On Point With Jaclyn Jeffrey
We introduce you to remarkable people with extraordinary stories who can help change the way we look at the world or the way we look at our own lives. Produced by Weston Today, a Connecticut news organization.
On Point With Jaclyn Jeffrey
On Point With Ryan Inzero
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What started as a lark spinning signs turned into a passion, and eventually landed Ryan Inzero on the stage of America’s Got Talent, where Mel B stood up after his audition and declared it “nuts, ridiculous” and said she loved it.
But Ryan’s story is about much more than sign spinning. It’s about having the confidence to be different, pursuing something you genuinely love, and discovering just how far an unconventional path can take you. This is a fun one!
Enjoy the show! On Point With Jaclyn Jeffrey is produced by Weston Today, a Connecticut news organization. Follow us on Instagram, @westontoday.
So, welcome to On Point with Weston today, where we introduce you to remarkable people with extraordinary stories that help us change the way we look at the world and as well the way we look at our own lives. So, Ryan, you're gonna get into this crazy story and this crazy thing that you did uh in a minute. But first, if you could just introduce yourself to our listeners, uh, who you are, where you live, ish, just where in Connecticut and what you do. The real job, I mean, what you do.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, thank you for having me. It's gonna be awesome to you know tell this story. But uh, my name is Ryan Insrow. I'm from Connecticut, and so I'm usually around Fairfield County area. So yeah, I get around a bit much, but and what kind of work do you do?
SPEAKER_01Real work, your real job?
SPEAKER_00So yeah, my I work in my family's uh market. We have a coffee shop in Fairfield, Connecticut. So we have like a local coffee cafe market slash, we have a bunch of stuff in there. So I manage that. Um, so I'm non-stop there. Um, so yeah, I'm pretty much full-time doing everything. I'm like, ah, it's too much.
SPEAKER_01Okay, so we didn't have you on to talk about the work you do for your parents, although then I'm sure that's very interesting. But uh there are very few people who can say that they made it on to America's Got Talent. In fact, I don't know if you know this, I did some research. It's less than a half of 1% of all those who no, no, all those who apply who make it to that first audition in front of the judges. So very few who make it on at all, much less people who make it on doing what you do, which is sign spinning. So first, first, I mean, I know it kind of is what it is, but can you explain a little bit about what it is and how this whole experience of getting on AGT actually happened for you?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I mean, again, I'm working for my family's market, and my dad's like, hey, we need to drive some business to the market because we're in a sports box. So he sent over videos of people spinning signs. So essentially it's you're having a core plast sign um and spinning it, just doing tricks with it, grabbing attention from driving by, you know, people driving by, and they're just like, Oh, what is going on? So, anyway, he sent over videos of people spinning signs, and I'm like, Oh, that's not difficult. I could do that. Wait, hold on one second, right?
SPEAKER_01Was his plan for you to do this, or was this just like an idea that he had?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it was just an idea. He sent over a video, and I'm like, I could do that, no problem. Yeah, so I pretty much just went in the backyard three days, two hours a day, just learned a basic spin. I was just like doing, you know, generic moves. I'm just feeling it out. I'm like, okay, I think we're ready. I just go on the side of the road, and honestly, I'm out there for like I want to say an hour. It was first day. I'm just spinning signs. People are driving by, they're like, they're honking their horns or taking videos. I'm like, oh well, maybe we'll come back tomorrow. I was just, I was only gonna do it for like a day or so.
SPEAKER_01Um, and so I just let me let me just ask you one question. So when you say you were in the backyard a couple of hours a day for three days, yeah, are there like YouTube videos on how to do this, or did you just sort of figure it out?
SPEAKER_00I mean, I kind of just figured it out because a little, I mean, it's kind of like anything, everybody's a little bit different. Um, so it's just like finding a groove that works. Um, so I was just passing it between my hands, getting different movement with my hands because everything's kind of like you have to get into the right position. So I'm just feeling it out for three days. I'm just feeling out how everything feels. And I'm like, okay, I feel a little bit comfortable now. Everything's a little smooth. I mean, we're talking about I'm slow. I'm I just started and I'm just like, okay, we'll go for it. I'm like, we're done practicing. And yeah, we just go on the side of the road, and I just do it every day.
SPEAKER_01Okay, so here's what boggles my mind about talent like what you do and other sort of off-the-beaten path things that people do. So your dad has this idea, he sends you videos, you're in your backyard, you practice a couple of hours each day, then you're on the street spinning signs. How did you jump from that to I think I'm going to audition for a major TV show and do this in front of millions of people? How did you get from one thing to to the? That's a big jump.
SPEAKER_00Oh, well, I mean, it was a long time too. I mean, so I'm I was I've been doing it for six and a half years. So in the beginning, I was just spinning signs pretty much just on that side corner right there for l literally years. I'm like probably easily three years. I'm just going out there over summer, just going out. Um, and then I didn't really post so much on like social medias and stuff like that. Um, and then I got injured. I was spinning at a um football game, got injured, and I couldn't move for literally 17 days. I'm like, ah, what am I doing? So I was just posting a bit more because I had time. I didn't I couldn't do anything, so I was just posting, and a lot of my stuff was going viral. So I was just after my injury, I was coming out doing a bunch of jobs, and I'm like, oh, the people were hiring me. So I'm like, let's just go big because I was getting on these, um I was getting these big talent scouts, and I'm like, well, let's just go audition for America's Got Talent, why not? I mean, well, good for you. Good for you, yeah. I mean, you it's honestly what like the mentality is like you can kind of get anywhere with enough dedication. So it's like pretty much, I don't know, it doesn't matter what you're doing. If you have enough dedication and you believe in like what you're worth in terms of getting places, you can pretty much yeah.
SPEAKER_01And Ryan, that's exactly why I wanted to have you on our podcast. I mean, yes, to talk about sign spinning and talk a bit about AGT, but it's for exactly what you just said, is is really believing in a thing you can do and then practicing it, etc. So, so how does this work? So you send in an audition tape. What how did this happen?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so generally you would submit it through the website, and so you send a clip, I'd pre-recorded what my act would be, and then I send it in, and initially you don't really hear back from them. Um, and so that was back in December I sent that, and like you'll get confirmation, blah, blah, blah, blah. We need to go through the producers and so forth. Um, but then all of a sudden March came, they're like, Okay, we're on. I'm like, huh? I was just it was just like off on. It was just like, yeah.
SPEAKER_01What did you think when you got that call or email saying we're on? I mean, what did you think?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'm like, I'm like, I was like, is it real? Is it really real? Like, because you don't really think about it um like until you're in the midst of it. Like it just seems a bit surreal because you're not really there. Um, it's just like I don't know, pinch myself a little bit. I'm like, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01You get the call or email, so then what happens?
SPEAKER_00So I needed to catch a plane that same day. I jumped on a plane in five hours, flew to Pasadena, California, and well, not direct, but um yeah, I got in at 2 a.m. Got into the hotel at 4 a.m. So I was at the airport. I was like going to the rental. She's like, good morning. I'm like, it's still night. What are you talking about? No way it was so weird. I got in the hotel at four, and I had to wake up at six. I was like, shh, I was in my body was in shock. I couldn't eat food, I was like zero sleep. Um, but it turned out good. It was fun.
SPEAKER_01I had well when you got to the audition, do you remember the act that auditioned before you?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I mean, you're in the holding area, this is what they call it where they have performers. Um, and so I had two days, and so the acts that went on, yeah. I I mean, I probably can't say which because they do whatever they oh, right, right, right, sure. Um, but yeah, I remember them, they were fun. I was I I was watching them, I'm like, yeah, and so you get to know the performers a bit more than just on screen because you're with them, and then they're like, Oh, it's my turn. They go on, they come back, and you're like, Yeah, because you kind of know who they are, their backstory.
SPEAKER_01So if you can remember, Ryan, what did you think? So you get you know, you get pushed out by um Terry, and and there you are on the stage. I mean, what were you what were you thinking?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, so yeah, I'm on the stage backstage, getting ready to jump on, and here he's on either like, okay, Ryan, getting ready. I'm like, okay, blah blah blah. And then all of a sudden they're like, Okay, man, let's go, let's do it. I'm like, okay, we're ready. I just go on stage, and it's honestly because I've been spinning for so long, it kind of just felt more natural than anything. Like, I wasn't really nervous. The more nervous part would be just the anticipation of when am I going on? Um, so you kind of just I stepped on stage, and I mean the crowd is wild, so they're just like cheering nonstop. So you kind of just feel right at home right when you jump on stage, at least for me. I know some performers were like super nervous, and then they like got off stage and they're like, it's over. I was like, but also I'm doing something that I'm non-stop, I don't practice. The only time I'm doing it is when I'm at a job in revenge. So me going on there, I'm pretty confident in what I'm doing. I don't really have an issue. So I'm like, it just feels natural. Here I am.
SPEAKER_01So you did it, and we'll say you didn't get voted through, but but I just want to say, I mean, you obviously know what happened, but after you because I've watched your performance numerous times because I just thought it was so cool what you did and knowing we'd be talking. So after you were done, and you got maybe a couple of X's or whatever, I don't know what came first, but Mel B stood up and she said, I don't know what it's called, but it's nuts, ridiculous, and I really liked it. What was it like for you to hear her say that?
SPEAKER_00I was in shock because honestly, like when I'm doing anything, I like to keep the mentality of um like just go into anything, expect nothing, and you'll get everything. So I'm expecting, I'm just expecting exes. I'm just like, I'm done. So, like when Howie's like, no, I'm like, eh, and then Mel B was like, I was like, I was a bit shocked because I didn't expect the reaction from her. I'm like, oh, maybe I'm going through. And then no, it was really exciting because I mean, you get people who are like super hyped up when I'm spinning and stuff, but the judges are a bit, you know, they're supposed to be a bit critical, as that's what makes the show. So I'm like expecting nothing, and she just wowed my mind. I'm like, okay, okay, anything could happen now.
SPEAKER_01Well, it's interesting. I'm a fan of the show and uh of of all of I mean they're all critical in their own way, but she seems almost the most critical overall, you know, compared to the others. So you may have just answered my next question about this AGT experience, but when you think of all of it, you know, the call and going and auditioning and all of that, uh, what what was the biggest surprise to you of of that whole experience?
SPEAKER_00I mean, honestly, that you can get pretty much anywhere. I mean, that's I would say the biggest platform nationally, and I think it's broadcasted internationally. Um, so that's like a huge platform. That's me on the side of the street six and a half years ago with a sign is not even a big investment, and that's just me dedication. So it's just it's kind of living proof of just like where is your oomph put in. Like you can pretty much put it into anything. Anything. Um I don't I'm not even the gymnast, I'm just out there doing it, and then I'm just like I'm just doing it.
SPEAKER_01That's such a great story. So you're still yeah, but you're still doing it, I presume.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so uh I don't even know what today is, but I was last week in the city, the week before in the city. I usually go into the city, most of the jobs are there. Um, and so people hire me around. Uh, but yeah, I'm that's my thing. I'm I'm the sign guy.
SPEAKER_01It's just so cool. So let me ask you, when you think about friends and family and just people you meet who might say, Hey, what do you do? Um, what what how have people reacted to you doing something that's fairly um unconventional?
SPEAKER_00I mean, in the beginning, people are asking me, Ryan, what are you doing out there? Like, I don't know. I mean, people still to this day, they're like, Well, well, I haven't been on the side of that road, but middle plane, people would drive by and they're like, get a job. But like to this day, even on like social posts and stuff, people do hate to they just hate, I don't know. They're just like, no, because it's so unconventional, people are not adjusted to it. So it's like, I'm the wacko on the side of the road who doesn't have a job. So I'm like, I honestly don't care because it's funny to me, because I know what I'm worth and I know what I'm putting in. So I'm like, it doesn't really matter what somebody thinks of me, and honestly, that just propels the momentum further because that's how the way it works.
SPEAKER_01So have you been that way from the beginning? I mean, did those kind of comments ever make you stop and think, what am I doing, or have were you this way from the very beginning?
SPEAKER_00This way from the beginning. The only thing that would have ever deterred me was my own willingness to do it. That was the only thing. Like some days I'm out there literally three hours, four hours at a clip in the hot heat, 90s. I'm like, what am I doing out here? But no, honestly, I'm like, let's just stick with it. And because my background is music, so I'm I used to play music every day, two, three hours. And so I'm a bit adjusted to that, just the grind. I'm just like discipline is another word for it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's definitely so I I mean, I guess you sort of answered this other question I had, but I was gonna ask how you become comfortable standing out in a world where so many people are trying to do just the opposite, which is just kind of fit in.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, I honestly I think it's like there's only so many people who pave ways. I'm not saying I am a way uh I don't pave waves, but I'm just saying um most people follow and want to be less embarrassed and how they are in public in general. So um I don't know, I don't really think about that because I don't really care what people think. Were you always this way? In terms of I would say so. I'm trying to like we were homeschooled, so I don't really like public school, we didn't really have interaction. We didn't have interaction with kids, so we were homeschooled. Um, my first interaction, if you want to call it, was I was in a youth orchestra. So I mean, I never really thought differently. So I don't think that was like a main thing. Um like, oh, somebody's gonna think I'm a little weird. I don't know. I just never thought of it.
SPEAKER_01Well, I don't know. I mean, we're I know we're talking about spinning size, but I think the lessons from this and what you've said are just go way beyond science. Way beyond honestly. So let me ask you a quote, just a couple of final questions. If someone is listening right now, and I bet that they they will be, uh, that feels afraid to pursue something because they think it's too different or weird, or what are people going to think, um, what would you say to them?
SPEAKER_00Well, honestly, it depends on the context of what the person is doing or wants to do. Um it's a very, I mean, it's I not a broad, there's no broad way to approach that. Um because there are also morals based on decisions.
SPEAKER_01So assuming it's all with good intent and and good stuff. Any recommendations for people who are just too afraid to take the next step because it seem may seem weird to others?
SPEAKER_00I mean, again, it's hard to I don't want to be the one to say, go for it, um, because there's a lot involved with different decisions and different realms. But in the long term, it's more of what you can give to somebody else. So a lot of the motivation that I had out on the side of the road was people are I was making their day. So they're happy, they're smiling, they're honking, they're taking videos, and they're sharing it to friends and family. So that was a driving factor for me to stay consistently outside. Obviously, I'm driving business to our family's market, but it was just it was different. Nobody's doing that. So it's just like an incentive for me to see people's reaction. And honestly, if you can produce such reaction, so like people are like, yeah, and they're smiling. If you can put a smile on somebody's face, you're pretty much uh making steps. Each step you do, you're moving forward. If you put one frown on somebody's face, but you might be doing it in a good like you're not doing it purposefully, that's just on them. You can't make anybody happy. So I mean, that was a big motivation, I would say, if you're doing it in the intention, like going out of your way to make that person happier or a better. Um it's just kind of reflective of your motivations. Yeah, I don't know. Because it's it's kind of a broad question, I would say.
SPEAKER_01That's fine. So I have a couple of lightning round quick questions for you, but they're easy ones. All right, the favorite place you've ever spun a sign.
SPEAKER_00I mean, so far, South Africa, that would be the most exciting that you'd like to do or that you've done. Oh, no, I've done that. And so you did do that, yeah, in South Africa.
SPEAKER_01What were you doing there?
SPEAKER_00Why? Uh visiting friends, and so it was funny because I was getting a somebody contacted me. They're like, Oh, we have a um we have an event we want you to spin at. And it's CT. Sometimes I'm in CT. So um it was Cape Town, South Africa, and so sometimes CT, but generally it's CPT. So I'm assuming they were just getting confused. Um, and they're like, Yeah, we have this job. And I reached back, I'm like, I'm in Connecticut, USA. They're like, Oh, because it was in Cape Town, South Africa. But the weird part was I was going there for the time that they needed. I was going to visit. I was um, so I contacted back and I'm like, I'm going to be in the area. It was Stellen Bosch. And they're like, Okay, let's set it up. And so we had already extended our um vacation just a week after, and that was what they needed. So I we were visiting our friends. I went one day, I spun. It was for Francois Pinard, he's uh the ex-rugby team captain. So it was like a huge event. I didn't even know. So I show up, I'm like spinning in the heat. It was like six, uh, I think it was like it was either eight to nine or seven to eight. I can't remember, it was early. Um, but like the sign was made wrong. So I'm like taping it up. I'm like slicing it. I like slice my thumb. I'm like taping my thumb. It's kind of funny. And then I spun for an hour and hit my under my eye. And then later they're like, Oh, Francois Penard just went by you. I'm like, huh? I'm like, I don't even know who he is, to be honest. Um, but yeah, no, it was just so cool because everything kind of lined up.
SPEAKER_01I know for sure.
SPEAKER_00For sure. Honestly, did nothing.
SPEAKER_01I don't know if this is an accurate question to ask for what you do, but I my question was the most difficult trick. Is that a is that an accurate question?
SPEAKER_00For me personally, yeah, it's when the sign leaves my hand. When the sign goes up, anything can happen because once it comes down, I have to re grab it. To grab it again, so those are when all my injuries happen. Oh my nose, eyes, hands, knees. You get them everywhere. So once the sign leaves, the your hands, you're like, oh weirdest reaction you've ever gotten. Um I mean they kind of all blend at this point, but a lot of people think I'm on drugs, so I I honestly think that's the most weird because I would be dead. Like there'd be no coordination. I don't know why that I don't know. It just shocks me every time somebody thinks that because I'm like, nobody could if they were on drugs.
SPEAKER_01Right, right. And I probably know the answer to this question, but who was your favorite AGT judge?
SPEAKER_00Easily, man. Yeah, let me guess.
SPEAKER_01Um, and one word to describe the whole AGT experience.
SPEAKER_00I mean mind-blowing.
SPEAKER_01And uh last question: if you could perform anywhere in the world, where would you want to be?
SPEAKER_00I mean, it seems a bit ironic, but honestly, honestly, Hollywood, because just why not? That's where the opportunities are. And let's be frank, I can't be spinning for life. So it's more of turning the spinning into it's a stepping stone. So using it as a mount to get somewhere else. So I mean, yeah, uh, that's where I would aim for. Not physically just the location, but more of right.
SPEAKER_01No, no, I understand. And is there something at the moment you have in mind for what the next thing would be, or is that just sort of a general concept?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's the general concept. Um, people ask me all the time, do you like, oh, I need to jump under um casting group and so forth and so forth? And I'm like, all my jobs I've never pursued. Like they've all come to me. Everything that I've done is pretty much prompted. So I'm not like one to go out and solicit myself. So that's just like if it happens, it kind of happens. If I'm prompted to do it, I'll go for it. Um, but yeah, I'm like, that's just kind of the way I've been rolling. I'm just like from six and a half years ago, I'm just out here spinning some.
SPEAKER_01Well, I have no doubt. I have no doubt with your with what you said at the very start, in terms of determination and just going and doing it and making it happen, that whatever that thing is will just sort of happen like South Africa happened, like AGT happened. Um, and I think you're delightful. I think you've got a great message, and it's easy to get your arms around because it it's not complex. Uh, but I think you've done a remarkable thing, and I don't just mean getting on AGT, just the whole experience. And I wish you the best of luck and thanks for sharing your story.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, thank you for letting me come on and share my story. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01Thank you so thank you so much.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, thank you.