LA attracts people from all corners of the globe, meaning the collection of characters who now call the City of Angels home is chock full of unique abilities and hobbies. While finding time to do anything regularly can be a challenge for anyone who works in tech, these four employees have managed to find time to pursue hobbies outside of work.
Bob Partridge first discovered the joy of beer making before he could actually buy a six-pack. Nowadays, when he’s not acting as Executive Creative Director for creative agency Idea Farmer, Partridge brews his own beer and acts as a judge for beer competitions.
How did you become active in the world of beer?
“I started brewing in high school when I discovered that I could buy the ingredients to make beer, even though I wasn’t old enough to actually buy beer,” Partridge said. “By sheer luck, my first batch came out surprisingly drinkable and I’ve been hooked ever since. I later got into judging beer, not necessarily with the goal of judging in competitions, but rather just to improve the quality of the beer I was making. It’s a really intense program and you dive deep into identifying off-flavors, learning what causes them and how to improve the end product in general.”
How do people react when you share your hobby with them?
“I’d say the most common reaction is for people to ask, ‘So when do I get to try some of your beer,’” said Partridge. “It’s definitely a good icebreaker. People are generally interested in learning the stories behind their favorite beer styles and what makes different beers special, and I can talk about it nonstop, so it’s pretty easy to bond around a craft that just about everyone can enjoy.”
Is it hard balancing this with your professional life?
“I actually find a lot in common between what I do in brewing and what I do professionally, so the balance isn’t always that difficult,” he said. “Both involve identifying an outcome — whether it’s a perfect pilsner or a great video — and then harnessing the various component parts and managing the variables to bring it to life.
All that said, a creative position in marketing and content creation can be unpredictable, and the hours are definitely always in flux. I find that if a good balance is your priority and you commit to making it happen, your life and work is better all around. Creativity thrives on a little bit of downtime, exposure to non-client related inspiration, and being able to return to a project with fresh eyes. I think the more you can dive into things outside of the office/studio, the better your work will be when you are back. It’s a mindset that Idea Farmer has always taken seriously.”
When Diamond Fischer married Mike Pagano Doom, she became Diamond Fischer Doom. But aside from possessing perhaps the most metal name in all of LA tech, the copywriter is also an accomplished trapezist, something she said helped her stop working crazy hours and focus on creating a more balanced professional life.
How were you introduced to trapeze?
“After seeing a production with several amazing aerial performances I was hooked,” she said. “Cirque for hobbyists was picking up popularity, but many of the training facilities were still for professionals only. I told anybody who would listen that I was looking for a place to train, and a friend from work had a connection and made the introduction. I think I enrolled in classes the next day. These days my husband and I do doubles together and it’s an awesome way to spend time together.”
How do people react when you share your hobby with them?
“Most people get excited and I am really encouraging of everyone to try it,” she said. “It’s a great way to break the ice.”
Is it hard balancing this with your professional life?
“When I first started training, I was at Cirque School LA where they offer a lot evening classes and loads of options for beginners,” said Doom. “As I advance and become more specialty, it became harder to work around coach availability. Belkin has been incredibly supportive. Since I started working at Belkin I’ve been toying with various scheduling options. I’m able to train on the weekends and in the evenings, but I’m also exploring midday availability.”
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvF_pIH_pEw&app=desktop width:590 height:400 autoplay:0]
The piano has afforded Tony Chen a lot in life, including a full-scholarship to a prestigious university, but perhaps the most lasting benefit of all the hours spent tickling the ivories might be his startup, Channel Factory.
When did you start playing the piano?
“I started playing when I was three years old,” said Chen. “One can say I was a child prodigy, but I had a natural ability and talent that I honed throughout early-childhood and high school which afforded me a full ride scholarship to Rice University where I double majored in Economics and Piano. In an interesting twist, classical piano was the early start to Channel Factory. As a pianist, I would record some of my compositions to upload to YouTube. This, in turn, steered my curiosity on how to increase the visibility and views against my own content, which led to the early beginnings of Channel Factory.”
What are some common reactions you get when you tell people what you do?
“I’ve had a few surprising responses, but many find it inspiring that it’s something I’ve kept up with for so long,” said Chen. “Once you’re passionate about something, it becomes a part of you. Although my schedule these days doesn’t allow me the luxury to play as often as I’d like to, I still try to make it a goal to play a few times a week when I’m home and not traveling.”
How does playing the piano help you from a professional standpoint?
“Playing is actually a great stress reliever for me,” Chen said. “It’s my form of meditation and helps clear my head and keep me focused, which I think makes me more productive and efficient at running my company.”
When he’s not spearheading award-winning content creation or acting as the CEO and partner for Silver Lake-based Dirty Robber, Chris Uettwiller is also a husband, dad and avid cyclist — a hobby he picked up to kick his smoking habit to the curb.
How did you become active in cycling?
“Initially, it was a way to help me quit smoking. I got a bike and every time I wanted to smoke I’d go for a ride. I immediately fell in love with bikes again (I did some BMX and freestyle as a kid) and started going on long rides all over LA and exploring places I’d never been before. I joined a team a bit later, hired a coach and raced for a few years. After my son was born I stopped racing but continue to stay active and ride and raise money for charities like Fireflies, Pablove and Firefly.”
How do people react when you share your hobby with them?
“They either think it’s cool, or it's crazy,” he said. “It’s hard for people sometimes to get their heads around going for a 100-mile bike ride or getting up at 5:00 to get in 40 miles before work or taking a week off to ride 700 miles. I have to remind them that it’s for a great cause!
Is it hard balancing this with your professional life?
“Honestly, it’s harder NOT balancing cycling with work,” Uettwiller said. “I’m a better boss, dad and friend when I get some exercise and break from all of the demands that make up my day. I would say that a lot of ideas and problem solving come to me on the bike as well — it’s very meditative.
What advice would you give to employees looking to create a better work-life balance?
“Don’t wait,” urged Uettwiller. “Burnout is common in our business and it’s also totally avoidable. Find something you love and do it. Pottery, cooking, volunteer work, doesn’t matter what it is; if it fills you up inside it’s worth your time!”
Images via participating companies.
Have a news tip for us or know of a company that deserves coverage? Let us know and follow us on Facebook. You can follow John on Twitter @JohnBuiltInLA.
