Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanner Geesey.
Hi Tanner , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As long as I can remember I always had a passion for creativity and storytelling! When I was young I used to draw comics, these comics were about original characters and some were even about the characters I loved from various media. I used to be really big into cartoons, video games, and comics and these things definitely had a huge impact on me growing up. I was pretty creative up until I graduated high school, and then I entered the “real world”. I originally planned to continue my education at a local community college to become a graphic designer, but just before classes started my family hit economic hardship. I abandoned college and joined the workforce. About that same time I stopped creating, and I started to become depressed due to the circumstances. Over the next year I spiraled into a depression, I lost my identity in a way and was trying to find it in everything around me. But alas what I was looking for couldn’t be found in anything external, not my work, my girlfriend, or anyone else. It all hit a low the day my ex dumped me, I remember feeling like I had no purpose and that I would go nowhere in life. But just the next day, I would have an experience with what I believe to be divine that would send me on a path of finding purpose. The next few years became a journey of self discovery, after the experience I had a renewed sense of self worth. As I delved into various books and started to shift my beliefs about myself I found myself starting to get my life back on track. I met my now wife Katie who helped me reinforce my new sense of self worth. She and I started to grow together. Slowly I started painting again, I looked at everything as if there was a purpose behind it, and everything stopped feeling so pointless. A few years passed and I continued to grow. In 2021 Katie and I would get married and like most Covid era weddings we had two ceremonies, one for family and then another one for our friends. Storytelling was slowly starting to come back into my life at this time, but a few weeks before our second wedding I would have a dream that would become the seed for what I am doing now. In that dream it was the day of my second wedding, all of my groomsmen were at the venue and they were all dressed in different costumes like it was a story. My best man was a Viking, another groomsmen was looking like a pioneer, one was a pirate, and one was a time traveler. I woke up and pondered this dream. I started to think why not make it happen. I got the idea to create a story and tell it at our second wedding, since we already did it once, why not make this different. I told Katie and she was all for it, and of course the groomsmen were on board too. So on the day of the wedding I kept myself in a room and hand wrote a 11-15 page story. I didn’t finish it, but I had enough to go off of. I shared the story and it went well! After it was over I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted to get back to telling creative stories! So a few months later I decided to start up a YouTube channel where I could pursue that passion, I had always wanted to be a YouTuber when I was a teenager. Why not just give it a go. I came up with the name Tanner’s Tales Entertainment. Over the next several months I would launch my channel, first I did a prologue video, and then I settled on a story time video for my second video. For it I decided to tell the story of how I sat on a Pencil in second grade, but I got creative with it. One Pencil costume and superhero cape later and I turned the story into a superhero origin story. That story gave birth to my original character No.2 Pencil Man! He is a big part of what I do now, by a complete accident! I made some skit videos and other videos, I wasn’t as consistent as I wanted to be, but I was making effort to pursue a dream that was revived in me. Then came the end of 2023, My wife gave birth to our son Xavier. Just like that I knew I couldn’t make videos very often anymore so I shifted my focus. I decided to take No.2 Pencil Man and turn his story into a comic book. I asked a friend named Frae to become my artist for the book and at first he declined, and at that point I didn’t know what to do, so I thought I would have to give it up, but a few months later Frae would tell me that he thought about it and he decided he was going to help me! With his help we turned what I had on YouTube into issues 1 and 2 of the No.2 Pencil Man comic series. After the release I started going to events to sell the book, and that has led me to many more opportunities. I have a fan base now which is crazy to think about and I started doing events as No.2 Pencil Man at schools and libraries. I am now living a life of purpose trying to make a difference in the world doing what I love! I get to encourage and empower people with my stories and characters. My son is almost 3 now and as he gets older I plan on getting back to the YouTube scene.But I am grateful for all the opportunities I have received, and I hope that my story encourages people.
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?
I’ve encountered many unexpected struggles. Financial issues are still fairly common in what I do, I am a small business making this dream work out of pocket most times. As I continue to grow and get gigs I hope to get this dream to take off. As a Parent I struggle with having free time to devote to my craft and business. I have gone a few weeks to months at a time not really making much ground. But I want to be there for my son and wife so it will be worth it. I will get more time eventually. I also sometimes go through times where I struggle with depression and feeling like I am a failure because I feel I am not as far as I want to be. But thankfully I have a good support system, my wife and son encourage me and I have a few good friends that keep me on track. Special shout out to Frae. I appreciate him more than he’ll ever know. Struggles come and go, I doubt I will ever be fully rid of them, but I will keep moving and they will help build a strong foundation for the future of whatever I end up doing!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a creative storyteller by trade. I write the No.2 Pencil Man comic series, and create various visual short skits on YouTube. I also am an artist. I like to paint and draw. I just published my first children’s book that I wrote and illustrated in high school (over ten years ago) this year, and have plans to do another one. I specialize in family friendly stories for people of all ages. I would say I take great pride in the originality of my work. If I had to say one thing that sets me apart it would be that my art is not just something external from me, but that my work is an extension of me in a way. I give my heart to whatever I create. I mean I also become my characters, if you have ever met me at an event chances are I am actually dressed up as No.2 Pencil Man. So I would say that is pretty unique!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
As we get closer to issue 3 of No.2 Pencil Man coming out I would like to take a moment to just share where you can find my work. I have my books up on my website www.tannerstalesentertainment.com. Aside from the books I do host creative workshops. I have been invited to schools and libraries so if you would like to have me for a workshop or event you can reach me on my website or through any of my socials. I want to make a positive impact for kids and adults alike! No.2 Pencil Man is the defender and Inspirer of creativity! So definitely reach out if you feel you need No.2 Pencil Man!
Pricing:
- Comics $10 each
- Children’s book $15 each
- Workshops and events can be negotiated as I want to work with budgets
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tannerstalesentertainment.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/no2pencilman?xtok=MXdvNjYyaHR5cHgxOQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DMtG5AJbw/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tannerstalesentertainment?si=om9cLbNCXhqw2ap6
