Daily Inspiration: Meet Ryan Harmon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Harmon.

Hi Ryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
During my sophomore summer of college, I interned at a TV production company. After nearly a year, they saw that I was a bit bored with the assignments and asked me what else I wanted to do. I told them that I’ve always enjoyed creating experiences for friends and family that extended beyond a screen. My boss at the time told me she grew up in Texas with a friend who was a show Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering and asked me if I would like to meet him. Long story short, he hired me in June 1987 to be his assistant on what became the Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando. I completed college as a part-time employee and was brought on full-time into the writing department in 1990. I was the youngest dizzy imaginary for five years until the company laid off 1500 people just before Disneyland Paris opened in 1992. Within three weeks my salary tripled as I was freelancing for other experiential design firms and motion picture studios, including Universal and Warner Bros.. During this period my capabilities expanded from concept, design and writing to creative directing and show producing. I worked on exciting projects around the world, including the Titanic, official movie tour, the Hercules and Xena show at Universal Studios, Florida, a manatee experience at SeaWorld, Orlando, sea lion and otter shows in San Diego and San Francisco, and dozens of concepts for new theme, parks and attractions in China, the Middle East, and Europe. In 2000 I formed my first co-venture called Story Dept. And produced media base experiences in Nashville, Miami, and other domestic cities. In 2009, I formed a partnership with a former executive Disney Imaginer, and developed a robot theme park in Korea. A year later, I founded my current firm, Zeitgeist Experiences. For the past 15 years, we have been one of the world’s leading experiential design and production. Studios, developing major theme parks, Dark Rides, thrill rides, walk-through attractions, Halloween mazes, and other exciting experiences from China to Paraguay to Albania to Texas. I also co-produced in cohost the industries popular zoom/podcast, The Spirit of the Time.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My career began pre-Internet, so when I realized in 1992 that no job is forever and found myself out of Disney, my struggle was to find other potential employers using telephone books, newspapers, and the library. I used to spend a lot of time in copy shops and office supply stores assembling impressive portfolios to snail mail to companies. I hoped to consult or work for. Getting paid, especially from international clients, is always a struggle. As is pleasing clients who are ignorant or uneducated about the process or what will actually help them succeed! Of course, the biggest struggle is having the time and resources to continue to develop new business while excelling in the work we are doing for current clients.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I was born with the gift of writing. Since I was in first grade, I have one contest for creative writing, poetry, lyric, writing, and storytelling. It has always come very easy to me to express my emotions, and use wordplay to entertain people. I worked in journalism in high school and college and even during slow times in my career. I’ve been published in multiple magazines and newspapers – mostly tied to my industry. It’s always fun when people read even just a simple email or letter and tell me what a wonderful writer I am! I am very proud of the innovative ideas I develop and the experiences I have created that result in happiness and memories for family is around the world. I think what sets be apart from others is not just my talent and experience, but my desire to emotionally compel people and make the world a better place.

Any big plans?
The world in my industry are at a crossroads right now. Between current politics and financial issues, things have very much slowed down, even though younger people seek experiences over material things and experiential entertainment is more popular than ever. We are redesigning our website, recently changed our company name, and have downsized and gone virtual for the time being. I am at an age where I may consider a full-time job versus continuing to try to develop new business when there are large well, funded firms, entering my industry, offering to work below market rates in order to accumulate clients and build a portfolio. I am also considering owning an operating my own immersive experience – taking my talents and knowledge and insights over the past 30 years and making them benefit me!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Zeitgeist-USA.com