Ricardo 'Ricky' Chin. - file

Little attention is paid to the work done behind the scenes by production companies, such as Ricardo Chin Production Services, at numerous shows which require elaborate preparation.

Company CEO Ricardo Chin said he is committed to providing quality service and doing exactly what is expected of him and more. Evidence of Chin's ability came to the fore at the recent Red Stripe Live concert. From the stage to the lighting and general ambience, the show was exceptionally executed.

Chin said he was pleased with the show because he was able to execute a plan where he would depict aspects of the culture, in song and dance, from different eras in the Jamaican history.

"We did something that we would not ordinarily do. We exposed persons to different aspects of the music," Chin told The Gleaner.

17 years in the business

In addition, he said participants in the Red Stripe Learning For Life programme got hands-on experience of what would be expected in the entertainment field.

In his 17 years in the business, Chin has worked behind the scenes on many shows, including Reggae Sumfest, Sting, Reggae Camp Fire, the Prime Minister's Youth Awards, Fashion Block and Digicel's Rising Star. In addition, he has worked in Trinidad with Club Zen, where he produced shows with international acts such as Chris Brown and Lionel Richie.

Chin said his time with Sumfest was well-spent. He worked with them from 1993 to 2002.

"I had nothing more to give. If it doesn't offer a challenge I don't want to do it any more," he said.

Robert Russell, chairman of Summerfest Productions that does Reggae Sumfest, lauded Chin for his work. He was very efficient and had significant knowledge of the music industry. He is experienced in production and is one of the people who helped to hone Sumfest into the show that it is today," Russell said.

Good at his job

Adding: "I am always pleased with his work and he interacted well with all the persons with whom he worked. He is very good and still is today."

Sharon Schroeter, Digicel Rising Stars series producer, said Chin is part of the Rising Stars family and is good at his job.

"He provides everything that we want; anything that we want he can get it in a matter of hours. They (at Ricardo Chin Production Services) are very professional and they make you feel that they can do anything they say they can," Schroeter told The Gleaner.

With a team of seven, the company is able to complete the day-to-day in-house tasks of public relations and marketing. However, for bigger events, which require more technical expertise, Chin solicits help from other companies such as True Tone, Grizzley's, Starlight Productions and In Tech Lighting and the personnel can number as many as 100 or more.

Excitement

He said he liked working with the Prime Minister's Youth Awards and Fashion Block because of the level of excitement it provided. For Fashion Block, which was held on Knutsford Boulevard, in New Kingston, Chin was able to execute all his 'crazy' ideas, such as a 120-foot catwalk, which he said is the largest catwalk ever in the world.

"Whatever creative idea I have they allow me to execute it. I tend to do things that most people don't normally think of," said Chin, noting that the show might be even more extravagant this year.

But, with all the work he does, Chin said his greatest satisfaction comes from seeing the pleasure on the faces of his team members.

"I love seeing the glow and satisfaction it gives the team, that is part of the excitement. And the amount of planning that goes into the event, I should not be running up and down on the night of the event," said Chin.

This model struts down the massive catwalk at Saint International's Style Week Fashion Block, held on Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, last year. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer