself, like alone, and same thing with you. You go through your own personal things and right here, it doesn't take away from your last relationship at all, because there's a lot of great things that you can still look at. On the highest level, you have your baby you know, but you say so on it.
Eric Rivera:Sometimes it takes like a new person to come, whether it's a friend or a relationship or a new job. It takes that to like, really show yourself, like yo, I could be more, I could do more, I could create new things. And then it comes down to the support you get from these new people, the way they challenge you, the way they push you. So I've always respected it and then I've also loved seeing the side of other people that grow into these relationships that are better for them.
Eric Rivera:But I asked Azz Dame, can we talk about it? Because some people don't want to talk about these things, but they're, they're like reality.
Manny Flores:Reality yeah, it's real.
Eric Rivera:Because there's people that are going to watch, like, say, someone sees this and they're really like yo, like I'm going through some stuff and people think it's good you know, but and that's that's a focus for me, where I'm like I want people to know like yo, we all go through things, we're all human, like we might have all these things that look great. But you know you don't need to act like it's okay.
Eric Rivera:Especially for us as guys. You know, like we're supposed to be the people that hold it down, or like supposed to be strong, we're not supposed to. Cool comic collected.
Manny Flores:Yeah, yeah, we're not supposed to cool comic collected.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, yeah, we're not allowed to show our emotions like even though I mean we, we can, but it's not accepted as much as it is like a female being like oh, I'm sad or like this like whatever. So but um, I'm glad you're happy bro, I'm glad you're doing like a lot of stuff you're doing what's good, what's dope, though, too, about you like the.
Dame :The title of your podcast is like, if you so I was off of social media for like two and a half months or something, just because I was just trying to catch up on things, right, but it's like I was going through a lot of stuff as well. Personally.
Dame :Obviously, I didn't put it out there like hey, guys like this is what you know like it's just like you said, like I'm not going to sit here and try to throw myself a pity party, or whatever it is, get done what I need to get done, don't get views though.
Eric Rivera:Don't get views. Don't get views, bro. He said, set some of the bars on the list so I can use that. Bro, Tell me you're mad. I didn't get it right.
Dame :But it's like the first post I posted when I did start posting again was just like a picture of me smiling right.
Eric Rivera:Yeah.
Dame :Because I'm obviously not going to post, like you know, and it's like I put on there like yo, like this is what's been going on, but I didn't say shit about it. Yeah, because it's like really nobody cares.
Manny Flores:Yeah.
Dame :People probably read it like damn, that's crazy. And the next one is gone, you know, and for me it's more like that's exactly what I have to show, though Like that's not me, as like that's why a? Because I was having people attack me when I was on vacation. Oh yeah, you told me this.
Manny Flores:I was on vacation.
Dame :There's some people who won't respond to clients and be like, oh, two or three days to respond to you. And I had people who knew I was on vacation. I said I wasn't going to be responding to anything and literally asked for a full refund. Canceled on me because they said I was being wishy-washy, because I didn't respond to them.
Dame :And I was posting on vacation, yeah, and so it's like things like that where it's like it kind of takes away from your business, like as a person like you can't do anything personal because if they see you doing something, you're not responding. They don't.
Dame :It's not that they don't respect it, they don't really care yeah, um you know, um, there's um times where, like you, it's really true you're running late on stuff or things that you don't get done in time and you're trying to be. You know, you have a bunch of and, honestly, last year I took on way too much I can handle. So, um, and it's a learning experience, right and it sucks because that's a learning experience for us as businesses, but that could do a lot of damage to you as well you know um but it's like so you know people just kind of like I.
Dame :I found myself like maybe I should kind of pull back from showing people too much of yeah, and that sucks because, um, I felt I built my business off of that.
Eric Rivera:I felt like when.
Dame :I started being more personal and showing more stuff about what my life is and not being like, oh, I'm just picture perfect. I was showing the bads and showing the goods. People are like why did you post that you lost your studio? We didn't lose it, but we let it go. And it wasn't like I'm not embarrassed of it, that's just part I could look back and be like though too.
Dame :Yeah, you know, people are like you know, he's vulnerable, he's honest, and that's one thing that helped me build this to where I'm at now. But I'm also seeing the bad side of it now, too.
Eric Rivera:The critique that comes with it, exactly Even to your point, and I know we could relate to this because we've all talked about it. At least we have. I've been there too, because you take on so much work. You're like and you're not. You're not as um, you don't post like that as much like your personal life, like I've I've known I've been, I've been known to post my personal life always, like my daily, like everything I'm doing and um like when you take on being a business owner in the industry.
Eric Rivera:We're on. It's like all right, I got like five videos that I need to get done by this weekend. But then, you know, someone might be like, hey, where's that video? Like two, three days early? And you're like, bro, I haven't even started working on it cause I don't need to yet, or like I'm gonna get it to you.
Eric Rivera:But then you're like I don't wanna post me at the beach right now because you're like now this person will be like I just have to run my video and then sometimes you're like yo, I'm not even going to get it to you for two weeks, but you're getting hit up like three days later or a week later, and so it makes it tough to sometimes want to put yourself out there again, and that's a learning experience for me too. But I get to the point in my head and in my life where, like you said, no one cares, so I just flip it to myself. My happiness comes from like I don't care, like I'm not going to let no one like be like yo blah, blah, blah.
Eric Rivera:Like yo but I'm here like enjoying myself, like you'll get your stuff, like, and I know what I can do, Like and how do you feel on that?
Dame :Explain, yeah, yeah, I see the.
Manny Flores:So recently my girlfriend told me this thing. It kind of really hurt, like it made me. At the moment I was like it took it really personal and then I thought about it like the next couple of days.
Manny Flores:But she basically said that and this doesn't refer to you guys, so don't take it like it's attacking you guys, so she said the friends that I have and the friends that I hang out with, I only use them that's what she said Simply because the times we are hanging out, we're doing some sort of work. Yeah, right, I explained it to her. Because everything I do, it has to be productive, right? So, like, if I go to a beach, I have to make content at the beach, right? Like that's just my mentality for everything.
Dame :Same here.
Manny Flores:100% me, yeah for here like we're making content right, but at the same time I'm hanging out with two. I haven't seen you in a while. I'm hanging out with Dame, right? That's how I see it right. I don't see it as just work, right? Yeah, so she kind of just are getting paid to be there.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Manny Flores:Right, and I was like that's not even true. And I thought about it and I was like yo, you're right. Like recently I saw an old friend, but it was because of a wedding and I paid him to be my assistant. But I still hung out with him when he went to go eat. I had a good time and I didn't see it as like I have to pay him for his presence. I didn't see it like that, but I mean, that's what it was.
Eric Rivera:Well, let me, can I counter that, Like so, to what you're saying is true to an extent, but but because you're younger.
Dame :I think you're not going to understand this idea. There gets a point.
Eric Rivera:No, no, it's true, Because there comes a point to where you're, you're, you get to a point in your life, and I think this is where I'm at where. Jake's at Dame and a lot of people that are older. You don't get that time, no more. Sometimes your only time with your friends is when you get to work with them and you have the luxury of being like yo. I have a friend like Dame or Jake or Manny that could come with me make money with me and.
Eric Rivera:I get to be with them and, like some of my bestest friends, I don't get to be around no more. Not because I don't want to be around them, but because, again, you want to be productive with everything you do and some people might say, like life balance, the reality of being an adult and working and striving for real things there is no life balance, there is no such thing as life balance there really isn't.
Eric Rivera:It sounds good, it sounds cool, but balance really is in life, understanding it's always going to be in balance and figuring out all the things that you really want to do and you can find enjoyment in all of it. So, when you're with your friends or you're like yo. I'm going to pay my friend to come work with me and do this because, on the flip side, he might not have no time outside of being with you to do things some of my bestest friends.
Eric Rivera:I only see them at birthday parties now um, I don't I, or, to be honest, if I'm gonna hang out with them like at midnight, yeah, like between like me working, because I know my boys like will stay up to two in the morning because, it's chilling, you know whatever. So there's a reality of what you're talking about which is true, and then you have to really know who those people are Correct but also understand, like Dane's my boy and Manny's my boy.
Eric Rivera:Jake's my boy, jake. There's a lot of times we don't get to do a lot of stuff, because he's a family man too. He's a dad. He is, yeah, he's a family man too. He's a dad, yeah, but we get. We work together on a daily basis in this place, like literally, like he's one of my closest friends because we, we make money together, but we, we get to be in each other's vicinity like presence.
Manny Flores:Yeah, yeah so um, I wouldn't.
Eric Rivera:I wouldn't take it as a bad thing, or maybe, uh, because sometimes the people with and this isn't knocking your girlfriend either it's like, no, she was wrong she was right.
Manny Flores:But sometimes, if people were with and this isn't knocking your girlfriend either, no, she was wrong.
Dame :She was wrong, but sometimes if people were with the most.
Eric Rivera:They might tell us something, and then the mental game is like yo, that's true, and then we believe it. And then now we might start disrupting our real life friendships because, it's something someone told us. That isn't really what we're making ourselves believe. Correct yeah really what we're making ourselves believe Still good points, but it's always having the dialogue to even have there to discuss it. That's why podcasts like this are here.
Dame :I also feel like I don't feel like it's wrong what you do at all. I feel like what you're doing is because you're focused on what you want. You have goals and it might seem that way. Everything you're doing has to be content for you and that makes you happy. That's what you want to do Genuinely, that's what you want to do and that's what most people should focus on is doing what they want to do. So if that's what you're doing, you're not doing anything wrong.
Dame :And I do believe, like he said, it's your age as well. I feel like when I was at that point, like I worked in the oil fields, I wanted to move up. I want to run equipment. I was working hella overtime, like hours that you know I could be spending with friends, family, but nobody complains about that because that's our job. Right, this is your job, that's ours towards your job. Yeah, yeah so. But I look back and it's like like I just went to Hawaii right, Took my camera.
Manny Flores:Yeah.
Dame :I didn't take that shit out at all. You didn't take it out no because, like bro, like I look back, like I want to enjoy the time I'm actually having now. And I'm bro. I'm a lot older than you are, so there's like a's a big gap and I think as you get older you'll start seeing things change and what you actually want to spend time with right. So five years from now, you might not want to go and make content when you're at the beach you know, saying you might, but then you might who knows?
Dame :but I think a lot of times you see yourself getting older like another thing. If you become a father, you'll see a lot of things change as well. Bro, like, you'll see a lot of things change, and that's what kind of really like changed me as far as like being present and not making everything about my work, about work. Yeah, and that's what was my biggest goal when I had a kid. I was like I have to quit my job because I want to be able to go to my son's football games and I want to be there for him and I want to. You know, I don't want to be the dad who's never there and just pays the bills, you know, and that was like one of my biggest goals and that became my goal.
Dame :It wasn't necessarily having a job. People see me as like a business owner and, yeah, I'm busy, and I'm probably way too busy than I should be. But it's like I took that step back because I want to be present. I think you at your age and what you want, this is what you want. You don't have nothing else to focus on and this is what you really want. So it's like it's not a knock on what you're doing, um, and I think as you get older you'll see things start changing.
Manny Flores:so when you look back on it, you might be like maybe she might have been right at an extent but it's what you love doing.
Eric Rivera:It's not something somebody's not forcing you to do this correct correct so and and on the on the flip side of that, like man dude, like you're just I look at you, bro, and I I'm just like this freaking man.
Eric Rivera:He's so lucky like I swear to god, bro, like I swear, like he's so young, he's so young and he gets to soak little things like this, I swear to God, bro, and you still have to experience it on your own. But even the fact that, like what he's telling you right now and then you could kind of be like when it happens, you're like that makes sense cause everything I'm doing. He did it early because he was already a father.
Eric Rivera:Like the stuff I'm doing now that I've like manifested, or however you say, in your mind, like how things have been created for you. A lot of things I'm doing is so when I do have a kid, I know I have the free time for it. I've like created a structure in my life where I really could, for the most part, do whatever I want, but in my mind it's like when I have a kid.
Eric Rivera:I know I could be like with my son here do this and like I don't have to rely on like being oh, I gotta be here in the morning to work 9 to 5, blah, blah, blah.
Manny Flores:so yeah, man, life's a journey, yeah, I got a great plan, like when I have a kid, I think I'm going to adopt him at a certain age Wait, what so?
Eric Rivera:then, like he'll be able to. You're going to adopt your kid at a certain age.
Manny Flores:Yeah, yeah, so he'll be able to work and create content with me, because if he's too young, that's the infancy, that. I'm not trying to mess with.
Eric Rivera:You're like I'm gonna adopt teenagers and see which one hits in the athlete. Yeah.
Manny Flores:Hey, you're adopting him, buddy. Yeah, yeah, little mini Manny he changes his name.
Eric Rivera:Like you adopted Kenny.
Manny Flores:I mean, he got like content, like for days this rule's to blow up.
Eric Rivera:Hey, Jake, can you give me that real quick? So have you ate today.
Dame :Sorry, bro, I already know what you're going to say, bro. I already know what you're going to say. That's a fat joke.
Eric Rivera:Have you ate today? I have not All right, awesome. Okay, so you guys know I got people within the creative crew.
Manny Flores:That's wild this is so.
Eric Rivera:This episode is actually sponsored by Vatos Tacos. Two locations Fashion Plaza, over by the Old East Coast Mall, and then you have 6641 Ming Avenue, new location this year.
Manny Flores:Yo Vatos Tacos.
Eric Rivera:Vatos Tacos.
Manny Flores:If you're watching this, if you're down to do a collaboration with Bars on Wheels, we would love to come down there. We'll take some artists to freestyle for your clientele. We'll freestyle by your food. If you're down, done, I think that would be a great collaboration. Cesar is one of the dopest owners in town.
Eric Rivera:bro, it's a yes.
Dame :Okay, I'm saying it right now.
Eric Rivera:I, I'm saying it right now, all right, all right, I see you. So today is Molita Monday, so some of the most fire and I know you guys you've been to some of the food trucks.
Manny Flores:Yeah.
Eric Rivera:So what we're going to do on here is I'm going to let you guys try some of these.
Dame :So there's, he actually looked it up so there's a salad and a pasta, so we're going to have to cut this clip out because I'm on a diet. Do we have a?
Eric Rivera:knife. I know you have that one, so I don't want to make too much noise. Okay, because? I think we have two carne asada and two pastor. So I want to make sure.
Dame :Do you speak Spanish?
Manny Flores:I do. Yeah, it's not fluent though, but yeah, I do. Yeah, same here I do it. I don't want to say you speak Spanish.
Eric Rivera:I don't want to say.
Manny Flores:I know Dane does it. I know Dane does it, he's like asada, asada, asada. So Yo, this looks good.
Eric Rivera:Okay, so I'll make sure I eat those pieces. Get a napkin.
Dame :What is that called? I'm going to let you guys read this right now. This is going on Matos Tacos page. What is it called? Asmr, oh.
Eric Rivera:ASMR.
Manny Flores:ASMR.
Dame :This is about to be an ASMR moment. Right now I'm going to make the most noise I can. Y'all going to hear every piece of Asada.
Eric Rivera:Okay, that's Asada. Hold on, hold on. And then this is Dims.
Manny Flores:Actually that one's yours too. Okay, we're doing double.
Eric Rivera:And then what I'll do is here's another napkin. Yeah, I'm going to actually keep these in. Oh, okay, okay cool.
Manny Flores:That makes more sense. So I got the name hints. I need some Robin. Oh bro, oh yeah.
Dame :Radish. All right, he's like yeah.
Eric Rivera:I don't think I've heard of it, ooh All right, hey, but you're like, super like in the like. I feel like you're super cultured, like with your Latino side.
Manny Flores:Oh, my Mexican side. Yeah, yeah, okay there you go, bro.
Dame :You said you're fluent.
Manny Flores:No no, I'm not fluent, not like crazy. No, I'll tell you guys about this after. Or we can talk about it right now I have a lot of ideas for Barzón Woods, but for this year I'm going to take Barzón Woods International. Barzón Woods is going to become Barra Cintas. It's going to be a pure Spanish channel. We're going to go to Mexico this year and create content.
Eric Rivera:That's you.
Manny Flores:Jake no, that's all you.
Eric Rivera:And then you know if you want to. So you have a sala pastor a sala pastor I do too.
Manny Flores:Yeah, so I'm going to go to Mexico, and then I got to get my Spanish right, though before.
Eric Rivera:I go.
Manny Flores:But yeah, we're going to. The goal is to hit like Mexico first and then Latin America. So we'll hit like first stop will be Colombia and then Argentina, chile, like all those stops. Like basically just finding, but it will all be in Spanish. So I just got to get my Spanish right, do you want to?
Eric Rivera:you got a line, oh yeah.
Manny Flores:I'll get a line. I'll get a line, y'all taking like one of the go-karts or something.
Eric Rivera:Nah, nah.
Manny Flores:We're going to be renting a van over there.
Eric Rivera:Okay, that's dope, yeah, yeah, all right, so the first one, try the Asada one.
Manny Flores:Okay, have you ever had a. Molita before. No, I haven't.
Dame :Have you it's quesadilla right Don't disrespect him.
Manny Flores:Don't disrespect him.
Eric Rivera:My bad, my bad. So make sure people know about it. So Malita Monday on At Vatos Tacos on Mondays, $3.50 from 11 to 2 and 5 to 7 pm. That's the deal on this.
Dame :What is a Malita?
Eric Rivera:It's essentially.
Manny Flores:Describe it, bro, in detail.
Eric Rivera:It's two tortillas. It's like a quesadilla but it's smaller, so you notice that typically this tortilla right here would be a taco.
Dame :Oh, it's like full of things. Yeah, okay, okay.
Eric Rivera:But you have it stacked on each other with a whole bunch of cheese.
Manny Flores:salsas Are we going in.
Eric Rivera:We're going in, yeah yeah, so let me know what you think you guys grade this. I already know what it tastes like. I don't Mmm.
Dame :The meat's pretty fire Bomb Mmm.
Eric Rivera:Best meat bro. Mate Vato's Tacos was rated top three in best tacos in town. Best Mexican restaurant in town and their new location best new location in town Mexican restaurant. That's juicy, bro. How many locations do?
Manny Flores:they have. They have two, two locations. They just started brunch on the weekends. That's juicy, bro. How many locations do?
Dame :they have, they have two, two locations.
Eric Rivera:They signed on top of us. They just started brunch on the weekends, so 9 to 2 pm Saturday, sunday brunch buffet. Bro, everything's in there, everything, and we don't always get to eat Because we're working Great job with the sponsorship, bro. Yeah.
Manny Flores:And choosing the episode one to do it.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, no, bro, I thought of this. I was like man, like how can we eat? How can we have bomb food? And also Like Push, one of the best spots in town.
Manny Flores:Facts when can we do the other one?
Eric Rivera:You're like we're coming back tomorrow for taco, Try the pastor.
Manny Flores:I'm on it already. Okay already.
Eric Rivera:Same thing. The meat's perfect, bro, it's juicy. You're not going to. I think you might have made this fresh right now for us.
Manny Flores:Fire Going in Bomb.
Eric Rivera:Bought those tacos Grilling Candina Vatos Tacos growing cantina. If you're looking for them on social media, it's Vatos Tacos cantina with the green chili pepper, right yeah. I've seen it before they got a fan.
Manny Flores:they started off as a food truck and now he has two locations. He's gonna be on here. Yeah yeah, I've seen him before. Yeah, damn, they got a fan. They got a fan today.
Eric Rivera:They started off as a food truck and now he has two locations. Bro, he's going to be on here. He's one of the people who are going to be on here, bro. Amazing story, bro. Like one of the nicest, most humble people, I know what up, bro. Thank you.
Manny Flores:Hopefully I meet Cesar. Yeah, hopefully I meet Cesar.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, no, no, you will If you have an idea and want to do it. Bro, when it comes to bars on wheels and something that's fun, he loves supporting people, bro.
Dame :That was fire 11 out of 10.
Eric Rivera:Hopefully you didn't mean a one 11. I'm just kidding. Do you like salsa? Though? Do you like salsa on your stuff? Mm-hmm, I love it. I'm just kidding. Do you like salsa?
Manny Flores:though, Do you eat?
Eric Rivera:like salsa on your stuff. Mm-hmm, I can't bro. I don't have like I'm like, I do a lot more. I don't have the Mexican tongue.
Dame :Never have bro.
Eric Rivera:My mom, my stepdad, like my Everyone I know in my family loves hot stuff, not me, pastor, everyone I know in my family loves hot stuff, not me. Pastor fire, thank you for all those tacos and for the happy face. Appreciate it.
Manny Flores:Great. That was amazing and it was quick too, like we didn't yeah.
Dame :Ooh, I hear you. Those onions are spicy.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, oh, I don't eat that. I can't. Yeah, they're spicy. What was your favorite out of the two?
Manny Flores:Yeah, oh, I don't eat that, I can't. Yeah, they're spicy. What's your favorite out of the two?
Eric Rivera:Both.
Manny Flores:I rate how good a Mexican restaurant is based on the password based on their Sala, but I Also always order pastor because I love it, but I'm gonna rate how good your food is.
Eric Rivera:Off your Off the asada, yeah, nice, like the flavors. And, bro, until I actually started working, like with Bato's Tacos, I didn't know like we had great Mexican like sponsor, like I've been in the food trucks and we have some, but like consistently we're like yo, everything's good Bato's Tacos.
Dame :When I'm not on a diet. No more I'm gonna go over there.
Manny Flores:Oh, that was good, that was good.
Dame :I'm dying, I'm dying.
Eric Rivera:I'm going to the gym those onions are hot but before we get out of here I want to do something where everyone could kind of give a message that is important not to them but to a person.
Manny Flores:Oh wait, I was thinking about this.
Eric Rivera:I had a feeling it was going to come, if there's anyone you want to have, something to hold and be able to show them, or they could, at some point anytime, look at whether it's your girlfriend, your mom, your dad. If you have anyone you want to, so just a gem. A gem, bro. Thank you, love you.
Manny Flores:I mean, of course, like my family, uh, the bars on wheels family, the community that we're growing. I think that's, that's a beautiful thing, so I'm really grateful for them. But if I was to, like, drop a gem, and only one, I would say, damn, this is kind of egotistic, but I feel like it's important, uh, for anybody that is, you know, going through it right through the process. I would say, at the end of the like, it's important For anybody that is going through it through the process, I would say, at the end of the day, it's important to tell people about your success. I noticed this about Bars on Wheels simply because I feel like people gravitate towards that element and it speaks to people in a different way than not saying it.
Manny Flores:For me, I love talking about bars and wheels because I see it, as you know, a platform that has the potential to, to literally change how the rap freestyle game is seen, right. So I am proud to say, and I'm proud to, to, to, to preach it, uh, so I firmly believe in that. So I would say the same thing to people If they have something they believe in, to preach it, to express it in a way that they're proud of, not in a way that they're boasting about it, but that ultimately will impact somebody out there, and for that reason they should be proud to say it.
Eric Rivera:I think that would be my biggest thing to say. And off of that real quick. I think that would be my biggest thing to say, and off of that real quick. I think it's the whole thing where people don't let us feel that way anymore.
Manny Flores:Yeah, exactly.
Eric Rivera:And people say you're cocky, or you're not humble, but the reality is and I've learned this. I've learned this a lot over the last year but the reality is, and I've learned this.
Eric Rivera:I've learned this a lot over the last year. When you start becoming successful outside the box of what you're used to, it feels that way before you got there. But when you start doing things for yourself, like y'all making more money, getting more views or whatever it may be, or people are supporting my stuff on a high level, you start understanding. You worked for this, yes, and how would anyone know if you don't get to talk about it?
Eric Rivera:Exactly, and so it's really you're speaking the truth of your life and the things you're doing. You're like yo, I'm making this much, or I've been around these people or I started this, and the truth is all you're just speaking. Yo, I'm making this much, or I've been around these people, or I started this, and the truth is all you're just speaking on is what you've done. Yeah, and it's not being humble, it's just really speaking your truth.
Manny Flores:Yeah, that's it. It's a part of you, exactly.
Eric Rivera:And it might affect the people that haven't got to get over that hump, where they're like I'm not there, or I I'm not there, or I haven't pursued what I want to do and they might have all the ideas and all the stuff that could be dope, but they're not pursuing it in the way that allows them to get to that space where they can have the same thought process and mentality. So everything you're saying is so true. I think a lot of people are scared to talk about it and it's completely backwards on people trying to make people feel like they like they're acting like they're above someone just because they talk about yeah, yeah, they're true what they're doing so, uh, same thing.
Eric Rivera:Um, you got any message, whether it could even be, you know, a message to your son, your girl, anything that you want to um, I would just say just anyone in general, um general, that has an ear to listen to.
Dame :It is just off of a really crazy year and a half. For me is just not to let the lows get you too low, because nothing lasts forever, right.
Eric Rivera:Nothing.
Dame :It's not always like, unless you die. I'm sorry.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, not true.
Dame :I think I hit the lowest of feeling mentally I've ever hit in my life and I just I think I'm getting over that hump Right and it's like.
Dame :But when I was there, I was like at a point where I think I talked to you about it, I was like bro, like I think I'm done, like I think I'm done with like with this just in general just because the way people kind of bring you down, yeah, um, and it was like a point where, like I feel like my girl kind of talked me out of it some, you know, my sister talked me out of it like, like, bro, like, yeah, dj bro, even as funny as he is like he, he reached out to me like bro, like yeah like that's not, you like it's, it's temporary yeah and that's the biggest thing is like people like I think we all get to a certain part in life.
Dame :nobody ever is highest at the high forever, and nobody's gonna be low. So don't let the lowest part make you know that's the part that makes you better, right? So don't let it completely just destroy you mentally, don't let it destroy your heart.
Eric Rivera:Just let it.
Dame :You know, just know that nothing lasts forever.
Eric Rivera:You'll get past that, yeah, and because you're in your 30s, right, so, like again, you're in your 20s, jake, been through some stuff too. So there's these moments where it gets so low, and maybe you've experienced some of them.
Manny Flores:I did.
Dame :But then there's lows that are deeper than that, even deeper than that, yeah, Because I've been through some stuff.
Eric Rivera:Oh man, this is the bottom for me right now, and I've always been this way, where I can pull myself out of anything. I can smile about dark times or low times, because I know there's better things Ahead. Yeah, yeah, always, if you choose to feel and think that way and move towards it.
Eric Rivera:But, man, I've been through the times you're talking about Like man, like. I don't want to do this. I don't want to like be this person, because whatever is going on in your life, whether it's being nice or too good to people, or always being the one to help people out, and then it's never giving back or anything within those lines, and then, like you said, there's a place where you know like you needed it.
Dame :You needed it.
Eric Rivera:You grow from it and know like you needed it, you needed it. You grow from it like I I don't look at anything bad. So like your, your low points, you're like when you finally get into it and you in hindsight you're like I'm so glad this person was a bad person, I'm so glad this person took advantage of me, or I'm so glad like that didn't work out or this meeting didn't happen, or I didn't say yes to that when I thought I did, or I looked back I was like man, I should have said yes the six grand thing.
Dame :You might have been like.
Eric Rivera:Yo like okay, it's some money so so um no good point bro like. I like I think that people need to understand that that life is this like beautiful mess and when, when it feels like a mess, just understand like you need everything to be messed up so it could get cleaned up and then something gets messed up again.
Dame :You clean it up, but you have to figure out how to do it your way, you know I feel like I feel like that's real big too, like I feel like you um us as people at your lowest point, we really find out who you are just in general, as far as how you treat people, how you come out of it. There was a point where most people, if they get to a certain point, they just completely change. You're at your worst mentality when you're at a low point To see yourself get out of it and you say sometimes you need it To see things differently, to see where me, taking responsibility with where I'm at, like this is my fault you know, and it's like how did I get here?
Dame :And then when you get past that, now you're like it changes you a lot.
Eric Rivera:Yeah, yeah, and I think like a lot of things that we take out of like life and we don't like to do it. But one it's self-reflection. And then two it's taking accountability for where you're at in life and the things that aren't going right, and understanding why and whether that's sometimes it's people in your life that don't take accountability. But for the most part, everything you go through is gonna know. Everything it's it's on you yeah, it's on you, no matter what.
Eric Rivera:So, um, unless you guys have anything else you guys want to talk about, um, thank you, manny. No, thank you, bro, thank you uh, thank you thank you, dame. Uh, one more time, let everyone know where they could follow you bars on wheels and what they could be looking forward to.
Manny Flores:Yeah, bars on Wheels. So for Bars on Wheels, you can find us on Bars on Wheels Bars is with a Z on Instagram, youtube and TikTok. We have an event coming up this Saturday. I don't know if the podcast will come out by then, but will it. Maybe Maybe Okay, the point is this April 22nd, a big event, our first ever proud to pay event in LA, looking forward to the growth of Bars and Wheels and hopefully hitting a thousand, a hundred thousand followers by the end of the year, hopefully is the creative crew gonna?
Eric Rivera:hey bro, I can rap. I'm just saying you know, I really can. Like Jake knows this, I can freestyle, he can freestyle. I hear that so much. I hear that so much bro, no, no but it's different been doing this since we were kids.
Manny Flores:I didn't see you'll never know what are you doing this saturday I'm not gonna do it, but I'm gonna be at coachella. I'm gonna be at coachella, but I can the second weekend oh, yeah, yeah, we can uh, I would have loved, for I have you on the stage yeah, that would have been dope, I'm not gonna lie. That would have been cool okay uh, when you come back, we'll do some content, we'll do something, okay, uh, we're about to talk.
Eric Rivera:maybe we're bro in the kitchen that would be perfect.
Manny Flores:All right, bro.
Eric Rivera:Hey, no, but thank you.
Manny Flores:No, thank you.
Eric Rivera:Manny Flores badass dude. If you guys are looking for someone to do anything creative with, this is your guy, and the cool thing about it is I can throw it all the way back to the other side. So let people know where they can follow you at and if they need anything from you?
Dame :Yeah, you can follow me on Instagram. That's pretty much where I do all my content. Shot by Dame is shot underscore by underscore Dame. Or you can follow Shot by Dame Media. That's where you're going to see more content from not just me, but people who shoot weddings for me, videos for me.
Eric Rivera:You'll see all the content there. Okay, cool, this is the first episode of Only Cool on Social. It's been in the making for a while, to be honest, and we only know about this. So thank you, everybody. You can follow us on Only Cool on Social. You can find me on Life of E-Vera Everyone says Evra, it's Life of E-Vera. And then you can follow the creative crew Creative with a K and yeah, if you guys watch it, thank you for staying all the way through and love y'all. Peace out. Love you, mom. Congrats, bro. That's your first one. Good shit, bro, how'd you do? Good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good.