We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ryan “The Key” Belcher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ryan “The Key” below.
Ryan “The Key”, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
If there was a for sure one track way to achieve “success” it wouldn’t be called success, It’d be called Instructions. The truth of it is, there’s nothing for sure about success. That’s what makes it so attractive, so desirable, but so elusive. Although success can be seen as subjective, we all can agree that “Success” is achievable. So, the question at hand is “What does it take to be successful?”.
Many years ago I had this unique dream of moving to Hollywood, CA and becoming a composer. Every opportunity I got to move closer to that dream I took. I both lost & made many friends along the way. Worked countless hours which allowed my technique to grow and evolve in ways I could have never imagined. Enjoyed encountering new projects that demanded me to think & re-think what I thought I knew. It wasn’t very long before I landed my first break in Television. Not long after, many other doors were opened. As i walked through those doors I met even more new people, who introduced me to others whom also brought great opportunities. Working non-stop and expanding my network, i charged forward into every new project without any fear of failure.
Through my experience I understand it takes hard work to be successful. There’s no shortcut to success. It takes being sociable and growing your network. Being fearless & confident, but humble enough to realize you don’t know it all. Success takes sacrifice. Above all, success requires a team.
Ryan “The Key”, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Ryan “The Key” Belcher, a Multimedia professional with experience that spans over 20+ years. I wear several hats under the Multimedia umbrella and bring a very streamlined cutting edge approach to modern media.
As a multi-genre music composer I have written music for over 50 different Television series, and more than 500 episodes of TV. I helped brand the sound on shows like “Keeping up with the Kardashians”, “Bad Girls Club” & many more. As a music producer I have produced tracks with notable artists like Scarface, Faith Evans, Yolanda Adams, J Prince, Cl Smooth, Teddy Riley, amongst several others. My work has been nominated for an Emmy, NAACP and a Stellar award.
As a graphic designer I’ve created an uncountable amount of digital media, most recently for the cover art of supermodel/actress Pilar Sanders on her “Pilar Fit 4Life” workout series. I produced the music on this series, as well as the sound design & editing. The series debuted on Amazon as #1 Best Seller in Health & Fitness at the top of 2022. If you’re looking for an exciting, fun & sexy way to reach your fitness goals, Pilar Fit 4Life is definitely the answer!
As an Executive Producer I developed & directed a short film titled “The Ramp Pm Relief ” which was a hybrid urban musical centered around the Southwest Airlines ground operation agents. This project garnered a lot of attention on YouTube and spiraled into a national social media recruitment commercial for the company, with artist Sleepy Da Hitman as the face of the campaign. Imagine fresh, but edgy trap beats combined with dope visuals, clever lyrics & airplanes. We all love airplanes, right!? Surely a sight to see! Not long after the release of this project, I joined the corporate side of Southwest Airlines as a Multimedia Producer.
I’m also an animator, videographer, special EFX artist and photographer. Ultimately I’ve earned the confidence of many clients as a dependable one-stop shop when it comes to multimedia needs. My brand is all about creativity, quality & excellence!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In life you’ll have your high points, as well as your low points. The magic exists in finding that middle place. Not getting too excited when things are up, and not getting to bummed-out when things are down. You have to learn to dance in the rain & how to be cool under the sun.
In 2018 I hit a very low point in my career. At the same time I had a child on the way. After not having to work a 9 to 5 job for over 20 years, I made the decision to get a job. With all pride to the side and being a man first, I did what ever i had to do for the best interest of my child. I was able to get on with Southwest Airlines as a ground operations agent in an entry-level position. This was not ideal, but it provided my child & myself with great health benefits and a consistent income. It also allowed for a flexible schedule and unlimited free flight benefits, that helped me continue to travel and network with my multimedia contacts.
Nevertheless, this was a very physically taxing job. There were times we worked in the freezing cold rainy weather, as well as the scorching hot heat of summer. Many nights at the end of my shift, I was met with exhaustion, soreness and fatigue. Day-in & Day-out I continued to be resilient and push forward. I went into over-time developing a plan, brainstorming ways to get back to my passion of multimedia.
At last, i was able to get back to a high point in my career. Developing a project at work titled “The Ramp Pm Relief” that got attention from the company in a way where they could see the true value in my skill-set. At the same time was able to land some pretty substantial music projects and get more TV shows to compose for. Not too long after, the opportunity presented itself for me to move out of the Ground Operations side and back to my roots in the more creative side of Southwest Airlines as a Multimedia Producer.
For the sake of the reader I’ve abbreviated this experience in order to not make a lengthy story, but know there were many struggles and challenges along this path. I learned several new things about myself and realized that I had strengths inside of me that I never had to utilize before. It all made me a stronger person. My resilience came in the fact that I would not give up, I was willing to do whatever it took, and that I stayed true to myself as a creator.
My hope is that the vulnerability of sharing this experience will be a form of motivation, a source of inspiration and a sort of light at the end of a dark tunnel for anyone reading this.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
In life it’s important to maintain a solid reputation. To go further, it’s even more beneficial to have a great reputation where business is concerned. Although i speak of them separately, they’re really one and the same. Just like in life, you’d find that it’s conducive to your success as a person to have integrity. That being honest & willing to work in order to build your relationships is rewarding. These same skills propel you forward in business. Keeping your word is priceless, standing up for what and who you believe in is imperative. Without the risk of running into a rant here, let me be clear when I say my reputation in business was simply built on life principles. With out principles, your reputation in the market will never be of one to stand behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.THEKEY82.com
- Instagram: @thekey82
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-the-key-belcher-41a33015
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPuzb5yBhAs&t=510s