Meet Rick Caballo

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Rick with us today. Welcome, and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you got it from?

Growing up, I was always taught “your word is your bond,” meaning be honest, do things right, and do right by others, and there will be no problems. That includes any work I produce, whether it’s writing a song, painting a portrait, building a website, or designing a logo. My best work must be produced to the best of my ability, not only for our clients but also for myself. I can’t let things slide and put out things I myself wouldn’t be happy with.

Thanks. So, before we move on, maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve been a creative all of my life and will approach anything creative.

I was born in Wollongong, Australia, and in my late 20s, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue my singing and songwriting careers. My entire life I’ve been building artistic skills, from painting motorcycle helmets, murals, screen printing, sculpting, carpentry, motorcycle design, logo design, website design, music, and marketing. I’ve been lucky that I get to exercise all these skills in my own company. My wife is the brains and drive behind our company, Dead Horse Branding. We love to help people achieve their business goals, from strategy to marketing to visualizing all their brand components. We look after all types of businesses, including music, fashion, sports, automotive, and the hospitality industry. It’s the same formula, but each client has different needs and passions to elevate. It’s great when these industries cross-pollinate, creating great relationships and collaborations. Communication is key, as is making sure we are the perfect vehicle to visualize the client’s vision.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Integrity: being honest and having strong moral principles. Hard work is where you get better at your craft and build your body of work and relationships. Relationships: If you deliver with hard work and integrity, you will have strong relationships. Following these three simple things will ensure you have great longevity and future recommendations, whether it’s for work or in. Personal life. It’s the old saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

Tell us what your ideal client would be like.

We work really well with start-ups and brands that have been around for years but need a refresher. The frill and expertise of building something from the ground up is very exciting for us, but also those brands that are on the decline are a great space for us, as we enjoy the challenge.

We work a lot in the music and licensing worlds; we help manage estates, for example, the Bo Diddley Estate.

We find creative ways to keep that legacy alive, both financially and culturally. Producing collaborations with other brands helps them leverage each other, creating great alliances for generations to enjoy.