The Zwarych brothers have achieved success in their business ventures promoting popular electronic talent
The club is packed with people of all ages and races edging toward the dance floor. Everyone is talking excitedly and sipping drinks as the sense of anticipation grows within the venue.
Then the beat drops.
Suddenly the crowd erupts, hands rise high in the air and hundreds of bodies move to the beat as the DJ starts his set.
In amongst the crowd are two of Calgary’s young entrepreneurs, brothers Richard, 21, and Patrick Zwarych, 19, who have made a name for themselves through their business ventures. They, along with the rest of the Ink Promotions family, have made this evening possible.
In September 2010, Richard Zwarych took over Ink Promotions, an electronic promotional group that brings in world-renowned talents and throws events at some of Calgary’s top nightclubs.
Since the Zwarychs took ownership of Ink Promotions, the company has grown in success and popularity. In the past year alone they have hosted top artists like Skrillex, Deadmau5 and Armin van Buuren, and a Halloween event known Cemetery of Sound, which drew more than 5,000 attendees.
The brothers said they believe their achievements are largely due to the decision to run their company more like a family than with a rigid hierarchal structure.
“Everyone in Ink are all good friends. It’s not like they’re our promoters, like they work for us. No, we’re really good friends and that’s the way we like to have it,” Patrick said.
Richard Zwarych (left) and brother Patrick Zwarych (right) enjoy playing beer pong.
Photo courtesy of Richard Zwarych
The nature of Ink Promotions is that of a “rock star lifestyle,” which all Ink members have happily embraced and the Zwarych brothers said is a large part of the reason that love what they do.
Every weekend consists of a party for them, some lasting on as long as two to three days.
“Half the time we’re in the crowd enjoying ourselves too,” said Brad Fernandez, a staff member and DJ for Ink Promotions.
The party lifestyle has become their territory, and something that they are well known for, but it is the hard work that occurs during the weekdays that has allowed them to accomplish so much.
“A huge thing for me and Patrick,” said the older Zwarych brother, “is the fact that a lot of people think this comes really easy. Most of Ink is what you don’t see — it’s what we do during the week to make it all happen.”
The brothers share 50 per cent of the workload, putting in full-time hours from Monday to Friday.
Like some of the most successful people in the world, both Richard and Patrick Zwarych dropped out of university, where they were studying entrepreneurship and marketing respectively.
“I respect people who are going to school, but for us we’re just doing our own thing and it’s working out,” Richard said. “School is for some people but not for us.”
Despite their quick success, their journey has not been without a few up-hill battles along the way, one of their biggest obstacles in the business being their age.
“No one takes you seriously at this age,” Patrick said.
“You’re perceived young, you’re perceived stupid,” added Richard.
In order to overcome this obstacle, the Zwarych brothers try to act “more responsible and mature.”
“It’s all about how you present yourself, whether that be in person, email or phone.”
Regardless of any obstacles or struggles that the Zwarych brothers have faced, their business venture into Ink Promotions has proven successful for them.
At the mere ages of 21 and 19, the young entrepreneurs have many plans for the new year. Though they are keeping future plans tightly under wraps, they have made it very clear that they plan to continue with Ink Promotions, as well as branch out into different business ventures.
“We’ll be here for a while. I don’t see us going anywhere. Why would we walk away from something that we love?” Richard said. “We’re not going to slow down.”