The Hoverboard: A Symbol of Cool Improvisation in Tom Segura's Memoir
What Is the Hoverboard?
In Tom Segura’s memoir I'd Like to Play Alone, Please, the hoverboard appears as a concrete, real-world object in Chapter 22, titled “Omarion.” It is a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric scooter—popular in the mid-2010s—that riders control by shifting their weight. Segura describes seeing the R&B singer Omarion step off a plane at Los Angeles International Airport, pull a hoverboard from his backpack, and ride it smoothly through the jet bridge and all the way to baggage claim. This is the only occurrence of a hoverboard in the book’s narrative; it does not return as a recurring prop. Yet in that single, vivid moment, the object becomes a potent symbol.
Where and How Does It Appear?
The scene is set on Delta Flight 2601 from Orlando (MCO) to Los Angeles (LAX). Segura sits next to Omarion, who sleeps with a blanket over his head for the entire flight. After landing, Omarion immediately produces the hoverboard and glides through the airport with practiced ease. Segura notes that this was one of the first hoverboards he had ever seen, and he marvels at Omarion‘s expertise: no wobbling, no hesitation. The singer steps on and goes, as if he “invented the hoverboard.” Segura contrasts his own certain failure (“I would suffer life-altering injuries within seconds”) with Omarion’s effortless command.
The Symbol’s Meaning and How It Changes
The hoverboard initially registers as a spectacle of pure novelty and wealth. Segura’s internal reaction—“Is that dude floating with that? I need to get one of those… There’s no way I can afford one”—captures the mix of wonder and economic envy. The object represents the kind of expensive, impractical gadget that signals a level of status most people cannot access. Yet as Segura watches Omarion ride, the meaning shifts. The hoverboard stops being merely a pricey toy and becomes an emblem of cool improvisation and unconventional behavior.
Omarion does not use the hoverboard to show off in a flashy way; he treats it as a normal, efficient mode of airport transit. This pragmatic yet audacious choice embodies a “baller” attitude—unapologetically doing what works, regardless of social norms. Segura respects the improvisational spirit: the same man who slept under a blanket on the plane now glides past hundreds of travelers without a second thought. The hoverboard symbolizes the freedom to ignore expectations, to be both practical and eccentric at once.
The meaning does not change over the course of the story because the hoverboard only appears in this one chapter. However, its significance deepens within the chapter itself as Segura moves from bafflement to admiration. By the end of the passage, he frames the hoverboard ride as one of the “slickest, most baller moves” he has ever witnessed. The object crystallizes a moment of unscripted coolness that Segura, with his self-deprecating humor, knows he could never pull off himself.
Connections to Characters and Themes
Tom Segura – The hoverboard encounter highlights Segura’s characteristic self-deprecation. He immediately compares his own clumsy, injury-prone nature to Omarion’s grace. This aligns with the self-deprecating humor that runs throughout the memoir. Segura never tries to claim he could master the hoverboard; instead, he celebrates Omarion’s skill while poking fun at his own limitations.
Omarion – As a minor figure, Omarion embodies the theme of celebrity encounters. Like the meetings with Chris Tucker, Mike Tyson, and Chris Noth, this encounter reveals a famous person acting in a surprisingly ordinary or quirky way. Omarion’s behavior—blanket over head, then hoverboard—shows that celebrities often improvise to cope with travel and fame. The hoverboard becomes an extension of his personal style: unconventional, self-sufficient, and quietly confident.
Identity and Perception – The scene also touches on identity and perception. Segura admits he did not initially recognize Omarion. The singer’s actions force Segura to revise his expectations. The hoverboard ride is a small act of personal branding: it tells the world, “I am not like other travelers.” This resonates with Segura’s own struggle to define himself as a comedian who is “oddly urban” onstage, as described in Chapter 5. Both men navigate perceptions of who they are and how they present themselves.
Parenting and Solitude – Though not directly linked, the hoverboard could be read as a form of solitude in public. Omarion isolates himself on the plane with a blanket and then glides solo through the airport. This echoes the book‘s theme of parenting and solitude—the desire to “play alone.” Segura repeatedly expresses a need for quiet and personal space. The hoverboard allows Omarion to move through a crowded space while remaining in his own bubble.
4 Study Questions with Answers
1. How does the hoverboard function as a symbol of status versus a symbol of improvisation?
Answer: Initially, the hoverboard signals status because Segura assumes it is too expensive for him to afford. But as the scene unfolds, its meaning shifts to improvisation: Omarion uses it simply because it is convenient and fun. The symbol becomes less about money and more about the freedom to behave unconventionally.
2. Compare Segura’s reaction to Omarion’s hoverboard with his reaction to Mike Tyson’s intensity in Chapter 27. What do these reactions reveal about Segura’s character?
Answer: With Tyson, Segura is nervous, stammering, and eager to please. With Omarion, he is an amused observer, detached and admiring. Both reactions show Segura’s awareness of his own social shortcomings—he can neither match Tyson’s ferocity nor Omarion’s cool. Yet he finds humor in both situations, using self-deprecation to process them. This reinforces his comedic persona as someone who is perpetually out of his depth but never takes himself too seriously.
3. Why does Segura call Omarion’s hoverboard ride “the smoothest shit I’ve ever seen”? What does this language tell us about the memoir’s tone?
Answer: The informal, emphatic language (“smoothest shit”) matches the book’s conversational, irreverent tone. Segura often uses profanity for comic effect and to convey genuine enthusiasm. The phrase also underscores the symbol’s impact: the hoverboard ride is not just admired; it is celebrated as an almost artistic performance. This stylistic choice keeps the analysis grounded in the memoir’s voice rather than becoming academic.
4. The hoverboard appears only once. Can a single-use object still be a meaningful symbol? Why or why not?
Answer: Yes. A symbol does not need to recur to carry meaning. The hoverboard’s sole appearance is vivid and detailed enough to encapsulate themes of improvisation, status, and celebrity eccentricity. In memoir, a single powerful image can resonate more than a repeated motif because it feels like a real, unrepeatable moment. Segura’s description turns a mundane object into a lens through which we understand both Omarion and the author’s own self-deprecating worldview.