180. Varial. Ollie. 360 Nollie Big Spin to Disaster. Doug Brown not only does all of the above moves as part of his cool job — he also finds time to work on his music career, volunteer for the Skate Straight Program, and fill us all in on the ups and downs (and ins and outs and grinds and rock n’ rolls) of being a Pro Skateboarder.
On a personal note, I should mention that I have a 13 year old son who has yelled out, “Hey, watch this!” to me about seven million times since he got his first skateboard. I imagine that Doug Brown’s family probably had a similar experience during the many years he spent honing his skills before hitting the pro circuit. Thanks for telling us about your cool job, Doug!
1) When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ how do you describe your job?I assure them it is a real job and I’m lucky and never set out to be in this position. I tell them its a lot more than just skateboarding and it involves traveling, and responsibilities like doing demos, speaking engagements, and you have to have thick skin and be able to take criticism.
2) What are the things about your job that you love?
What’s not to love? I’ve been skating for over 20 years and I would be doing this regardless. I love the travel, seeing different cultures, keeping fit, being able to influence people in my travels, its unreal.
3) What are the things about your job that you hate?
Always being expected to be on.. Being judged or misunderstood, rumors maybe, but any negative is quickly erased with all the positive.
4) What education, training, vocation or just plain luck would someone have to have in order to get a job like yours?
All the above. You have to be able to work with people and communicate. Sitting at home and sending out skate videos won’t get you sponsored no matter what amazing tricks you have pulled off. Going out, getting involved, doing competitions, industry events, and most of all being original and creative. If you love what you do people and companies will take notice.
5) What is the funniest story you can think of that involves your professional training or your job?
Hmmm. I did have someone come up to me once and tell me I skate a lot like Doug Brown and that I was way better than him.
If you’d like to see Doug Brown in action, you can visit him here to see some eye-popping video of a Cool Jobster in action!
Keep up the good work Mr.Brown
if only i could keep my balance on a board, i would be as cool as you..
well not really…
you’re TOO cool!
YOU SO ROCK! GET AT ME!
I have to wonder…how many FREE events did you have to do before any sponsor would actually take you on, and how’d you manage to get by during those times when money wasn’t coming in from sponsors?
I ask this question, hoping Doug will answer, because I have hung out with many hopefuls in the stand-up comedy circuit…and know a few who’ve enjoyed some mild success…and some of the wild, funny stories of things they did to survive the lean years were so funny, you weren’t sure if they were real, or they were practicing thier routine on ya!!
Keep up the positive vibes Doug. Nice to have you as a team mate.
No comments have been deleted from this post. However, some of them are not officially ‘approved’ by the webmaster here. Latest information indicates there will be some ‘awesome hangtime’ before that happens.
Thanks to everyone on the forums at [link removed to online skate dork forum] for giving this blog most hits EVER in one day.
KEEP IT UP DUDES, YOU RULE!!!
“Thanks to everyone on the forums at [link removed so as not to give publicity to idiots] for giving this blog most hits EVER in one day.”
unless you continue a series of Doug Brown interviews, I doubt you’ll ever see that many hits again.
Enjoy it while it lasts,
on behalf of [name removed]
– good ol’ Turd Ferguson
As much as I am enjoying the links to porn and the clever repartee from the forum members on your site that have been submitted in these comments, I do know you all have lots of other important things to do to ensure everyone on the Internet knows what amazingly clever, super important people you are.
I encourage you to bestow your magnificence on someone else. There are so many other people on the ‘net who are in need of your personal attention, and I guess I’ll just have to share.
Thanks for stopping by, Turd!
i kinda wish my name was turd.
Well, Karl Rove’s name is “Turd Blossom” LOL!!
Please don’t delete this comment.
I just want to say that Turd Ferguson does not speak on behalf of [random skateboard forum]. He’s one of the worst posters after MFS and SW33TS. Cut those puppet strings and get your own brain guys!
I only approved the last comment in order to point out that what goes on at [skateboard forum – name removed] apparently means a lot to the posters there, and to say that I think you need to keep your infighting on your own forum, guys.
I really don’t think anyone here at MCJ is all that interested, butt-head. Sorry.
I think our level of interest is severely decreased due to the posting names chosen by the [skateboard site – name removed] participants when they come over here.
Just sayin’…
Update: in the interest of cosmic harmony between the skateboarding “world” and the rest of us, I’ve been corresponding with an anonymous [unnamed skateboard forum- named removed] forum member who unbeknownst to many of the porn-linking jerks is a regular guy with a job, a life, the ability to write a sentence, and some integrity who has apologized on behalf of all the human members of the [name removed] forum (which by his tally is approximately 80%).
We’re making progress!
[…] This is a clever ploy by the skate punks who invaded my blog a few weeks ago to drive me insane with […]
Ha! You handled that with grace and tact. Of course now I’m nervous about leaving a comment, fearing the skaters will track me down and ollie my noggin . . .
Brian
that’s awesome how did you ever find that guy to interview him?
jimsmuse sez: Most of my interviews are done by finding someone with a blog or website that talks about their job. If they seem to really love what they do, write interesting things, and say that they love to answer emails or answer questions… I just send them an email. I’m always amazed at how many interesting people write back!
I’m the only one in this world. Can please someone join me in this life? Or maybe death…
Hey there guys!
It’s a cool thing you have here, talking about pros and stuff, all perfectly interesting things.
But I too was one of those who were lead to your blog by this skateboard forum you don’t want to mention. And thanks to this forum and the freedom of speech wich is cultivated there, your more or less important blog was discovered. Otherwise you would probably be unexistent to all of us.
There aren’t actually that many places over the world wide web where freedom of speech and parody are so finely conducted. People around this forum don’t take themselves too serious, and that’s probably what gives them (though they would probably decline such a virtue) moral superiority.
Happy of those who laugh at themselves, for their amusement has no end.
Understood if you decide to censor this comment, not everyone can be fearless and intelectually superior to mantain freedom of speech as a higher value. I believe you can’t.
Anyway, keep up the work! I’m sure there are plenty shitty professions to discover!
jimsmuse sez: You’re a little late to the party, ChopSuey, but I’ll be happy to post your comment in its entirety– I’m confident my readers can tell by the typos, grammar mistakes and general tone of your comment that you’re a complete tool. Have a great day!