Project background

I was at the forefront of Sideshow Collectibles' response to the pandemic when in-person events were no longer an option.

The plans for our San Diego Comic Con 2020 booth were well underway, and that all had to be scrapped, but we still needed a way to bring that booth experience to fans so we could showcase and sell our product.

Creative process

I was tasked with finding a new way to connect and engage with our communities through exclusively online events.

I used my expertise in managing the company's Facebook Group to understand the wants, needs, and fears of our fanbase. They wanted connection, community, and a sense of normalcy. I brought this insight to the marketing team and we decided to host a virtual con with a difference. I was tasked with shaping the audience experience.

Instead of just showcasing products on screen, I used our video production studio to build out our booth with a skeleton crew using social distancing and masks. I went live from the booth with just my cohost and one camera operator and my social media team engaged with fans in the livestream comments from home.

I organized two types of livestreams to serve both the needs of the brand and the fans. The first was structured and focused on marketing the products, while the second was the All-Request Booth Tour, where we followed the audience's lead and showed them what they asked to see.

Final results

The result was the highest live viewer count in the company's history of livestreams, beating our previous sales record for in-person conventions. I discovered that the combination of professional marketing with casual community engagement was the perfect mix for growing audiences and driving sales.

Based on these findings, I developed a robust online event strategy that focused on humanizing the brand through authentic and conversational interactions with the audience through livestreams and Facebook Group interactions. This strategy was instrumental in growing audiences and driving sales and I continued to implement it until I left the company in 2022.

Annual Fan Event for MapleStory video game

As the Event Director for MapleStory Fest 2023, I spearheaded the creation and execution of Nexon America’s flagship fan event. This project marked a pivotal chapter in my event production career. As the Event Director, I re-envisioned this 6th annual event, doubling its size in both attendees and physical footprint, making it the largest in its history.

Event Innovation:

• Community Focus: Transitioned the event's core from developer presentations to player community engagement, fostering authentic interactions and building a vibrant fan community.

• Engagement Activities: Introduced cosplay contests, game shows, and interactive spaces, providing fans with numerous opportunities for engagement and entertainment.

• Influencer Integration: Successfully integrated official influencer teams, enhancing the fan experience and deepening the connection with the game and its creators.

Operational Excellence:

• Cross-Departmental Leadership: Managed a diverse team across multiple departments, overseeing the event's timeline, logistics, marketing, and budget.

• Record-Breaking Success: Achieved unprecedented success across all metrics, including financial performance and attendee satisfaction, with the highest satisfaction rates in the event's history.

MapleStory Fest 2023 stands as a testament to my capabilities in transforming traditional events into dynamic, community-driven experiences. It showcases my skill in orchestrating massive productions and my commitment to creating events that resonate deeply with participants.

Project Background

I was the Marketing Director for WhedonCon, a charity convention based on the popular TV shows Buffy the Slayer, Firefly, Doctor Horrible, and other properties created by Joss Whedon. I volunteered my time for this cause for two consecutive years, from 2017 to 2018. My role involved managing the social media and marketing strategies for the event.

Creative Process

I wanted to create unique fan experiences that couldn't be found anywhere else. I approached some of the guests who were slated to appear at the event and asked if they were interested in doing something different besides the typical panel discussion, autograph, and selfie sessions they were scheduled to do. I leveraged my intimate knowledge of the fandom, being a fan myself, to create unique experiences that the fans would love.

One of the experiences I created was a poetry reading night, where actors would pick monologues from the shows on the spot and perform them with their own creative twist, like a poetry reading. The only rule was that the monologue couldn't be one that they had performed in the show. This was a huge hit with both the actors and the fans, and fans even got invited by the actors to come up and perform as well.

Another unique experience was the craft sessions I organized with the actors who were interested. Fans got to make felt monsters with the actor who played all the creepiest monsters in the show, paint tea cups with Kathy, Buffy's college roommate, and more. These craft sessions raised an additional $2500 for the charity and added to the character of the quirky little convention.

Final Results

The actors who participated in the unique experiences I created loved them and expressed their willingness to give their time for WhedonCon events again. These little add-on interactions with the actors raised an additional $2500 for charity and became a staple of the event, with activities such as Pictionary nights, improv, Cards Against Humanity, sing-a-longs, and more being added to the list in the following years.

Project background

I was working as an Events Manager at Brave New World Comics and had a partnership with the owner who wanted to create a welcoming environment for female comic book fans.

At that time, it was becoming a growing trend that women were feeling unwelcome at local comic book stores. The customer base and employees were predominantly male, making it difficult for female fans to find a comfortable and inclusive space to indulge in their love for comic books. Women had started to resort to ordering comics online rather than visiting local stores. With this background information in mind, I was determined to help the owner of Brave New World Comics bring their vision to life and provide a space where female comic book fans could feel welcome and valued.

Creative process

During my discussion with the owner, I found out that she had a few successful events in the past that had attracted female customers. These events usually had a positive impact on the women who felt more at ease in a crowded and festive environment.

I decided to create an event called Geek Girls Night that was a celebration of all fandoms, not just comic books. I thought that by expanding the theme, more women would be willing to bring their friends along and we could introduce them to the brand.

I reached out to publishers and independent comic creators to donate products and swag for the event. I also asked some local crafters who made fandom-themed items to set up a booth and sell their creations. In return, I offered them a percentage of their sales to be donated to the store. I used the owner's extensive network of connections and the store's social media and mailing list to promote the event.

I filled in the event with fun activities such as geeky manicures, trivia games, craft-making stations, and fan-based cupcakes. I also set up a panel discussion about women in comics.

Final results

The first Geek Girls Night was a huge success and attracted a large crowd of women who were willing to drive out of their cities to attend the event. The sales and profits from that night were equivalent to the most profitable day of the year, Free Comic Book Day. Over 50 women created pull lists, which is crucial for a local comic book store's success.

Based on this success, I created a diverse lineup of events over the next two years that included private movie screenings, book signings, Geek Prom, Zombie marches, Kiddie Comic Con, arts and crafts, and more Geek Girls Nights.

The store's customer pull list went from 10% female to 75% female and we saw a huge increase in families visiting the store together. Our efforts made parents feel comfortable and welcome, and the store doubled the space for its children's section to better serve the expanding market.

She Makes Comics World Premiere Event

I Produced a screening event for the premiere of the documentary She Makes Comics. I was also featured in the film for my role in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for female comic book fans at the female-owned comic book store that was highlighted in the documentary. The screening was held at this store, making it the perfect setting for the world premiere event.