TOILET PAPER PROFILES – Ryan, Aaron & Aldrine of Ukulele Underground
TOILET PAPER ENTREPRENEUR PROFILES
Ryan Esaki, Aaron Nakamura & Aldrine Guerrero of Ukulele Underground LLC
Company Name
Ukulele Underground LLC
The Service
A site for the next generation of ukulele players. Check out the site to get video lessons, merchandise, ukulele reviews, apparel and a “kick your ass into next Sunday” ukulele of your own.
Started
2007
The Headquarters
Kapa’a, Hawaii (on the island of Kauai)
The Team
Ryan Esaki (pictured on the right), Aaron Nakamura (left) and Aldrine Guerrero (center).
Best Band
The bands that we have been in. We have met the most amazing musicians because of it.
Favorite Meal
Aldrine’s mom’s Banana Ketchup Spaghetti.
Fly, Drive, Bike, or Walk
Drive - you can’t sing along to songs at the top of your lungs without people thinking you are crazy unless you are driving.
Craziest College Story
Can’t share that detail – it’s that good!
Biggest Personal Accomplishment
The friendships and positive relationships that have resulted from ukuleleunderground.com. The people that we have in our forum are seriously the most awesome people on the planet. There are people in there that give brand new ukuleles away to kids who can’t afford them. There are groups of ukulele players in various cities throughout the world that found each other on our website and now hang out regularly to play music. Not only that, the three of us have personally made countless new friends through the website.
Favorite Magazine
What’s a magazine. We read blogs!
Biggest Challenge
We never had a concrete monetization strategy when we started. We figured, “ah maybe if we get enough page views, we could sell our own advertisements.” We never wanted to charge for our content because that went against our original mission statement of helping beginner ukulele players. Luckily our membership pushed us to create our own line of branded merchandise and that really helped us get going. Listening and giving a damn about your members and customers can really help you when things get rough.
Greatest Lesson
1) Put out good quality content
2) Do everything you can to take care of your community and/or customer.
3) Don’t ever take your audience for granted.
If you’ve read the book the Tipping Point, every single one of your fans, customers, or members may be the tipping point for your company. Every single one of them is important. Treat them that way.
Get More Information
http://ukuleleunderground.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/ukuleleoversoul – Aldrine jamming on his ukulele
http://www.youtube.com/user/puremarkska - Aaron banging out tunes on his ukulele
*****
Are you a Toilet Paper Entrepreneur? Do you have a cool entrepreneurial story to share? If so, I want to hear it. E-mail me at Mike@ToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com!
*****
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Tags: aaron nakamura, aldrine guerrero, hawaii, ryan esaki, toilet paper entrepreneur, ukulele underground
October 1st, 2008
Ryan, Aaron & Aldrine,
This is my favorite TPE photo to date. I just love – love – LOVE the toilet paper voodoo going on in this shot. You guys have an amazing business and a great niche focus. Keep the good mojo (and ukulele tunes) flowing.
- Mike
October 1st, 2008
UkuleleUnderground.com is an incredible site. Free lessons, great people, ukulele reviews, song help, playing tips and the list goes on. What more could you ask for?
October 1st, 2008
Uke can change the world. Way to go, UU!!
October 1st, 2008
These guy’s have done what it takes to get something off the ground.
Find something that you love doing that the people are looking for, give it to them, then let it run while guiding it forward in a positive manner, asking for suggestions to let everyone take part in someting they love while making things better.
Keep up the good work UU crew, we need you!!!!
October 1st, 2008
Thank you Mike for featuring us in one of your profiles. It’s a real honor, the book is great.
October 1st, 2008
I don’t think these guys could be thanked enough for all the good things that have resulted from thier hard work on Ukulele Underground. Thanks for everything guys.
October 1st, 2008
I love the underground, everyone respects and cooperates with each other as a family should. everyone is there always with a helping hand with any problems you may have. ukuleleunderground ftw!!!
October 1st, 2008
Ukulele Underground rocks.
Lots of info, lots of great folks, good tunes being shared… everything a new (or used) uke phreak needs.
Howlin’ Hobbit
got uke?
October 1st, 2008
The UU staff is incredible. they do so much for the community. The site has lots of great stuff, including contests to win free ukes! Keep it up guys!
October 1st, 2008
Ukulele Underground is great. It’s a global ukulele community — where else can you meet ukulele people from around the world? If it’s ukulele information you want, UU has it all. Congrats you guys for all you do.
October 1st, 2008
“If you’ve read the book the Tipping Point, every single one of your fans, customers, or members may be the tipping point for your company. Every single one of them is important. Treat them that way.”
AMEN…So True…Amazing book…and amazing concept, and principle to live by.
October 1st, 2008
UU is easily one of the best ukulele sites on the internet. They provide tons of great free services including comprehensive lessons, and they even give away free ukuleles…no strings attached. I’ve met and have played with Aldrine and Aaron in person, and they’re great guys with a great idea and vision to spread ukulele music around the world.
October 1st, 2008
ukulele underground is an awesome resource for uke enthusiasts of all levels. the environment is very supportive and you have a good mix of education, comedy and good ol’ sass!
October 1st, 2008
without ukuleleunderground.com, i wouldnt be anywhere near the ukulele player that i am now. and i would never have had the opportunity to not only meet some of the greatest musicians out there, but also some of the coolest people. my hat’s off to everyone who has made this possible… the UU admin, and all the great people active on the forums.
October 1st, 2008
I am wondering, has a ukulele player ever smashed their ukulele after a concert. Kinda like Peter Townshend used to smash his guitar at the end of a Who concert?
I heard Tiny Tim did once. But I am not sure if he smashed ir or accidently stepped on it.
- Mike
October 1st, 2008
Love it, love it, love it…on so many levels. I’m on the east coast and can feel your Hawaiian energy and love all the way over here
Been to Hawaii and your laid back photo, energy and carefree ways exuberate that culture. Is exuberate a word? I made it up on the fly but seems as if that is something that I wanted to use there, lol. Anyway, good stuff about producing the content and helping who you can and from your story it looks like that good karma came back another way. So happy with and for you!
And as far as the tipping point- True dat! I always say treat everyone in your network ESP your employees and vendors like you would your best paying client.
Wishing you guys continued success and good fortune.
And to everyone else out there-
Support your local music(ians)!!!
http://www.teenentrepreneurblog.com
October 1st, 2008
Best uke site on the intertubes. They’ve managed to build a business that (so far) has a sense of community and loyalty any other business would envy. Whatever they’re doing, it must be working.
October 1st, 2008
Ukulele Underground is one of the best run websites/forum i’ve seen for any i’ve come across in any business aspect. These guys deserve a lot of praise for their business sense and the way they are growing and nurturing the growing “rediscovered” ukulele interest. They are the ukulele’s amp.
October 1st, 2008
And my favorite comment on this post so far has been by Howlin’ Hobbit and his signature with – “got uke?”
Hands down UU is the world leading ukulele site.
- Mike
October 1st, 2008
Ukulele Underground is hands down the best uke site on the internet! I’ve learned so much since I’ve been a member and made many new friends. Thanks to the big three who made it happen!
October 1st, 2008
UU is a fantastic resource for ukulele fans and players of all levels. The diversity and volume of people that we have and will continue to impact (cheerfully) on the UU forum is truly a credit to what we as an ‘ukummunity’ have built. I’m proud to be a part of it and I’m excited to see how far we can go!
October 1st, 2008
I love Ukulele Underground. I’m a proud member and supporter, and I’ve learned so much. It’s brought about new friends, and it’s definitely the coolest website. The people are fun and welcoming, and they are always willing to help each other. It’s amazing to see how uke players, from beginner players to experienced players, can all gather at one place!! There’s always something you can get from the site.
October 1st, 2008
The folks at Ukulele Underground do a wonderful job of advancing their instrument around the world. They do it effectively and enthusiastically regardless of anyone’s level of expertise. It’s a great place of learning, exchange and encouragement.
October 1st, 2008
It’s incredibly refreshing to see people doing something so great and for free. They obviously care and it shows. I wish the guys at UU even more success.
October 1st, 2008
Ukulele Underground. Great place. Great people. Great site. I visit it at least once a day. Ryan, Aldrine & Aaron are great guys. I’ve also met them in person. If you want to know anything about the Ukulele, this is the place to be.
October 1st, 2008
The UU comunity is truly a phenomenon. It inspires me daily. A deep mahalo to the Creators for there all there work.
Peace
October 1st, 2008
Ukulele Underground is AWESOME! I’m hoping I can win the latest contest with my awesome T-shirt design idea. The prize is a BRAND NEW KAMOA PINEAPPLE SOPRANO UKULELE…seriously, does it get any better???
October 1st, 2008
These guys are just pure awesome. Without the site, I wouldn’t have gotten started with the ukulele, I’m very thankful to them. Just pure awesomeness.
October 1st, 2008
Glad to see Ukulele Underground highlighted!!
These guys are Awesome and should be recognized for creating such a fun site!
Stop by the website…see what can be done with a Uke!
October 1st, 2008
A site I like to visit almost daily as well. Friendly, informative and honest. Little snobism, just true people talking to each other about ukulele life and never reluctant to give a helping hand.
Compared to other boards, where the aggression level is significant at times, friendliness all over and that’s how it should be with the aloha-laden instrument of choice to mellow people all over the globe.
A big greasy shaka to the managing team!
October 2nd, 2008
[...] Underground was featured on the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur Blog today. As I said in the previous post, I love the book and it was an honor to be featured on the [...]
October 2nd, 2008
Ukulele Underground is the numbah 1 resource for uke related stuff. I just attended a FREE online lesson there! The people, services and resources there are unmatched.
October 2nd, 2008
A fun and educational resource for people of all levels of interest. All the contributors really have created something wonderful, and I’m glad to be part of it. Happy strummin’!
October 2nd, 2008
Ukulele Underground’s members of the staff and forum are without a doubt some of the most caring and influential people I have ever had the honor to “talk story” with in a public forum.
The LIVE weekly sessions and monthly recorded lessons (as well as Uke Minutes) have brought an appreciation of the ukulele not only to myself, but to my two sons who are not as fortunate as myself to have been taught music appreciation in the public school system of Hawaii.
I can honestly say that the lessons that Aldrine, Rayan and Aaron have brought to the community has aided in bringing me and my sons even closer than we already are.
Thanks guys!
October 2nd, 2008
Ukulele Underground is an amazing site, and these guys work so hard to maintain it, and provide valuable content to members of all levels and all ages. It is an inspiration, the kindness and generosity of the members. The resources on this site are fantastic. This site has been my inspiration to start playing ukulele, and is definitely the place to be if you have any interest in the ukulele. A huge thank you to Ryan, Aldrine and Aaron for starting it and keeping it going. It is appreciated so much!!
October 2nd, 2008
It’s so nice to see this amount of enthusiasm. UU equals pure awesome. Clearly!
- Mike
October 2nd, 2008
UU is not just another ukulele site, it’s the best site in regards to this instrument. It’s membership is worldwide and all it’s members continually provide and share valuable information and experiences. From Bach to Bob Marley and everything in between, it’s all there. E Komo Mai! Come visit for a sampling of this tight knit community.
March 8th, 2009
ukulele underground is a excellent cite for beginers to professionals really informative…i love it…stanny
March 8th, 2009
Stanny – Yep. Those guys are top shelf! Ryan is nothing short of amazing.
- Mike
March 28th, 2009
Ukuleleunderground is what keeps me motivated to keep learning this amazing little instrument. These guys along with the mods and great members makes this site a great place to be..
October 25th, 2009
UU is the best there is.
October 25th, 2009
UU is THE place on the web for Ukulele… well.. anything!
JTS