Meet Garrett Parrish | Art and Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Garrett Parrish and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Garrett, what role has risk played in your life or career?
“Greatness favors the risk-takers” is what I’ve always lived by. To me, if you’re not uncomfortable in your career and experiencing moments where you’re unprepared and out-of-your-league, then you aren’t pushing yourself enough. I’ve taken some big risky swings in my career and every single one of them have paid off; I’ve certainly stumbled here and there but if you’re going to fail, do it quickly, and privately if possible. Take your learnings, lick your wounds, and show up the next day ready to go.

I believe that you career should be oriented towards learning, not earning. Pick the jobs and opportunities by where you’re going to learn the most and how much you will be challenged. There’s always a moment when you get an opportunity you don’t think you’re ready for and usually within a few weeks you realize you can handle it.

When I graduated from university, almost all of my colleagues were headed off to six-figure jobs in technology, consulting, or banking. I took a job as an intern making $16.00 because I knew that many years later it would be the most important decision of my career; to choose to go and learn and to figure out the financial part later. This is exactly what happened; seven years later, I’ve risen up quickly and have built my life in many other ways. I lost money that first year as an intern but it meant that I had the chance to learn from the most brilliant minds at Walt Disney Imagineering and that has been truly invaluable to my entire career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My professional journey started when I was 12 years old. Fresh from a family divorce, my mother took my siblings and I down to Disney World for our once-in-five-years family vacation. When I was there I saw a nighttime spectacular called “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth”. It was a 12 minute show about the world coming together to build a brighter tomorrow. At the time, I didn’t quite understand the altruistic message and the technical complexity that created such a breathtaking spectacle. But, all I knew then was that this was the work I wanted to do in my life. I wanted to create big beautiful experiences that told simple and emotional stories that ultimately bring the world closer together.

As a poor theater kid that grew up on the east coast, I had no exposure to entertainment, hollywood, or the artistic industries. I figured that pursuing a career in creativity or artistry was a dead end to not even consider. But, I knew the emotional experience I had received when I saw this show and I thought that if I could contribute to creating these types of things in the future, then I would have a shot at a fulfilling life.

The biggest struggle I have always faced is fear of speaking. When I was young, I was very loud but became much more shy as I became a teenager. As I grew out of high school, I worked on several science fair projects and ultimately won the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering fair. The most important part of this experience was the months and months of practice I undertook on my presentation. Learning how to communicate complex information in an accessible and understandable way is the most important skill I think anyone can learn. I would give hour long presentations on my projects and the repetition and constant scrutiny allowed me to develop my skills in a way that would have long-lasting effects.

Once I left school and pursued my career, it only became natural that my career path involves a large amount of salesman ship. You can draw the most beautiful picture and come up with the most exciting idea but if you can’t convince a business to spend money on it, then it will never leave your mind. I’ve spent the majority of my career so far developing my skills at communication and salesmanship in the creative sphere and that has been by far the most important aspect of my skillset.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well first, welcome to Los Angeles! It’s a chaotic and contradictory city that to me can be defined by the phrase: “Choose your own adventure.” Unlike mega-cities like New York City or Tokyo, the two cities I know best, Los Angeles is a wide frayed tapestry of different experiences. I have lived in the San Fernando valley for my entire time in LA and I would definitely start there.

I’d start with the ocean, since that’s the most iconic and important part of Los Angeles in my opinion. I’d skip Santa Monica and go down to Marina Del Rey where my favorite private beach spot is nestled at the end of the Marina; it’s something few people know about. On they way I’d stop by the Matsuya marketplace and pick up some Japanese Bento’s and enjoy the sunset out by the pier. There’s salsa dancing at the Warehouse restaurant in Marina that’s always a fun time and great place to meet other people who love to dance.

I would spend a few days in the various boroughs of the city, I’d go to a small-time jazz concert in Inglewood, have a cocktail at Perch downtown overlooking the Walt Disney Concert hall, check out a comedy showcase in Hollywood, go bowling in Highland Park, and take a drive through the Malibu coast.

Los Angeles is nothing without its nature and recreation and there’s some beautiful places to experience within a 2 hour drive of the city; Lake Arrowhead, Santa Barbara, Ohai, and Costa Mesa are places that come to mind for a bright day trip.

And I would of course end the trip with a day at Disneyland; it’s a perfect kiss goodbye from the original park built by Walt Disney and will leave you wanting to come back to experience more of LA.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There has been so many people in my education and career that have helped me advance to the position I have; too many to name. I believe we are only what others have helped us become and we are the assemblage of our past experiences and the bits of wisdom we have learned from others. I take very little credit for the career that I have; I was born as an American into a middle-class family and had opportunities that 99% of the world citizens cannot have. Hard work is important but the beginning is most of the battle.

My music and science teachers in high school were by far the most important influences in my life and career. My jazz teachers taught me about the values of discipline, emotional communication, and respect. My science teachers taught me about intellectual excitement, time management, and professionalism. I’m very much the same person I was in high school but with slightly better fashion sense and more experience.

Instagram: @garishparrot

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettvparrish/