Ebb & Flow: Button
with LVSHES
"Never lose faith in yourself. Ever."
Check out my in-person interview with Ben, (there's a lightshow at the end that will blow your mind).
Ben Hubbard aka Button or Ben Dover Button is a Portland native. The 20 year old has been gloving for 4 years and 6 months (but who’s counting), and it's safe to say that gloving has become instinctual than a routine. Twiddling with his fingers he answers my questions with a little humor and a whole lot of heart (and shout outs, see if you got one!--I did not).
How much is gloving apart of your life? Practice daily? What's
your gloving "routine"?
"If I'm not practicing intentionally I'm at least wiggling my
fingers in some kind of fashion. My usual gloving routine is whenever I hear a
song, to try and work on musicality and new moves if I think of them."
How did you start gloving?
"I originally heard of gloving from one of my friends from school
that rode my bus, my Sophomore year of High School, she leaned over to me and
showed me "Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" and started to
do a finger roll and seeing that made me want to look it up when I got home, so
once I got home I searched "lightshow tutorial" and came across
Sharky's tutorials, that's where it all started."
What is your gloving style?
"My gloving style would be considered very "techy". I
have an unusual style that I like to call "triangle tech". I've been
working a lot on tuts though."
How do you feel about dancing?
"I love dancing, whether you dance with your feet, hands, or your
entire body, I love it. Dance is a perfect way to express yourself if you don't
know how to do it with your words."
Who do you like gloving to or what kind of music?
"I really don't have a preference of what music I glove too, I
can glove to anything. If I had to choose though, I would have to go with
Melbourne bounce."
Do you like knowing the song before your glove or do you just go
with it?
"If I know the song the chances of me throwing a better show are
higher but I also love gloving to songs I don't know because it tests my
ability to hit beats that I don't know are coming or beats that I'm not used
too. It forces me out of my comfort zone
which helps me get better."
What is the best thing a human can do whose face you just
melted?
"The best thing someone could ever do after getting their face
melted by me is to get their face melted by the rest of my team keep that ball
rollin’!"
Tell me more about all the shenanigans with Concept Creators!
"Hmmm, well with the Concept Creators story, it was pretty funny
how I came about the opportunity to get on the top 8 bracket. I went to Seattle
for Lucky2015 and while up there I was hanging out with the very well-known
Megasloth (Shout out to that homie!) and after coming back to Portland we were
talking via Facebook messaging and he told me to try out for CC, so I did not
thinking I would get anywhere with the video and about a week later I got a
message from a member of CC, Adam Dale aka R-Dub (another shout out to that
guy!) and he straight up told me that he thought my tryout was fire and that
some of the other teammates liked my video, I was absolutely star struck about
how someone so well-known noticed me and actually liked my gloving. About
another week later I get a message from Michael Bartness aka Papa Panda (I see
you boy!) congratulating me on getting the top 8 of the CC competition, so I
checked my notifications and he wasn't joking, and yeah, that was about it."
What tips do you have for other glovers or best you glove by.
"Some tips are to never give up, and never feel like you can
never glove again or you can never come up with concepts or any negative
thought, it takes time and effort. I've poured my blood sweat and tears
(LITERALLY) into gloving. Never lose faith in yourself. Ever."
What has the creation of PLAN done for you and you for PLAN?
"The creation of PLAN has done the greatest thing in the world
for me. It's given me friends. Before PLAN I didn't know ANYONE. I thought I
was the only glover in the Portland based area that wanted to get Portland
known, obviously that was not the case. Now I have people like YOU! (meaning
all of PLAN) that I can call my friends. What I've hopefully done for PLAN is
been a big face for it. I always want to make people happy and want more people
to be involved and love the scene as much as I do. A couple months back I also
did a Tech workshop and after that I've seen everyone that attended my
workshops tech improve massively. You guys are more then my friends, you're my
family, and I couldn't thank you enough for entering my life. I am forever
grateful to all of you."
Anything else?
"A couple shout outs, Tj Bundy, I freaking love you man, you're
my brotha from another motha, and being the captain of our team alongside you
is such an amazing feeling. Alex Perrin, dude, I remember when I first met you
and we both were not nearly as good as we are now. You've helped me improve so
much and I'm going to miss the hell out of you.
 |
| PLAN team bonding |
Christopher Prewett, your style is something else man.
You’re freaking nuts and you're such an inspiration to move my body more when
gloving. Andrew Henderson, dude, I miss you so much, and your style is
something else. Such a great person and such a talented glover.
Kyle Smith,
watching you improve blows my freaking mind. I remember you being just a guy
that threw whips on whips on whips, and watching you expand into your style now
makes my eyes want to pop out of my head.
Jesse Chavez, you were my first
friend that was into gloving as much as I am, thank you for being there for me
when times were rough and also being such a great teacher, I wouldn't be even
close to where I am now if it wasn't for you.
Tito, you and Tj have created my
dream for the last 4 years and 6 months. To create a community purely based on
PLURR and art, whether that's painting or jewelry or drawing or dancing or
DJing or gloving or hooping or poi or staffing, or just being someone that
comes for the love of all the art. I seriously couldn't thank you enough. I am
forever grateful to you and everyone that has kept it going.
And to everyone
else, you are such a huge inspiration to get better. Thank you for being my
friends, thank you for being my family, and most of all, thank you for just
being you. I love you all so much."
I sincerely hope to see you at our next event on May 29th (deets announced soon kids) until then,
LVSHES
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