Introduction
In this exciting installment of Happy Hour Holidaze, hosts Manny Febre and Sean Febre invite one of Tampa’s most promising creative entrepreneurs into the studio: Trop, the 24-year-old mastermind behind Cinewave Films. In this episode, Trop reveals how his love of imagery, passion for music, and entrepreneurial grit transformed a high-school hobby into a thriving business that specializes in creative videography and vibrant artist performances. From recounting how he used to snap pictures with a Canon T3i to discussing must-visit Tampa nightlife spots, Trop’s story offers an entertaining and instructive peek into the world of Tampa’s evolving creative scene.
Table of Contents
Meet Trop: The Early Years
The Transition from Photos to Video
DJ Days and the Origins of “Wet Snap”
Growth Through YouTube University
Venturing into Live Performances and Music Videos
Building a Personal Style & Signature Techniques
The Art and Business of Videography
Tampa’s Nightlife Evolution & Favorite Venues
Musical Influences: From Young Thug to Kendrick Lamar
Entrepreneurial Lessons: Charging Your Worth
Trop’s Parting Advice: Don’t Hesitate
Key Takeaways for Creatives
1. Meet Trop: The Early Years
Trop is a Tampa native who, at just 24 years old, is taking his passion for visuals and turning it into a bona fide career. He’s the founder of Cinewave Films, a venture that specializes in capturing the energy and aesthetic of music videos, live performances, and artist promos. He started dabbling in photography around age 17—back when high school, part-time jobs, and the exploration of personal interests merged into those pivotal “coming of age” years.
In this episode, co-hosts Manny and Sean repeatedly note Trop’s enthusiasm. He’s not just a videographer-for-hire; he’s a student of the game, always learning, always refining, and deeply invested in the local music and arts scene.
2. The Transition from Photos to Video
Originally, Trop didn’t see himself as a videographer. He had a modest Canon T3i—a staple for beginners—that captured 1080p HD footage but was primarily known for its photography capabilities. Photos were his introduction into the creative sphere; he loved lighting, color, and composition. However, the seeds of videography were planted when he realized moving images could expand his creative expression.
By 2021 or 2022, Trop invested in a Sony A6400, a piece of gear that acted as a springboard into more serious video work. It wasn’t just about pressing “record”; Trop began learning how to storyboard, set up dramatic lighting, and capture the energy of his subjects in motion. His meticulous approach to detail—combined with hustle—soon caught the eye of local Tampa artists seeking professional music videos and performance reels.
3. DJ Days and the Origins of “Wet Snap”
During his high-school years, Trop also experimented with music:
DJ Tropical was the moniker he used at local gigs starting at age 17.
Around the same time, he managed an Instagram photography page called “Wet Snap.”
He found ways to integrate these creative outlets—DJing opened doors to local venues, while the “Wet Snap” project allowed him to practice portrait and event photography among friends in iconic Tampa backdrops like Ybor City. Unfortunately, an ill-fated phone theft locked him out of his “Wet Snap” account. That unexpected mishap led him away from photography for a bit—until he reignited his camera dreams a few years later.
4. Growth Through YouTube University
Throughout his conversation with Manny and Sean, Trop credits a large part of his learning to “YouTube University.” Whenever he faced obstacles in editing or encountered new software challenges, he would turn to online tutorials, forging his own path in the absence of a formal mentor. This do-it-yourself approach not only honed his technical skills but also cultivated a self-reliant mindset. Whether it was color grading, special effects, or advanced camera movements, Trop leveraged freely available knowledge to stay innovative.
5. Venturing into Live Performances and Music Videos
Having started with $150 music-video jobs—an experience that taught him the pitfalls of underpricing—Trop began specializing in music video production for Tampa-based artists. These shoots included everything from conceptualizing a story arc to on-location directing.
He also carved out a niche filming performance recaps, those dynamic videos that capture the atmosphere of a live show. Trop would bring his own lighting equipment into clubs, setting him apart from other videographers who rely exclusively on ambient or stage lights. This extra effort created a signature look—a combination of bright, vivid highlights and moody backgrounds that amplified an artist’s stage presence.
“It’s a vibe,” Manny remarks, praising how Trop’s lighting technique stands out in crowded clubs.
6. Building a Personal Style & Signature Techniques
Trop’s hallmark style involves purposeful lighting setups to enhance the energy of a scene. In a club environment, he props up a light panel to cut through the darkness. For music videos, he might use colored LED bars to complement or contrast an artist’s brand.
He also spoke about the balance between capturing “authentic” footage and producing curated visuals. On the ground, Trop lets spontaneity guide parts of the shoot, ensuring candid expressions and raw vibes. Later, in post-production, he meticulously polishes footage—color grading, layering transitions, and aligning final clips with the track’s tempo.
7. The Art and Business of Videography
Happy Hour Holidaze is known for digging into the entrepreneurial side of creative ventures, and Trop’s episode does not disappoint. He underscores the importance of pricing your work fairly:
“Cheap customers,” Trop warns, “are the worst.”
Early-career creatives often chase exposure or accept low rates, but that can lead to demanding clients who expect “the world” in return.
Trop’s solution: grow your technical repertoire, upgrade your gear if it makes sense, and incrementally raise your fees to reflect added value. He intends to form a videography team, delegating specialized tasks such as editing or special effects to collaborators. This strategy ensures that each creative element is top-notch and that no single individual is overwhelmed.
8. Tampa’s Nightlife Evolution & Favorite Venues
A significant portion of the episode highlights Tampa’s evolving nightlife. Trop and the hosts reminisce about the days when you could drive freely down 7th Avenue in Ybor—now frequently blocked off for events or security. They compare Ybor City to New Orleans’s Bourbon Street and discuss how the area’s nightlife is continually adapting:
Urban 1701: Touted as a must-visit for a younger, urban demographic.
McDitton’s: A South Howard (SoHo) staple, known for its pumping music, strong drinks, and reliable weekend crowds.
Truth (Strip Club): If you’re seeking an urban strip club experience with high energy, Trop says this is the go-to.
They also discuss other local gems like Brazilian steakhouse spots and day-to-night transitions at venues around the bay. Trop notes that he generally avoids late-night nightclub gigs due to their demanding hours, preferring music-centered performances and private shoots that better align with his desired creative direction.
9. Musical Influences: From Young Thug to Kendrick Lamar
Music is the heartbeat of Trop’s creative process. He cites a diverse range of top-tier influences:
Rich Homie Quan – Admired for his style and strong run alongside Young Thug.
Young Thug – One of Trop’s major inspirations for versatility.
Future – Praised for his longevity and dynamic artistry.
Chance the Rapper – Part of Trop’s formative years, especially the mixtapes Acid Rap and Acid Rap 2.
Kendrick Lamar – Representing lyricism, depth, and consistent evolution.
From Kodak Black to Lil Jon, the podcast explores how rap transitions from old-school to new-school influences shape Trop’s approach to filming energetic music content.
10. Entrepreneurial Lessons: Charging Your Worth
For any creative hustling to build a business, there’s a recurring theme in Trop’s experiences:
Set your rates wisely and don’t undersell your time or talent.
Avoid pricing that undermines your brand, as it can attract overly demanding or low-budget clients who fail to appreciate the production value.
Pricing also ties into brand perception. By charging appropriately, Trop not only sustains the business but also fosters a sense of mutual respect with artists and clients.
11. Trop’s Parting Advice: Don’t Hesitate
Towards the end of the podcast, Trop removes his signature shades to address the audience directly. His words:
“Whatever you really want to do, don’t hesitate… Just whatever you feel like is for you at that moment, in your heart, for real—just go with that.”
He emphasizes that passions and aspirations might change over time, but you should always push forward. Stay open, stay adaptable, and learn from each misstep. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer, a budding videographer, or dreaming of launching a new startup, Trop’s motivational call-to-action resonates.
12. Key Takeaways for Creatives
Experiment Early and Often
Use Every Resource
Define Your Rates and Brand
Undervaluing your services can pull you into a cycle of demanding, low-paying gigs. Identify your strengths, improve your quality, and price accordingly.
Work Smarter with a Team
Stay Authentic to Your Local Scene
Never Stop Evolving
Camera technology, editing software, and creative trends shift constantly. Keep refining your craft, adding new skills that help you stand out.
Trust Your Instincts
Conclusion
Season 2 Episode 38 of Happy Hour Holidaze encapsulates the spirit of creative entrepreneurship—a captivating blend of raw passion, ongoing self-education, and a willingness to experiment with new ventures. In Trop’s narrative, we see the transformative power of a single camera, a vibrant local music scene, and a supportive community that values artistry. From $150 starter projects to forging a signature aesthetic in live performance coverage, Trop’s story demonstrates how you can build a rewarding creative career by aligning your personal vision with what the market needs—all while staying true to your roots.
For listeners who are entrepreneurs, creatives, or simply fans of behind-the-scenes stories, Trop’s journey is a rich blueprint brimming with lessons on resilience, self-worth, and good old-fashioned hustle. Whether you’re in Tampa or anywhere else in the world, the major takeaway rings loud and clear: when opportunity calls, answer it with unwavering determination and a style that’s uniquely yours.
