Daily Inspiration: Meet Brian Weyrich

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Weyrich

Hi Brian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a big music lover since I was a kid, and interested in the technology behind it. I grew up in Dayton, Ohio. When I was young I found myself making videos with the family VHS camera, and helping family friends set up their stereos and surround sound systems. I even got jobs recording and editing weddings. I used two VHS decks to edit, and eventually got a membership at the local cable council so I could use their editing equipment. When I got to high school I was was lucky that they had a two year video and radio production program which included advanced classes at a local community college. In the programed I gained enough skills to get a job at a local television news station. I worked there for five years, while also DJ’ing and doing freelance audio and video work. My side DJ career led me to taking over for a sound engineer at a music venue when he moved out of town. I enjoyed it so much that I quit my job at the news station to work there, and supplement with freelance work for various organizations and local AV event companies. After about seven years of this, I gained enough skill skills and experience to start working for larger production companies for all kind of events all around the US and even other countries. I focused on my video skills, which I found to be in high demand due to rapidly advancing technologies with video projection and LED screens. In 2013 I became head of video for a large arena tour that utilized projection mapping, which led to working other tours using that technology. I ended up moving to Denver in 2016 to work for Brown Note Productions, which had a small but rapidly growing event video department. At BNP I have working a large variety of events and tours, planning and deploying large and complex LED screen, projection, and camera switching systems all over the US. After meeting and marrying my wife, who plays gongs in yoga and sound healing settings, I started using my skills in projection and audio to collaborate with her. We started including projection art into her events that responds to the sound of the gongs. I try to keep it very organic looking, using nature and the cosmos as inspiration. I also took gong training from her original teacher, and started playing gongs with her, which I have found to be very enjoyable.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not! I found that there really is no direct route into the field that I am in. I had to determine if I need more college level education or not. Thankfully I had other people in the industry to help guide me. I also had a lot of training provided by companies I was working for. Another struggle was learning just how dedicated you have to be to advance in the industry. It required very long days and nights. Weeks and even months with no days off, and living in hotels and on tour buses for extended periods. I also had to learn how to work with a variety of other people in high pressure situations. I had to learn how to be cool under pressure when my clients and thousands of people in the audience are relying on my skills for the production to go flawless, so they have a great experience.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in video projection and LED video screens. I am known for being knowledgable on the technical side, but also the creative side when it comes to video directing, and creating and displaying content during performances. What sets me apart from others is the amount of experience I have, my music background which helps me to better flow with and play along with the music, and my unique, organic approach to creative video production. Also, I don’t think there are a lot of other video creatives that work with the sound of gongs!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Paul, of MS Entertainment in Dayton, OH really helped mentor me in my early days when it comes to event audio and lighting. He was a mad scientist and was very knowledgeable and willing to share his vast knowledge. Crazylegs, of Crazylegs productions in Northern Ohio trusted me to help him in my early days with larger productions, which really helped me gain more skills. All of the companies and professionals along the way that trusted me to be a part of their events, even when my resume wasn’t quite yet amazing. There are way too many to name!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mezz42
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.weyrich

Image Credits
Brian Weyrich, Valerie Weyrich