Where the Journey Begins

They say every great adventure in tabletop begins in a tavern. I believe mine started in an arcade.

Since I was a kid, I always wanted to build something for myself. I would negotiate deals, dream of owning a business, or create a video game studio and be a voice actor in the games I designed. Live the life of a creative soul who primarily operated out of passion. Sure, there is a lot of naivety in that, but being raised by immigrants fuels a certain passion for the American dream. Endless possibilities await for those who are brave enough to work for it.

So like many second-generation kids, I went to college and aimed to pursue my passion. In hindsight, I lacked discipline and foresight into what my true goals should be. Choice paralysis took control and I set my sights on what I was familiar with: animation and design with a focus towards gaming. In reality, I would have been better suited for writing, world-building, and design since after all these years my artistic ability is still second rate. But I did pick up a lot of amazing skills that still follow me to this day.

But even in college, I always sought to create something of my own. Whether it was a web design company, animation studio, or web series. Some companies can thrive in a college setting, but my endeavors would fall apart quickly because, through no fault of their own, people usually walk before they run.

After college, I felt as if the tools I gained could not get me out of the hole I was in living in South Florida. Who knows if there is any validity to this at all. Perhaps nerves got the best of me and I just convinced myself my options were limited.

I roamed around for a few weeks, with no guidance from the institution where I spent the last four years. So I took what I had, and I decided I could make some money taking photos, but I needed to build a portfolio. I got myself some camera equipment, a few backdrops, and lights. It went well for a bit, just like some of my previous passion projects. I was able to pay for the equipment, and that is more than expected half the time.

That is when I discovered The Arcade, and it quickly became my third space. I took photos of the location and offered them to the owner, which he gladly accepted for his marketing. I joined the team soon after, since I wanted to make extra money to keep expanding my photography setup. This allowed me to buy some low light lenses, and I got to fix up retro video games I grew up with and even try some new imported ones.

Before I knew it, I found myself tasked with leading this small business and laying the very groundwork on which its existence depended. I got access to the inner workings, decision making and building the community. We absolutely survived more than strived for those first few months, but there was a light at the end of that tunnel. Using my photography I was able to help with marketing, I taught myself how to create better digital advertisements, and watched one too many YouTube videos on how to manage a small business. But every step I took, I felt like it was something I would take with me if I ever decided to leave.

But months quickly turned into years, and the community I helped build made every day feel like a new adventure. We amassed thousands of new patrons, and we finally began to strive. And then I encountered the woman who would change the trajectory of my existence.