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

Ryan, appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The first show I was ever booked on and paid for was in Atlanta where I started performing standup. I was studying engineering at Georgia Tech and after my first internship, I realized that was not for me, so I started going to open mics at night around the city. After a couple of months, my friend Phurious Stylez booked me on a show he was running. It was my first show, so I didn’t ask any questions other than “What time would you like me to get there?” I got to the show and had an amazing time! The comedy show was held in East Atlanta right after a group meeting, NA, and was followed by a dance party. I’ll never forget this show because it was so many firsts for me. It was the first time someone asked me to be on their show, it was the first time I performed for that many people, and it was the first time I was paid. Oh, and I was the only white comedian on the show, so I opened by apologizing for Ronald Reagan to the group. The show went super well and the dance party was a great time!

Ryan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When I started performing standup, I always had the vision of being a comedian like a Jerry Seinfeld or Ricky Gervais. Two very different comedians, but very similar at their core. They were both able to make some of the most comedic television of the time and I believe that Television and Movies are going to be our cave drawings. It’s what we will leave behind for future generations to watch and understand who we were. Thanks to standup, I have been able to meet some incredible people, who are also super talented. I am most proud of the work I did at Cobell Energy. Cobell is a short-form show that I was a writer and actor on, produced by Yellow Dot Studios, who’s mission as a production company is to bring awareness to climate change through comedy.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Getting to watch what I made with others, particularly getting to watch it with the people I made it with. I am a viewer first, that’s how I discovered I wanted to do any of this in the first place. I watched other people’s work and was like, woah, I would like to do something like that. So, now that I get to make these things, I most enjoy that first time rewatching the footage with the people you made it with. It can just be those raw files that we know we are going to turn into something later, but just seeing that on camera for the first time is always a “wow” moment for me.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

That they are creatives. I never understand when someone will tell me that they’re a “non-creative” because that’s impossible. Whatever you do, put some creativity into it. I work best with people who understand this about themselves and about others. I feel like no one wants to be put into a box by others, so I don’t get it when people do it to themselves. If you’re an accountant, be creative, doodle, lie about some of the numbers, have fun, it doesn’t matter.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanarrisonhot/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-arrison-7a6a91115/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanarrison

Image Credits

Ryan Arrison and No Plans Tonight