Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Sweeney.
Ryan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I went to college in New Orleans. The head of the music industry department was a guy named John Snyder. Look him up, John is a legend in his own way. I would say that is where it all started for me. Under John’s wing, I started to organize events, host concerts, and just learned a ton. From then on, my career has existed both inside and outside the music world, but in one capacity or another, it has always revolved around events.
I have held positions at Lagunitas Brewery, City Winery (New York, Chicago, and Napa Valley), SPiN (Susan Sarandon’s Ping Pong Club), ran my own business for four years managing and touring with bands, worked in radio promotion, was a talent buyer for music venues, as well as an after-school educational programs for inner-city kids.
So yeah, I guess I have been around the block. I can honestly say I have loved every job I have held, and each one helped me get to the next one. For me, one of the most important things to keep in mind while navigating what we call the “job market” is knowing when it is time to leave.
If you don’t feel challenged anymore, go find something that challenges you. If you find you aren’t learning anything new, move somewhere that will teach you new skills. Always be growing, but don’t ever leave a job on a bad note. I can walk back into any of the companies I worked for and get hugs. That is the key. When you leave a company, you should leave it better off than when you started.
I suppose all those jobs along with that attitude led me to where I am today. Under the umbrella of our company live Chicago’s top music venues, recording studio, video production team, and a beautiful new restaurant with a James Beard award-winning chef. Every day is exciting, and everyday is challenging. One day I could be planning a wedding for 250 people and the next day talking to Chance The Rappers team about a fundraiser event. It’s all pretty dope.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everyone has bad days. Everyone has to deal with policy changes they don’t agree with. Everyone gets put under pressure now and then that makes you want to pull your hair out. You fail sometimes. Sometimes you straight up fuck up. So has it been a completely smooth road? No, it hasn’t. But I am also not one to dwell on the negative.
What I often tell my employees is this: Now and then, you are going to drop the ball. You are going to mess up. You are going to fail. The question is, can you admit your mistake and figure out how to fix it? In my opinion, that is what makes the greatest leaders. Your openness to failure, your acceptance of it, and your ability to keep moving forward.
Tied House, Lincoln Hall, Schubas Tavern, & Audiotree – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We have a pretty unique set up over here and have multiple facets of the company.
It all started 7 years ago with Audiotree. Audiotree consists of a recording studio where we bring in bands to film 30 minute live performances. We interview the bands between songs, live stream the entire thing, then mix, edit and release the sessions after as well.
About five years ago, we took ownership of two of the most notable music venues in Chicago, Schubas Tavern and Lincoln Hall. There aren’t that many well-known rock bands of the last 30 or so years who haven’t played our stages.
Finally, our most recent addition to the business is Tied House, a beautiful brand new restaurant with a James Beard award-winning chef, Debbie Gold. Marble bar tops, copper patina fireplace, mind-blowing food, and some of the best cocktails in the city. We couldn’t be happier with this restaurant, and as of February 26th, it officially opened to the public.
As Director of Private Events, I oversee all of the events in our different physical spaces. It is a blast to work in such a diverse company with so many things going on. We are growing, and it is exciting. Honestly, the best thing about working here is the people. Is it weird to say that everyone here is just plain rad? Because they are.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
A while back I read a letter written by my 16-year-old self to my future self. I came across it digging through an old box in the basement. There was a line in that letter that read: “Dude if you are wearing a suit to work right now, you are doing it wrong.”
I haven’t had to wear a suit to work my entire life. So my proudest moment of my career is staying true to my ambitions as a kid. Some people grow out of their dreams. I like to think I never have.
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