From an early age, Rick dreamed of working in the music industry and performing live. He dedicated time in school to improving his vocal range and participated in several music projects and contest events. Alongside his musical interests, he also enjoyed computers, art, and working with electronics, and in high school, he took classes in desktop publishing and various design programs.
Around this time, he started visiting the local music venue, the Emerson Theater. He became a fan of several local music groups and began to engage with them after watching multiple live performances, asking how he could help. These groups said they needed help promoting their music, and Rick was able to assist by designing flyers, posters, and more.
While developing these skills, he gained valuable experience and found new opportunities for website creation and photography. After initially helping with street teams and promotion, he moved on to booking shows, managing some groups, and offering support wherever possible.
In the early 2000s, Rick joined a local alternative hip-hop group called Dark Tower Asylum. Combining his love for music and theatrics, he became a hype man, delivering backup vocals. Simultaneously, he managed the group, booked shows, produced merchandise, and managed the business side of the project. DTA achieved regional success, performing throughout the Midwest and participating in small tours with emerging artists. Throughout this time, he continued to hone the skills he initially learned to support DTA and other groups.
When DTA disbanded in the late 2000s, Rick spent time with family, continuing his work in graphic design and stepping into photography for local businesses and individuals. Around 2010, he decided to take photography more seriously and acquired his first professional camera. He began working at large-scale conventions focused on gaming, anime, and pop culture. He started shooting live performances at these conventions and reconnecting with old friends from the Indianapolis music scene. This rekindled his love for music and concerts, and he agreed to start photographing their shows. As he worked with multiple groups and stayed for the headliners, he expanded his portfolio and honed his skills in creating and manipulating photos and graphics into dynamic shots and crisp, clean designs.
Since then, he has taken on numerous clients with varying visions and demands, pushing him out of his comfort zone and prompting him to learn new design techniques and publishing software. This diverse client base has vastly enriched his experience in ways he never could have achieved independently. Rick continues to use his artistic talents and creative drive to support his family while expanding his skills. Always seeking new challenges, he has also ventured into video production, web design, merchandising, marketing, artist development, brand management, and more.
What will his next challenge be?