We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Richard Pigkaso a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Richard, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I have been yoyoing for almost 20 years. I started crafting my skills when I was 16 years old. I was constantly bullied in school to a point where I would literally cry and be afraid to get up in the morning to go to school. Its in those moments when I was alone and with my thoughts that I was able to put it into tricks. I would carry my yoyos with me wherever I go and just practice. I would look on the internet or message boards and talk to yoyo players from around the world teaching me these incredible tricks. I am forever grateful to them.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I got into the music industry around 2009. I was initially a singer at first and learned very quickly I was terrible at singing. I didn’t actually release anything until 2014. I recorded with this producer from the Bronx named Cauze of Coalishun Entertainment, He taught how to deliver on vocals and how to approach my rhymes. It was in some of the sessions we did that I incorporated yoyoing yo songs as well. I figure it would help me stand out from a lot of other acts that would perform on the same stage as me. I want people to know that I can switch up and be the guy that does Walk the Dog and Rock the Baby and also spits bars like I’m Eminem.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I want to be a professional yo-yo player and a recording artist all in one. I want to be able to travel the world performing on stages giving back to children, teaching them how to do yo-yo tricks, and show the entire world that I can be creative with my music. I want to be able to push my brand, When Pigs Fly LLC. Its a brand about being seen as an outcast by everyone but still living your dreams.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

They aren’t good at all. They are “pump and dumps” Your literally buying digital paper that everyone else in the world can have by taking a picture of it. I suggest NFTs never exist.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richieluvsyoyos/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richieluvsyoyos/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-pickett-908a8789/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/richieluvsyoyos
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@richardpigkaso

Image Credits
Ivy Productions, Andrew Fennell, Karina Munoz, At the Great