We were lucky to catch up with Ryan DeLaney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ryan, appreciate you joining us today. Do you have an agent or someone (or a team) that helps you secure opportunities and compensation for your creative work? How did you meet you, why did you decide to work with them, why do you think they decided to work with you?

I was currently living in Miami Florida when I met Dana West. Dana was my first ever agent and I was very blessed to have been taking under her wing and trusted in her knowledge with the business and experience to propel my career. It wasn’t easy trusting a complete stranger with a dream I had but thankfully it all worked out for me!

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?

For folks who may not know me. I was born and raised in St. Louis Missouri training quarter horses. I moved to Florida shortly after I graduated high school! In Florida is where I met my first agent and acting coach Dana West.

Dana also grew up with horses so we were able to have a common ground right of the start that helped us connect.

It wasn’t an easy road getting started but I found out fast that anything that comes easy most likely won’t last.

I remember thinking what can I do to set my self apart from all the other creatives on Dana’s roster. Basically how can I make sure I don’t fall through the cracks of her talent data base and get the opportunities that her top talent are getting as I was brand new.

So I would send gifts every 2 weeks with my comp cards to just let Dana and her staff know that I’m around and not just another body on their roster.

It worked! I soon got the opportunity to intern at the agency 5 days a week and that really helped me learn the business and the terminology of the business!

Soon I became Dana West top model who traveled the world. I told Dana I wanted to become an actor and she suggested she will try to get me a “special feature” role in the Hunger Games.

I went to Atlanta Georgia where I stepped foot on my first ever Hollywood movie set!!

They shaved my hair off put me in wardrobe and I worked for 14 plus hours and to this day if you blink you may miss me in the movie but that experience lit a fire in me that I never knew I had and propelled me further than ever to where I’m at today with my career!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is if I can make an individual feel some sort of way with my work that is released.

So if I can make a photo shoot tell a story and make the audience feel and think with a movie I believe I have and I am doing something right.

Basically if someone comes up to me and ask about a shoot or movie then that tells me they where / are interested in the material I released and they are talking about it.

To entertain others is very rewarding to me!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After I started getting booked for the tinniest parts in television series and movies I wanted more and In fact I needed more.

I was terrified to move to California as I planted roots in Miami and was doing great, had a house with a pool and multiple cars helping my family etc… but I wasn’t feeling fulfilled anymore in Miami. Human nature, I wanted more. I wasn’t sure though what more I wanted. But I just know that I needed to feel uncomfortable to grow and that meant moving to California not knowing what the future would hold for me. Will I fail? Will I succeed? Will I survive? I’m gearing up for the big leagues Hollywood!

I was getting depressed always thinking ok, maybe if I walk this way, maybe if I cut my hair, dye my hair, maybe if I do this or that etc… I finally realized that what if maybe I learn confidence and I stay true to my midwestern mentality and vibe because that is who I am at heart then that is what will set me apart.

I needed to quit trying to be someone or something I wasn’t and stay true to who I am.

Thats what I did. I ended up moving to Los Angeles California where I started my talk show on BidChat (no longer a platform that is still around).

I hosted 30 live episodes with special guest and got to attend all the award shows in California and interview some amazing artists and individuals who I looked up to in the industry.

My story is a true inspiration I’ve been told by others. I still say hello to each person I meet. You never know who needs to hear that friendly hello or who needs to feel seen.

I still open doors for others and give a friendly smile in hopes that individual feels important even for that small moment/ minute of interaction.

I like to do the small things that I believe will and can make a difference even if it’s just a simple hello 👋🏼

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ryanjamesdelaney.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryandelaney90/

Image Credits
Show Me St. Louis