Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Javier Portillo.
Hi Robert Javier, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started at the 9000 building on the Sunset Strip not exactly the birthplace of most dreams, unless your dream involves editing banners for an adult website. I was working as a graphic designer, creatively uninspired and quietly craving something more exciting. That’s when a friend of mine, who was deep in the LA nightlife scene, offered me a spot on his club promotion team. I was 24, broke, hungry, and fascinated by nightlife it felt like the beginning of something. My job was to bring girls to the club
After earning my stripes and working for 2 months and dealing with professional differences that first opportunity fizzled out and that’s when I crossed paths with a guy whom I’m going to call Nick for identity purposes. He was a little more established in the Hollywood club world and worked at some of the most exclusive venues in town. Nights were wild. The crowd was electric. I was working at spots where hip hop royalty pulled up in blacked out SUVs. But I always had a different vision. One night, hungover and pissed off after a failed 80s themed party, I pitched Nick the idea of a rock night something emo, warped tour inspired, nostalgic but still relevant. That conversation planted the seed for what would become one of the craziest chapters of my life.
I wasn’t new to the scene. I grew up going to punk shows, playing in bands, and even setting up DIY gigs as a teenager. I’d always told myself if I didn’t make it on stage, I’d find a way to be part of the industry I loved. So I brought my idea to life, networking like a man possessed meeting people at shows, clubs, festivals anyone who lived and breathed the music. And somehow, it worked.
We called it The Riff a bar night concept paying homage to late 90s/early 2000s MTV culture, spliced with the new wave of alternative and emo. We threw insane events: record release parties, after parties, and nights hosted by members of Bad Omens, Asking Alexandria, Escape the Fate, Black Veil Brides, All Time Low, A Day to Remember, and more. You could walk in and see your favorite artist just chilling, DJing, or hosting a set. It was a rock kid’s fever dream.
But with success comes ego. And Nick? He changed. Overnight, he went from being my partner to trying to erase me. Started calling himself the owner, taking credit for everything the booking, the creativity, even my damn Instagram posts. Then money started disappearing. Artists stopped getting paid. Staff checks bounced. And just like that, everything we built was crumbling. I was the last one on the sinking ship.
When the dust settled, Nick had vanished literally skipped town. We later found out he’d embezzled money from multiple people, and he never showed his face in LA again. I was left broke, betrayed, and without a place to live. That’s when I packed my bags and moved to Vegas. Not because I wanted to but because I had nowhere else to go and family there that would take me in.
What I didn’t know was that Vegas would become the rebirth of everything I lost.
A friend encouraged me to throw just one event just to see if I still had it in me. I called it Come As You Are, named after the sign that used to hang in The Riff. I booked Cody Carson (Set It Off) and Levi Benton (Miss May I) for the debut event. It was a success. So I kept going. Eventually, I worked with members of We Came As Romans, Silverstein, Pierce the Veil you name it. The scene started buzzing again, and I brought the party back to LA too at a place called St Felix on Cahuenga shout out to the owner John for the chance he gave me to bring it back to LA with events that later followed at The Bourbon Room, Madame Siam, The Viper Room, Station 1640, and more.
The proudest moments of my journey? Throwing the official Warped Tour Afterparty during its final run in 2018. Taking
Come As You Are on a national tour in 2021. Becoming a tour manager for four and a half years. And most of all creating a space where misfits, musicians, and fans feel like they belong. I’ve lived 10 lifetimes in these 11 years. I’ve been backstage, onstage, broke, blacklisted, and back on top.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned…
It’s that Life doesn’t care about your plans it cares about your grit. You can build something from nothing, lose it all, and build it back stronger with calluses on your soul and stories no one believes unless they lived it with you. People will try to steal your shine, erase your name, and call it theirs but your heart is the part they can’t replicate. So stay passionate, stay real, and above all stay you.
Oh and if someone ever offers you a business partnership and refuses to show you the books? Run. Fast.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not even close but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
When The Riff was first coming together, the biggest challenge was standing out in an already competitive scene. Emo nights were popping up all over LA we were late to the party, and there were already crews doing it well. So we had to get creative, take risks, and build a vibe that was more than just nostalgia it had to feel alive. That meant networking nonstop, fighting for venue space, and putting in the kind of work people don’t see: late nights, empty bank accounts, promoting until your voice goes out. Some of our biggest nights were also the most chaotic we’d be slammed, understaffed, trying to juggle guest lists, artists, and fans, all while praying the fire marshal didn’t show up.
Then came Come As You Are Events, and the stakes were even higher. Starting over in Vegas was humbling. I didn’t have a network here. No name recognition. Just an idea, a name, and some crazy determination. Building buzz from scratch in a new city without a big team or backing was brutal. I had to rely on hustle and reputation alone. Getting people to take a chance on something new, finding artists in between touring seasons, negotiating venues that weren’t always supportive of alt culture it was a grind.
There are so many behind the scenes battles that come with running events:
• Technical issues minutes before doors open
• Artists dropping out last minute
• Venues trying to switch up deals or overcharge
• Promoters underdelivering
• Drunk guests causing problems
• City ordinances, permits, sound restrictions
• Security not showing up
• Staff no call no shows on sold out nights
You learn quickly that this industry is not for the faint of heart. It will test your patience, your pride, your bank account, and your relationships. There are nights you’ll question why you even do this but then the lights hit just right, the music drops, and you see the crowd lose their minds… and suddenly, it’s all worth it. Every. Damn. Time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At its core, Come As You Are Events is about bringing the heart and chaos of rock culture to nightlife but we’re not confined to just one thing. I specialize in throwing immersive, high-energy events that celebrate the alt/rock/emo scene everything from themed nights with special guests to afterparties, record release events, and even location scouting for music videos.
We’re currently running events between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, bridging two iconic nightlife cities with a vibe that’s raw, nostalgic, and unforgettable. What makes us different is the level of authenticity we bring. These aren’t just club nights they’re curated experiences. You might show up and end up doing shots next to a member of your favorite band or catch a pop up DJ set by an artist that usually sells out venues.
We’re not about velvet ropes or clout we’re about community, energy, and music that makes you feel something. And the beauty is, we’re not tied to one formula. The sky’s the limit. We’ve created events for the warped tour crowd, the goth kids, the nostalgic emo fans, even blended in metalcore and punk rap when it makes sense. We adapt without selling out and that’s rare.
What I’m most proud of is turning this passion into a platform. I’ve built something that brings people together where fans and artists collide in a way that feels personal, not corporate. I’ve helped artists celebrate milestones, helped fans meet their heroes, and created nights people will talk about years later. That’s the magic we aim for every time the doors open.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think just staying humble has always been the key for me. I’m not big on praise it honestly makes me uncomfortable. I’d rather be the guy making sure the artist has their drink and the sound check’s tight than the one taking credit on the mic.
I’ve learned that in this industry, ego will get you in the door, but humility is what keeps you in the room. I treat everyone the same from the people that come show support to the band’s tour manager stress eating in the green room.
At the end of the day, I just keep my head down, do the work, and let the nights speak for themselves. And if people leave saying, “That was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time,” that’s more than enough for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Comeasyouareevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18updygfLt/?mibextid=wwXIfr
