Bio

About Ryan

Ryan Skyy is a Pop-singer/songwriter/producer, nightlife promoter, marketing consultant and entrepreneur. He has become a leading figure in Pittsburgh’s nightclub scene as a performer, marketer, and promoter. Skyy’s events have the largest following of any promoter in Pittsburgh, and his creativity and accomplishments have been featured in media outlets throughout the tri-state area.

MUSICIAN

POP SINGER/SONGWRITER

“My mission is to channel delicious, consumable, universal pop music to the world in a theatrical way” says Skyy, who is currently pursuing a record deal and preparing for a move to New York City.

Skyy’s first dance single “No One” is already quickly spreading to iPod’s across Pittsburgh and receiving weekly play in local nightclubs. Skyy wrote, produced, and sang on the track before passing it along to producer DJ Strobe (10 #1 Billboard Dance Singles) for a final remix.

Inspired by the buzz that “No One” has generated, Skyy is quickly working on his 2nd and 3rd follow-up singles.

Ryan’s love for Pop music started at a very early age. When he was a little boy, he would sing along to his favorite Michael Jackson & Stevie Wonder hits and dance around the house with his mother to Debbie Gibson & Madonna tracks. “My father was also a big classic rock fan. He used to play Queen every time we worked on the family cars together” says Skyy.

When Ryan was 7 years old, his great grandmother (who played piano for silent movies in the 1930s) gave Ryan her piano. His love affair with the piano and songwriting began.

“I used to lock myself in my room for hours just playing and singing. Most of the time I just made up melodies and words as I went along and experimented with different motifs I would create,” says Ryan. “Growing up, my family moved around the east coast all the time. I was constantly changing schools and saying goodbye to friends. I never had the opportunity for piano lessons so I just taught myself how to play. Music has always been the one constant in my life. It was something I could turn to no matter what happened to me.”

THEATRE

Ryan is an accomplished actor with regional theatre credits and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Point Park University. Ryan received the highest level talent and academic scholarship while attending Point Park and graduated Cum Laude.

Ryan is most notably known for his portrayal of Riff-Raff in Point Park’s acclaimed production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Ryan’s other professional theatre credits include Pittsburgh CLO (“A Musical Christmas Carol”) and Pittsburgh Musical Theatre (“Grease”, “Children of Eden”, “Miss Saigon”).

Ryan’s love for theatre started when he met Carla Bianco, who would eventually go on to mentor the young artist, at the age of 18. “Carla did it all,” says Ryan. “She was on Broadway, toured the US and wrote a number 1 Billboard Dance Track. She was the first person I met that had a love for theatre and pop music and forged a successful career in both fields. She guided my early journey as an actor and singer/songwriter. She gave me the confidence to be my own person and fight for what I want.”

Carla persuaded Ryan to pursue a degree in Musical Theatre from Point Park University because it would provide overall training that would strengthen him as an actor, singer, dancer, and performer.

“I could see Pop music going very theatrical, so I decided to give myself the professional training I knew would make me a strong, dynamic, creative performer,” says Skyy.

OTHER MUSIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Ryan was a finalist for B94’s “Pittsburgh Idol” and McDonald’s “Gimme The Mic.” He has performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade, Toronto Santa Clause Parade, and the Florida Orange Bowl Parade.

When Ryan was in 10th grade, he toured and performed 4 concerts in Italy as a member of an a cappella quintet boy group. “I can remember performing at an equinox festival in Assisi in front of 10,000 people. It was the funniest thing, because as we were singing, you could start to see swarms of girls make their way through the crowd to get closer to the stage. They had no idea who we were. That was my first taste of what established Pop stars must experience on a daily basis,” says Skyy.

ENTREPRENEUR

In addition to Ryan’s musical pursuits, he is also an accomplished entrepreneur and marketing consultant. Ryan has developed marketing campaigns for Lion’s Gate Entertainment, built websites for dozens of local businesses, promoted nightclub events, threw charity benefits, launched a local nightclub, and ran his own collection of online websites.

NIGHTLIFE PROMOTER

“I knew that if I wanted to pursue a pop career, I had to learn the in’s and out’s of the nightclub scene and the dynamic of dance club music,” says Ryan.

In 6 months time, Ryan became a well-known club promoter for his themed BLOWPOP parties he threw at a club called Privilege Ultralounge in Pittsburgh’s warehouse district. “I fused my love for theatre, art, and music together and threw these wild, off-the-wall themed parties. Before I started BLOWPOP, Privilege was only getting 50 people a night to their club. Within a month, I had over 400 people attending my parties without spending any money on marketing. People love show business and escapism and I gave them that by taking them to another world with my themed parties.”

CLUB DIRECTOR

Skyy’s success with his BLOWPOP parties eventually led to him getting hired as the club director for HEAT Pittsburgh, a new nightclub. Skyy orchestrated every aspect of the nightclub launch from hiring the staff, building the websites, building the social network campaigns, developing the weekly parties, branding the club, sending out press releases, designing the marketing ads, forging strategic partnerships, and organizing the street team.

In January 2010, Skyy single-handedly orchestrated the single-biggest turnout any nightclub in Pittsburgh has ever received on it’s Grand Opening night. 2500 people showed up (more than double the club’s capacity) to attend Skyy’s launch of HEAT.

With the Ryan Skyy brand attached to every party at HEAT, Skyy is becoming very well-known in Pittsburgh and has successfully built a platform to launch his personal brand and music career. Skyy performs weekly to packed crowds and  serves as the face and host for his parties.

Ryan’s nightclub efforts have gained widespread press coverage in Pittsburgh newspaper, magazine, and TV media.

ONLINE BUSINESS

Ryan has been self-employeed since the age of 18. He has developed 8 online companies that have sustained his finances and paid his way through college. Although Ryan cannot list his past businesses (because they were each sold to private investors), they involved the computer repair, software wholesale, private consulting and business opportunity markets.

“The idea of business seemed to click with me at a very early age,” recalls Ryan. “I always had a knack for making money. I used to take rocks from my back yard, paint them, and sell them to kids in my neighborhood for 50 cents. I’d throw in a little twist by making them pick their rock out of a brown paper bag. If they pulled out a black rock, I’d give them a second rock for free. Kids bought them up like crazy!”

Ryan’s business specialty lies in finding niche’s and capitalizing on them. The experience he’s gained as an entrepreneur, marketing consultant, nightlife promoter, and musician make him a unique, passionate, and confident force to be reckoned with.