Exclusive: Alvin Tan speaks to LIFT about Sexcussions with Alvivi!

I am so excited to present you this interview I've had with none other than Alvin Tan of Alvivi Sexcussions and Sumptuous Erotica! Given that Alvin writes extremely well, I decided to email him my questions and he replied via email. My questions are in black and Alvin's responses are in purple.

Limpeh: Hi Alvin and thank you so much for doing this. For my readers who have not seen your new Youtube channel, please describe it for them and tell us why they should watch it.

Alvin: Our YouTube channel is called Sexcussions with Alvivi (which stands for Sex Discussions with Alvin and Vivian). It is our first YouTube channel, one "where we talk about anything and everything related to sex." We plan to cover a wide range of topics, including sexual happiness, sexual identity, sexual morality, and sexual health.

We plan to have three main formats for our talk show: just the both of us talking, street interviews, and interviews with special guests. For the latter, we hope to talk to people who know what they are talking about on sensitive subjects like polygamy, swinging, affairs/cheating, rape and other sexual abuse, weird fetishes like scat, etc. For example, we have been trying to track down the Malaysian non-government organisation ("NGO"), the Obedient Wives' Club (an NGO that promotes polygamy), for an exclusive interview. We are currently awaiting a response from them.

People should watch it for a good laugh or two, though, really, we want to provide both entertainment and insight into the subject of sex. Because the subject is so under-discussed due to cultural, social, and religious norms, the degree of ignorance amongst the general public when it comes to sex is astounding. For instance, swinging/partner-swapping is a very popular culture amongst young and even married couples these days, yet very people even know about its existence, how it works, and why people do it. Ultimately, our productions should entertain like a sitcom and educate like a documentary simultaneously. That really is the end goal with our audience.

Limpeh: Why did you decide to start your Youtube channel?

Alvin: Because there is a demand for anything related to sex. It is sex scandals that cause the greatest public outrage. Sex headlines are also usually the most attention-grabbing. There is also usually a lot of curiosity surrounding sex, partly due to legal regulations that prohibit underage sex, public sex, homosexual sex, prostitution, pornography, etc. In short, sex sells.

Part of our motivation also comes from our desire to remind people that there is nothing inherently wrong or dangerous about sex; hell, it is as natural as eating, sleeping, and passing motion. It is culture and religion that dictate that pre-marital sex is dirty and unacceptable (but, once a couple gets married, it becomes sacred and is even celebrated?). Sex is not harmful, or at least arguably less harmful than smoking, drinking, drugs, or even television and fast food and computer games. So why is sex a taboo? Hell if we know! So we would really like to get to the bottom of this as well.

Lastly, we want to provide a platform to Malaysians and Singaporeans to voice their take on sex. There are groups out there that desperately need a little assistance making their thoughts known to a wider audience. For instance, we just completed filming on a future episode, where we conducted street interviews on the subject of homosexuality. Sub-cultures, like the LGBT community, have always needed an avenue to speak out and stand up for their rights but severely lack mainstream channels for that purpose.

Limpeh: Who is your target audience for this channel?

Alvin: Young, English-speaking Malaysians and Singaporeans, mostly, because that is who we feel we can connect best with. We keep this group of people in mind whenever we do anything. It also helps that we ourselves are also part of our targeted demographic group.

The other reason is that older people in Singapore and Malaysia tend to be stubborn, and, if part of our goal is education, the I'm-not-going-to-take-young-people-seriously-due-to-their-inexperience mindset prevalent amongst older folks is going to work against us a lot ("Listen to me, young man." or "I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice."). They are too close-minded and unreceptive to new ideas for us to connect meaningfully with them. They are simply too eager to judge and to chastise.

Limpeh: I am going to be 37 in April, let's put it this way... I have been around the block and back a few times when it comes to sex and it suffices to say that I am very experienced. I get the feeling that your Youtube channel is targeting more inexperienced people who are looking for experience and guidance – what would your programme have to offer for older, more experienced folks like uncle Francis and myself who already have a clear idea about what kind of sexual practices we like, enjoy and practice? What do you have for people like me?

Alvin: Believe it or not, the first few episodes were conceived and recorded more than a month ago. Many things have changed then, and we do not believe that sex education should come in a didactic form, even if we happen to be experts who have fucked 100 partners and obtained 3 PhDs in sexology. Nobody should be preaching when it comes to sex, or any other subject, for that matter. In other words, we do not purport to give advice on sex. The first two episodes were more of a work of opinion than a work preaching the gospel truth of sex. Hell, I do not think we are qualified to give advice to even teenagers and other youngsters. I prefer the terms "sharing stories" and "comparing notes."

That said, I believe that everyone has things to learn about sex and sexuality, regardless of age, profession, and sexual experience. We are striving to infuse a vast diversity of ideas and view points into our talk show; we believe that is how real learning can be achieved. That is also the reason why, while we work on getting worthy special guests on our show (trivia: okay, we tried getting Ris Low on our show for some stupid reason, but she uncoolly charges S$200/hour, like she is some big shot), we have filler street interviews to keep viewers happy.

S$200 an hour - is she worth $200/hr?

Limpeh: Yeah, I read that she was unemployed a while ago and looking for a job. Shame, as she would've been good for your channel - but that's her loss. She's definitely made a mistake by not working with you.

Alvin: So why did we release episodes that we feel did not reflect what we were trying to achieve? Simple: to shorten the feedback loop. Sexcussions with Alvivi is not my first web venture (I also own Zuupy.com, which pays the bills and fattens my savings account, even if it does not make me rich). In the startup/entrepreneurship world, one of the most popular mantras is to "release early, release often." Put shit out there, even if you do not think it is 100% ready or perfect. Get feedback, and then refine your product based on that feedback instead of building blindly based on unverified guesses. That is exactly what we are doing. At the same time, charge money to validate the market value of your brand. It is trivial for viewers, sponsors, and advertisers  to say you have an exciting or interesting talk show. It is quite a different story to make them pay for your official merchandise or provide cash sponsorship for your episodes.

Limpeh: What are your plans for this channel? Are you trying to make it commercially viable – or is this simply a PR device for something else you have planned for 2013?

Alvin: Sexcussions with Alvivi is not a PR device, just like how Sumptuous Erotica, our now-defunct sex blog, was not a PR device for our current talk show (contrary to popular accusations). We do have plans to make it commercially viable, because we believe sustainability is the key to continuity. Too many good projects and ideas die out over time because too much thought was given to bumping up production value and too little thought was given to increasing shareholder value. Monetisation is just as important as producing good work when it comes to creative endeavours.

We are already in talks with a range of companies, particularly in the sex toy and condom industries, who have expressed keen interest in working with us on sponsorship and brand ambassadorship bases. Of course, we know that nothing is done until it is done (i.e. until the money is in the bank, we should not be talking big), but it is really an encouraging start for us. We also hope to remain independent as long as possible (so customer funding is essential), in the sense of doing all production, editing, screenwriting, direction, etc. in-house. The last thing we need is for some TV station or regulatory body or seed angel investor to come and censor us and tell us what to do. Fuck that shit.

Limpeh: Why did you choose to use Youtube Alvin? There are so many regulations about what you can’t show on Youtube – why didn’t you just use a website like Xtube or Dailymotion which does allow adult content?

Alvin: We would honestly love to continue to produce adult content, because that was what we started out with. But it proved too legally inconvenient to continue to produce pornography (no, having your camera, smartphones, and laptops confiscated as part of a criminal investigation and visits to the interrogation chambers in the police headquarters are NOT fun), which also steered us towards a more conservative path -- just talking about our favourite subject in public, not doing.

The creative space in both Malaysia and Singapore to express oneself is simply too limited. Anything related to sex in both of these countries is immediately labelled "obscene." In Malaysia, even educational books that portray human genitalia are banned. The situation is ridiculous, but it is what it is. Since we have chosen to continue to operate in this environment, we have to adapt.

Limpeh: How long does it take for you to shoot and edit an episode?

Alvin: Shooting usually takes two days at most. Editing is a one-day affair. Writing the scripts take maybe a day or two of brainstorming and refinement. That leaves us two extra days to chill and have sex and swing. 

Limpeh: What other topics will you cover in future episodes?

Alvin: We have tons of ideas, but we would love to hear more ideas from our audience, too. We really want to get people to rethink everything about sex. For example, we would like to explore the idea that swinging is the solution to cheating. Or the idea that incest is right so long as both parties are mutually-consensual. Or the idea that scat and shit play can improve things in the bedroom. Basically, anything that fits the goal of entertainment and education is a viable topic for us to discuss.

Limpeh:   You have a lot of haters on youtube who have left unkind comments – how do you deal with them in general?

Alvin: Easy. We view them as feedback, not insults. It takes great strength of character and emotional ownership of oneself to not take things personally, but, once we see them as suggestions for improvement, our anger turned into gratitude. We should be happy that people care enough to comment on us actually. Our principle is that they can only laugh at us once. They can say we speak terrible English, they can say we look ugly in daylight, they can say our episodes put people to sleep, etc. But once we correct our mistakes, they would have to shut up and enjoy the show. So please keep the hate coming.

Limpeh: Now I have to mention the elephant in the room Alvin: you have become a focus of hate in Singapore after everything that has happened last year because you are ultimately a Malaysian scholar and many Singaporeans felt angry with their government for giving you a scholarship instead of helping local born Singaporeans. Personally, I feel that Singaporeans should focus their anger at the PAP and their policies with regards to foreign talents rather than use you as a scapegoat for everything that has gone very wrong in Singapore in the last couple of years. After having spent so many years in Singapore as a student, how do you feel about this status of being the ultimate scapegoat of 2012 in Singapore? How do you feel about the way you were treated by Singaporeans, particularly on social media?

Alvin: I could not care less. The best way to deal with destructive criticism is to ignore it. I have always been focused on living my life as I envision it and getting excited about what lies ahead. The interesting observation is that only the less-accomplished Singaporeans are putting me down; the high-net worth individuals and professionals with fancy business cards and job titles could not give a shit about me. This is not a coincidence.

Is it the fault of the PAP that a so-called bad apple like me slipped through the system? It is not for me to say; I was a beneficiary of the system, and I could not be more thankful for what the PAP has given me in no-strings-attached benefits over so many years. It is also my principle to refrain from political discourse, so I am not going to say a single word for or against the PAP. I simply believe that our core focus in life should be to know what we want, and then go out and get it. Politics is just noise.

Limpeh:   What kind of feedback and reaction have you had so far to your Youtube channel?

Alvin: Reactions have been mixed. There is a substantial minority who still lives in 2012 and harps on our sex blog (which was alive for barely a month), while there has also been a minority who are more constructive with their comments. If you want to be mathematical about things, our episodes, collectively, have garnered a total of 284 Likes and 382 Dislikes. You can also head over to our videos and view the comments yourself -- it is, after all, not for us to say whether the response has been good or bad.

Limpeh: Some people have suggested that you two should be going to somewhere like America or some other country in the West and do porn there - for porn is totally legal and socially acceptable in the West. How do you respond to that? Why do this in Malaysia where you know you are doing to meet resistance?

Alvin: If we both have Green Cards in our pockets now, we would be flying over this second. But we do not, and we know that an arduous and expensive immigration process awaits us should we decide to want to get our asses over to the land of opportunity.

The other issue is the question of, "Would you like to be a big fish in a small pond, or a small fish in a big pond?" There is a market gap back here. Nobody does or even talks about sex openly here. Plus, we became well-known here. And we are hated here. If we go elsewhere, we are essentially working from scratch and deliberately-handicapping ourselves. Would Namewee become as famous and as accomplished as he is today, if he went on to Taiwan or China instead of staying in Malaysia? I doubt so. We would always choose to be a lead actor in a small film than a supporting actor in a big film.

Also, is porn really the best way forward for us? Putting ourselves in a milieu where only your sexual prowess and sex appeal count does not seem to be very wise. We would be in direct competition with people whose entire purpose in life is to look good and fuck well. We cannot compete with that, and neither do we want to. We believe that we have way more to offer than our bodies.

The other problem with pornography is that, while you can make serious moolah from it, you cannot go mainstream with it. It is always a stepping stone to something bigger, like how Sylvester Stallone, Pamela Anderson, Shu Qi, etc. used porn to become actors and how Chua Soi Lek used porn to become MCA president. In other words, you are doomed to obscurity should you choose the pornography path as a destination (just ask how many Singaporeans know who Jenna Jameson is, arguably the biggest porn star). That is not the vision that we have for the Alvivi brand.

Limpeh:   Lastly Alvin, let’s talk about your hats – you’re always wearing a hat, even whilst fucking. Now I wear hats too, but really only when it is very cold in winter and I want to keep my head and ears warm. Singapore and KL are so hot so it's not the kind of place I would associate with wearing hats like that, so please, tell us more about your trademark fashion symbol please. Why are you so fond of your hats? 

It is called a beanie. I saw a man once who had big muscles, sleeve tattoos, and a no-nonsense look. He also wore a beanie. And he was the most badass mother fucker I have seen in my life, apart from Stone Cold Steve Austin (who loves wearing short denim shorts too, only with knee braces). So I thought it was cool to get a beanie myself too. I ended up getting quite a few.

Alvin: I wear it all the time because it made me look distinctive. It helps me tremendously with personal branding; it makes me unique. I do not have any other particular reason, contrary to the speculations by some that I am trying to hide a bald patch. Really, hiding is not in my nature. I am the porn-fucking-guy of Malaysia and Singapore, for goodness' sake!

Limpeh: Thank you so much for spending the time to do this Alvin. I wish you all the best with your new Youtube channel. Thank you very much to the lovely Vivian too. 

Alvin: I can't also help but to notice... You were a gymnast?

Limpeh: Yes I am! Blogger, gymnast, actor, finance guru, linguist, rebel... I still train gymnastics even though I've retired from competitive gymnastics in 2000. (Have a look at my Youtube video below of me in training.) I'm still using my gymnastics skills and am currently performing in a play in London's West End using a lot of my gymnastics skills for the world of theatre, film and TV. Not sure how many actors from Singapore have actually set foot on a West End stage doing a big part like me (I'm probably not the first but there are probably no more than a handful who have achieved this) so yes modesty aside, Limpeh's gymnastics has served me well.  So yes, very well observed Alvin :)