Aaron’s Hobby (Music) | Buyatimeshare.com

Aaron’s Hobby (Music) July 3, 2009

Posted by aoliveira in : Timeshare Resource , trackback

My name is Aaron Oliveira and I met Wes Kogelman (Owner of Vacation Property Resales) at University of Tampa in the fall of 1997. We hit it off and soon became very close friends. I normally went home for summer vacation to Massachusetts but in 1999 I decided to stay in Florida to find a summer job. One day towards the end of the spring semester while walking to class Wes was walking from class. We began chatting and eventually asked him what he was doing for a summer job. He informed me that he just started a business advertising vacation properties (mostly timeshares). I had no idea what a timeshare was at the time but decided to give it a go. What started as a 4 person business grew to 2 offices (one located in New Hampshire) and over 60 employees. Within 5-10 years we became one of the largest and most successful businesses in the timeshare industry.

I grew up in a music inspired environment. My dad started teaching me drums as a toddler and became quite exceptional by age 10. By 13 I had started learning bass guitar. Then at 15, after a few attempts, I finally started to really learn guitar. When the time came for me to go to the University of Tampa of course I couldn’t bring my drum set with me so I really began to dive into guitar, practicing as much as it took for me to play drums. I didn’t think I was very good since my entire extended family included musicians of all types that were quite amazing but my friends at school loved listening to whatever I could play. My good friend Jason Connolly was one of my roommates at the time and he inspired me with all types of different music. Before long I got him a job working at Buyatimeshare.com too. We are all still working together after all these years.

I had been in a band since 6th grade but we all went separate ways when college came around. I had planned on moving back to Massachusetts after school however when my parents decided to move down here I stayed, continuing to work for Buyatimeshare.com. A couple years went by and I was really missing the music scene. A friend brought home a music magazine and I was taking a gander through the classified section. It came down to playing guitar for a cover band or playing drums in an original project. Since I was always a fan of creativity and making my own music I went with the original project named Kosmik Egg which was ska, reggae and funk fusion styles. Dylan (lead singer/guitarist) soon noticed that I could play guitar also so we started a 2nd project known as Bleu Gravy which was mostly folk, rock, Americana styles. While working a 40 hour work schedule I also commuted every other night to St. Petersburg for either Kosmik Egg or Bleu Gravy practice (plus playing shows mainly on weekends). In the past few years Kosmik Egg has fizzled out but Bleu Gravy is still going strong. My co-workers were and are very supportive of me which is much appreciated. This year I decided to start a cover/original band with my friend Chris Chavez. Musically we are on the same wavelength. Our band is called Acre. When just 2 of us get together we call ourselves Half an Acre. When Eric (bass/guitar) and Ryan (hand drums/percussion) join us it’s Acre. Below you may see some videos of Kosmik Egg, Bleu Gravy & Half an Acre. Hope you enjoy!

(Bleu Gravy live on 88.5 radio station where we play frequently to promote)

(Bleu Gravy live on local television station)

(Kosmik Egg promotion video)