SFist Interviews Rob Reger

Where did the inspiration for Emily come from?
We have been primarily inspired by rock 'n roll (punk, metal, classic) icons, imagery, album covers, posters, flyers...but other influences that come to mind are MC Escher, Dr. Seuss, M. Sendak, Aubrey Beardsly.

Tell us about the origins and development of the Emily character.
I first printed Emily on a shirt for a friend who ran a shop that I sold tees to in Santa Cruz. It was a design created by Nathan Carrico for Santa Cruz skateboards. And since so many people started identifying with the shirt and character, I printed more, and created another design...then another...and another until slowly her world grew and people started to know the character. It was mainly tees and stickers in the beginning. Then my buddy Brian Brooks came to work with me full time on developing her character (after a few years of doing my own designing and using some freelance artists). Brian really added a lot of the attitude that we identify her with now. Buzz Parker then added the environment (the website, her house, bedroom etc.) she exists in - with his attention to the details. Jessica Gruner came to us to help develop that "quirky" strange side of her. I've just led the way working with each of them and directing her vision/story.

You were just traveling all over the world celebrating Emily's 13th birthday, are you at all surprised that she's a world wide phenomenon?
The surprise has been in bits over time. Having been doing Emily's world for over 13 years now, the popularity and exposure has been a slow growth. I probably would have shit my pants if she was an overnight sensation, but coming up from the underground has truly been amazing, and quite often surprising - like in Sweden where 60 people were lined up for the signing in -10degrees weather (some since 4AM) to get a poster or book signed.

If Emily had a choice, which country do you think she would live in? With her TimeOut, she can live anywhere her imagination desires, so pointless to say.

You have a book signing this Saturday at the Metreon, and I know you've done quite a few of these, what's the strangest thing you've ever been asked to sign?
Booty! And someone's personal computer high chair which was found on Ebay 2 weeks later! We don't sign Ebay gifts...(just fans!) We signed some guitars in Berlin once- that was epic. Once someone made us draw a picture of Johnny Cash, so I drew a cat flipping him off in the pose of that classic JC pic.

And now for the standard SFist questions.....

Introduce yourself in one sentence
Rob Reger: aka the Emily guy

Age and Occupation
37 Creative Director/President for Cosmic Debris

Home Town
Fullerton, CA

How long have you lived in the Bay Area and Where (city, neighborhood
etc.) and WHY?
I moved to SF from Santa Cruz to get my MFA at the San francisco Art Institute. I lived in a warehouse on Clara St. in SOMA for about 7 years- it was back when there were still real live/work lofts (converted warehouse spaces) still available. It was a great place to run a small business, have room fro any kind of art project, have wild parties on the roof etc. since there were virtually no neighbors.

Favorite place to spend time online (website/blog/RSS feeds)
YouTube, Google Image search,

Favorite local business
Weird Fish Restaurant (go Timothy!)

What I'm currently Reading
How to be Happy (just reminders!) by some hippy guy who knows a lot about being happy!

Best Deal in San Francisco
Live music at the Rite Spot!

Favorite mode of transportation
The Cobra!

Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
The Fucking Champs!

Favorite Bay Area Stereotype, and whether or not you buy into it
The SF Gay Area

Favorite local hangout
Rite Spot, Albatross

SF has the BEST
park.

You've never lived in SF until
you've seen Sutro Tower turn into the Phantom Ship on a low fog day.

Favorite Bay area politician of past or present
Matt Gonzalez

Now that Mayor Gavin is single, who are you going to set him up with?
Yo mama!

You can tell someone is a local here IF
they can tell you 5 great vegetarian restaraunts to choose from even if you are a meat eater.

SF would be soooo much better if
they cut back on a few of the Starbucks.

Best Burrito: Pancho Villa

Best Restaurant: Millenium

Best movie scene filmed in or about SF: Groove

Favorite artist to come out of the bay area: Winston Smith

Favorite author to come out of the bay area: Richard Brautigan

Place you always tell visitors to check out: Twin Peaks

Favorite Bridge in the area: Japanese tea garden in GG park

You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Shop the recent arrivals in vinyl at Amoeba Records.

I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist: Jack shit.

I want all the SFists out there to know that
Berkeley/East Bayis closer than it "feels".

Tell us a San Francisco Story: Stockton Street, heart of China town. I am impatient with the red light holding back too close to the smell of FISH and other lovely perfumes. Getting pretty crowded on the corner as I am being bumrushed by a dozen Chinese ladies with their recent plastic bag purchases. I decide to fuck the red light and jaywalk my way out of there through traffic to flee the scene. As I run across the street to avoid getting hit by the upcoming 30 Stockton bus, the heard of Chinese ladies blindly follow my pursuit into the traffic. Horns blowing, plastic bags ruffling, and a crowd thrown into reverse back to the corner which they belong. Apparently my misbehavior triggered an instinct that people only walk into the street at a busy corner when it's safe to... NOT when you're in a hurry with me! Lesson: Look all 3 ways before crossing the street.

Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview: Favorite BAR: answer- Hemlock.

Sites that you would like to have as links when your interview is
posted (or you can insert them in the appropriate spot in your answers
above): http://www.emilystrange.com