Executive Producer • cultural programmer • Creative Strategist
Based in Brooklyn, NY, I help brands and organizations build culture through live experiences.
I believe the best live experiences do more than entertain; they create connection, build community, and shape culture. For more than 15 years, I've partnered with artists, brands, venues, nonprofits, and cultural institutions to develop original programming and produce experiences ranging from intimate performances to national festivals, award shows, and immersive brand activations. My work sits at the intersection of music, culture, hospitality, and storytelling. I don't just produce events, I help organizations use live experiences to build identity, grow audiences, and become destinations people return to.
As a creative producer, some of my proudest accomplishments include building the creative agency AdHoc Projects, executing tentpole events for Rolling Stone across the country, producing events for Global Citizen in NYC and South Africa, talent management for the groundbreaking Savage x Fenty runway show, and mobilizing voters across the country for the 2020 and 2024 General Elections via Joy to the Polls for Working Families Power.
I’ve also booked music for some of New York City's most notorious venues, including Public Records, Le Poisson Rouge, The Bell House, Industry City, and The Manhattan Inn.
Independently, I’ve built several series from the ground up: The Hum, a female and non-binary collaborative concert series (2015-2025), four/four presents, a platform commissioning new work between curated pairings of choreographers and musicians, and Stories from the Stage, a short-form documentary series covering independent NYC venues and promoters during COVID lockdown.
Services
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Helping organizations transform ideas into compelling live experiences through thoughtful creative direction and strategic planning. I partner with clients to define the vision, objectives, audience, and overall experience, developing concepts that align with their brand, mission, and long-term goals. From new event concepts and venue activations to anniversary celebrations and recurring programming, I create experiences that are both creatively distinctive and operationally achievable.
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Curating music, dance, and multidisciplinary programming that builds community and creates memorable experiences. I work closely with clients to define programming goals, identify the right artists and creative collaborators, and develop event concepts that align with their brand, audience, and long-term vision. My experience spans festivals, concert series, hospitality, public art, experiential marketing, and large-scale cultural events.
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Providing comprehensive leadership across every stage of live event production, from early planning and budgeting through on-site execution and post-event wrap. I oversee the people, processes, budgets, vendors, and logistics that bring complex live experiences to life, serving as the central point of coordination between clients, creative teams, venues, artists, and production partners.
Planning & Project Management
Project management
Production timelines
Run of show (ROS) development
Production schedules
Site visits and venue walkthroughs
Budgeting & Financial Management
Budget forecasting
Cost-saving recommendations
Budget creation and oversight
Vendor bidding
Vendor Management
Audio, video, lighting, staging, and technical production partners
Fabrication and scenic
Décor and florals
Furniture, tenting, and event rentals
Catering and hospitality vendors
Registration and ticketing providers
Photography and videography
Printing and signage
Vendor contracting and on-site management
Staffing & Team Leadership
Production team and hiring
Production managers
Stage managers
Site managers
Registration and box office staff
Guest services and hosts
Security staffing
Venue & Operations
Guest flow planning
VIP and hospitality operations
Green room management
Accessibility planning (ADA)
Emergency action planning
Technical Production
Technical rehearsals
Cue-to-cue rehearsals
Show calling support
Event Operations
Registration and guest check-in
Ticketing operations
Sponsor activations
VIP experiences
Artist hospitality
Backstage operations
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Creating programming and audience strategies that build lasting communities around venues, brands, and cultural organizations. By understanding who you're trying to reach and why they gather, I develop event concepts, artist lineups, partnerships, and engagement strategies that attract new audiences while deepening relationships with existing ones, turning one-time attendees into long-term advocates.
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Identifying and cultivating meaningful partnerships between artists, brands, venues, nonprofits, and cultural institutions that align with shared values and creative goals. From concept development and introductions to negotiations, programming, and execution, I create collaborations that feel authentic, drive engagement, and deliver value for every partner involved.
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Managing every touchpoint of the artist experience; from contracting and advancing to travel, hospitality, backstage operations, and on-site support. I ensure talent feels informed, cared for, and set up for a seamless performance, allowing artists, teams, and clients to focus on delivering exceptional experiences.
Artist relations
Advancing
Hospitality
Travel
Scheduling
Dressing rooms
Green room operations
Meet & greets
VIP management
Stage management
Backstage coordination
Performance logistics
On-site talent care
Press
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Meet Rachael Pazdan: Creator of ‘The Hum’ Feminist Music Residency in NYC
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There’s a ‘HUM’ in Brooklyn, and Rachael Pazdan Is Behind It
— Vice
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Brooklyn 100 Influencer: Rachael Pazdan
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BABE #91: RACHAEL PAZDAN, Founder @ The Hum