NZ Alumni Profile: Ryan Shea

Ryan Shea, center, red striped shirt, poses with youth poets and musicians who performed at Northstar Lounge in February

Ryan Shea was a high school freshman at Community High School, when he walked over to The Neutral Zone after school with a friend who was doing graphic design and screen printing that afternoon. He ended up joining a discussion with the members of Youth Owned Records. “(I joined) that group, the team for Breakin' Curfew, the Teen Advisory Council and the board of directors, as well as booking for the B-side, and helping to establish The Orpheum recording studio.” Ryan’s enthusiasm for music and events was tangible, even to Executive Director, Lori Roddy.

“I saw him pacing excitedly, he said he was having the best day ever because he had just signed with Youth Owned Records”, Roddy recalls, smiling.

Indeed, Ryan Shea would continue on to not only make an impact on Neutral Zone, but on the larger Ann Arbor community of musicians and performers.

Regarding his experience at Neutral Zone, Ryan asserts:

“It was a rare opportunity to have the expertise provided by the engaged staff, the permission to pursue the wackier ideas we had, and the resources to execute those ideas at a professional level. I learned so much at the Neutral Zone about leadership and communication, as well as professional-level technical skills in the behind-the-scenes aspects of the music industry.”

Ryan as a teen peforming with fellow alum and bandmate Jake Cinti

Under the tutelage of Ingrid Racine, the music coordinator at the time, Ryan was able to learn, not only the fundamentals of music performance, but the integration of creativity, and thinking outside the box. Support from staff who also maintained music careers was a huge factor in Ryan’s music industry experience at Neutral Zone. 

Years later, Ryan has alchemized the ideas and techniques he learned at Neutral Zone, and subsequently the University of Michigan, working at North Star Lounge as the Stage Manager.

“(It's a) small venue in downtown Ann Arbor. I am responsible for booking 6-8 acts per week, maintaining the sound system and running it for many of the acts, and helping with promotion, along with other things. The parallels between my roles at the B-side and North Star Lounge are fairly obvious, but I also lean on many of the connections that I made at the Neutral Zone as I evaluate which acts would do well in the space. My generation of Neutral Zone alumni has grown into a group that is well connected in local arts, events, and nonprofit scenes.”

Ryan was able to not only find purpose in his career, but was also deeply connected to the community and his peers after their days at Neutral Zone were done. 

When asked what advice he’d give to teens at Neutral Zone, Ryan offers:

“Find your community! No matter what form of art you are creating, it will be more fulfilling, enjoyable, fruitful, and interesting if you are able to exchange ideas with people that are excited for your growth as well as their own. From the early break dancing parties in the Bronx, to the experimental visual and sonic art scene in San Francisco, There are so many well documented examples across history of these pockets of artistic explosion caused by the sharing of ideas between young, creative people. Making art for the public is fine, making art for yourself is cool also, but much of the most rewarding and lasting art seems to be made keeping up with your talented friends”. 

Ryan has more than just advice for current Neutral Zone teens. On Feb 19th North Star Lounge and Neutral Zone collaborated on a teen community night, with poetry and acoustic sets from seven teens that frequent the space. With the opportunity to perform for the local community teens were encouraged and felt supportive - expressing their big feels and gratitude days and days later.