Richard Liebowitz

Richard Liebowitz is a passionate Long Island native with photography flowing through his veins. Based in the bustling city of New York, Richard is a thriving freelance photographer and accomplished Broadway Producer.

Richard’s journey in photography began years ago, and he honed his skills as a photojournalist capturing the city’s essence. His dedication and expertise in the field earned him a successful career as a professional photographer.

Having a strong foundation in business communication, Richard graduated from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania in 2010. At Penn, he was actively involved in various publications and organizations, serving as the Photojournalist and Videographer for the Daily Pennsylvanian Newspaper and participating in 34th Street Magazine, First Call Magazine, and SPEC Film Society. His passion for media and entertainment led him to be an active Wharton Media and Entertainment Club member.

Continuing his academic journey, Richard pursued further studies at Hofstra University. Here, he made significant contributions to the campus community, establishing multiple clubs and organizations that fostered a sense of community among students while helping them plan for their future. His leadership skills flourished during this time, proving valuable throughout his career.

With a thirst for knowledge, Richard embraced an internship opportunity with renowned photographer Bruce Cotler in New York. Under the mentorship of one of the industry’s greats, he immersed himself in photography, documenting his experiences in the book “Apprentice! Lessons Learned on the Frontlines of Life.”

Richard thrives as a Broadway Producer, exemplified by his involvement in the 2022 revival of David Mamet’s American Buffalo. This notable production, starring Darren Criss, Sam Rockwell, and Laurence Fishburne, captivated audiences at the Circle in the Square theatre during its previews in 2022. Richard truly advocates for the arts and cherishes every opportunity to contribute to the theater world.

Amidst his busy schedule, Richard remains committed to giving back to the community. Every week, he volunteers at The Bowery Mission, helping New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, poverty, or hunger by providing them with food, shelter, and clothing.

Richard Liebowitz is a true embodiment of dedication, talent, and compassion, continuously impacting the world around him.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

I generally wake up and do some stretching exercises to wake up my body. I am a workout person, so I try to have a healthy breakfast before starting my workout routine. I usually do a thirty-minute HIIT workout on my treadmill, followed by two separate weight exercises that I rotate five times a week. I usually take off Wednesdays and Sundays from working out.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I generally will look at the season and decide what event matches the season. For example, in October we had a Halloween event, so I needed to assemble a group of performers that did costume changes throughout the night. When we had an event at CitiField to watch the Mets in a Private suite, I made sure we had plenty of hotdogs, fries, and beer for our attendees. Also MR. Met, the team mascot, made an appearance.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I enjoy watching the engagement of our highly educated Ivy League crowd that loves
Interacting and mingling with each other. It’s great to see new friends made, some that will last a lifetime, and that I had a little hand in making that happen.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

I make to-do lists that I update on a daily basis to stay organized. There are many moving pieces in the live event business. Things are always changing during the day, and you need to stay focused.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Life moves very fast, don’t waste time on sweating the small stuff. Also, hire the right individuals to work with you. Hire people who have skills that complement you. If you are more of a marketing guy, make sure you have a good accounting person who gives you understandable financials to help run both your business and personal life.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

The only thing in life that is constant is change, you need to adapt to trends and pivot. Also, having hustle and hunger are the two most important things. Don’t expect someone to do something that you won’t do yourself.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Keep your word, it means a lot. If you say you are going to do something, always do it. Do not lie it catches up with you and will hurt you in the long run. Actions speak louder than words.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I usually go for a long walk in Manhattan to clear my head and think things through. Also, I run things by my associates and family members to confirm what I am thinking is a good choice.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Have a plan and stick with it. If I’m involved in a Broadway show, we have many meetings to make sure the rehearsal schedule is fixed, the marketing and advertising budgets are in order and that the merchandise is correct for the show. Also, having a Plan B is important if things don’t work out as planned.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

One big lesson I learned in life is to treat people well.. I don’t care if you are my lawyer, accountant, programmer, or the janitor that cleans the office. Treat everyone with respect.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Don’t be afraid to try new ideas. Use various marketing methods and do AB testing to see which campaign delivers the best results. AI will be a really big deal in the future. I currently use it to help with speeches, invitations, and marketing ideas, and it is a very useful assistant.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Constant Contact is my go-to software for engaging my clients to come to my events and shows.
Constant Contact is among the oldest email marketing platforms in the market, and it has surely come a long way since its first release. It has a wealth of features ranging from email marketing and automation to SMS marketing and CRM.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

I spent $100 taking my friend to lunch who has a successful business. He gave me invaluable
Advice on running a business, treating employees and advice on how to scale my business.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

I listen to the Joe Rogan podcast and Howard Stern mostly to stay current with popular culture, and celebrity interviews and listen to who’s advertising. I also read the NY Times, Wall St. Journal, NY Post, and Daily News each day. I listen to Bloomberg radio in my car to stay up to date on the economy and the markets.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

My all-time favorite series is Dateline and 48 Hours. It’s very exciting to see how crimes get solved using new DNA techniques, and I’m sure that AI will be a big part of solving difficult cases in the future. Crime solving is a collaborative effort, and watching so many different police organizations working with the press, families, and specialists is very interesting.

Key learnings:

• Artificial intelligence is going to be one of the biggest things since the advent of the internet. The possibilities for almost every industry are overwhelming. The more you use Chat GPT or other Open AI, the better the outcome you will get.
• Treat everyone you meet with kindness and respect as you would like to be treated yourself.
• Be honest with yourself, if a project is not working, pull the plug on it after you gave it your best shot. Many things are too early or consumers have not been adapted yet. Do not go broke trying to chase that dream.