User:Joe the Informer

Earplug Vending Machines

Innovated by partners Joseph Goldfarb and Alisa Davis of Toronto, Canada. Joseph and Alisa created the brand Whut!? Earplugs in 2015. The incarnation was the result of observations the couple made at the previously named Sound Academy live music venue which is now known as Rebel, owned and operated by INK entertainment.

Joseph and were at Sound Academy for a show by electronic rock duo Ratatat. They had forgotten to bring earplugs, which happened frequently. After the show started, they Alisa say that they noticed a condom vending machine in the men's washroom and a tampon vending m in the women's washroom. When they met outside the washrooms, Joseph noticed two well-dressed men come out of the bathroom with toilet paper in their ears. Joseph quickly did the math. He asked himself how many people would be having sex at Sound Academy that night, and how many women would need tampons during the show. A lightbulb went off and Joseph told Alisa about his idea to create earplug vending machines.

After a year of research and development, Joseph and Alisa launched Whut!? Earplugs in just a few venues around Toronto. They currently have more than 20 locations around Toronto, Hamilton and Owen Sound.

Locations

Mod Club

Danforth Music Hall

CODA

Radio (formerly Adelaide Hall)

Supermarket

Sidebar

The Hideout

Coalition

The Rockpile

The Velvet Underground

Parlour

Bovine Sex Club

Cherry Cola's

Junction City Music Hall

30/30

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Lula Lounge

Revivial

The Rivoli

Remix Lounge

Grossman's Tavern

This Ain't Hollywood