Terpene Papi talks about his new rollerskating party in Dorchester and the future of social consumption in Massachusetts
Last year, we interviewed Gary Perry aka Terpene Papi about his cannabis and lifestyle brand TerpBae, as well as his experience doing events that are unique in the often boring Mass weed industry. Namely, his Tiny Trap Concerts transform dispensaries into concert venues, simultaneously showcasing local artists and bringing stores new business.
For his latest outing, Perry’s once again leaning on his New England music contacts, bringing DJ Gasolina, Highkey Random, and Asia Vu to perform at The Roll Up, a skate party at Chez-Vous in Dorchester. Vendors include TerpBae and there will be a live podcast taping of The Smokecast: Roll up with Remy. We caught up with Perry ahead of the first event in the series, which rolls up this Thursday, Jan. 23.
We have spoken before about a lot of the boringness and predictability of cannabis events in Mass and even of cannabis marketing in general. Moving into a new year, in this strange time when we’re waiting for social consumption regulations, what would you like to see more of when it comes to events and all of the above?
For social consumption, I see a lot of stumbling. I see a lot of confusion early on as is the case with most rollouts from the Cannabis Control Commission. However, I see opportunity, if done right, to pull off cannabis events the way we see them in our heads as curators.
Any other general observations of these changing times before we get into the stuff you’re doing? Do you see a slide in consumer interest from larger operators to smaller independents at all? Perhaps the opposite?
As of right now, I have seen a huge shift in consumer education, people wanting to know what they are smoking, people being far more interested in testing results, people being far more interested in remediation. Larger companies and brands have no interest in educating their customers. They are happy selling weed like crack.
To catch up from our last interview, what is going on with you, TerpBae, and anything else that you might have going on at the moment?
As of right now, TerpBae is in a great space. We are in an expansive position, admiring our trajectory for both fashion and cannabis. As well as community. We’re working to expand to some other markets as well as other products.
For me personally, it’s important to stay creative right now in a time where everybody is crunching numbers and looking at artists like work horses. It’s important to keep my peace, stay creative, and stay around people who genuinely and authentically care about me as a person first respect, my artistry second, and being in places where you’re celebrated and not tolerated.
Tell us about this party, why you chose roller skating, your love for Chez Vous, all of that. And what are your plans for it moving forward as well?
I chose to do a rollerskating party because I want something communal. I want something that the industry is invited to, but it’s not the star of the show until social consumption regulations come out. [People] have been doing the same five consumption events. Over and over and over. We don’t need the venue to be smoked out to have a good time and it would probably do us all some justice for a little bit of exercise.
And finally, how do you see you and your brands working in the social consumption realm—with parties like this, other opportunities, anything else at all that you’ve been cooking up?
For social consumption, I see my brands doing a plethora of things. I have a ton of ideas. I don’t know how many of them will come to life. I’m excited to see movies, theaters, strip clubs, restaurants, and other social establishments open their doors to the stoners so that we’re not always in the back outside like weirdos.
More info on The Roll Up and tickets here
