The Not-So-Sponsored Influencer Opportunity
Let it be known that this post was going to be written regardless, only I had imagined it in a much different light. Not everything will be rainbows and sunshine, despite the Arizona weather being beautiful and sunny in the low 70’s. This is a post about my own experience and how I recall the series of events that made up an influencer experience that I would not wish on anyone. There may be things that contributed to these events, to which I may not be privy to and may logically explain a lot. Then again, there was a lack of communication so all I know is what I personally experienced, what I saw and heard, and what others have shared to me about their own experiences. This is going to be a long one, sorry there’s not audible version but I guess you’ll have to read like back in the day.
“I am flattered by the amount of interest in this post and how much you think my small-time blog may be impactful. ”
This is to make others aware of scenarios and the possible scenarios one may run into if attending a drive-in rave, and/or working with brands and companies. Check out these WTF moments that I had the honor to experience at my very first sponsored drive-in rave event. Not everything will be a pleasant, wonderful experience so I try to always convey my experiences, good and bad.
A little background on the Rave Brands I’ve worked with and shows I attended
This event was being put on by a production company which I will not name but will be referred to as simply production company. It was the rave fashion brand Rave Bae Couture (RBC) who initially reached out to me to see if I wanted to join them for this event. I am a brand ambassador for this brand and have also previously written for their blog. They allowed me to do an Instagram story take over for their brand last June for the first Park ‘n Rave in Arizona produced by Relentless Beats and Insomniac Events for Seven Lions event, so I have worked with them before. I also worked with Lunautics, as they allowed me to host a beauty bar for my group and I got to be the first blog post on her website discussing my experience at that event. For those events, the brands supplied me with products but expenses were paid for by myself. I’ve gone to quite a few Park ‘n Rave events at the NOS center in San Bernardino, California. I’ve also gone to a couple of events in Ventura County, California. First being Global Soundemic with Festival Addicts (check out their after-movie below) and the last one was for Kaskade show.
Back to this other event. RBC invited me and we were put into a group chat and representatives from the production company, and this was to go over the details of the event and what we would be doing and what not. What I can tell you which is relevant to the story is that we were promised by the production company, the following: an Airbnb, VIP passes which would allow us to have our own tented VIP section, A section in the front of the stage (we wouldn’t be in a car but I understood that it would be sectioned off or inaccessible to the public.), we would we given 3 to 4 bottles of alcohol or a variation of alcoholic beverages of our collective selection. We were also told we would be provided hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and other necessary safety items. We were also told that transportation would be arranged for us. Considering that we weren’t getting monetary compensation, this all seems reasonable, right?
I got my own hotel room which I paid for as my boyfriend would be going with me on the trip. We were driving up rather than flying. That made me feel better anyway because for the Airbnb they intended on some of the girls sharing beds, as there were quite a few of us in the group going. I mean, I know the RBC team got tested before going and we had to provide negative results to be allowed to go and attend, but I wouldn’t have been comfortable sharing a bed with someone, especially since it wasn’t mentioned until I asked about how the rooms would be split up. This is something I feel that should have been discussed sooner, but since I was going to get a hotel room, I let it be.
The day before the event, we get a message saying that the Airbnb fell through because the Airbnb owner didn’t want the girls there because of the mess glitter makes (I’m paraphrasing) and that they were scrambling to find somewhere else to stay, which would most likely be hotel rooms at the Hilton. Check in being at 3pm which is same as start time of the event, one of the producers offered his Airbnb to allow the girls to get ready. I also offered my hotel room for anyone to get ready just in case. As the ladies begin to arrive in Phoenix and needed a ride from the airport or the address of the Airbnb, I noticed the communication became less informative and less frequent. It took a while for one of the girls to get picked up from the airport, she had to text a few people to finally get a response. I asked for the address so I could possibly meet the girls at the Airbnb before leaving for the show, and I asked what time everyone is heading to the show and how they were getting there. No answer. I’m at a hotel, about 20 minutes from the Airbnb but 10 minutes away from the venue so I needed to know where to go and when, as that was never made clear. Mind you all the communication was done in that group chat with the influencers, RBC and 3 production company representatives.
My anxiety was starting to get to me. More girls were arriving and not sure exactly how things were going at that point or who was at the Airbnb getting ready because again, I hadn’t heard anything yet. I kept asking what time are we meeting? Where? what’s the address? Just trying to get some sort of answer. My anxiety was getting bad and I was starting to stress and get into that mental state where my anxiety then leaves me almost paralyzed and unable to continue getting myself ready. I didn’t know if I was being discluded, if everyone was too busy to respond, if maybe I wasn’t getting the details everyone else was because I wasn’t at the Airbnb with everyone and they just forgot to tell me, I don’t know. I was spiraling though, and it was taking a toll on me emotionally. Finally, I get a response to meet at venue at 5pm. I message one of the other girls and she said she just landed and was going to take an uber to the hotel to get ready since it was about to be time to check in anyway. She says to meet at hotel before 5 so we can meet up and go together. I start feeling relieved and continue getting ready. Except, my wig got tangled, and wasn’t going on right, and it takes time to brush out, so I was running late. I let them know I’ll just meet them at venue. There goes my anxiety again but this time because of making myself late and wig difficulties.
I message in the group chat that I’m on my way, and they respond asking if I could stop by and pick up some liquor as the bottles fell through. I didn’t know what that meant but of course I was willing to stop by. We head to the liquor store and my boyfriend goes in (because I didn’t want to go inside in a bodysuit showing my rave booty to non-ravers lol) and we buy a couple of giant bottles of liquor).
I show up, walk into the area described in chat, which I’m praying is not the “VIP” area but also, I don’t see much else. Everyone is sitting, huddled in a circle, talking to one another. A few of the girls do greet me with excitement which I greatly appreciated as my emotions were all over the place. Everyone is thankful for bringing liquor, and I meet all the lovely ladies and the RBC team, but I felt a weird vibe in the air. I’m also trying to take in the event as I had just arrived. I start hearing bits and pieces from everyone. I’m still not sure what happened regarding the liquor, but apparently there wasn’t any of the bottles we asked for, for us, or any bottles at all for us. The VIP section was in fact where we were all sitting, very off to the side. Folding white chairs and a tiny rectangular folding table that sat lower than the chairs. A tablecloth on it that they said they added recently. There was no hand sanitizer, no cleaning materials, nothing of the sort. I don’t ‘believe were offered face masks either. We all had our own, but you’d think they’d have some for us in case someone forgot theirs or maybe one fell on the ground or something. As for the event, I look around and it seemed as though there were maybe 4 to 6 rows of cars, but still some empty spaces towards the back. Nothing was sectioned off, there was a small crowd in the front, and I didn’t see much social distancing going on. Masks were on attendees for the most part, but some didn’t have them on, and it wasn’t truly enforced I felt like. At least not in the way that I’ve seen other events enforce it but who knows, as I arrived later. Other people may have different and safer experiences.
“VIP” with the drinks that we brought ourselves or Rave Bae Couture bought for us.
Some of the girls said that they didn’t know where they were staying for the night or duration of their trip, as they currently didn’t have a hotel. I wasn’t sure what the exact reason was, but from what I understood, as they tried to check in, the credit card that was used to reserve the hotels, was declined. I don’t know if that’s what happened or maybe I wasn’t given all the details but that’s what I heard. It didn’t seem that they were trying to get them another hotel or somewhere to stay was of major concern to some of the production company, as I didn’t see any further communication, I didn’t meet any of them officially. I offered a couple of the girls to stay at my hotel for the night as I had a sofa bed available, if needed. I had also missed some sort of confrontation, but I can’t imagine why anyone from the production company would be hostile with our group with all these things coming up. Can you imagine, a group of girls from out of town, not knowing where they’re going to stay for the night or the next when they were specifically told they would be given lodging? That is awful! Not to mention the lack of transportation and itinerary.
“Earlier the same day, when I kept asking when and where to meet, one of the questions I asked, was, “Are we getting our own rides to the venue?” One of the promotion company representatives responded, “ Yes. We have gotten drinks, your spots, your passes, and your hotels 😊 “ ”
That was a weird, patronizing AF response to get at the time. It felt as though they thought I came off as spoiled or privileged to ask for them to provide transportation to the venue after they gave us all those things. But think about it, even if that was what I was asking (which I wasn’t, I had my own ride), would it even be an unreasonable request to shuttle the people you invited as sponsored influencers, to and from your event? To ensure they make it there and back? I guess it is.
Imagine me, thinking back to that very response that was made, when I started hearing about all these things falling through, at the event? Girl….
Shout-out to Rave Bae Couture’s owner, Victor, and Assistant Brand Manager, Amy, coming through and saving the day. Amy helped with communication for us the rest of the weekend. Victor ordered us pizza, ordered food via Postmates for one of the girls who has a gluten allergy, bought us water, and offered to send me money for the liquor when they asked me to go to the liquor store. He also apologized profusely and felt awful for the situation we were in, and he couldn’t be any nicer. He also stayed with us at the event both days, so I felt more secure at that point. I would have felt more awkward if he wasn’t there, as we would have to fend for ourselves with the production company and who knows how that would have gone with that hostile vibe we were feeling. Victor also brought us food and drinks the following day, after RBC asked in the group chat if the production company would be providing drinks, and there was literally 0 responses from them about that or anything at all, the next day. Not surprising at that point, but still perplexing to say the least. I was glad to also have gotten the opportunity to get to know Amy and Victor better and talk at length. He listened to me, and I was able to talk face-to-face about my concerns and talking points. This was one great takeaway from that weekend.
One of the girls ended up getting a hotel room, after standing her ground that she should get one. I admire her tenacity for doing so because as a female alone in another state, late at night, there are so many ways that could go wrong. Another girl had a friend who had an Airbnb, so she stayed with them. One person without getting into so much details, stayed at the Airbnb for reasons that are not mine to discuss but rest assured it was nothing bad and if you follow her, you may have heard her story or what happened and that she was fine. The rest of the girls stayed with a friend who had an Airbnb. I’m glad everyone found a place.
The next morning, we picked up my friend who got the hotel room, and we went to pick up our other friend from the Airbnb, because she was going to stay with our friend at her hotel. I offered to make stops for breakfast, the store, whatever they needed as they didn’t have a car available to them and if we could help, why not? She graciously paid for our breakfast as her appreciation for going to pick her up. It’s little things like that, being kind to one another, that I appreciate. We give and we receive when it is our turn.
Alright let me start wrapping this up. Day 2 the vibes were still kind of off, but I noticed that the RBC team focused on making the best of the situation. While we were blindsided by empty words and broken promises, we had each other and that was incredible. The liquor aside, leaving a group of girls without somewhere to stay, and not prioritizing making it right, or showing any empathy, is a huge concern. That is a safety issue as well. What if things didn’t work out (because we took matters into our own hands), where would they have gone? That is not okay. We also weren’t given anything to help keep us safe at the event, and by the end of the night, attendees from the back rows, were all in the front of the stage all dancing together as though it wasn’t a social distancing event. Also, I randomly saw kids running chasing each other?? Was this not an 18+ event as advertised? I can’t explain that or even begin to figure out why and how that happened.
It’s unfortunate that these series of events kept me from talking about the great music and incredible acts, because that’s what this post would have been about. It would have highlighted the acts that I enjoyed, the up-and-coming artists, local talent, predictions for the future, all the smiles and feel good vibes. I can only hope that they do better in the future with other events and coordinate better. I did not feel comfortable taking many pictures or video this weekend because of what was given to us. Quite frankly, it was embarrassing. I rallied hard for this event and was severely let down. Had RBC and great friends not been there, it would have been a complete waste of time and money for me to have gone. It is important to note, that after the event/earlier this week, the production company agreed to reimburse for food/drinks.
I hope the people who are reading this, who were checking my stories and feed waiting for this post, in particular the ones who did not want me to post it, understand this. The promises that were made, that we didn’t ask for but were told we would be given, was all we expected and leaving us in the dust felt extremely disrespectful. I suppose you could call this a compromise as all parties involved were dissatisfied. This wasn’t posted as revenge or to cancel anyone. I don’t believe in that. What I do believe in is making concerted efforts to do better in the future. I believe in giving the opportunity to change. To make things right. I wish your company the best of luck in the future. This was a learning opportunity for me, as I hope it was for you as well.
With that, I leave you with some other words that a few of the girls wanted to contribute, all chose to remain anonymous. These are direct quotes from people, so these are not my own words.
“Aside from the event itself being unsafe and being lied to by those who threw the event, what had upset me the most was that I promoted this event to people under the guise of it being safe.
I wound up lying to people I care about, due to the event planners’ poor decisions. I told people this event would be safe, and it was not, and I feel awful.
The people who threw this event were not local event throwers to Arizona, and I feel like they saw this event as a quick money grab. I am happy it was not for them, because they did not deserve.
I was also told by one of the people who helped plan the event that, myself, and the others who promoted the event, were asking “too much,” in regard to receiving a spot for promotion, and a place to stay.
Asking for a safe spot at an event is too much? When that is what we were promised in the beginning? Are you kidding me?”
“At first, I was kind of excusing their lack of experience of hosting drive-ins for their faults that weekend. I was trying to see things from their perspective, and why they stopped being transparent with us as the weekend progressed. I would have probably felt embarrassed too in their situation, but I would have at least admitted fault and communicated with the influencers if things went wrong, such as their credit card getting declined for the hotel (which was told to me through the grapevine, not directly by them). At that point, it seemed deliberate. It felt as if they manipulated the influencers and using them for attention. I have noticed that the whole time up until the event, they were the most passionate about the influencers promoting their event on their stories and feeds and saying things like “we love and appreciate you” in return, alongside the empty promises of providing a place for them to stay, food, and alcohol. Let’s just hope they don’t do this to anyone again”
“I had a very serious medical emergency on day 1 and there was no one there who could help me, the company didn’t hire a medic team for the event. Most of the event was pretty unsafe in terms of the pandemic but the fact that there was no one hired to assist in an actual medical emergency other than two very aloof police officers was sad, terrifying, unprofessional, and careless.“
