Vapor Digest #3 The Trade Publication For The Vapor Products Industry
Issue link: http://vapordigest.epubxp.com/i/442928
13 Nick: The first time I saw someone vaping was on Youtube. It was a dude named Leaford. I was blown away. I started picturing in my mind what it might feel like or taste like. The more I researched and learned as much as I could I only got more and more fascinated by it. Patrick V*: What do you remember about your first vaping experience? Nick: For my first vaping experience, I purchased 36mg juice. It knocked me for a loop. I remember thinking "I thought this was supposed to be better for me?!" After I accli- mated to the nicotine it was wonderful. I really enjoyed vaping on my couch while watching TV. No foul smell. It was amazing. Patrick V*: What would you say are your 3 favorite flavors to vape? Please try to answer generically, if possible, so we don't favor one brand over another. Nick: Lately, I've been on a big "bakery" type flavor kick. Not custard per say, but bakery flavors in general. Though, it could just be the time of year. In the summer time, I like a nice refreshing fruity, or fruity menthol type flavor. Patrick V*: When someone starts a new venture and is trying to build an audience, there is usually a "things are really starting to click here" moment. What was that moment for you? Nick: Back in 2009, I had no idea what I was doing. I just started shooting videos of the stuff I "I believe the key to balancing my vaping obsession and the rest of my life would have to be time management."... "If left to my own devices I would spend 24 / 7 doing vape work and just become some sort of hermit." bought, and people started watching them. Back then it was not like it is now. Nowadays there are 100+ YouTube vaper people. Back in 2009 I was one of three, maybe four people on Youtube talking about e-cigs and vaping. I remember when I hit 1K subscribers I thought to myself "Dang, I'm having fun, and I'm really reaching some people here." It was almost that same day that my first vendor contacted me about a review. It was a very surreal feeling that someone had seen my videos, and wanted me to review their products. I decided at that exact moment that I would never solicit vendors for "free vape gear" to review. I decided if someone saw my videos and liked what they saw then they could come to me if they wanted to. I'm proud to say I've maintained that integrity to this very day. Patrick V*: What was the reaction from your family and friends to this new venture? Nick: No one understood what I was doing when I began my obsession with vaping, not one of them. Vaping?! "What is vaping?!" "Isn't that smoking?" "I heard those are bad for you!" My girlfriend at the time especially didn't get it. "Why would I dedicate so much time to talking about fake cigarettes on Youtube?" She thought I was a crazy person. Now they see the impact. They see the commu- nity. They see the fact that I haven't had a cigarette in over 5 years and they get it a little bit more. Patrick V*: Who were some of your early supporters, encouragers and mentors? Nick: Spikey, the former president of the National Vapers Club was one of the first people to comment on my videos. I've lost contact with her over the years for various unfortunate reasons, but I always credit her with giving me a confidence boost when I didn't really know what I was doing. My other very good friend to this very day, Flitzanu was another early supporter. As far as mentors go. I credit Scott from the UK for that ( Igetcha 69). I saw the way he did his videos, the way he interacted with his subscrib- ers. I thought that was very cool that he was willing to take the time to respond to the people watching his videos. Although, it's become more and more difficult as time goes on, I always make an effort to reply to every e-mail I get, and interact with people as much as possible on social media. I feel like it's the least I could do for the people who have watched my videos for so long. Patrick V*: More than most, you have the "ear" of the vaping community. What is the best part of being an influential vaping enthusiast? What is the most frustrating part? Nick: The most frustrating part of being an influential vaping enthusiast is that people kind of assume because I have a slightly popular Youtube channel, that I get all the cool gear right away. Which could not be farther from the truth. (Let's be honest, 100K subscribers in the grand scheme of YouTubers isn't really that much.) Sticking with my "don't ask vendors for free gear" motto. I don't always get all the newest gear right away. It's actually pretty rare for me to get something, have the time to evaluate it, then have a video up by the time that new product launches. That just doesn't happen in the vape world. The best thing is being able to help people out. I love giving shout-outs to people in my videos, and I love being able to answer people's ques- tions. I get everything from "Why is my protank burnt" to "I have $100. Should I buy the Magma or the Origen?" I take every question very seriously, because I know that if I were lost in the world of vaping I would hope that someone could guide me in the right direction. Patrick V*: Both Gabe and I can report that it often is difficult to find a balance between our obsession with vaping and the rest of our lives. What are some things that you do to help strike that balance between vape stuff and the other aspects of your life? Nick: I believe the key to balancing my vaping obsession and the rest of my life would have to be time management. I'm not amazing at it, but you have to draw that line at some point and say, "Ok, my vape work is done for today." If left to my own devices I would spend 24 / 7 doing vape work and just become some sort of hermit. Patrick V*: One of my favorite hobbies is to make predictions about the future of vaping. What, in general, do you foresee on the vaping horizon for 2015?. My predictions are often a bit wacky and ridiculously specific. Is there any wild-ass prediction that you would like to make for 2015? Nick: My prediction for vaping in 2015, would have to be…LESS EXPENSIVE MECH MODS! Ha ha ha… Seriously though, I'm hoping that the market can even out a bit, and we will see a drop in price for certain items. These $200 and $300 mods coming out are just too damn expensive for the average vaper. The Vape world seems to be cyclical. Back in 2009 we had mech mods, then we ditched those in favor of regulated more powerful mods. Then in 2013 we went back to mech mods. Now at the end of 2014 we're moving back to high powered regulated mods. So where do we go from here? Maybe back to Mech mods I guess. Patrick V*: As a true pioneer in the world of vaping, in 2015, I would like to put your name on Continued on page 36